Linking City Planning and Public Health in the United States

Abstract

The professional fields of planning and public health both arosefrom the Progressive movement of the early twentieth century. The fields share many common concerns, including air and water pollution, disposal of hazardous waste, the sick building syndrome, and the aging of building stock. Yet despite their common historical origins and mutual concerns, a comparison of articles and book reviews published between 1978 and 1990 in theflagship publications of the two professions-the Journal of the American Planning Association and the American Journal of Public Health-suggests only minor overlaps between the twofields today. Similarly, a review of the linkages between planning departments and schools of public health at eleven U.S. universities that have accredited graduate programs in both fields suggests only limited interactions. It is important that the links be strengthened between planning and public health through a common literature, professional interaction, and increased cross-disciplinary education.