Public Health in Iowa

Iowa’s public health system unites government, healthcare, and education to promote statewide health.

Public health in Iowa focuses on protecting and improving the well-being of communities by addressing issues like disease prevention, access to healthcare, and environmental health. It takes a broad approach to tackling challenges such as traffic-related deaths, childhood illnesses, and cancer screening accessibility.

Public health includes various fields like epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, health promotion, and public policy. While many professionals have public health degrees, the field draws from medicine, nursing, social work, psychology, and other disciplines. Collaboration across sectors is essential to its success.

What is Public Health?

The American Public Health Association developed a short video to help those that are new to public health. It serves as a helpful resource for those looking to understand the broad impact of public health efforts.

Governmental Public Health in Iowa

Iowa’s public health system consists of the State Board of Health, Iowa Health & Human Services (HHS), and other state agencies. These organizations work with local boards of health and public health departments to promote and protect community health.

Local boards of health contract with agencies—often standalone public health departments but sometimes hospitals or other organizations—to provide services. Funding comes from the Local Public Health Services grant in the state budget, along with additional grants and service agreements. Iowa’s public health departments operate in both community-based and hospital-based settings.

Iowa’s three state universities contribute to public health through research, training, and specialized services. The State Hygienic Laboratory serves as the state’s public health lab.

Non-Governmental Public Health in Iowa

Beyond government agencies, Iowa’s public health efforts include national and community-based nonprofits, healthcare organizations, philanthropic groups, and private higher education institutions. These organizations support the public health workforce and expand access to critical services across the state.

Iowa Public Health History

I came to the Iowa Department of Public Health in 1965 with no particular interest in history. By the 1980s or 90s I was probably the senior member of the senior staff of the department and it seemed like questions about the history of the department got referred to me. The Biennial Reports of the State Board of Health from 1880 through about 1930 were very detailed and provided an excellent resource. I found them fascinating to read and they are the basic source for many of the articles. In addition, some of the individuals in the department when I started in 1965 had joined the department in the 1920s and 30s which provided another connection to the past.

-Dr. Ron Eckoff, a member of IPHA since 1968, and served as its president in 1972-73. Since 2010, he has written articles as IPHA’s unofficial historian, chronicling major issues of public health’s past.

The Latest Edition - An Editorial on Diphtheria by Ron Eckoff

The October, 2021 issue of Smithsonian magazine includes an article by Perri Klass, M.D., titled “The Plague Among Children: How We Fought Diphtheria.” In the article, Dr. Klass discusses how Diphtheria brought terror to both the richest and poorest families. Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Alice, died of diphtheria at age 35. W.E.B. Du Bois’ son died from diphtheria at age 2. Pablo Picasso’s sister, Conchita died at age 7. President Grover Cleveland’s oldest child, “Baby Ruth,” died at age 12… READ MORE

Ron’s Past Articles

Local Health Units for the Nation – Fall 2018
Rubella Hx – Spring 2018
Is Your Municipal Water Supply Approved by the State – 1930 – PHM Winter 2017/2018
The 1939 View of Public Health Nursing – PHM Fall 2017
Public Health Science Heroes – PHM Spring 2017
1880-81 Survey Answers – PHM Winter 2016-2017
1880-81 Survey – PHM Fall 2016
Rubella Immunization Program – PHM Spring 2016
Diptheria Antitoxin Distribution – PHM Winter 2015-2016
Greater Visibility for Iowa’s Public Health History – PHM Fall 2015
Investigation of 1914 Typhoid Fever Outbreak in Adel, IA with additional comment by Dr. Russell Currier – PHM Summer 2015
Open and Read Your Mail – PHM Spring 2015
Smoking and Health: 50 Years Later – PHM Winter 2014-2015
Polio – Don’t Let the Scary Times Come Back – PHM Fall 2014
Is the Football Scene Too Violent: The View from 1902 – PHM Summer 2014
In Honor of Dr. Walter L. Bierring – PHM Spring 2014

Health Bill Passes at Last Minute – PHM Winter 2013-2014
Prevention’s Time Has Come – PHM Fall 2013
Happy Birthday Dr. Snow – PHM Summer 2013
Iowa Serum Center – PHM Spring 2013
Nutrition Surveys: 1948-1952 – PHM Winter 2012-2013
Open Burning Dumps and Moose Teeth – PHM Fall 2012
Leprosy in Iowa – PHM Summer 2012
For Immediate Release: April 3, 1930 – PHM Spring 2012
Thelma Luther Tribute – PHM Winter 2011-2012
The Fence or the Ambulance – PHM Winter 2011-2012
First Annual Meeting of Iowa Health Officers and City Physicians – PHM Winter 2011-2012
Echoes from the Past – PHM Spring 2011
PHA History Lesson Continued – PHM Winter 2010-2011
IPHA History Lesson: 1964-1968 – PHM Fall 2010
IPHA Annual Meeting History – PHM Spring 2010
1924: The New IPHA – PHM Winter 2009
The Great IPHA History Hunt / The First IPHA: A Brief Look at Our History – PHM Fall 2009

Public Health in Iowa

What is Public Health?

The American Public Health Association developed a short video to help those that are new to public health. It serves as a helpful resource for those looking to understand the broad impact of public health efforts.

Governmental Public Health in Iowa

Non-Governmental Public Health in Iowa

Iowa Public Health History

The Latest Edition - An Editorial on Diphtheria by Ron Eckoff

Ron’s Past Articles

Support & Info

Main Office

Iowa Public Health Association

Iowa Immunizes is a program of the Iowa Public Health Association, focused on promoting vaccination education and advocacy.