I’m so pleased to serve as your APHA president this year. It was very invigorating to see and engage with so many of you online and in-person at APHA’s 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo in October.
Discussions at this year’s event reminded me we have a lot of work to do in public health, and that our collective voices are more important now than ever. I came away from the Annual Meeting with former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher’s insights about health equity resonating loudly in my head.
“We need leaders who care enough, know enough and are persistent enough” to make a critical impact on health equity, he told participants at the meeting’s closing session. I took that message as a charge to me, as your president, to do all I can do make a difference. But I need your help.
My favorite definition of “collective voices” is a composite of several definitions that I have found over my career. In short, a collective voice is the voice of a group that represents a variety of perspectives and influence. But what makes it a collective is that the members in the group speak with one voice.
APHA has 25,000 collective voices worldwide, and together we speak for the health of all people and all communities. We also strengthen the public health profession and advance health equity.
One voice, backed by strong science and a solid commitment to create the healthiest nation in one generation. That is quite a voice!
The public health workforce has undergone significant challenges over the past two years as we have dealt with both the COVID-19 pandemic and our already-complicated regular duties. Even with these pressures, we’ve continued to serve as advocates for rebuilding and restoring public health. After all, if we can’t champion public health, who can?
APHA is marking its 150th anniversary this year, using the occasion to celebrate its long history of championing public health and harness its collective voice.
I can’t think of a better reason to promote public health and to restore the energy, support and funding that our workforce needs. I plan to use this year to work with you on such issues as:
strengthening the public health workforce and infrastructure;
championing justice, equity, diversity and inclusion;
refreshing public health practice;
using what we’ve learned from the pandemic to address rural health; and
strengthening the engagement of APHA members.
This is our year. Let’s seize that opportunity to celebrate, reflect and restore. I want you to know that I — along with APHA’s Executive Board — am here to serve you. We hope that you will let us know how we can best use our collective voices in support of you, our public health workforce.
Let’s make 2022 the year of public health!
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
