Professional organizations offer their members many benefits such as access to newsletters and journals and member and student discounts to various products and services.

Perhaps an even more important benefit of belonging to a professional organization is the chance to establish contacts by networking with people in your field who share the same interests and backgrounds. This may happen through seminars, conferences, and conventions.

Many professional organizations provide opportunities for students to participate in leadership roles and to have access to the most current research in the field. Belonging to a professional organization also demonstrates to prospective employers that you are committed to your field and actively engaged in current issues and developments.

This week, you investigate professional organizations and explore how they contribute to the development of scholar practitioners and social change agents. You also complete the first draft of your Literature Review and take on the role of peer reviewer for your classmates' Literature Reviews.

Learning Resources

Required Readings

List of Professional Public Health Organizations (located in the Program of Study link in the left navigation bar)

PowerPoint Tutorials

Refer to the following tutorials to assist you in with this week's Capstone Project.

• Microsoft Corp. (2012b). Create a basic presentation in PowerPoint 2007.

American Public Health Association (APHA). (2014). American Public Health Association: For science. For action. For health.

APHA is the national public health association representing the professional interests of all those working in public health. Review this website in preparation for this week's Discussion.

Discussion: Professional Organizations

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is one of the largest, oldest, and most respected professional organizations in the public health field.

For over a century, the APHA has brought together noted scholars and public health leaders for its annual meetings.

The association has over 27 primary sections representing major public health disciplines, including aging and public health, health care administration, epidemiology, disaster and emergency management, technology, community health practice, HIV/AIDS, and so on. (Go to the APHA website found in this Week's Learning Resources to see more.)

Professionals who attend the APHA annual meeting can choose from over 1,000 scientific sessions, roundtables, poster sessions, institutes, and panel discussions at which more than 5,000 scientific papers are presented.

In this Discussion, you analyze the American Public Health Association and other professional public health organizations.

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Access the APHA website through this week's Learning Resources.

• Under the AHPA Communities tab, review the sections and related disciplines under the "Member sections" and "State Affiliates".

• Under the Events and Meetings tab review upcoming or past "Annual Meeting" online program.

• Explore some of the other resources, publications, and educational opportunities that might help you develop professionally, as well as contribute to the field.

• Locate other professional organizations that might help you develop professionally as well as contribute to the field of public health.