An array of speakers from different backgrounds took part in discussions at PAI 2026.
Photo courtesy Gayatri Malhotra
Public health advocates who can connect with decisionmakers and communities on a personal level are more successful at turning science into policy.
That was one of the messages emphasized by experts at APHA's 2026 Policy Action Institute, which brought together hundreds of public health supporters online and in-person for discussions on advancing public health policy in June.
In public health, engaging in politics is not about taking partisan positions, according to Shelley Hearne, DrPH, MPH, director of the Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy at Johns Hopkins University. Instead, it should be focused on gaining support from political leaders on key health issues, she told institute participants.
Elected leaders rarely understand the full complexity of public health issues. Advocates must grasp the sociocultural, fiscal, political, legal and administrative dimensions of an issue and translate them clearly for policymakers to move policies forward, Hearne said.
Beyond better communication with policymakers, building support for public health depends on strong community engagement, according to other speakers who shared insights over two days in Arlington, Virginia. Communicating how issues affect people and communities is essential.
“Public health is good at speaking about data,” Susan Polan, PhD, APHA's associate executive director for public affairs and advocacy, said at the event. “But we're less good at telling our story.”
Attendees at APHA's seventh Policy Action Institute applaud speakers. This year's event was in Arlington, Virginia.
Photo courtesy Gayatri Malhotra
Personal narratives can drive advocacy and reshape systems that often overlook patient voices, said Robert Sanchez, MSW, MA, who shared his experiences in incarceration as well as his health journey as a two-time kidney transplant recipient and cancer survivor.
The event also highlighted the importance of engaging people who may disagree with public health priorities and bringing them into broader coalitions.
Hosts of the popular “Why Should I Trust You?” podcast, including Brinda Adhikari, Tom Johnson and Maggie Bartlett, PhD, moderated discussions on building strong coalitions and mobilizing around shared goals.
As federal challenges continue to shape public health, including funding cuts, changes to vaccine infrastructure and the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, panelists said practitioners must remain committed to their core missions.
Coalition building requires engaging with people who may have supported policies harmful to public health, speakers said. Advocates do not need to compromise their principles. But they do need to engage people with different public health views.
“If everyone on your team is from public health, you're going to lose,” Adhikari said during a panel. “You need people who don't think like you, you need people who didn't vote like you, you need people who are from other sectors...it may be generational work, but that's slowly what moves those ships.”
A participant at APHA's event talks to presenters. Among topics was finding common ground with politicians and the public.
Photo courtesy Gayatri Malhotra
Many of the institute's participants later took what they learned to Capitol Hill, meeting with members of Congress and their staff to discuss public health priorities.
For more information, visit www.apha.org/pai.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
