Perspective Putting The Public In Public Health: New Approaches A public health leader lays out his agenda for engaging the public, the business community, and policymakers in transforming public health.

Improving health in the twenty-first century means adopting a new approach that engages the public, the business community, and public policymakers more than in the past. This approach depends on a well-informed public that practices individual well- ness, values community health, and advocates achieving both. It requires a business com- munity that views public health as an essential component of a healthy business climate and productive workforce. It also requires informed policymakers who agree that an invest- ment in public health has important community benefit. Public health professionals must effectively engage these three groups if the public health system is to be transformed.