Key Lessons from 2025 Public Health Law Conference
The 2025 Public Health Law Conference took place during a period when the importance of our profession has seldom been greater. Discussions and presentations during the event highlighted both the intricate nature of current public health issues and the steadfast determination of professionals committed to addressing them effectively.
Right from the initial session, the gathering emphasized a fundamental principle: public health law operates at the intersection of scientific knowledge, equity considerations, and democratic processes. The keynote opening session established the overall atmosphere by providing a comprehensive and perceptive examination of the legal and policy changes that influenced public health over the past year. Participants explored federal executive directives and initiatives, judicial rulings, and significant legislative measures that are continuing to transform—and occasionally undermine—public health governance. Analyses covered pivotal contemporary topics, including anti-racism efforts and equity integration within government structures, the impacts of climate change and environmental justice, and the vital contributions of the public health workforce amid growing political divisions. The key takeaway was unmistakable: comprehending these evolving dynamics goes beyond theoretical study; it represents crucial groundwork for navigating future developments in 2026 and subsequent years.
Advancing public health is seldom a linear process, and recent governmental policy efforts under the present leadership exemplify the ongoing obstacles in this domain. Proposals to develop vast expanses of federal lands for fossil fuel production and funding for coal-powered facilities may lead to heightened air pollution levels, with disproportionate burdens falling on economically disadvantaged areas and communities of color. Suggested reductions in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could jeopardize vital initiatives for preventing chronic illnesses and preparing for emergencies. Meanwhile, expansions of Medicaid work requirements generate worries about heightened obstacles to healthcare access for those with lower incomes. Nevertheless, our sector has confronted and surmounted severe difficulties in the past.
Historical examples from the early 20th century’s battle against industrial contaminants, the civil rights period’s growth of community health centers, and the comprehensive response to the HIV/AIDS crisis demonstrate how legal frameworks and policies can shift from exacerbating damage to fostering recovery—provided that communities, advocates, public health experts, and decision-makers maintain relentless efforts. In every instance, persistent legal challenges and the formation of coalitions centered on equity and policies grounded in evidence succeeded in reinstating safeguards for at-risk groups. Numerous colleagues in attendance have contributed to these lasting campaigns, applying historical insights to present-day conflicts. Opening plenary speaker Montrece Ransom powerfully noted that law has previously been wielded to inflict harm, such as enforcing segregation, barring women, and marginalizing Black individuals. However, it is imperative to recall that justice-oriented people have consistently summoned the bravery to counter such misuse, leveraging the legal framework to correct injustices.
Safeguarding and advancing health has perpetually required boldness, and this year’s conference brought that truth into sharp focus. Skye Perryman, CEO and President of Democracy Forward, asserted that courage serves as a vital resource. No achievement in our shared history has come without intense struggles, and the journey toward health equity follows the same pattern. In legal proceedings, legislative halls, or grassroots alliances, demonstrating presence—with valor and tenacity—will ultimately determine our capacity to prosper amid repeated attempts to diminish public health safeguards.
This summons to bravery echoed strongly in our closing plenary session, which spotlighted the indispensable contributions of community-based organizations to health justice advancement. These groups, firmly embedded in locales that have spearheaded equity drives and structural reforms for generations, cultivate trust, engage in attentive listening, and devise interventions targeting social determinants of health. Their endeavors flourish through robust, mutually beneficial alliances with public health departments and governmental bodies; partnerships with academic entities prepared for genuine involvement and calculated risks; and, above all, an foundational approach rooted in empathy and regard for those they assist. Contributors offered practical recommendations for nurturing such relationships, bolstering community-driven leadership, and converting trust into enhanced health results.
Throughout all sessions, insights from specialists, campaigners, and on-the-ground workers revealed not just vigilant monitoring of evolving legal landscapes but also the development of practical instruments for traversal. Collectively, we investigated how legal and policy mechanisms can function as catalysts for equity and connectors between abstract policies and tangible human experiences.
To all participants—whether presenters, engaged in small-group dialogues, focus sessions, or impromptu networking exchanges that frequently ignite fresh ideas—our deepest gratitude. Your dedication to this mission, and to one another, fortifies a discipline that flourishes through teamwork and unified objectives. To perpetuate this energy, slides and supplementary materials from the conference are now accessible for those who could not participate in specific sessions or attend overall. These assets aim to prolong the educational impact past the live occasion, furnishing actionable resources to bolster individual endeavors and foster broader interconnections within the profession.
Upcoming hurdles are tangible: disputes over public health powers, profound partisan divides, and the pressing imperative to tackle inequities that undermine well-being and diminish lifespans. Yet, this conference affirmed our possession of the requisite expertise, methodologies, and, crucially, unified resolve to confront this juncture effectively.
In Solidarity,
Quang “Q” Dang
Executive Director
Network for Public Health Law
