Letter from the Executive Director 2024

As I sit in 2025, writing this letter to look back on 2024, I’m struck by what an incredibly difficult moment we are experiencing in our field’s history. Governmental public health is taking massive hits to the very staffing, funding, and infrastructure that we built based on gaps identified during and after the pandemic. In many ways, the future feels uncertain. 

What I am certain of is the resilience and adaptability of our members – the leaders of 35 of the largest urban health departments in the U.S. No matter what threats they face – whether it’s the overdose crisis, new and previously eradicated infectious diseases, or mounting chronic disease rates – and no matter how imperiled the federal support they receive, these leaders and their dedicated staff have stayed true to their mission and their communities.

As we push for sustained investment in public health, we face an even more uncertain funding landscape than usual. Until we break the “boom and bust” cycle of investment and commit to stable, long-term funding, our nation’s health will remain at risk.

In recognition of this pivotal moment, we are especially grateful for our funders and partners, who help us deepen our engagement with local health leaders and advance solutions that address today’s most urgent public health challenges. Generous support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kresge Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education powered by the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI), and Vital Strategies has made this possible.

In closing, I thank our members for their unwavering dedication to protecting and promoting health in their communities. It is an honor to learn from and with them and to share their successes as we work together to build a healthier, more equitable future.

Chrissie Juliano, MPP
Executive Director