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What We Learned at the Public Health TechXpo and Futures Forum ASTHO | Our staff's top takeaways from the TechXpo. astho, association of state and territorial health officials, public health techxpo and futures forum, public health leaders, u.s. public health system, public health policy, data sharing and modernization, population health, governmental health agencies, public health infastructure, workforce resilience, public health workforce, techxpo and futures forum, public health infrastructure, build workforce resilience, future of public health, health techxpo and futures, health leaders and experts, experts across the technology, health workforce, health outcomes, futures forum, health leaders, health departments, public health professionals, today and the future, public health services, public health techxpo Dylan Reynolds Marcus Plescia and Garfield Clunie present "The Future of Measuring Health Equity - A World of Evolving Data." Last month, ASTHO kicked off the Public Health TechXpo and Futures Forum in Chicago, an opportunity for some of the world’s top leaders in technology and to engage public health leaders on challenges and solutions for successfully modernizing the U.S. public health system. Over 600 participants were in attendance, with 200 more attending virtually from around the world. It was a packed three days. Our speakers demystified the world of public health policy, opened doors to new funding streams, and gave us a glimpse into the glittering future of data sharing and modernization. Heavy hitters from Amazon and Google weighed in as well, showing us how they’re working hand-in-hand with health agencies to change the way they approach population health and well-being. So as we look back on a busy week—and look ahead to our virtual follow-up event on June 15—here are some of the messages that stuck with us the most: "Standards are like toothbrushes. Everyone has one, and no one wants to use some else’s." The line from Gabriel Seidman, director of policy at the Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, was met with a belly laugh from a crowded room during one of the week’s most well-attended sessions, a panel conversation on the future of measuring health equity. However, Seidman’s comparison was an apt one. There is certainly much to be said for a public health data system that is engineered to meet the specific needs of its target community. However, for public health experts to do their best work, they must be able to speak a common language—at a local, state, territorial, and national level. When each level of public health is operating with different standards in place and with a different definition of success, data gets lost and people get left behind. One of the loudest calls to action from the week was for governmental health agencies to break down these data siloes and establish common standards between agencies. The "Next Pandemic" is a Priority—But It's Not the Only One There is—understandably—mounting national attention on preparing for what many public health experts believe will be the inevitable "next pandemic." The COVID-19 pandemic showed us what a lack of preparedness could mean for population health, and there is so much unknown about what the future of pandemics has in store. However, experts at the TechXpo reminded us that public health is about more than responding to a singular crisis. "I think many of the conversations we're having are so focused on COVID-like pandemics," said John Auerbach (alumni-MA) "But if we look at the things that are still killing people, for the most part it's not infectious disease." Instead, Auerbach cited challenges that have long been a part of the public health story, such as diabetes, the fentanyl overdose crisis, and climate change. Before COVID-19 entered the national spotlight, public health’s day-to-day work was largely centered on chronic disease and behavioral health. Auerbach reminded us that amid all of the unknowns of our future, there is plenty we do know—and plenty we can be doing to address it. "Modernizing data systems is more than buying a big computer." While there were many versions of this message over the course of the forum, Auerbach perhaps said it most concisely of all. In other words, it doesn’t matter if a public health agency has a chrome-plated exterior and a cloud-based data system, so long as the underlying infrastructure isn’t sustainably and thoughtfully built. Whether it’s a matter of restricted funding, antiquated processes, or siloed thinking, health agencies and their leaders must have a plan to address these challenges before assuming that “buying a big computer” will catch their data dashboards up to speed. This was one of the ironies of this future-forward event: Amid so many exciting innovations and inventions, many of the challenges boiled down to basic, equity-centered questions about the best way to get this new technology in the right people’s hands. If public health is going to take a technological leap at a national level, then it must also be able to make a leap at a community level—in communities of color, in territorial health agencies, and in our policies. Jumping lightyears ahead doesn’t count if entire populations are still being left lightyears behind. Workforce Resilience Cannot Be Taken for Granted We cannot separate the future of public health from the future of its workforce. The COVID-19 emergency response has left many public health workers feeling burned out and harboring traumatic levels of toxic stress, pushing many of them to seek out jobs outside the field. In fact, according to a recent analysis of data from the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey, 46% of state and local public health employees left their jobs between 2017 and 2021. For public health to reach its full potential in the future, we must begin investing in that workforce today. Over the course of the week, we heard often from mental health experts and senior health officials to learn about their priorities, challenges, and paths to improve workforce well-being in their health agencies. This included the unveiling of the PH-HERO Workforce Resource Center, which arms health agencies with the resources and knowledge they need to support their workforce. Whatever the future of public health holds, it begins with a workforce who is motivated to make that future a reality. More than anything, the TechXpo was a reminder that public health’s future is as multiple as it is uncertain. We are working toward a future that is more adaptable than ever before—with thought innovators and health experts who are constantly reflecting, pivoting, and adjusting to the moment. There are so many conversations yet to be had. For those who have not done so already, we invite you to register for our fully virtual TechXpo follow-up forum on June 15, and add your voice to the growing chorus. website yes

ASTHO asked six DELPH scholars to reflect on their DiSC assessment results and how they use the findings to tap into their leadership influence and impact.

