Depoliticizing Public Health

In the past few years, public health has become increasingly politicized, leading to public mistrust, the spread of misinformation, and lack of agreement across party lines on critical health policies and interventions. Issues such as vaccine hesitancy, reproductive rights, and healthcare costs have been caught in the crossfire of political agendas, often at the expense of women, the LGBTQ+ community, and other marginalized groups. This conversation features key policymakers who have been at the forefront of reaching across the partisan divide to establish effective public health policies. Panelists will discuss their efforts to restore trust in public health, particularly with communities who hold opposing views, and their work to ensure that health policies are guided by evidence and equity across political parties.

This event is co-sponsored by the Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy, the Women and Public Policy Program, and the Center for Public Leadership.

Please note that registration is required for this in-person event, and a Harvard University ID or any form of government-issued ID is required to enter Harvard Kennedy School buildings. Non-HUID card holders (invited guests and visitors) may enter through the Wexner courtyard door only.

Speakers: 

Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto, former mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico; former CPL Hauser Leader-in-Practice 

Asa Hutchinson, Fall 2024 Harvard IOP Resident Fellow, former Governor of Arkansas

Rochelle Walensky, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control, current WAPPP, CPL, Belfer fellow

Moderator: Sara Bleich, Professor of Public Health Policy, Health Policy and Management, Vice Provost for Special Projects, Carol K. Pforzheimer Professor, Academic Dean's Office, Radcliffe, HKS Faculty Affiliate

The Candid and Constructive Conversations (CCC) Initiative provides HKS students, staff and faculty consistent opportunities to learn and practice skills for constructive disagreement across differences with the goal that all members of our community feel heard and respected. As a school-wide initiative for the next generation of public servants and leaders, CCC programming aims to cultivate an environment of openness, humility, and respect to support the robust exchange of ideas within the HKS learning community.