Elevating the Practice of Public Health in a Transforming Landscape
From July 10 to 13, 2023, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) hosted its NACCHO360 Conference in Denver, Colorado, bringing together local health department leaders, public health practitioners, policymakers, and researchers from across the United States. With the theme “Elevating Public Health Practice for Today and Tomorrow,” the 2023 conference provided a crucial space for exploring how public health systems can adapt to current challenges while preparing for the future.
As the nation emerges from the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference emphasized the need to modernize public health infrastructure, empower a sustainable workforce, and advance health equity in communities historically underserved by the healthcare system.
Core Themes: Workforce, Equity, and Technology
Throughout four days of keynotes, panels, workshops, and networking events, the NACCHO360 Conference focused on three primary themes shaping the public health agenda in 2023:
1. Public Health Workforce Development
A major focus of the conference was the pressing need to recruit, retain, and support a robust and diverse public health workforce. Sessions explored strategies for:
- Strengthening training pipelines through academic partnerships.
- Addressing burnout and trauma among frontline health workers.
- Expanding diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives in hiring and leadership development.
The conference acknowledged that sustained investment in workforce well-being is essential to ensure community resilience in the face of future health emergencies.
2. Advancing Health Equity
The integration of health equity across all levels of public health practice was a central tenet of the 2023 NACCHO360 agenda. Participants examined:
- Social determinants of health and their role in perpetuating health disparities.
- Data-driven equity strategies for resource allocation.
- Community engagement practices that center cultural competence and trust-building.
Local health departments shared success stories about grassroots partnerships, emphasizing how lived experience and community voice can shape more effective and inclusive interventions.
3. Technology and Innovation in Public Health
The digital transformation of public health was another recurring topic, with discussions on:
- Implementing health information systems to track outcomes and enhance communication.
- Leveraging artificial intelligence and data analytics to identify trends and predict outbreaks.
- Expanding telehealth and mobile health units to increase access in remote or underserved areas.
Public health technologists emphasized the importance of data governance, cybersecurity, and equitable access to digital tools as essential components of modern infrastructure.
Notable Highlights and Collaborative Initiatives
Keynote speakers at NACCHO360 2023 included federal health leaders, state and local health directors, and community advocates, each reinforcing the urgent need for collaborative, cross-sector solutions to today’s health challenges.
Highlights included:
- A plenary on climate and environmental justice, emphasizing public health’s role in addressing extreme heat, air quality, and disaster preparedness.
- Case studies on local overdose response strategies, integrating behavioral health, harm reduction, and law enforcement collaboration.
- A special panel on building trust in public health communication, particularly in combating misinformation and promoting vaccination.
Interactive breakout sessions provided opportunities for attendees to share best practices in emergency preparedness, maternal health, chronic disease prevention, and community-led health assessments.
A Roadmap for the Future of Public Health
The NACCHO360 Conference concluded with a call to action: for public health professionals to remain resilient, innovative, and equity-focused as they guide communities through an evolving landscape of health threats and opportunities. Leaders emphasized that achieving sustainable progress will require:
- Multi-sector collaboration with housing, education, criminal justice, and environmental agencies.
- Increased federal and state funding for infrastructure and staffing.
- Strengthened community trust and partnerships at the local level.
Attendees left with renewed energy and concrete strategies to bring back to their jurisdictions, reinforcing NACCHO’s role as a national convener and thought leader for local public health.
Source:
Public Health Foundation – NACCHO360 Conference 2023
