Interdisciplinary contributions to public health law.

This session was created to display the value of interdisciplinary thought to the practice and teaching of public health. Through the extraordinary examples of four articulate, highly trained, and gifted individuals, the value of such training is demonstrated for the enhancement of both the individual and society. Each person describes how she or he has used the process of interdisciplinary learning, analysis, and action to enrich the substance of their personal and professional lives and the activities within their careers. Their “infectious” passion for what they do is so obvious that the audience cannot help but become personally engaged and excited. Through individual examples and stories, through discovery, analysis, science, humor, relationship-building, and values translation, each presenter briefly describes the particular path carved out and the impact that unique trail has had upon others-be they students, colleagues, or citizens in the community. Each person calls for a greater understanding of the use of interdisciplinary training and describes its resultant enhancement of the approach taken to problems faced, tackled, and resolved. One cannot help but be struck with admiration for the discipline displayed by these leaders as each uniquely pursued a dream and describes a career filled with satisfaction and pride. The listener is left with a sense of purpose and duty, “for the greater good,” and perhaps even an expectation that, “I, too, can respond to the challenge,” by enhancing my own knowledge base. Susan Allan