Toward a New Strategic Public Health Science for Policy, Practice, Impact, and Health Equity

The COVID-19 pandemic and its social and health impact have underscored the need for a new strategic science agenda for public health. To optimize public health impact, high-quality strategic science addresses scientific gaps that inform policy and guide practice. At least 6 scientific gaps emerge from the US experience with COVID-19: health equity science, data science and modernization, communication science, policy analysis and translation, scientific collaboration, and climate science. Addressing these areas within a strategic public health science agenda will accelerate achievement of public health goals. Public health leadership and scientists have an unprecedented opportunity to use strategic science to guide a new era of improved and equitable public health.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the necessity for a new strategic science agenda in public health, addressing gaps such as health equity science, data science, communication science, policy analysis, scientific collaboration, and climate science. Public health leadership and scientists have a unique opportunity to use strategic science to guide an era of improved and equitable public health.