Update from SOPHE President Heidi Hancher-Rauch

Upon recently assuming the role of SOPHE President following my year as your elected President-Elect, I am honored to revive a long-standing tradition: the monthly presidential update. I’m excited to launch this series with a pulse check on where we stand as a profession and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Over the past month, I’ve connected with public health and health education professionals across the country. From these conversations, two themes have stood out: First, we care deeply about our work, our communities, and the future of public health. Second, many of us are frustrated, disheartened even, by the challenges we currently face such as sweeping job losses, severe cuts in funding, growing public mistrust, and fears for the health and wellbeing of those we serve.

I speak for many and with total confidence by saying: we hear you. Your pain, anger, and frustration is not only valid, but also justified. But we cannot allow these emotions to immobilize us. Instead, we must channel them into action.

Our work is deeply rooted in a legacy of tireless advocacy—champions who fought for health equity, access to care, community empowerment, and funding for the public health infrastructure. It is on these strong foundations that we now rise to continue the fight. The road ahead calls for bold, strategic action, and it starts with listening.

We must listen closely to our communities. Our field has long upheld the principle that understanding community needs is the first step to meaningful intervention. It is time we apply that principle anew. We must seek to understand the root causes of movements like MAHA, anti-vaccine sentiment, and support for raw milk. What are these communities looking for? What’s missing in how we communicate science and public health guidance? Where has trust broken down, and how can we rebuild it?

This moment demands a shift. We need to adapt our communication to be more inclusive, accessible, and resonant. That means using multiple platforms and formats. It means being open to feedback, even when it is uncomfortable. And it means learning to respond to misinformation with compassion and clarity, not silence.

I firmly believe that communication is the path forward—through dialogue, storytelling, and consistent, transparent engagement. We have incredible collective power. Now is the time to use it.

As we develop new ways to support your work and amplify your voice, I encourage you to consider the role you can play in this movement. Here are a few ways to get started:

• Listen to the podcast episode “Why Should I Trust You? Inside a Rare Conversation Between MAHA Grassroots and Public Health Leaders.” The candid dialogue in this two-part series offers valuable insight into how we can bridge divides and build trust.
• Join the SOPHE Advocacy Committee. Whether you can engage deeply or only occasionally, your voice and expertise are welcome. Reach out if you are interested. We would love to have you.
• Explore the de Beaumont Foundation’s toolkit “Communicating about Public Health.” This resource is packed with practical strategies and messaging tools to help the public better understand the value and importance of public health.
• Start a conversation. Talk with someone in your family, network, or community who holds different political or health beliefs. Find the common ground. Begin there. Every honest conversation is a step toward understanding.

These are only starting points. But the key is that we start. Our work saves lives. And while humility is often a hallmark of our profession, now is the time to be vocal and visible about the impact we make.

Bridge-building is never easy. But when has public health ever been easy work? We have never backed down from a challenge, and we’re not about to start now.

We are rooted. And we are rising.

In solidarity,
 Heidi