Public Health Academy 4: The Power of Public Health Data
Written by Lucas Coyle, Coalition for Health Funding
The Coalition for Health Funding, CDC Foundation, and CDC partnered together to host the fourth Public Health Academy event, The Power of Public Health Data, which highlighted how the CDC’s public health data modernization efforts have transformed our response to emerging public health threats. CHF and partners were thrilled to be joined by several special guests including CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI), Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Senate Appropriations Labor-HHS Committee Chair Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and EPIC CEO Judy Faulkner. Together, Congressional staff learned more about how our public health systems can more quickly respond to public health threats because of the investments Congress has made to date in data modernization.
Attendees participated in a public health data quiz game and an interactive panel discussion with data experts including Dr. Jennifer Layden, Director of the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, & Technology at CDC, Dr. Dylan George, Director of the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at CDC, Theresa Sokol, State Epidemiologist at the Louisiana Department of Health, and Matt Doyle, Interoperability Director at Epic. Throughout the exercise, the audience were asked questions that challenged their knowledge of how data impacts public health response. The interactive format highlighted key issues, such as how long it takes for critical information to reach health departments, what types of data the CDC collects, and the importance of timely forecasting during outbreaks.
Each question led to deeper dives into the complexities of data, with panelists offering unique perspectives from both data consumers and providers. The conversation illuminated the growing need for robust data systems to help local health departments respond swiftly and effectively to public health threats.
The panelists left the audience with a few key takeaways:
Sustained Funding is best for Public Health: Long-term continued funding is essential for improving public health data.
Timely and High-Quality Data matter for responses: Accurate data are crucial for early and quick on the ground public health response—and this happens at the State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal level.
Investments are paying off! To date, Congress has invested about $3 billion in public health data modernization and these dollars are making a difference!
The Coalition for Health Funding and CDC Foundation look forward to continuing to educate Hill staff on the importance of public health at future Public Health Academies.
