Dear Public Health Champions,

In recognition of the hard work of our communities as we continue to work together to see the end of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the improvement on the whole of public health, we dedicate National Public Health Week 2022 to you. Our theme this year is “Public Health is Where You Are” — celebrating the impact we have made where we live, work, learn, play and pray, and recognizing the way our communities have influenced our hard work to make the United States a healthier, more equitable and just nation.

In these challenging two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic, our nation has further seen the extent of the social inequities prevalent in our communities. This year we call attention to the intersectionality of public health by advocating for and educating our communities about our most vulnerable of populations. Our daily themes focus on how public health issues are connected and have an influence on each other, and how learning more about their connections will allow us the greatest opportunity to find the best possible solution to become the healthiest nation.

As always, our overall goal is to ensure that our communities are healthy and safe — we at APHA welcome you to virtually celebrate NPHW 2022 this April 4-10 with us safely: Continue to wear a mask, stay physically distant, wash your hands and get a flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine if you have not already (or the booster if you have and it is available to you).

We believe that we are all integral to improving our public’s health, and by coming together our collective power will have the greatest positive difference.

Public health is where you are. We look forward to celebrating you and our communities.

In health and solidarity,

Georges C. Benjamin, MD
Executive Director
American Public Health Association