It publishes the newsletter Broad Sheet, and hosts the Pumphandle Lecture at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

[1] Its co-founder and first president was Paul Fine,[2][3] who believes that the address book (that is, the ability to map and otherwise identify characteristics of people in relation to the local spread of disease) is key to public health and the solving of epidemics.

[11] Members include Norman Begg,[12][13] Frank J. Mahoney,[14] Jimmy Whitworth, Sandy Cairncross, Christina Marriott, Liam Smeeth, Stefan Flasche, Sebastian Funk, James Hargreaves, Dilys Morgan, Marta Tufet, and Rosalind Stanwell-Smith.

[17][18] At the conclusion of the Pumphandle Lecture, the guest speaker ceremonially removes the pump handle.

[19] The attendees then retire to the John Snow pub, where the AGM of the Society takes place.