Partnership bringing public health focus to museums

Reprinted from The Nation's Health, August 2003.

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Public health groups are working with the nation's museums and science centers to bring information on the latest health topics to audiences across the country.

Representatives from the National Public Health Partnership, an alliance of more than two dozen museums, science centers and public health groups, came together in Portland, Ore., in May. The meeting was the latest in a series of steps designed to support public health programming, education and exhibits at museums and science centers around the nation.

"Science centers and museums give us the opportunity to engage the public on a range of health issues - from West Nile virus and HIV/AIDS to obesity and substance abuse - in a fun, informal setting," said APHA President Jay Glasser, PhD, MS, who gave a presentation at the Portland meeting. "This partnership will help provide a scientific basis for public health information within future exhibits."

From left, Bill Nye the Science Guy, a trustee of the National Health Museum, and Greg Andorfer, executive director and chief executive officer of the Maryland Science Center, at the Portland partnership reception in May. Photo by David Buffington, courtesy the National Health Museum.

Coordinated by the National Health Museum in Washington, D.C., the National Public Health Partnership was formed during APHA's 2002 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. The first phase of the partnership - in which partners were sought out, needs were assessed and a concept was developed - has recently been completed.

During the May meeting, held during the annual meeting of the American Association of Museums, participants discussed the next phase of the partnership. Plans call for an information and resource network and public health activities at museums and science centers during next year's National Public Health Week.

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