Sandra Melstad
2023 in Review....Partnerships

As 2023 comes to a close, a keyword foundational to public health that keeps emerging across the field is “partnerships”.

2023 in Review....Partnerships
Sandra Melstad
Developing an Action Plan with a Health Equity ...

Perhaps you are at the point where program or initiative is being planned or revised to address identified issues, priorities have been determined to address those issues, and now the task at hand is to develop an action plan to address those priorities and issues. But first, to move forward, it is important to recognize that to make an impact on priority issues/problems, addressing health inequities and their root causes are key.

Developing an Action Plan with a Health Equity Lens
Sandra Melstad
Health Inequities Show True Colors in ...

As March 2020 comes to a close, the world is experiencing unprecedented times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 does not discriminate and people of all color, races, gender, income, celebrity status, religion, geographic locations are being impacted worldwide. However, what does discriminate and is showing its true colors, is health inequity.

Health Inequities Show True Colors in Unprecedented Times
Sandra Melstad
Public Health 3.0: A New Opportunity to Address ...

There are a wealth of activities happening across rural American working to address and improve health outcomes, including community gardens to increase access to healthy foods, economic development to invest in healthy community design, and utilization of local wellness coalitions to take action to address local health. However, increasing globalization and the growing impact of social, economic, and environmental factors on global health, calls for expansion of the scope and reach of population health approaches to improve health outcomes across rural America.

Public Health 3.0: A New Opportunity to Address Health in Rural America for Science, Action, & Health
Sandra Melstad
Reflection: Looking Back to Look to the Future ...

With 2018 wrapping and it is important to reflect on the breadth of efforts taking place across the nation to address population focused on improving the health of individuals where they live, work, learn, and play.

Reflection: Looking Back to Look to the Future of Public Health

health policy

Building Capacity for Public Health Practice through Professional Development

Building Capacity for Public Health Practice through Professional Development

With the increasing rates of mortality and morbidity attributable to chronic diseases and associated risk factors, including social, economic, and environmental factors, the need to build the capacity of public health professionals is essential. In the current era of public health, there is a call to action need to expand the scope and reach of public health to address all factors that promote health and well-being, including education, transportation, housing, economic development (Fraser, Castrucci, & Harger, 2017). Professional development is an integral component to build capacity to expand the scope and reach of the public health workforce.

Tobacco 21: A Strategy to Protect Young Hearts in South Dakota

Tobacco 21: A Strategy to Protect Young Hearts in South Dakota

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of South Dakotans, with more than 1,800 deaths annually. And since tobacco use is the No. 1 risk factor for developing heart disease in young men and women, the American Heart Association is supportive of a variety of policies to keep our youth from getting hooked on tobacco such as Tobacco 21.