Nellie Washington, MPH, MS

It is a profound honor to serve as President of the Maryland Public Health Association (MdPHA) for 2026.

MdPHA exists to advance the health and well-being of all Marylanders — and to do so by centering equity, science, and community voices. At a time when public health faces both unprecedented challenges and unprecedented opportunity, MdPHA remains a critical space for leadership, collaboration, and collective action.

Our Vision

MdPHA’s vision — Healthy Marylanders living in healthy communities — is both aspirational and urgent. In 2026, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring this vision is realized across every zip code, generation, and identity, with particular focus on communities that have been historically marginalized and under-resourced.

Health equity is not separate from public health work — it is the work.

Public Health Lives at the Intersection

“Public health lives at the intersection of people, place, and policy — and it is strongest when guided by equity, community voice, and shared responsibility.”

This intersection is where MdPHA leads. It is where data meets lived experience, where policy meets people’s everyday realities, and where collective responsibility becomes collective impact. Our work recognizes that lasting health outcomes are shaped not only by systems and services, but by trust, opportunity, and inclusion.

2026 Priorities

This year, MdPHA will focus on advancing public health through four interconnected priorities:

Amplifying Community Health Programs
Community-based organizations and community health programs are on the frontlines of impact. MdPHA will intentionally elevate, support, and amplify the work happening at the community level — recognizing lived experience as expertise and community partnership as essential to sustainable change.
Explore MdPHA community engagement efforts

Advancing Health Equity
We will continue to champion policies, practices, and systems that dismantle inequities and address structural drivers of poor health outcomes. Equity will remain the lens through which MdPHA educates, advocates, and leads.
View MdPHA’s equity and advocacy priorities

Integrating Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
Health does not begin in clinics — it begins where people live, learn, work, and play. MdPHA will prioritize the work that amplifies the integration of social determinants of health into programs, policy advocacy, workforce development, and cross-sector collaboration throughout Maryland.

Strengthening Engagement and Leadership Across the State
The strength of MdPHA lies in its members. In 2026, we are calling on public health practitioners, students, researchers, advocates, and partners across Maryland to step forward — to share expertise, build networks, and help shape the future of public health.

A Call to Action

Now more than ever, public health needs your voice, your leadership, and your participation.

I invite public health professionals across Maryland to:

• Join the Maryland Public Health Association

• Get involved in an MdPHA Committee 

• Participate in events, advocacy, and professional development opportunities

• Help elevate the voices and work of communities across our state

Whether you are early in your career or a seasoned leader, there is a place for you at MdPHA — and your involvement strengthens our collective impact.

Moving Forward — Together

The challenges before us are complex, but they are not insurmountable when met with collaboration, courage, and commitment. In 2026, MdPHA will continue to convene, educate, and advocate with purpose — transforming knowledge into action and action into meaningful change.

Thank you for your dedication to public health and for being part of this community.

In partnership and purpose,
Nellie Washington, MPH, MS

President, Maryland Public Health Association (2026)