FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
ASHA Media Relations
P.O. Box 13827
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
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Ready to Go:
The History and Contributions of U.S. Public Health Advisors

RTP, NC-- The American Social Health Association (ASHA) is pleased to announce the publication of Ready to Go: The History and Contributions of U.S. Public Health Advisors (hardcover, $28.95). The book chronicles sixty years of service by an often-overlooked group of public health employees.

The first Public Health Advisors, or PHAs, were recruited in 1948 with the primary mission of supporting sexually transmitted disease (STD) control efforts, but the scope of their work has expanded significantly. PHAs work directly with state and local health departments and also respond to public health crisis around the globe. Whether dealing with cholera, Legionnaires disease, smallpox, AIDS, or the aftermath of natural disasters and bioterrorist threats, PHAs are found working in urban and rural settings throughout the U.S. and on every continent. Many veteran PHAs have gone on to become trusted and experienced members of the management team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Written by Beth Meyerson, Ph.D., and retired CDC PHAs Fred Martich and Jerry Naehr, Ready to Go captures the experiences of the men and women who have served as frontline PHAs. Their stories about the challenges and triumphs of working in the public health trenches will be of interest to a wide audience, and will especially resonate with PHAs and their colleagues, former and current employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), employees and students in public health, and anyone who is considering a public service career.

Meyerson says, “The best part is when someone says ‘Wow, I never knew that anyone did this type of work, and I’m really glad they are doing it with my tax dollars.’ I think the book could also be a great recruitment tool.”

To read the story of the PHA program is to revisit some of the most turbulent and important themes in modern American history. From the syphilis outbreaks of the 1950s to the tragedy of 9/11, whether in impoverished communities in the rural South or on the streets of Chicago, PHAs have gone “door to door” to serve those most in need. “It was an honor to be involved,” says Meyerson, “to meet the people, and to be entrusted with their stories.”

Ready to Go: The History and Contributions of U.S. Public Health Advisors may be ordered online through ASHA's webstore or by calling 1.800.783.9877.

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