The American Public Health Association was founded in 1872 by Dr. Stephen Smith, a physician, attorney, and commissioner of New York City’s Metropolitan Health Board, with the mission of improving the health of all U.S. residents. Some 145 years later, APHA has over 25,000 members. The founders recognized that two of APHA’s most important functions were advocacy for adoption by the government of the most current scientific advances relevant to public health, and public education on how to improve community health.

As part of its mission, the American Public Health Association Press publishes and sells over 70 public health books, including such standards as Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 20th edition, and Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 21st edition.

APHA became a participating publisher in 1997, sending us 43 of their books, 28 of which have been reviewed. Two APHA titles were selected for Doody’s Core Titles 2017 and both were designated Essential Purchase Titles. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 20th edition, was selected as a core title in three different specialties and as an Essential Purchase Title in two specialties. Landesman’s Public Health Management of Disasters: The Practice Guide, 4th edition was also designated an Essential Purchase Title.