Recap — Bridging Local and Global Applications of Clinical Public Health, with Ross Upshur

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Published on January 17, 2025

On November 13, the Dalla Lana Chair in Clinical Public Health Dr. Ross Upshur presented an insightful seminar on the integration of clinical medicine and public health, highlighting its potential to transform health systems. He began by describing his dual roles as a family physician and public health specialist, emphasizing their historically divergent missions and the resistance he faced when tasked with creating a Clinical Public Health Division in 2013. Initial skepticism from faculty demonstrated challenges in bridging these fields.

Dr. Upshur shared his vision of clinical public health as the systematic collaboration of clinical and public health professionals to achieve shared health goals. He presented a Venn diagram illustrating the overlap between individual patient care and population health management, advocating for stronger synergies in areas like prevention and health promotion.

Through historical anecdotes, including the influence of John Snow's work on cholera and the evolution of public health in the 19th century, Dr. Upshur demonstrated how medicine and public health were once intertwined. However, he noted that factors such as the rise of biomedical specialization and economic incentives caused their divergence especially in North America. Dr. Upshur discussed the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed the critical importance of data sharing and collaboration across public health and healthcare sectors. For instance, Ontario's integrated approach to managing Intensive Care Unit capacity and vaccination rollout showcased the potential of clinical public health in addressing systemic challenges.

Dr. Upshur concluded the seminar by calling out for reimagining health systems grounded in primary care, public health principles, and universal coverage. He emphasized the need for robust governance structures to facilitate data integration while safeguarding privacy, explaining the transformative potential of clinical public health to address modern health inequities and crises.

Watch the seminar presentation below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVxh5ZI1OdQ

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