Actuarially speaking: an overview of life expectancy. What can we anticipate?

A review of life expectancies of males in 1905, 1955, and 2005 reveals several striking findings. Life expectancies at birth have increased progressively during this 100-y period. For a man graduating in 1905, life expectancy at graduation was actually greater than that at birth. Blacks living into their 70s at that time subsequently had life expectancies that were actually greater than those of their white classmates. The present trend of progressively lengthening life span in all groups reflects the changing pattern of causes of death from formerly untreatable infectious diseases to chronic degenerative disorders. Predictions for the continuing lengthening of the life span of the class of 2005 and succeeding classes may be jeopardized by the alarming increase in obesity, which worsens the incidence of cardiovascular disorders and cancer, the 2 leading causes of death at this time, as well as of diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, and other categories of disease.

Academic health centers and public health departments: partnership matters.

BACKGROUND: The Institute of Medicine has called for increased population-based training for healthcare professions students, and particularly medical students. For this to be effective, students should receive such training in the locations where population-based approaches to care take place, such as public health departments (HDs). However, little is known about currently existing relationships between academic health centers (AHCs) and HDs. METHODS: During the spring and summer of 2003, e-mail surveys on this topic were sent to the 104 members of the Association of Academic Health Centers, and 500 members of the National Association of City and County Health Officers and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers. Results were received from 50 AHCs and 201 HDs. RESULTS: Survey results suggest that large numbers of healthcare professions students--residents, medical students, and others--are currently being trained in many HDs nationwide. The web of relationships between AHCs and HDs extends beyond education into research, service, and other purposes. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results require verification. Nevertheless, they raise questions about the types and quality of the education being offered in health departments, the impact of AHC/HD relationships on both parties, and how existing relationships may be enhanced to meet current and future national needs.