A welcome letter from APHA's Dr. Benjamin

Dr. Georges Benjamin

Greetings public health colleagues,

As you all know, these are uncertain times for public health. Budgets are on the decline, staff and services are being cut, and hard-fought gains in community health and public health capacity hang in the balance. In addition, new and celebrated sources of public health support, such as those within the landmark Prevention and Public Health Fund, are under near constant threat of elimination. And with the fate of the Affordable Care Act now in the hands of the Supreme Court, the future seems even murkier than before.

That's the bad news. The good news is that public health is no stranger to uncertain times. We know how to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to improving our communities' health — we've done it before and we'll do it again...and again and again. It's what we do. Still, continuing our work toward long-held public health goals means quickly adapting to new constraints, taking advantage of new opportunities and technologies, prioritizing efficiency and effectiveness, and learning how to communicate our successes in compelling and relatable ways.

These are not easy tasks, which is why coming together to share promising practices, discuss pressing problems and solutions, and learn from each other's experiences is vital. It's why I hope you'll join me and your fellow public health practitioners from all over the nation at APHA's 2012 Midyear Meeting in Charlotte, N.C., from June 26 to 28. With a theme of "The New Public Health: Rewiring for the Future," the Midyear Meeting will offer a variety of insightful sessions and presentations from local, state and federal public health leaders.

Just a few of the meeting's many highlights include: A special evening session on the Supreme Court's health reform decision (cross your fingers!); sessions covering the latest in successful public health advocacy and social media use with tools and info you can bring home with you; and more than one opportunity to network with new and old public health friends. Click here for a complete schedule of sessions and speakers.

Of course, no matter where you are June 26-28, you can keep up with all the happenings via APHA's social media and news offerings, including the APHA Meetings Blog, our Public Health Twitter (don't forget to use the hashtag#APHAMid12) and our Public Health Newswire.

I hope to see you soon in Charlotte. Together, I know we can make a difference.

Best (and healthy) wishes,
Dr. Georges Benjamin