New partnership formed in November
Nation's museums team up with public health community
by Michele Late

Reprinted from The Nation's Health, December 2002/January 2003.

See the orginal article. (PDF)

APHA has teamed up with the nation's museum and science centers to help increase public understanding of public health issues.

The National Public Health Partnership, made up of public health, museum and science center organizations, was formed during APHA's 130th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Representatives of APHA, the American Association of Museums, Association of Science-Technology Centers and the National Health Museum signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing to work together to support public health programming, education and exhibits at museums and science centers across the nation.

Each year, the country's 16,000 museums and science centers draw more than 850 million visitors. About 2.3 million visitors go to museums in a single day, many of whom are students or with families.

"The American public trusts museums to provide them with factual, sciencebased information," said Mohammad N. Akhter, who was then APHA's executive director. "Bringing more public health information into these venues will further spread the message about prevention and promotion and help Americans improve their lives."

Public health and medical exhibits aren't new to the nation's museums and science centers. Successful exhibits and programs on issues such as women's health, AIDS and tobacco have been held in recent years, some of which have traveled to other cities and facilities.

About 30 museum, science center and public health officials, representing facilities and organizations from around the country, came together to discuss plans for the new partnership at the Annual Meeting. Potential roles for the partnership may include working together on national campaigns, exhibitions, programs and Web sites and sharing information.

"We need to bridge the gap that frequently exists between public health and informal education in museum and science centers," said Mark Dunham, acting president of the National Health Museum. "Public health leaders have subject expertise that is invaluable to the nation's museums and science centers. In turn, these institutions have huge audiences and a proven ability to translate complex issues for public consumption."

The National Health Museum, which is planned for Washington, D.C., will play a leadership role in the partnership. Museum planners are eyeing a site near the National Mall as a site for the museum, plans for which have been under way for several years. Once open, the museum will work to educate the public on health and science and empower them to improve their health.

"By helping lead this partnership, we are gaining an understanding of how our unique niche as a national institution could position us as a resource for other museums and science centers interested in health," Dunham said.

For more on the National Health Museum, visit:
www.nationalhealth museum.org.