Upper Marlboro, MD (December 10, 2024) – Following the recent release of its 2024 interim report to the Maryland General Assembly and Governor Wes Moore, the Maryland Commission on Public Health held its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, December 5, with Dr. Oluwatosin Olateju as presiding co-chair. The final meeting of the year marked another step forward in the Commission’s work to strengthen the state’s health infrastructure as commissioners heard from the funding workgroup on their findings. Dr. Deborah Thomson, an expert in One Health and public health communications, also spoke to the Commission about the emerging field of One Health, which looks at public health issues through the interconnectedness of communities, the built environment, and surrounding animal life.
The meeting’s centerpiece was the third installment of the Commission’s “deep dive” presentations, with a critical focus on public health funding. The Funding Workgroup, co-chaired by Dr. Larry Polsky of the Calvert County Health Department and Dorchester County Health Officer Roger Harrell, shared their findings on Maryland’s current financial frameworks in public health. They emphasized strategies to secure sustainable and equitable funding to meet the diverse needs of communities across the state.
After the presentation, Dr. Olateju remarked, “The insights shared by our Funding Workgroup underscore the vital role that sound financial stewardship plays in supporting the foundational capabilities of our public health system.” Noting that the enabling legislation for the Commission tasks the body to look at the COVID-19 pandemic response and other public health challenges, she said, “Our goal remains clear: to build a resilient, equitable public health infrastructure that serves all Marylanders effectively, regardless of changing administrations or circumstances.”
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 23, 2025, with Dr. Meena Brewster presiding as Co-Chair. The session will be accessible online and recorded for public review. For more information about the monthly meetings or other opportunities to provide input to the Commission about public health topics, please visit the Commission’s website at smchd.org/coph.
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The Maryland Commission on Public Health was established in 2023 to study and make recommendations to improve Maryland’s public health system. The 16-member body is comprised of local health officers, academic partners, thought leaders, and legislators. The Maryland Department of Health is represented by the Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services, the Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health, and the Director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities. Many additional leaders and professionals are contributing to the Commission’s five workgroups. The Commission’s goal is to ensure the public health system is designed to help all Marylanders achieve their best health and a lifetime of wellness. Meetings are held monthly and streamed online. For more information, please visit smchd.org/coph.