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. 2021 Aug;111(8):1489-1496.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2021.306355. Epub 2021 Jul 1.

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

Rebecca Bunnell  1 , Juliet Ryan  1 , Charlotte Kent  1 ; CDC Office of Science and CDC Excellence in Science Committee  1
Affiliations

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

Rebecca Bunnell et al. Am J Public Health. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

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.

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