In this blog post, six DELPH scholars share their thoughts on what it means to have influence as a leader and the individuals that have most influenced their leadership styles.

Understanding boundary spanning principles helps public health practitioners recognize the types of boundaries that come naturally when navigating relationships that may involve managing up, down, and across.

Through the lens of the Public Health Accreditation Board's standards and measures, this report explores innovative programs and policies implemented by health departments in an effort to adopt system-wide approaches to achieving health equity.

ASTHO invited five DELPH scholars to provide examples of how community and diversity shape their leadership within their local health department and share recommendations for a more inclusive workplace.

One of President Biden’s first actions just before being sworn into office was to draft up the American Rescue Plan, a sweeping proposal that ASTHO has committed to working with the Biden Administration on. The proposal offers a national vaccination plan, a promise to address COVID-19 health disparities, and efforts to prioritize the expansion the public health workforce. This post details some of the high-level takeaways, as they relate to public health.

One of tools presidents have to implement and drive their strategy are executive actions. Executive orders and presidential memoranda carry the force of law and allow presidents to move quickly, deliver a clear message, organize the functioning of the executive branch, and spotlight critical issues with declarations of commemorative observances.

This week has been both exhilarating and poignant. Almost surreal. We started the week by pausing to celebrate and reflect on the life and legacy of one of America’s greatest sons, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Tuesday, ASTHO participated in the National Day of Healing, which provided opportunities for our staff to engage in conversations with one another, seeing one another’s humanity, as well for individual mediation, reflection and learning. On Wednesday, we were honored to witness the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris—the first woman, first Black and first Asian American person to serve in this role. This week also marked one year since we learned of the first known case of COVID-19. Despite these challenges, I am more optimistic now than ever that our collective impact and commonsense recovery response will help guide our successful return to safety and normalcy.

A discussion with Meredith Allen, ASTHO’s Vice President for Health Security, about how the first shipments of the COVID-19 vaccinations have been a major turning point for the pandemic and a milestone moment for U.S. public health history.

Community engagement is essential in the fight to end the HIV epidemic. By prioritizing a health equity lens, those battling HIV can be better heard and involved in improving their health.

With the COVID-19 pandemic in full force, health agencies are ensuring that their focus does not drift from the fight to end the HIV epidemic. Resiliency is key to continue to make progress in this decades-long fight.

Hispanic Heritage Month takes place annually from September 15-October 15 to celebrate the history, culture, achievements, and influence of the Hispanic and Latinx community in the U.S. In recognition of this month, ASTHO interviewed one of our newest members, José Romero, MD, Secretary of Health at the Arkansas Department of Health. In this blog post, he speaks with us about how his experiences as a Hispanic working in healthcare have impacted him and his leadership style.

If EMS can change the perception of patients with Substance Use Disorder, they will see that building rapport and encouraging the patient to seek help from resources they provide can be mutually beneficial. For EMS, it reduces the call volume, and often the financial cost, of repeated responses for the same patient—and the patient gets the help they need to break the cycle of substance dependence.

In August 2020, the Big Cities Health Coalition and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials released a co-produced public service announcement to support public education in our members’ communities. The call to action in the PSA is straightforward: Americans need to put aside our respective differences and, simply, #MaskUp.

The importance of having designated time for staff to connect, grow, develop and share has always been the driving force behind the decision to host “ASTHO Week,” a three-and-a-half daylong all-staff convening every quarter. Given our current work environment, having this time together seems necessary now, more than ever. So in the midst of the pandemic and our full-time telework, here’s what our team learned about planning a 100% virtual ASTHO Week.

As a lifelong public health professional, I am troubled by the opportunities I missed to better address racial injustice. We must used this moment to refresh, to listen and learn from each other. If we are who we say we are, and if we are as brave as we can be, we can fulfill our vision for a better, more equitable, future.

On May 2, 2023, ASTHO released a statement of support for the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology’s new report and recommendations for supporting the U.S. public health workforce.

On January 12, 2023, ASTHO Immediate Past President, and Director of the Maine CDC, Nirav D. Shah, MD, JD, has been tapped to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as Principal Deputy Director.  

On Nov. 2, 2022, ASTHO announced the launch of PublicHealthCareers.com, a new website for job seekers in the field.