Imagining the Future: Leading Systems Change to Address Today's Problems

Abstract

N ow is the time for systems change leadership in public health. Emergencies such as COVID-19 plague our communities with premature, preventable, and unequal and unjust burden of morbidity and mortality, especially for communities of color. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are experiencing a climate emergency, inadequate food systems, a growing burden of mental health problems, and a rise in low-wage, precarious work. 1 Rather than trying to tackle problems one by one, today's complex problems require urgent action at the systems level. Systems thinking practices and tools can help the public health community to understand the intersecting root causes of problems operating in an unstable environment; explore diverse perspectives and opportunities for change; and develop a collaborative, generative vision of the future. This vision includes racial and economic justice alongside population health improvement using anti-racist, equity-forward strategies. When applied within our public health agencies, we build a foundation for systems change and also model systems change leadership outside our organizations.Our recent book, Leading Systems Change in Public Health: A Field Guide for Practitioners, defines and offers an inclusive process for systems change with tools for facilitating transformation. Written and edited by and for public health practitioners, this resource is grounded in key principles to lead systems change, including health equity and racial and social justice; embracing a learning mindset; personal, interpersonal, and team leadership; and community

Perspectives on the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) education among students and alumni in the United States: a cross-sectional national online survey

“…To address complex public health problems, Welter et al (2022) discussed the importance of collaborative action, systems change leadership, and health equity and social justice [ 63 ]. These components should be considered in curriculum and professional development training for DrPH graduates to better support their workforce needs.…”