Modernizing data systems and harnessing AI in the public health system 

Public health agencies are grappling with outdated data systems and fragmented governance that limit real-time data sharing, weaken disease surveillance, and slow outbreak response. While AI and data-driven technologies offer significant potential to improve public health outcomes, many government organizations face technical, resource, and policy barriers that make adoption difficult.

Against this backdrop, the federal Rural Health Transformation Program is directing new resources to states to strengthen rural health systems, accelerate infrastructure modernization, and support new partnership models—many of which depend on reliable data, interoperability, and analytic capacity across public health and health care systems.

This webinar brings together federal, state, and academic leaders for a peer-level discussion on how public health organizations are advancing data modernization and responsible AI use despite policy, funding, and capacity constraints. Panelists will discuss how public health organizations can strengthen surveillance capabilities, improve data usability, and support informed decision-making.

What you’ll learn:

• Barriers to progress – Structural, political, and technical challenges in public health data sharing.
• Collaborative approaches – How public-private partnerships are leveraging AI to improve health outcomes.
• Future-ready strategies – Governance, workforce, and practical approaches to ensure new technologies deliver mission-aligned results.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with senior public health leaders on practical strategies for advancing data modernization and responsible AI in today’s evolving policy environment.

Speakers

• Jerome Adams, MD, MPH – Director of Health Empowerment Initiatives, Purdue University, Former United States Surgeon General
• Karen DeSalvo, MD, MSc. – Former Chief Health Officer, Google, US HHS Assistant Secretary for Health (Acting)
• Janet Hamilton – Executive Director, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Former Epidemiologist, Florida Department of Health
• Jennifer Layden, MD, MPH – Senior Vice President, ASTHO, Former Director of the CDC Office of Public Health Data, Science and Technology
• Tom Frieden, MD, MPH – Chief Executive Officer, Resolve to Save Lives, Former CDC Director (Invited)
• John Auerbach, MBA – ICF, Senior Vice President, Public Health, Former Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner (Moderator)