The OATH

In 2008, reciting the Public Health Oath became a Mailman School rite of passage for both entering and graduating students.  As a 2005 graduate, I was sad to have missed reciting the Oath but was inspired to learn it belatedly.   

The school website describes the Oath this way: “it articulates the professional commitment of our students, graduates, and faculty, and provides guiding principles and inspiration to incoming students and graduates.” If you haven’t read it yet, here it is:

The Public Health Oath

Health is a human right. The public health community exists to safeguard that right. I believe it is a defining element of a civil society. Public health represents the collective actions necessary to protect the health of all people. Through prevention science and practice we can accomplish this goal. As a public health professional, guided by these principles, I declare the following:

I will work to ensure that people have the chance to live full and productive lives, free from avoidable disease, injury, and disability and supported in their pursuit of physical, mental, and social well-being. I will hold myself to the highest ethics, standards, values, and responsibilities as I move forward the science and practice of public health.

I will respect the rights, values, beliefs, and cultures of those individuals and communities with whom I work.

I will rely on evidence to support my decisions and actions, and translate that evidence into policies and programs that improve health for all.

I will add to the body of research and knowledge and share my discoveries freely.

I will continuously seek new information and be open to ideas that can better protect and promote the health of populations.

I will advance health literacy for all and seek equity and justice for vulnerable populations.
 
With this oath, I commit to the ideals and mission of public health.