Responding to the Next Public Health Emergency; A Scenario-Based Bipartisan Dialogue Recap

On June 24, ASPPH, in partnership with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), hosted Responding to the Next Public Health Emergency: A Scenario-Based Bipartisan Dialogue, to examine how public health leaders make critical decisions during a public health emergency. Using a realistic case study that was unknown to the panel prior to the event, leaders navigated the evolving challenges of responding to a drug-resistant bacterial outbreak, exploring the difficult decisions, communication strategies, and cross-sector collaboration required during a rapidly changing crisis.

The exercise underscored that effective emergency response depends not only on science, but also on coordination, communication, and public trust. The panel consisted of Amesh Adalja, MD, FIDSA, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; LCDR Joseph Azzarello, MD PhD, MC USN, Uniformed Services University Alumni; Okey Enyia, DrPH, MPH, Government Relations Executive, Founder and CEO of Enyia Strategies, LLC, Founder and President of the John Henry Institute; Paul Friedrichs, MD, Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University, Former Deputy Assistant to the President and Inaugural Director of the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy; Kelly Gebo, MD, MPH, Michael and Lori Milken Dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University; and Michelle Taylor, MD, DrPH, MPA, Commissioner of Health, Baltimore City Health Department.

Five key takeaways from the discussion:

Strong partnerships save time and lives. Timely communication among hospitals, health systems, and public health agencies is essential to identify emerging threats, understand who is at risk, and coordinate an effective response.

Clear, transparent communication builds public trust. During a crisis, communicating in real time is critical-but so is ensuring messages are clear, consistent, and tailored to the communities they serve.

Local data drives better decisions. Robust local data collection helps leaders understand how an outbreak is affecting entire communities, particularly medically underserved populations, enabling more equitable and targeted interventions.

Sustained investment requires accountability. Strengthening public health infrastructure depends on continued investment and holding elected officials accountable for supporting preparedness before emergencies occur.

Preparedness begins long before a crisis. Building a resilient public health system means investing in the workforce, strengthening the transition from education to practice, learning from successful models such as military health care, and recognizing the human element at the center of every emergency response.

Academic public health can play a critical role in this preparedness by partnering with local health departments to equip students with not just classroom knowledge, but hands-on experience, ensuring they are ready to respond effectively in real-world public health emergencies.

Thank you to our partners at USUHS, our panelists, moderator, and everyone who joined us for this thoughtful dialogue. As new public health challenges continue to emerge, conversations like these help ensure we're better prepared for whatever comes next.