Institute of Medicine Advisory: Public health physicians

Physicians whose work focuses primarily on population issues, such as disease prevention and safe food supplies, are vital to improving public health. But the nation faces a critical shortage of these professionals, and many who are already in the field have not had adequate training to tackle current and emerging public health challenges. TRAINING PHYSICIANS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CAREERS, a new report from the Institute of Medicine, looks at steps that should be taken to attract physicians to such jobs and to fully prepare them to make positive differences on the ground. The report will be released at a one-hour public briefing beginning at 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 6, in the Lecture Room of the National Academies building, 2100 C St., N.W., Washington, D.C. Advance copies of the report will be available to reporters only beginning at 2 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 5. THE REPORT IS EMBARGOED AND NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE BEFORE 10 A.M. EDT WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6. REPORTERS CAN OBTAIN COPIES by contacting the National Academies' Office of News and Public Information at tel. 202-334-2138 or e-mail news@nas.edu.