What is the APHA Governing Council?
The Governing Council (GC) is a “Congress-like” body composed of elected, volunteer members from APHA Sections, SPIGS and affiliate public health organizations that meets once a year at the APHA Annual Meeting. The GC debates and enacts policy resolutions that guide the development of APHA policy activities during the year, and elects APHA Executive Board members and other volunteer leaders of the organization including the APHA President. During the year, the Executive Board provides more direct oversight of the work of the Executive Director and other APHA staff. What is it like to be a Governing Council Member? James A. Gaudino, MD, MS, MPH, summed up his feelings this way, “As a Governing Council member from the Epidemiology Section, a physician and a scientist, I see my and my fellow councilors’ responsibility to make sure that final APHA policies are based on the best scientific evidence available and are ethically sound.” Sarah L. Patrick, MPH, PhD, current Chair for the Epidemi
