Introduction to Community and Public Health

The only textbook that provides comprehensive coverage of all five core areas of community and public health while aligning with the most current CEPH guidelines and competencies

The newly revised third edition of Introduction to Community and Public Health by Manoj Sharma and Paul W. Branscum delivers the definitive treatment of public health fundamentals. Dr. Sharma, a professor at Jackson State University's MPH and DrPH programs, and Dr. Branscum, an associate professor at Miami University, bring decades of combined expertise to address a critical challenge facing public health educators: the lack of a single comprehensive resource covering all essential areas.

This extensively updated edition solves that problem by providing complete coverage of biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, environmental health, and health policy and management – all aligned with current Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) competencies.

This edition has been thoroughly reviewed to reflect the latest developments in public health practice and education. Each chapter now begins with explicit linkages to updated CEPH competencies, ensuring students develop skills that meet current professional standards. The text incorporates cutting-edge topics including artificial intelligence applications in public health, expanded coverage of social determinants of health and structural bias, COVID-19 and emerging threats, and enhanced disaster management approaches. Updated skill-building activities, case studies, and ancillary materials – including resources for flipped classroom environments – make this the most current and pedagogically advanced text available. The book is organized into six clear units that achieve or provide:

• Complete CEPH alignment: Each chapter explicitly maps to current Council on Education for Public Health foundational competencies, making this the only textbook fully aligned with modern accreditation standards
• Comprehensive exam preparation: Specifically designed to help students prepare for the Certified in Public Health (CPH), Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) examinations
• Contemporary relevance: Includes the latest topics such as AI applications in public health, structural bias and racism, COVID-19 response, and updated environmental health challenges
• Enhanced learning tools: Features updated skill-building activities, new case studies, revised test banks, and materials specifically designed for flipped classroom instruction
• Practical application focus: Two skill-building activities per chapter plus focus features that demonstrate real-world applications of key concepts

Introduction to Community and Public Health, 3rd Edition serves undergraduate and graduate public health students, health education majors, and professionals pursuing certification in public health fields. Medical students studying community medicine, nursing students, and allied health professionals will also find this text invaluable.

Whether you're beginning your public health education or preparing for professional certification, this comprehensive resource provides the grounding you need to succeed in today's evolving public health landscape.