2026 Policy Action Institute looks ahead to midterms and the future of public health and MAHA

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2026 Policy Action Institute looks ahead to midterms and the future of public health and MAHA

Policymakers and public health professionals will convene at the 2026 Policy Action Institute on June 9-10, focusing on the implications of the midterm elections and looking ahead to the future of public health and the MAHA movement. Hosted by the American Public Health Association in Arlington, Virginia, PAI sets the stage with advocacy strategies, impactful stories that drive change and meaningful discussions where public health and MAHA meet in pursuit of achieving optimal health for all Americans.   

“With midterm elections coming up following another year of harmful policy changes and persistent troubling funding cuts, communities are realizing how important public health is. At the Policy Action Institute, we will look at the implications of the midterms,” APHA Associate Executive Director Susan Polan, PhD, said. She added, “It is an election where public health professionals and MAHA communities want to see a healthier nation but aren’t always on the same side. This is an opportunity to look beyond the walls that divide us and have a conversation on where we go from here.”

Accompanying those conversations will be stories from advocates sharing what inspired them to speak for health. Speakers include: APHA CEO Georges C. Benjamin, MD; hosts of the “Why Should I Trust You?” podcast; caregiver advocate and MAHA mom Jacqueline Capriotti; Laura Hicks, MPA, from Protect Democracy and Avenel Joseph, PhD, from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. You can find a full list of speakers here.

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The American Public Health Association champions optimal, equitable health and well-being for all. With our broad-based member community and 150-year perspective, we influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.