Posted on October 24, 2019
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is pleased to again join public health leaders from across the country at the 148th American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting and Exposition in Philadelphia, PA on November 2 – 6.
This year’s meeting, “Creating the Healthiest Nation: For science. For action. For health.” will focus on the multidisciplinary nature of public health. It will give me an opportunity to catch up with many longtime colleagues, connect with others attempting to better public health, and learn about how we can all work together.
The conference is often thought to be the largest and most influential annual gathering of public health professionals in the country. Nearly 13,000 people participate each year from a public health backgrounds, including research and information, advocacy, and public policy.
Dr. Celeste Monforton, Linda Reinstein, and Earl Dotter
ADAO will attend the APHA public hearing to discuss the proposed 2019 “Eliminating Exposure to Asbestos” policy statement that updates the 2009 statement that passed. This collaborative drafting and submission effort was led by Dr. Celeste Monforton, a liaison to ADAO’s Prevention and Science Advisory Boards.
APHA is an endorsee of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019 (ARBAN), which is currently making its way through both the House of Representatives and the Senate. It was recently marked up in the House by the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, and is now under consideration by the full Committee on Energy and Commerce. We are immensely grateful for APHA’s support for this legislation.
Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) — who, as Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has played a pivotal role in ARBAN’s legislative progress — will be presented with the conference’s 2019 Distinguished Public Health Legislator of the Year Award.
“[Chairman] Pallone is being honored for his ongoing leadership to improve public health, including his work to reduce the toll of tobacco on U.S. health, his dedication to protecting and strengthening the Affordable Care Act, and efforts to protect workers from asbestos,” APHA wrote on their website announcing Rep. Pallone’s award.
Earl Dotter, a photographer whose work has played a large role in ADAO’s advocacy for years, will also present in a session entitled “Exploring How to Improve Health and Safety through Journalism.”
ADAO salutes the APHA for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to protecting public health. We look forward to next year’s convention when we will build on the plans and progress we made this year.
Stay tuned for details of next year’s meeting and expo!
Together, change is possible.
Linda Reinstein