American College of Preventive Medicine
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1954, the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) is a U.S.-based physician
organization focused on practice, research, publication, and teaching of evidence-based preventive medicine
. As the umbrella society for the specialty of Preventive Medicine and physicians dedicated to prevention, ACPM seeks to improve the health of individuals and populations through evidence-based health promotion, disease prevention, and systems-based approaches to improving health and health care.
Preventive Medicine is one of 24 medical specialties currently recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties
(ABMS). Its goals are to protect, promote and maintain health and well-being and to prevent disease
, disability
and death
. Specialists in Preventive Medicine, who comprise the membership base of ACPM, are trained in both clinical medicine
and public health
, working at the seams of these disciplines to assure the health of populations through both systems-based and personal care interventions. A Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine (FACPM) is a medical professional who has been a member of ACPM for at least 3 years and has passed a set of criteria for education, qualification, and ethics. FACPM is used as a post-nominal title
.
ACPM’s 2,500 members work in a variety of health settings, holding positions such as health officers in public health agencies, chief medical officers in corporations, medical directors in health plans, hospitals, or health care delivery systems, senior public health officers in the PHS Commissioned Corps or other federal agencies, military medical officers, medical directors of community and migrant health centers, researchers and teachers in academic centers, and private practice physicians.
ACPM carries out its mission through policy development and advocacy, continuing medical education, including convening the annual preventive medicine conference, support for graduate medical education, information dissemination, coalition building, representation on national advisory bodies and task forces, and sponsorship of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine
, a peer-reviewed journal for distributing preventive medicine science, research, and practice.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
organization focused on practice, research, publication, and teaching of evidence-based preventive medicine
Preventive medicine
Preventive medicine or preventive care refers to measures taken to prevent diseases, rather than curing them or treating their symptoms...
. As the umbrella society for the specialty of Preventive Medicine and physicians dedicated to prevention, ACPM seeks to improve the health of individuals and populations through evidence-based health promotion, disease prevention, and systems-based approaches to improving health and health care.
Preventive Medicine is one of 24 medical specialties currently recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties
American Board of Medical Specialties
The American Board of Medical Specialties is a non-profit physician-led umbrella organization for 24 of the 26 approved medical specialty boards in the United States...
(ABMS). Its goals are to protect, promote and maintain health and well-being and to prevent disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
, disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
and death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
. Specialists in Preventive Medicine, who comprise the membership base of ACPM, are trained in both clinical medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
and public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
, working at the seams of these disciplines to assure the health of populations through both systems-based and personal care interventions. A Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine (FACPM) is a medical professional who has been a member of ACPM for at least 3 years and has passed a set of criteria for education, qualification, and ethics. FACPM is used as a post-nominal title
Post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...
.
ACPM’s 2,500 members work in a variety of health settings, holding positions such as health officers in public health agencies, chief medical officers in corporations, medical directors in health plans, hospitals, or health care delivery systems, senior public health officers in the PHS Commissioned Corps or other federal agencies, military medical officers, medical directors of community and migrant health centers, researchers and teachers in academic centers, and private practice physicians.
ACPM carries out its mission through policy development and advocacy, continuing medical education, including convening the annual preventive medicine conference, support for graduate medical education, information dissemination, coalition building, representation on national advisory bodies and task forces, and sponsorship of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
American Journal of Preventive MedicineThe American Journal of Preventive Medicine is the official journal of the American College of Preventive Medicine and the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research. It publishes articles in the areas of prevention research, teaching, practice and policy...
, a peer-reviewed journal for distributing preventive medicine science, research, and practice.