This comprehensive text is an excellent introduction to the field of public health. The book is divided into two parts. Part I defines and describes the public health system, provide concepts and tools for measuring health in populations, characterizes the relationship of the public health system with medical care and other elements of the overall health system, and identifies government's unique contributions through federal, state, and local public health agencies. Part II focuses on public health careers within the context of the overall public health workforce. Basic information on the size and composition of the public health workforce is followed by chapters that address careers and jobs in public health administration, epidemiology, public health nursing, health education, and other professional and program titles and positions. With its clear, reader-friendly language and helpful learning tools such as chapter exercises and discussion questions, this is the ideal text to prepare your students for a career in public health.