Lowell S Levin: guardian of public health

Citizen participation movement

His research and work as a consultant throughout the world have often challenged established public health beliefs and practices. Committed to health promotion, in the 1960s he pioneered the citizen participation movement, focusing on health communication and the social and behavioural factors affecting health (Self Care: Lay Initiatives in Health, 1976). In the 1970s and early 1980s, with the first publication of The Hidden Health Care System and other works, Lowell brought to public health’s attention the role of non-professional resources in strengthening personal capacity for health and wellbeing, primarily self care. In the 1980s Lowell pressed for improvement in the quality of medical care, notably as a co-author of Medicine on Trial: The Appalling Story of Ineptitude, Malfeasance, Neglect, and Arrogance—a 1988 groundbreaking book documenting the extent of medical mistakes and other widespread medical scandals. Lowell inspired people in different disciplines and with …