Bechara Choucair, Precision Community Health: Four Innovations (Island Press: 2020)
Bechara Choucair was Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health from 2009-2014, under Mayor Rahm Emanuel. He currently serves as senior vice president and chief health officer for the Kaiser Foundation. Although most of this book is based on his early experience in Chicago, he also occasionally compares and contrasts the experiences of public health commissioners and mayors in New York City and Los Angeles. The main public health issues addressed include the production/sale/use/regulation of e-cigarettes (vaping), teen pregnancy, and urban environmental issues such as air and water pollution. The focus is on the health effects upon the most vulnerable/disadvantaged populations, especially: people of color, gay, lesbian, transgender, and undocumented immigrants. The “Four Innovations” or “Pillars” of urban public health include: “Big Data, Policy, Media, and Coalition Building.” In light of recent events, such as forest fires, hurricanes, and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, this book is surprising prescient and relevant. Some critics may point out that the book could have done more with statewide and national issues surrounding Obamacare, including Republican/Democratic party politics. Others may have hoped for a bit more on rural and small town issues, including access to health care institutions such as hospitals, medical medical schools, healthcare professionals, and pharmaceutical products. Nevertheless, this is a priority acquisition for academic libraries and public libraries that serve programs in medicine, public health, urban affairs, and other health care programs. This highly-focused, thoroughly researched, well written book would serve as an excellent textbook for both undergraduate and graduate courses.
Forthcoming: Choice Magazine
