Stories from the Field: Judy Monroe

When you envision the future of public health, what innovations or solutions are you most excited about?

I am most excited about innovations that allow us to move public health further upstream, from treating disease to preventing it before it occurs. Advances in data science, artificial intelligence, digital health, and precision prevention have enormous potential to help us identify risk earlier, better understand the social and environmental drivers of health, and tailor interventions to the needs of individuals and communities. At the same time, innovation should not be defined by technology alone. Some of the most transformative solutions will come from strengthening the fundamentals of public health: accessible primary care, healthier communities, effective prevention programs, and systems that make the healthy choice the easier choice. My experience in both medicine and public health has reinforced that the greatest opportunity lies in connecting these approaches, using innovation to strengthen rather than replace the public health infrastructure that communities depend upon.
 

Drawing on your expertise in public health at the state and national levels, what impact do you hope your work as part of the Milken Institute Public Health Advisory Board will have on chronic disease prevention, public health systems, and the broader public health field?

I hope to help advance a more prevention-oriented, integrated, and outcomes-driven approach to public health. Chronic diseases account for a substantial share of illness, disability, and health care spending, yet many of their risk factors are modifiable and influenced by policies and systems beyond the health care sector. I hope to bring the perspective of someone who has worked across medicine and public health, as well as at both state and national levels, to help translate evidence into practical strategies that can be implemented at scale.

As a member of the Advisory Board, I hope to contribute to strengthening public health systems, accelerating the adoption of effective prevention strategies, and building stronger connections between public health, health care, business, philanthropy, and communities. The Milken Institute is masterful at convening the private sector. Ultimately, I want our work to help create healthier environments and more effective systems that prevent disease and deliver measurable improvements in population health.
 

Public health challenges are increasingly complex and interconnected. What role do cross-industry collaborations, like the Milken Institute’s Public Health Advisory Board, play in advancing public health?

The complexity of today's public health challenges makes collaboration essential. The conditions that shape health—where people live, work, learn, and age—extend far beyond the traditional health sector. Addressing chronic disease, mental health, environmental health, and emerging threats requires perspectives and resources from government, health care, business, technology, academia, philanthropy, and, critically, communities themselves.

Cross-industry collaborations can bridge those traditionally separate perspectives, identify opportunities that no single sector could address alone, and accelerate the translation of ideas into action. They also create an opportunity to align incentives around a shared goal: improving health and well-being. I see the Advisory Board as a platform for bringing diverse expertise together, challenging conventional approaches, and developing solutions that are innovative as well as being practical enough to achieve meaningful impact at scale.
 

What advice would you give to someone starting a career in public health?

Be curious, stay close to the people and communities you hope to serve, and do not be afraid to work across disciplines or sectors. Public health is most effective when we combine rigorous evidence with an understanding of how policies, systems, and lived experiences shape health.

I would also encourage emerging public health professionals to seek experiences that span both strategy and implementation. Learn how to interpret evidence, communicate with different audiences, build partnerships, and turn good ideas into action that can be measured. Most importantly, remember that public health is ultimately about people. The work can be complex, and progress can be slow, but the opportunity to prevent illness, improve systems, and create healthier communities is extraordinarily meaningful. Approach the field with humility, persistence, and a willingness to keep learning.