Underscoring our Collective Power

What I learned

• Deanna Wathington, president of the APHA, gave the opening address. She talked about public health challenges of increasing concern like infectious disease outbreaks, worsening socioeconomic inequality, attacks on DEI, cuts to international aid, and global human rights issues. She also emphasized that, despite pandemic burnout and recent government attacks on public health initiatives, policies, jobs, and infrastructure, we continue to show up and fight for our communities. 

•  I attended a session by Deborah Thompson, IPHA board member, called Iowa’s Historical Public Health Controversies and What Lessons We Can Learn Today. She talked about the Iowa Cow War of 1931 (a series of violent protests by farmers in eastern Iowa against mandatory cattle testing for bovine tuberculosis, fueled by distrust in the government and hardship during the Great Depression) and its relation to today’s anti-vaccine movement. I think public health people need to make it our top priority to give our undivided attention to public relations (listening)! Without community trust, data and policy fall short. 

• Jeneane McDonald, the Public Health Workforce Director at IDHHS, presented her work Exploring Local health Departments’ Readiness for Cross-Sector Collaboration and Community Engagement for Systems Change. Dr. McDonald stressed that Iowans must build bridges before we need them to strengthen existing public health partnerships, as well as to realize new ones. 

• I attended a few sessions that highlighted ways to achieve public health goals outside of the standard infrastructure – students, this means get involved! Volunteer or do your practicum with a local organization, particularly one that doesn’t usually work with public health people. Pay attention to their needs in the context of your training. You know more than you think you do. 

• During the pre-conference workshop Harnessing the Power of Civic Engagement for Health, Jeanne Ayers of Healthy Democracy Healthy People called attention to the connection between civic engagement and health. She underscored the importance of power and its relation to the social determinants of health, disenfranchisement, and intentional disempowerment. I have since spent a lot of time thinking about power. Electrical power is the product of current and voltage. I like to imagine current as the pressure behind water in a hose and voltage as the width of the mouth of the hose. Another fun way to think about it is this: voltage is how hard we kick, current is how many of us kick simultaneously. A few more people = a lot more power. 

What I observed

• Most PHCI attendees seemed tired – the kind of tired that can’t be remedied by a good night’s sleep or a cup of coffee. Public health people are tired.  

What made me scared 

• After attending PHCI, it was clear to me that most public health people are not prepared for funds and jobs to vanish. Funds and jobs are going to disappear whether or not we’re ready. Find your passion and your grit. You’re going to need them. 

What I found hopeful

• The incredible work public health people do all over the state had me in awe. It was clear many will continue to do this work no matter what. I felt so honored to share space with them.  

• Students: remember when I said public health people are tired? It’s the final quarter, our starting line is limping, the opposing team won’t stop fouling us, and we need to get off the bench. We have a vision of the world we want to build. Now play. 

Public Health Under Attack: Silence Amidst the Crisis

                On a sunny fall day, a group of duck hunters headed out to the local pond to start their season. When they arrived, they saw a pond full of ducks, ripe for the harvest. One hunter took aim and shot towards the ducks. Within seconds, the startled ducks flew emerged from the water, looking for safety and alerting others around.

                On a dreary day in early November 2024, American voters turned out to the polls – or chose to sit in comfort and waited patiently for the results of the election. But there was no alarm.

                The following January, a public health threatening power transition occurred. Still, no alarms were sounded.

                At the end of March, current and emerging public health professional gathered. During this gathering, approximately 18% of the nation’s leading science-based, data-driven, service organization that protects the public’s health workforce was cut. No alarms were sounded. In fact, people didn’t even know!

                “What will you do without funding?” No alarms were sounded.

                Public health has been facing an imminent threat. The hunters are out, they are taking shots, so why are we still sitting in the pond?

Ask yourself….

Now, Are You Ready To Get to Work?

Volunteer right here in Johnson County	https://www.unitedwayjwc.org/volunteer-center
Join IPHA and get involved with the legislative agenda or other advocacy events!	https://iowapha.org/join/#
Join the APHA Student Assembly community!	https://www.apha.org/apha-communities/student-assembly/who-we-are
Check out ways you can participate in Advocacy for Public Health through APHA!	https://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/advocacy-for-public-health
Keep up with the latest advocacy initiatives through the ASPPH.	https://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/advocacy-for-public-health