Opening Session

Julie Gerberding, M.D., MPH, Center for Disease Control Director, opened the 135th Annual Session of the American Public Health Association. Julie Gerberding told attendees that there are times public health workers have to seek out different methods to ease the burden on the public's health. She equates public health workers as fireflies who represent "flashes of brillance" but Dr. Gerberrding said that even though each public health worker flashes their own light they have not been able to link together as a collective unit in a sustainable way. Dr Gerberding blames this on the failure of the country to properly invest in the public health system and to address public health inequatlies