The U.S. healthcare system must be modernized to better handle future crises—a complex and daunting task. Federal healthcare agencies must quickly identify and respond to emerging threats and share information in a timely manner with other agencies, academia, partners, health providers and citizens. Federal CXOs are uniquely positioned to help transform the existing public health ecosystem into a more citizen-centric and prevention-focused model.

A robust and engaged workforce is essential to improving population health, enhancing citizen experience, and reducing costs. CXOs must help leverage IT to advance medical research, track disease permeation, improve citizen care and outcomes, secure citizen data, expand health equity and access for all citizens—all while complying with a myriad of mandates, executive orders, policy updates and legislation. Collaboration will continue to be essential for public health transformation, as leaders reach across boundaries, and form partnerships to cultivate a culture of innovation that will drive better citizen care and patient experiences.