New Year, New Vision for Transforming Public Health

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New Year, New Vision for Transforming Public Health

Transforming Public Health for the 21st Century: Bridging Theory to Practice is a blog series that will explore the challenges and opportunities faced by the public health sector and will introduce innovative ideas and unique voices to support transformation. Sign up here to receive these summaries and more, and also follow KHI on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Learn more about the series on our blog page. Please feel free to share your feedback or suggestions with us by emailing [email protected].

In June 2023, the Kansas Health Institute (KHI) launched this blog, Transforming Public Health for the 21st Century, with the goal of creating a space to share transformative ideas for public health and to bridge proven concepts from other disciplines that could support this journey. Over the past year and a half, we've worked to meet this mission by exploring topics such as burnout and well-being, innovation and change, and multi-county health departments, as well as emerging areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and Health in All Policies. In each instance, we've aimed to blend traditional public health concepts with outside ideas to create something new and innovative.

Along the way, our blog has been recognized for excellence, earning a Prism Award from the Public Relations Society of America, Kansas City Chapter, and being featured in publications from national organizations, such as the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) and JPHMPDirect. These recognitions reinforce our commitment to fostering innovation and meaningful public health conversations.

As the blog has grown, we've refined our thinking about its mission. While we still want it to serve as a space for transformation in public health, we recognize that meaningful change doesn't happen in silos. Transformation emerges when diverse perspectives intersect, build upon one another and spark new ideas that challenge existing paradigms.

We believe the Transforming Public Health for the 21st Century blog can fulfill its mission by serving as a platform for diverse voices - one that encourages exploration, collaboration and creativity to amplify unique perspectives and serve as a melting pot for a shared reimagining of what public health at its best can be. In staying true to our transformative roots, we're excited to evolve our approach to this blog in 2025.

Our Goal for 2025: More Voices, Deeper Perspectives, Shared Vision

In 2025, KHI is committed to bringing more voices together, digging beneath the surface and working toward a shared vision of public health at its best across the region. Our goal is to position the Transforming Public Health for the 21st Century blog as a go-to space for public health thought leadership in mid-America, where meaningful transformation happens when diverse experiences and insights come together to spark new ways of thinking and working.

Contributors to the blog will gain visibility among public health professionals. Guest bloggers may see their stories spark professional discussions, influence strategic reports and even appear in news articles and national presentations.

Your voice matters. You might be the perfect candidate to contribute to this blog if:

• You have special insights on public health leadership but need a platform to amplify your voice.
• You have embraced public health transformation and want to share your story.
• You have a unique point of view on public health and are eager to explore it with others.

If any of these resonate with you, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out and join us in shaping the conversation around public health transformation in 2025.

How Will We Work With You?

Everyone brings something unique to the table and we want to collaborate with you in a way that fits your story, your goals and your style.

• If you have a story to share: We'll work with you as a solo- or co-author. We can provide feedback, help refine your post and ensure your voice shines through. Our post, "The Time for Change is Now: Organizational Solutions for Burnout in Public Health," is a great example of this model.In the post, we worked with the author to help them shape and polish their perspectives on burnout and well-being in public health.
• If you have a unique experience but aren't sure what story to tell: We can collaborate with you to unpack and explore your experience to uncover the deeper insights. This might involve a few conversations and co-authorship with our team. Our post, "Now We're Cooking with Gas - Leveling Up a Health Department in a Smaller County Through PHAB Accreditation," demonstrates this approach.For this post, we interviewed a public health leader to dissect and reconstruct their story about how PHAB accreditation benefitted them and their agency.

This blog embraces collaborative storytelling as a core principle. We're not just looking for polished essays - we're looking for real stories, thoughtful reflections and fresh perspectives. We'll work with you to find the best path forward and ensure your contribution adds to the transformative conversations we're building.

An Invitation to Collaborate

KHI is looking for public health thought leaders, innovators and change makers to contribute to our blog and help build a collaborative vision for public health transformation. We are actively building a trusted brand for public health transformation - one that that elevates diverse voices, sparks innovation and drives real-world impact.

Whether you have a story to share, an insight to explore or an idea to develop, we want to hear from you. Reach out today to learn how you can contribute.

If you are interested in contributing to this blog, please contact Kevin Kovach at [email protected].