201280 Alliance to Make US Healthiest's role in health reform and changing the role of public health

Monday, November 9, 2009: 1:00 PM

J. Nick Baird, MD , Alliance to Make US Healthiest, Washington, DC
The Alliance to Make US Healthiest, founded by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), was created in 2007 and has become the catalyst for organizations of all sectors and individuals from all across the country to connect. The collaborated efforts have accelerated positive change in our public health system.

The goals of the Alliance are to rebalance the nation's health system and make sure that the nation's investments prioritize health promotion, prevention of poor health, and preparedness for new threats—just as much as they prioritize access to affordable quality medical care for these conditions once they do occur. The members of the Alliance take a pledge to help carry out this mission within their organizations, communities, and homes. Through these efforts the Alliance is working to impact positive changes on the health system, develop better health practices and hoping to prioritize a focus on prevention and keeping healthy people healthy.

With nearly one thousand members and membership still steadily increasing, the Alliance is touching many lives and will play an invaluable role in changing the national conversation from Health Care Reform to Health System Transformation, where the focus is more on health protection, promotion and prevention rather than treating illnesses.

Learning Objectives:
Describe what the Alliance to Make US Healthiest is, what it does, and how to get more information about it.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Nick Baird currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance to Make US Healthiest, a collaborative effort of the CDC, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and the National Association of County and City Health Officials, to transform the nation’s health system to make the US the healthiest nation in a healthier world. Dr. Baird is the immediate past Director of the Ohio Department of Health, which has over 1300 employees and a budget that exceeds $590 million. During his eight year tenure, he led the state’s efforts in bioterrorism and pandemic influenza planning, increased health coverage for low-income mothers and children, and strong and rapid response to disease outbreaks. He also spear-headed efforts for minimum requirements for nursing homes, expanded newborn screening by 27 additional tests to prevent or detect life threatening diseases in newborns, and Ohio’s first Comprehensive Cancer Program and Healthy Ohioans, which is a program focused on the reduction of tobacco use and measures to reduce the burden of chronic disease by improving eating habits and increasing exercise. He is a senior executive with exceptional experience, knowledge and skills in public and private sector environments. He has demonstrated leadership and performance in public health policy and planning in both day-to-day operations and emergency situations in a large, complex governmental agency. He encompasses the ability to build consensus around broad policy initiatives among diverse stakeholder interests – consumers, legislators, private sector partners, and governmental, academic and not-for-profit system partners. He has a broad national network of relationships with leaders in health care associations and federal, state and local health agencies. In 2006, Dr. Baird served as the President-elect of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), which is a national nonprofit organization representing the state and territorial public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia. Dr. Baird served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and is affiliated with numerous public health organization In January, 2008 he was named to CDC’s Director’s Advisory Council by HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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