Novick (community health and preventive medicine, East Carolina U.) et al. compile 24 chapters by individuals who work in public health and medicine in the US, who review current issues of interest to public health administrators, as well as their responsibilities. This edition contains new chapters on public health systems research and ethics; revisions on disaster preparedness and response, with discussion of 9/11, the 2004 tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina; and a new section on strategic planning for community health improvement and the use of Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership. It also has a new section on cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of interventions and discusses the findings and recommendations of the Institute of Medicine's report, The Future of the Public's Health in the 21st Century. Also added is an update on the process of Healthy People 2010, information on changes in the organization of health agencies, advances in surveillance, local and state public health finance, developments in community health assessment, and advances in the prevention of chronic disease through behavioral and environmental interventions. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)