Public Health Through Community Voices
Ends on
A Path Forward for Public Health Through Community Voices
Ends on Monday, May 11, 11:59 p.m. ET
Health Affairs is publishing a special issue on the path forward for public health in January 2027. We want to include stories, experiences, and creative work from people and communities who have been impacted by changes to public health funding, policies, and infrastructure and those who are innovating and adapting to provide public health services in their communities.
Submission Deadline: May 11, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET
Share your Story: A Path Forward for Public Health Through Community Voices
Ways You Can Contribute
You can submit up to three pieces of work separately. If you write in a language other than English, please include an English translation.
PERSONAL ESSAY OR COMMENTARY
Write about your experiences working in or alongside public health organizations, or how changes to public health infrastructure and the public’s attitudes toward public health have affected health in your community—and actions being taken to continue protecting the public’s health. You can submit a commentary on community challenges related to public health or share a personal story.
INTERVIEW
If you are working on a unique program or initiative that addresses current challenges and future opportunities for public health, tell us about yourself and why you'd be a good candidate for an interview. We'll ask you questions and turn your responses into a written piece.
POETRY
You can also submit an original poem that explores the human side of the impact of public health policies in your community. Poetry submissions should be one page, single-spaced, font size 11 or larger.
VISUAL ART
We welcome various forms of creative expression that tell your story, including photography, digital artwork or illustrations, or collages.
Submission Deadline: May 11, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET
Online Information Session: April 8, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET
Learn more about Health Affairs, ask questions about the submission process, and meet our editors. Register here for our information session.
Getting Help With Your Submission
We want to make sure that everyone who wants to share their story can. If you want help developing your submission, contact equity@healthaffairs.org by April 15, 2026.
* You must establish an account and be logged in to have access to the submission forms. If you do not have an account, you may establish one by creating a password using the link provided.