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Volume 1: No. 1, January 2004
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Letter from Julie
Gerberding
Suggested citation for this article: Letter from
Julie Gerberding. Prev Chronic Dis
[serial online] 2004 Jan [date cited]. Available from: URL:
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2004/
jan/03_0039a.htm
I would like to congratulate the staff of Preventing Chronic Disease:
Public Health Research, Practice, and Policy on publishing its inaugural
issue and to commend its efforts in bringing together diverse audiences in
the public health community to address chronic disease prevention. The
United States faces an epidemic of unparalleled proportion, an epidemic that
is substantiated by hard facts. Seven of 10 deaths are caused by chronic
diseases. The underlying causes of these deaths are often risk factors that
can be successfully modified years before they ultimately contribute to
illness and death. To truly change our attitudes to focus on preventing
chronic diseases rather than simply treating them, we need to reach
Americans in their homes and neighborhoods with innovative programs and
information. I applaud the journal’s commitment to reducing the burden of
chronic disease through the dissemination of research and the promotion of
dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and community advocates. Public
health is at a tipping point; we have never had more challenges, but we have
never had more opportunities either. Preventing Chronic Disease offers a
unique forum for sharing influential, successful, and innovative resources
to improve public health.
Julie Louise Gerberding, MD, MPH
Director
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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