Can We Actually Move Forward, Together?
Can We Actually Move Forward, Together?
Dean Adnan Hyder shares his thoughts and takeaways from a recent Public Health Conversation that convened leaders from APHA, ASPPH, and the deBeaumont Foundation on how the field needs to evolve and respond.
This past week, I had the privilege of moderating the latest in our new series of Public Health Conversations called “The Future of Public Health”—this particular event was focused on the next 50 years of public health in the United States. This series also celebrates Boston University School of Public Health’s 50th Anniversary. I was delighted to be joined by Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association (APHA), Dr. Linda A. Alexander, chief academic officer of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), and Dr. Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation. Over 1,700 individuals registered to view the livestream, so clearly this is an urgent topic that we are all grappling with, especially at this moment.
The animated dialogue was a learning experience for me and all those engaged in person and online. Each one of our panelists shared insightful and often provocative perspectives on their analysis of the recent past and hope for the future. We were notably aligned on many of the challenges facing the field, including misinformation, lack of trust, reactive culture, the need for strategy, and many more.
I was most struck by the following highlights that emerged from our discussion:
1. Public health faces a communications and marketing challenge. We need to do more, especially when there is no universally agreed definition of public health.
2. Public health is inherently political. Public health must engage in policy, which is unavoidably political, and we should be open to acknowledging that.
3. Community engagement is a strength, yet many times not scalable. As a field, we prioritize community engagement and trusted local messengers, but we have not invested in ways to scale these approaches across societies.
4. Increased fragmentation, especially in recent times, permeates the field. From concerns around the relevancy of our curricula in schools of public health, to the many interest groups within the field, to a growing question that over-specialization may be hindering our long-term growth, there is a disconnect in how the field should advance.
5. Our values are strong, but how we operationalize them has been variable. Understanding and expanding notions of what we mean by equity and “health for all” is important, and yet a challenge for many in our field.
Taken together, the conversation underscored a broader point: public health’s biggest problems are not technical; they are organizational, political, and communicative—and the field can use this moment in history to reflect and engage in healthy introspection for future growth.
We are also clear-eyed on the opportunities for us in public health. We have a tremendous workforce and great students who are energized about creating a healthier world for all. We know that our diversity and commitment to meeting people where they are, are foundational to creating an enabling environment for health. We also have history on our side: Georges Benjamin reminded us that during the founding of APHA in 1872, public health was “a collection of individuals with different perspectives and different views,” a strength that has also required alignment to move forward. This notion of alignment is key to building consensus around a shared vision of public health and messaging to broader society. The question we must grapple with in our respective lanes of industry/trade groups, schools and programs of public health, local/government agencies is: How can we align around shared priorities in ways that translate to coordinated action in this urgent moment?
Many of us in our field are working on these issues daily, including my colleagues here at BUSPH, such as in our Politics and Health Lab, who are analyzing vaccine laws and sentiments across the country, among other efforts.
The conversation could have continued for another hour, as there were so many important and interesting questions raised. I encourage all to watch the recording of the event, posted below.
My sincere thanks to Georges, Brian, and Linda for the engaging conversation. Our next Public Health Conversation on the Future of Public Health: Global Public Health is on May 20, 2026 on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland and online.
Warmly,
Adnan Hyder, MD, MPH, PhD
Dean and Robert A. Knox Professor
Boston University School of Public Health
