Boston — home of the first public health department in the US — has a long and illustrious history as a center for innovative public health strategies. From the introduction of smallpox inoculations in the 18th century to NeighborWalk, a community walking program, in the 21st, Boston’s groundbreaking initiatives have become models for public health practices nationally and internationally.

OVERVIEW

Boston contains an unusually dense and accomplished network of organizations and institutions that work collaboratively to provide high quality care, disease prevention, health education and health promotion.

This network includes the nearly 30 Boston community health centers that provide primary care in neighborhoods throughout the city, traditional fee-for-service and managed-care direct-service providers, three schools of medicine, three schools of public health, and scores of community-based and social service agencies. Boston is also home to