"Public Health and General Preventive Medicine" is one of three specialty areas recognized by the ABPM, the other two being Occupational Medicine and Aerospace Medicine. Practitioners in this field are found in official and voluntary health agencies, academic and health care institutions, and group practice settings. Some practice clinical and therapeutic preventive medicine for individual patients; most, however, deal with public health practice and the health affairs of communities of peoples.

The following material is taken from the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM), the official voice of Preventive Medicine as a medical specialty and the ultimate certifying authority for Preventive Medicine.

Definition of Preventive Medicine

Preventive Medicine is that specialty of medical practice which focuses on the health of individuals and defined populations in order to protect, promote, and maintain health and well-being and prevent disease, disability, and premature death.

For more information about Preventive Medicine, click here: "What is Preventive Medicine?".

Content of Preventive Medicine

In addition to the knowledge of basic and clinical sciences and the skills common to all physicians, the distinctive components of Preventive Medicine include:

• Biostatistics and the application of biostatistical principles and methodology;
  
• Epidemiology and its application to population-based medicine and research;
  
• Health services management and administration, including developing, assessing, and assuring health policies; planning, implementing, directing, budgeting, and evaluating health programs; and utilizing legislative and regulatory processes to enhance health;
  
• Control and prevention of environmental factors that may adversely affect health;
  
• Control and prevention of occupational factors that may adversely affect health and safety;
  
• Clinical preventive medicine activities, including measures to promote health and prevent the occurrence, progression, and disabling effects of disease and injury; and
  
• Assessment of social, cultural, and behavioral influences on health.

General Requirements

1. Medical School: Graduation from a medical school in the United States which at the time of the applicant's graduation was accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, a school of osteopathic medicine approved by the American Osteopathic Association, an accredited medical school in Canada, or from a medical school located outside the United States and Canada that is deemed satisfactory to the Board.
   
2. Current License(s): Unrestricted and currently valid license(s) to practice medicine in a State, the District of Columbia, a Territory, Commonwealth, or possession of the United States or in a Province of Canada.
   
3. Clinical Year: A year of supervised postgraduate clinical training provided as part of a graduate medical education program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Clinical training accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons or the College of Family Physicians of Canada is also acceptable. The training must include at least six months of direct primary patient care comprising ambulatory and inpatient experience.
   
4. Academic Year: Successful completion of a course of graduate academic study and award of a Master of Public Health or equivalent masters degree; the course content of which shall include biostatistics, epidemiology, health services management and administration, and environmental health.
   
5. Practicum Year: Residency practicum of not less than one year which is accredited by the ACGME in the specialty area for which certification is being sought and which shall have provided supervised experience in the practice of that field of Preventive Medicine and planned instruction, observation, and active participation in a comprehensive organized program.
   
6. Practice Year: A period of not less than one year of full-time special training or research in, or teaching or practice in the specialty area for which certification is being sought.
   
7. Current Practice: The applicant must have been engaged in essentially full-time training for, or practice in, the specialty area for which certification is being sought for at least two of the five years preceding application for certification.

Special Requirements in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine

1. A period of not less than one year of supervised training and instruction, accredited in the field of Public Health and/or General Preventive Medicine is required. (See No. 5 under General Requirements above)
   
2. A period of not less than one year of full-time special training or research in, or teaching or practice of, Public Health and General Preventive Medicine. (See No. 6 under General Requirements above)
   
3. The applicant must have been engaged in training for, or the practice of, Public Health and General Preventive Medicine for at least two of the five years preceding application for certification. (See No. 7 under General Requirements above)

• American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM)
• American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM)
• Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine (ATPM)

Preventive Medicine Residency	School of Public Health	UCLA Home Page