Hi, My name is Dr. Ben King and I’m the new Chair of the Medical Care section of the American Public Health Association (APHA).
I am beyond excited about what the next couple of years have in store for us as a professional organization. I also recognize that we are entering a time of immense uncertainty for the parallel and intersecting fields of healthcare and public health. Whether you are already a member of the APHA, perhaps even a member of the Medical Care section, or just someone stumbling onto this blog for the first time, I hope there’s something in here that speaks to you.
A little over a year ago, I also joined this blog as co-editor alongside my fantastic colleagues, Lisa Lines and Greg Stevens. Since then we have had an incredible time, managing the work of this site and dreaming up new directions for us to go from here. But today I’m posting about the work that the Medical Care section does within the APHA.
Medical Care Section
Some readers might not realize the strong connections and history behind the relationship between the journal Medical Care and its Blog with the American Public Health Association. Established in 1948, the Medical Care section of APHA’s membership began with a commitment to improving the nation’s health through practice, research, education, and policy action. It was also formed with a founding belief that healthcare should be accessible to everyone in our society, as a human right. To be clear: we are not just doctors, clinicians, or direct care providers. We are a professional home for all kinds of expertise, across multiple professions and disciplines. Currently about a 1,000-strong and growing, Medical Care includes public health staff, health services administrators, pharmacologists, health researchers, health policy experts, students, and yes, direct care providers at all levels. Our diverse members and committees are all broadly interested in the connections between medical care and public health. I myself am an epidemiologist by training, teaching Evidence-Based Medicine and Inclusion Health curriculum at a college of medicine.
My vision for the Medical Care section is simple. It’s simple, because it’s already deeply rooted in what we do for our members year in and year out. We serve as the professional and ideological home for any and all public health professionals and practitioners who believe in the principles of public health. We are a convening space for anyone and everyone who understands that we must act collectively as a society to assure conditions in which people can be healthy. I hope you’ll join us. And if you’re already in the mix, I hope you’ll reach out to get more involved.
We Need YOUR Help
Together, we can shape policies, champion equity, and highlight the systems that prioritize health as a right. Visit the APHA website to learn more, become a MC member in APHA, and of COURSE please consider donating to the Medical Care section (don’t forget to click on “Select Fund” and scroll down to “Medical Care Section Enrichment Fund”). Then, we can all come together in furthering this critical mission.
Public health professionals and healthcare system administrators, staff, and providers play a pivotal role in advancing the mission of the Medical Care Section of the APHA. It will require all of us to ensure equitable, accessible, and high-quality medical care for all. As the field confronts the urgent challenges ahead, now is the time to act. I call on you to join the APHA, join the Medical Care section, contribute your expertise, and collaborate with our diverse network of professionals dedicated to driving transformative change. Whether by participating in policy writing, advocacy efforts, sharing innovative practices, or joining our educational initiatives, your involvement can make a significant impact.
The Landscape Ahead
Clearly, there are headwinds inbound for the people and agencies operating in the spheres of public health, medicine, equity, and justice. The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have laid bare the structural vulnerabilities in health systems worldwide. In the coming years, these sectors will continue grappling with the aftermath. Workforce shortages, waning public trust in health institutions, and the politicization of science remain formidable barriers. Simultaneously, new challenges such as the rising burden of chronic diseases, escalating environmental health crises, and the mental health epidemic require innovative solutions. In particular, climate change (the 2024 topic theme for our blog) continues to exacerbate health disparities, with vulnerable populations bearing the brunt of natural disasters, vector-borne diseases, and environmental degradation.
Concurrently, legislative battles over reproductive rights, access to care, and public health funding are likely to intensify, potentially eroding decades of progress in health equity. The intersection of medicine and public health must navigate this turbulent environment, advocating for upstream solutions that address social determinants of health while sustaining the infrastructure necessary to manage acute and chronic conditions. As society reckons with the ongoing socioeconomic fallout of the pandemic, healthcare delivery systems must navigate parallel tracks—responding to immediate clinical needs while also championing structural reform.
Progress Being Made
The field of medicine is finally making progress toward effectively integrating the social determinants of health into care delivery models. Efforts to expand Medicaid, integrate community health workers, and leverage digital health tools could redefine care systems for historically marginalized populations. However, these initiatives are expected to face significant resistance. Achieving and sustaining this progress requires sustained investment in both infrastructure and human capital—an uphill battle in an era of fiscal conservatism.
In this climate, innovation and collaboration between public health and healthcare will be critical. Technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence and telehealth, present opportunities to expand access to care and improve efficiency, yet their implementation must prioritize equity to avoid deepening existing divides. Integrated care models that combine preventive, primary, and mental health services are gaining momentum, particularly as more systems recognize the value of addressing holistic patient needs.
Further progress requires proactive leadership and partnerships across sectors, from policymakers and health systems to community organizations and academic institutions. These efforts must also be centered and grounded in justice, ensuring that all interventions are culturally responsive. Whether these fields will align effectively to meet these imperatives depends on the collective and combined will of policymakers, providers, and communities to acknowledge and prioritize health as a human right.
All this to say
I think this comes close to capturing the space where the Medical Care section, Medical Care journal, and this blog have and will continue to maintain their focus. At the very least, we will have our work cut out for us in the years ahead.
And as always, thank you for everything you do.
Ben King