Virtual Forum—Fighting For Our Lives: Developing a Public Health Agenda During COVID-19
Aug 20, 2020
On Thursday, August 20th, Health & Medicine hosted the second forum in a two-part series. This forum focused on developing an agenda for a strong public health system. We discussed ideas for rebuilding public health investment, workforce, training and education, and infrastructure.
In 2019, the U.S. was ranked #1 for being the most prepared for a pandemic, but major failures have hurt the COVID-19 response. One critical part of the story is the history of disinvestment in public health, leaving our current systems woefully inadequate.
Chicago Health Justice Forum: A Virtual Discussion
Fighting for Our Lives: Developing a public health agenda during COVID-19, Pt. 2
Thursday, August 20th, 4-5:30 pm CT
As COVID-19 reminds us everyday, the condition of our public health systems is a matter of life and death. Long-term health and social inequities compounded by COVID-19 reveal this crisis to be yet another matter of health injustice. So, what should we be demanding for a strong public health system, prepared to both respond to pandemics and emergencies––and proactively advance health equity?
The following questions guided the discussion, with time for questions from the audience:
- What is needed to fully repair the public health system for responding to COVID-19?
- What should be on the agenda to rebuild the public health system?
- What steps should be taken to prepare for other epidemics, pandemics, and public health emergencies?
- What types of training and education is needed for the public health workforce?
- How do we ensure a focus on social justice-oriented public health practice?
Moderator: Jim Bloyd, MPH, Regional Health Officer, Cook County Department of Public Health
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Aletha Maybank, M.D., MPH, Chief Health Equity Officer and Vice President,
American Medical Association
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Julie Pryde, MPH, MSW, Administrator, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District |
This forum builds on part 1, which included an exploration of the history of public health within the context of austerity and privatization and the response to COVID-19.
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