Virtual Forum: “Public Health and the Delivery System: Vital Connections” featuring Mary Pittman

How are public health department and delivery system leaders successfully navigating the pandemic response? How can we support an effective public health system, now and for the future?

Held in winter 2021, this two part virtual forum from Kaiser Permanente’s Institute for Health Policy explored opportunities to strengthen partnerships and collaboration between public health and the broader health care delivery system; identified barriers public health and delivery system leaders face—including financial, workforce, and infrastructure challenges—and discussed ways to ensure a well-financed and supported public health system in the future. Presenters also shared promising policy solutions to promote and improve our public health system in ways that address public health needs and advance health equity.

The discussion featured Dr. Mary Pittman, President and CEO of the Public Health Institute; Greg A. Adams, CEO of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan; Anthony A. Barrueta, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and PHI Board member, and more.

Part 2: Building a stronger system for the future

Building off the perspectives elevated in part 1, this discussion focused on how to build a stronger system in the future that improves the public’s health in an equitable way, both in public health emergencies and in the longer term.

• Mary A. Pittman, DrPH, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Public Health Institute
• John Auerbach, MBA, Director of Intergovernmental and Strategic Affairs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• David Grossman, MD, MPH, interim Senior Vice President of social and community health for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Hospitals
• Cecilia Oregón, MPP, MPH, Executive Director for Kaiser Permanente’s Institute for Health Policy
• Anand Parekh, MD, MPH, Bipartisan Policy Center’s (BPC) chief medical advisor providing clinical and public health expertise across the organization.
• Lauren Smith, MD, MPH, Chief Health Equity and Strategy Officer for the CDC Foundation

Part 1: Navigating the pandemic response

In this discussion, speakers elevate perspectives from public health department and delivery system leaders to gain a clearer understanding of their experiences and lessons learned responding to the pandemic.

Part one speakers:

• Greg A. Adams, Chair and CEO of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Hospitals
• Oxiris Barbot, MD, Physician, Public Health Practitioner and Innovative Leader
• Anthony A. Barrueta, JD, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Hospitals
• Patty Hayes, RN, MN, former Director of Public Health Seattle & King County
• Stephen Parodi, MD, Executive Vice President of External Affairs, Communications, and Brand at The Permanente Federation
• Megan Ranney, MD, MPH, Warren Alpert Endowed Professor of Emergency Medicine at Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Founding Director of the Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health

Originally published by Kaiser Permanente’s Institute for Health Policy