ASPPH has taken a proactive stance in the 2024 US presidential election, sending letters to candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump urging both nominees to prioritize addressing complex public health challenges, both domestically and globally. ASPPH emphasizes that, regardless of the election’s outcome, the next administration must commit to creating an environment where public health thrives, supporting optimal health outcomes for all.
Priorities for Presidential Leadership in Public Health
ASPPH has outlined several critical areas for leadership in the letters that call for immediate action to improve coordination and trust in science across the public health sector:
- Strengthening coordination across federal public health agencies
- Appointing individuals with public health expertise in key administrative roles
- Communicating effectively with federal agencies and stakeholders
- Restoring trust in federal science agencies
ASPPH Leaders Call for Action
The letters were co-signed by ASPPH President & CEO, Laura Magaña; Thomas A. LaVeist, ASPPH Board Chair and Dean, Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine; Boris D. Lushniak, ASPPH Advocacy Advisory Committee Chair and Dean, the University of Maryland School of Public Health; and ASPPH Chief External Relations and Advocacy Officer, Tim Leshan.
The letters reinforce ASPPH’s commitment to elevating the role of academic public health in shaping the nation’s future.