Ross C. Brownson, PhD, is the Lipstein Distinguished Professor of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis and Jonathan M. Samet, MD MS, is Professor of Epidemiology and former dean at the Colorado School of Public Health will present Mapping a Future for Public Health at the next PHS Monday Seminar.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic and other ongoing public health challenges highlighted deficiencies in our public health system. We are in a unique moment that calls for a transformation that builds on Public Health 3.0 and its focus on social determinants of health and partnerships with diverse sectors while acknowledging how the pandemic altered the landscape for public health in the United States. We describe seven areas to support transformational change based on relevant literature, our experience, and interviews with public health leaders. Contextual areas include increasing accountability and addressing politicization and polarization. Topical areas highlight prioritizing climate change and sharpening the focus on equity. Technical areas include advancing data sciences, building the workforce, and enhancing communication capacity. A transformed public health system will depend highly on leadership, funding incentives, and bottom-up and top-down approaches. We need to accelerate the transition to the next phase of public health.
They published a paper on this topic in The Journal of Health Affairs: https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2024.00007
Bios: Ross C. Brownson, PhD, is the Lipstein Distinguished Professor of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis. He directs the Prevention Research Center. Dr. Brownson studies the translation of evidence to public health practice and policy, focusing on environmental and policy determinants of chronic diseases. Dr. Brownson has published over 650 peer-reviewed articles and 16 books, including the first comprehensive texts on dissemination and implementation research and evidence-based public health. He has received numerous awards for his work.
Jonathan M. Samet, MD MS, is Professor of Epidemiology and former dean at the Colorado School of Public Health. His research has focused on the environment and health. He has been extensively engaged in evidence translation for policy formulation at state, national and international levels, chairing numerous committees for the National Academies, EPA, and FDA. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine.
