The panelists: L to R: Dr. Philip Wu,
Olivia Quiroz, Mychal Tetteh, Noelle Dobson.
(Photos: BikePortland/Patrick Croasdaile)

In recent years, the fields of public health, equity and transportation policy have become increasingly linked. At a breakout session at the Active Transportation Summit yesterday, advocates and experts came together to learn more about why these issues are linked and discuss how to make that link stronger.

According to Dr. Phil Wu, a pediatric obesity specialist at Kaiser Permanente, “There’s no way to deal with obesity unless we start dealing with issues of transportation.” (more...)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a series of recommendations on how to improve health through transportation policy. The report is a resounding endorsement of the current stance of the U.S. Department of Transportation and of local and national advocacy groups and government agencies that are calling for an increased focus on active transportation. (more...)

Dr. Kohn, speaking in support of Safe Routes
to School during a visit by the U.S.
Surgeon General in April 2008.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Dr. Mel Kohn has been named the new head of the Oregon Public Health Division, which is set to become part of the new Oregon Health Authority. Kohn had been serving as the acting public health director and state health officer since September 2008.

Kohn also happens to be a regular bike rider who has shown engagement and interest in encouraging the use of bicycles -- especially through the Safe Routes to School program -- for years. (more...)

Mel Rader of Upstream Public
Health speaks at PSU today.
(Photo © J. Maus)

A quick note about a few events on the horizon that explore how transportation policy impacts the environment, public health and social equity.

Today at noon (sorry for late notice), Mel Rader of Portland-based health advocacy organization Upstream Public Health will speak at Portland State University as part of their ongoing Transportation Seminar Series. Rader's talk will examine the health benefits that come with reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our transportation system. Rader spearheaded a Health Impact Assessment on a climate change policy that studied how a reduction in driving led to significant changes in air pollution, physical activity and collision rates.
(more...)

Download the study here.

Portland-based Upstream Public Health has just released an important new statewide study that draws a clear connection between transportation policy decisions and people's health.

The study -- Oregon's first-ever statewide Health Impact Assessment (HIA) -- was commissioned by Upstream and funded by the Northwest Health Foundation. Upstream collaborated with Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) and an advisory committee made up of a diverse range of experts from the planning, health, transportation engineering, and advocacy fields. (more...)

This morning I'm off to the campus of Oregon State University in Corvallis to attend the Oregon Public Health Association's annual conference.

I've been invited by the Northwest Health Foundation (NWHF) to join a panel discussion titled, New Partners in the Movement to Re-frame "Public Health". The NWHF is behind the Community Health Priorities project, which is an exciting effort working to "Stimulate public conversation about health in our communities" (among other things). (more...)