The Maryland Commission on Public Health convened virtually on September 11, 2025, to adopt a final slate of recommendations and review early layouts of its final report.  Dr. Oluwatosin Olateju, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Coppin State University, was the presiding co-chair.

Commissioners reviewed the slate by theme and discussed how the recommendations evolved through open comment submission and conversations with stakeholders.  The themes were developed through dialogue with Commission and workgroup members, grounded in findings from the academic partners’ assessment report. The five themes are:

• Strengthen Public Health Infrastructure – including leadership, governance, workforce, and funding reforms to support strong, resilient systems.
• Modernize and Maximize Communication, Data, and Information Technology Tools – expanding transparency, increasing community access, and promoting statewide data modernization.
• Leverage and Formalize Partnerships – forging stronger collaborations with social services, academia, advocacy organizations, and health systems.
• Bridge Public Health and Health Care Service Delivery – supporting continuity and alignment across clinical systems and public health programs.
• Pave the Way for Current and Future Public Health Leaders – building a sustainable workforce pipeline and enhancing education, training, and career development opportunities.

Dr. Oluwatosin Olateju remarked, “Adopting the commission's final slate of recommendations represents a vital step toward strengthening Maryland's public health system and promoting equity. Our next milestone will be the approval of the Final Report in the coming weeks, which will offer a comprehensive roadmap for developing a more resilient, responsive, and sustainable public health infrastructure for all Marylanders”.

The Commission’s final meeting will take place on Thursday, September 25, 2025, in Annapolis, where members will vote on the adoption of the full final report.  Dr. Boris Lushniak, Dean of the University of Maryland, College Park School of Public Health, will be the presiding co-chair.  The session will be accessible online and recorded for public review at the Commission’s website, with reminders and other important information also shared on social media through LinkedIn (@Maryland Commission on Public Health) and Instagram (@md.coph).