Leonardtown, MD (December 3, 2025) – The Maryland Commission on Public Health hosted a press event on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the Howard County Health Department in Columbia, MD. The event was attended by Commission members and its support team, workgroup co-chairs, and local health officers. Remarks at the event were provided by Dr. Maura Rossman, Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Delegate Heather Bagnall, Senator Clarence Lam, Dr. Judy Monroe, Dr. Meg Sullivan, Ms. Lauren Levy, and Commission Co-Chairs Dr. Boris Lushniak, Dr. Oluwatosin Olateju, and Dr. Meenakshi Brewster.
At the event, the Commission presented its final report: Building the Future of Maryland Public Health. The 155-page report is the culmination of nearly two years of deliberations and assessment, which included public engagement, site visits across the state, surveys, and expert testimony. The comprehensive slate of recommendations is organized around five core themes:
- Strengthen Public Health Infrastructure
- Modernize and Maximize Communication, Data, and Information Technology Tools
- Leverage and Formalize Partnerships
- Bridge Public Health and Health Care Service Delivery
- Pave the Way for Current and Future Public Health Leaders
“When public health is strong, people live longer and safer lives,” said Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Chair of the Maryland House of Delegates Health and Government Operations Committee. “When it’s weak, the price is paid by families and communities. That is why the bill creating this commission matters so much to me.”
“Today, we demonstrate that Maryland continues to be a state that relies on our experts to help us make decisions for the good of our population, and that we believe that investing in the well-being of our communities is a sound investment and a worthwhile effort,” said Delegate Heather Bagnall, Commissioner with the Commission on Public Health.
“What this report affords us is the roadmap…to build a world-class public health system – one that will be a model of progress, collaboration, innovation, and initiative for the rest of the nation,” said Senator Clarence Lam, Commissioner with the Commission on Public Health.
“This has been an open, evidence-based, community-informed process. One that reflects thousands of voices across Maryland,” said Dr. Oluwatosin Olateju, Co-Chair for the Commission on Public Health and Assistant Professor with Coppin State University, in reviewing the process of the Commission’s work.
“Public health is essential infrastructure with the most important return on investment: life itself,” said Dr. Meena Brewster, Co-Chair for the Commission on Public Health and St. Mary’s County Health Officer, in reviewing the five themes of recommendations from the final report. “We can’t protect tomorrow with yesterday’s systems.”
Dr. Boris Lushniak, Co-Chair for the Commission on Public Health and Dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Health, said, “Health is not an option, but a necessity. Public health is not optional, and it ties in directly to the economic health of our state. It ties in directly to prosperity.”
“I’m so excited to see Maryland take this leadership role. You all are shining a light for the nation,” said Dr. Judy Monroe, President and CEO of the CDC Foundation, which provided support to the Commission’s work. “The importance of this work is not just local and at the state level, but it’s national.”
“At [Maryland Department of Health] we’ve already made progress on several areas that are very aligned with the Commission’s recommendations,” said Dr. Meg Sullivan, Maryland Department of Health Deputy Secretary of Public Health Services and Commissioner with the Commission on Public Health. “We look forward to working with our elected officials, with our local health departments, and with our fellow commissioners to continue to partner with you on this report.“
“The Commission’s recommendations affirm what we in local public health have long known – a healthy Maryland depends on strong local capacity,” said Lauren Levy, Vice President for the Maryland Association of County Health Officers and Harford County Health Officer. “Our local health departments are the boots on the ground, responding to emergencies, delivering preventive services, and building trusted partnerships with residents, health care providers, government agencies, community organizations and so many more.”
The Commission’s final report was formally transmitted to Governor Moore and representatives of the Maryland General Assembly on October 1, 2025. The enabling statute for the Commission’s work sunsets on June 30, 2026. A digital copy of the report and recording of the press event can be found on the Commission’s website here.
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Through collaborative learning and listening, inclusive decision-making, and strategic recommendations, the Maryland Commission on Public Health helps create sustainable improvements to public health systems that benefit everyone who lives, learns, and works in our state. The 16-member body was established in 2023 and is composed of local health officers, academic partners, thought leaders, and legislators. The Maryland Department of Health is represented by officials from the Public Health Services Administration, Behavioral Health Administration, and the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities. Many additional leaders and professionals are contributing to the Commission’s five workgroups. More information is available at health.maryland.gov/coph.