The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) urges a pause for any widespread firings of federal health workers, stressing the critical need for a well-staffed workforce to address the ongoing chronic disease epidemic and emerging health threats.
(WASHINGTON, DC) The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) calls on the White House to put a pause on any contemplated or initiated widespread firings of a variety of public health and other health professionals at the CDC, FDA, NIH and other health agencies. This is especially important, particularly for those in critical medical and public health response roles, given the chronic disease epidemic this country is experiencing, along with the concern for emerging disease outbreaks such as measles, bird-flu, etc. For example, ensuring an adequately staffed public health workforce, for programs such as the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), is necessary to detect and prevent disease, prepare for emergencies and promote wellness and resilience. Indeed, ACPM believes that our public health infrastructure has for many years been significantly underfunded at the federal, state and local levels, for activities ranging from research to practice.
"Agency staff are essential in monitoring threats, responding to disasters and discovering tomorrow’s treatments and cures," said Dr. Mirza I. Rahman, President of ACPM. "They are vital to keeping America healthy, so we call on the White House to restore these dedicated government employees to their former positions and to work to strengthen the public health workforce, not weaken it."
While setting policy priorities and areas of focus is within the charge and purview of any administration, and while no one can argue against the merits of striving for governmental efficiency in delivering its unique and vital services, ACPM believes that such efforts in the public health domain must be informed by professionals who are expert in the evolving needs posed by the public health landscape. However, considering the prevalence of chronic disease across the American population, along with emerging infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics, the federal health workforce is essential for protecting our population on all levels – including keeping food safe and accessible, and detecting and preventing diseases. Staffing and resources are critical to ensure a public health infrastructure that can meet the nation’s health needs by working to prevent chronic disease and usher in a healthier America.
ACPM believes that while programs and individuals may be redeployed and refocused, and while work processes may be modernized, the underlying need remains greater than the resources that have been dedicated to date. Thus, overall funding and staffing should be increased, not reduced, as the medical and public health workforce should be expanded, not curtailed through firings nor the elimination of training programs. The American College of Preventive Medicine would welcome the opportunity to partner with the Trump administration to help inform their efforts to “Make America Healthy Again.”
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For more information or to speak with an ACPM representative, please contact media@acpm.org
About ACPM:
The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) is a professional medical society representing approximately 2,000 physicians, board-certified in Public Health and Preventive Medicine, dedicated to the practice of preventive medicine; improving the health and quality of life of individuals, families, communities and populations through disease prevention and health promotion. For more information about ACPM, visit www.acpm.org.
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(WASHINGTON, DC) The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) calls on the White House to put a pause on any contemplated or initiated widespread firings of a variety of public health and other health professionals at the CDC, FDA, NIH and other health agencies. This is especially important, particularly for those in critical medical and public health response roles, given the chronic disease epidemic this country is experiencing, along with the concern for emerging disease outbreaks such as measles, bird-flu, etc. For example, ensuring an adequately staffed public health workforce, for programs such as the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), is necessary to detect and prevent disease, prepare for emergencies and promote wellness and resilience. Indeed, ACPM believes that our public health infrastructure has for many years been significantly underfunded at the federal, state and local levels, for activities ranging from research to practice.
"Agency staff are essential in monitoring threats, responding to disasters and discovering tomorrow’s treatments and cures," said Dr. Mirza I. Rahman, President of ACPM. "They are vital to keeping America healthy, so we call on the White House to restore these dedicated government employees to their former positions and to work to strengthen the public health workforce, not weaken it."
While setting policy priorities and areas of focus is within the charge and purview of any administration, and while no one can argue against the merits of striving for governmental efficiency in delivering its unique and vital services, ACPM believes that such efforts in the public health domain must be informed by professionals who are expert in the evolving needs posed by the public health landscape. However, considering the prevalence of chronic disease across the American population, along with emerging infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics, the federal health workforce is essential for protecting our population on all levels – including keeping food safe and accessible, and detecting and preventing diseases. Staffing and resources are critical to ensure a public health infrastructure that can meet the nation’s health needs by working to prevent chronic disease and usher in a healthier America.
ACPM believes that while programs and individuals may be redeployed and refocused, and while work processes may be modernized, the underlying need remains greater than the resources that have been dedicated to date. Thus, overall funding and staffing should be increased, not reduced, as the medical and public health workforce should be expanded, not curtailed through firings nor the elimination of training programs. The American College of Preventive Medicine would welcome the opportunity to partner with the Trump administration to help inform their efforts to “Make America Healthy Again.”
###
For more information or to speak with an ACPM representative, please contact media@acpm.org
About ACPM:
The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) is a professional medical society representing approximately 2,000 physicians, board-certified in Public Health and Preventive Medicine, dedicated to the practice of preventive medicine; improving the health and quality of life of individuals, families, communities and populations through disease prevention and health promotion. For more information about ACPM, visit www.acpm.org.