Building a Culture of Health in
Maine: The Future Begins Now
Paul Kuehnert, DNP, RN
Director
Bridging Health & Healthcare Portfolio
“The two most important days
in your life are the day you were
born and the day you find out
why.”
-Mark Twain
• City of St. Louis Health Department
1947 – 1981
• Health Commissioner
1972 - 1981
Helen Bruce, MD
1907 - 1994
Our 20th Century Public Health Legacy
Top three causes of death in 1900
• Pneumonia
• Tuberculosis
• Diarrhea
Deaths from Infectious Disease 1900-2000, US
Influenza Pandemic
st Century Public Health Problem
Our
21
Changing leading causes of death – US
2010
Pneumonia
Tuberculosis
Diarrhea
Mortality Rate
1900
Heart
Disease
Cancer
Stroke
Epidemiologic Transition
‘Shorter, sicker lives’
8
Spending more…Getting less
Low Life Expectancy at
Every Age
Ranking of US Mortality Rates by Age Group vs. Peer
Countries, 2006-2008
•For both sexes,
the US never
ranks higher than
15 out of 17
countries before
age 75.
Source: IOM Report, Shorter Lives, Poorer Health. 2013
Life expectancy, by county, compared to
the world’s 10 best countries
Murray, C JL and Ezzati, M. “Falling behind: life expectancy in
US counties from 2000 to 2007 in an international context,”
Population Health Metrics, June 2011
County Health
Rankings:
12
Health Outcomes
County Health
Rankings:
13
Health Factors
The wise aim at boundaries
beyond the present.
-- African proverb
15
Culture of Health
Vision:
We, as a nation, will strive together to
create a culture of health enabling all in
our diverse society to lead healthy lives,
now and for generations to come.
Being healthy
and staying
healthy is an
esteemed
social value
health of the
population
guides public
and private
decision-making
geography and demographics
do not serve as barriers to good health.
individuals,
businesses and
governments
work collectively
to foster healthy
communities and
lifestyles.
individuals,
businesses
the economy
is less and
burdened by
governments
excessive
and unwarranted
work care
collectively
health
spending
to foster healthy
communities and
lifestyles.
we are all
supported to make
proactive choices
that will improve
our health.

That’s all very nice, but……
How do we go
about building a
‘Culture of Health’
We can't solve problems by using
the same kind of thinking we used
when we created them.
-- Albert Einstein
What does a “Culture of Health” mean
to you?
Share an example of catalyzing big
changes in your community.
“The best way to predict the future is
to create it.” -Peter Drucker
Contact Info:
Paul Kuehnert
Director, Bridging Health &
Healthcare Portfolio
(609)-627-6319
pkuehnert@rwjf.org
Twitter: @PaulKuehnert
Supplemental Slides
Social Cohesion &
Shared Value of
Health
Multi-Sectoral
Collaboration to Build
Health Partnerships
Improved & Equitable
Opportunity for
Healthy Choices &
Environments
Improved Quality,
Efficiency, & Equity of
Health & Health Care
Systems
Outcomes
Action
Dimensions
Culture of Health Action Model
Improved
Population Health Systems &
Well Being
■ Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Creating the conditions where
communities can be successful in
building a culture of health
RWJF Programing
■ Bridging Health and Health Care
■ Catalyzing Demand for Healthy Places & Practices
■ Stable and Affordable Coverage
■ Reducing Childhood Obesity
■ Eliminating Health Disparities
■ Engaging Business for Health
■ Human Capital & Leadership
■ Achieving Value in Health and Health Care
■ Strengthening Vulnerable Children & Families
Connect with us!
Join us on www.rwjf.org/pph
And visit us at www.rwjf.org