Public health advocates from across Indiana will gather at the Statehouse on Jan. 26 to celebrate the important role public health plays in Hoosiers’ daily lives and learn more about efforts to improve how services are delivered around the state.
Public Health Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the North Atrium and will feature speakers including Gov. Eric J. Holcomb, State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, former state Sen. Luke Kenley, Dr. Judy Monroe, a former state health commissioner who serves as CEO of the CDC Foundation, and former Congresswoman Susan Brooks.
Kenley and Monroe served as co-chairs and Brooks acted as citizen advisor for the Governor’s Public Health Commission, which conducted a months-long examination of Indiana’s public health system. The commission’s report included recommendations for increased funding to support the local delivery of core public health services, which is a key component of Governor Holcomb’s 2023 Next Level Agenda and budget proposal.
“The strength of our state lies in its people, and it is our job to ensure that every Hoosier has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible,” Governor Holcomb said. “When we create a level playing field of public health services that are available in every county, we build a firm foundation on which families, communities and businesses can thrive.”
Public Health Day will also include a panel discussion featuring Dr. Virginia Caine, director and chief medical officer of the Marion County Public Health Department; Cara Veale, CEO of the Indiana Rural Health Association; Grant County Commissioner Mark Bardsley; and Lucia Mercado, a sophomore at Butler University studying health and business.
Attendees are encouraged to wear blue or gold to show their support for public health.
“From monitoring the safety of our drinking water and food to ensuring that our children receive required vision and hearing screenings and have access to vaccines that prevent illnesses, public health workers blanket our state with one goal: to protect and improve the lives of Hoosiers,” Box said. “Public Health Day is an opportunity to recognize that work and learn more about how we can ensure that every Hoosier has access to the same level of public health services, regardless of where they live.”
Visit the Indiana Department of Health at www.health.in.gov for important health and safety information, or follow us on Twitter at @StateHealthIN and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StateHealthIN.