Annual Meeting attendees lined up to meet their favorite public health authors and editors at the APHA Press book signing event Sunday. Participating authors chatted with attendees, many of whom wanted their public health page-turners signed.

Martha Waller and William Wieczorek, editors of “Responding to the Opioid Epidemic: A Guide for Public Health Practitioners,” were among the authors and editors greeting readers. William Wieczorek and Martha Waller

“I became involved, especially at the local level, in Western New York as the opioid epidemic was developing in the early 2000s. It affected people I knew both professionally as well as personally,” Wieczorek said.

However, Wieczorek noticed that much of the response to the opioid use crisis was focused on treatment and did not provide a continuum of care. The approaches highlighted in the book are informed by research and intended for public health practitioners to use based on the needs of their local population.

“It’s really about finding that local need for whoever is reading that,” he said. 

Gabriel Edwards, who attended the Annual Meeting and Expo representing UCLA, was having his copy of “Racism: Science and Tools for the Public Health Professional, Second Edition” signed. For him, the connection was personal — he had previously worked with author Chandra L. Ford.

“It’s neat because I know her, and I was excited to pick up the book and have a chance to get it signed by all the chapter authors,” Edwards said. 

According to APHA Press’ deputy director of publications services, David Hartogs, APHA Press is the source for public health-related reads, with books aimed at academics, public health practitioners and physicians. APHA Press publishes an average of six books a year. 

“We give a voice to publishers who want to get their work in the hands of people at public health departments,” Hartogs said. “We view our books as a tool for the public health workforce to get up to speed on a new task or emerging issue or to refresh their knowledge of something they’re already doing.”

The Public Health Expo continues through Tuesday afternoon, and books are still available at the APHA Press booth.

Photo: William Wieczorek and Martha Waller. Photo courtesy Michele Late, The Nation’s Health.