On Tuesday, April 29, the 2025 Preparedness Summit in San Antonio, Texas, opened with over 2,400 in attendance.

Underlying the gathering and echoed across the plenary sessions and the conference hallways was a recognition of the uncertainty public health faces today, along with a steadfast commitment to support communities through preparedness, response, and recovery.

In her opening remarks, NACCHO CEO Lori Tremmel Freeman, noted that, “Uncertainty can be uncomfortable, but it must not paralyze us. We have a duty to move forward—to continue doing what’s necessary to keep our communities safe...While the systems may change, our responsibility to protect our communities does not.”

Dr. Henry Walke, Director of the Office of Readiness and Response at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, joined the opening of the Preparedness Summit to provide updates on the current state of public health preparedness programs and ongoing reorganization across federal agencies. He shared insights into how the frequency and severity of overlapping public health emergencies in recent times highlight the importance of sustainable resources to address them, and emphasized the importance of public health at the local level in helping communities respond to and recover from emergencies.

The conference’s opening plenary session, “Operating in the Gray: Exploring the Evolving Public Health Preparedness System,” addressed uncertainty in public health and how preparedness professionals can adapt to meet it.

Dr. Tom Inglesby, Director at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, spoke about the impact of reduced federal support for public health efforts across the country and the potential for state assets, the private sector, and technology to fill gaps left behind. He said, “We can’t be departments of reassurance when things aren’t the way they should be,” in reference to recent changes to public health capacity, and spoke about emphasizing facts over politics to communicate what can and can’t be done with the existing resources or funding on the table. 

Dr. Michael Kilkenny, NACCHO Board President and CEO and Health Officer at Cabell-Huntington Health Department, served as moderator for the opening panel and provided a local perspective to the conversation. He emphasized that all response is local and encouraged attendees to “make sure your partnerships are in line and ready.” He reminded attendees that building a resiliency plan is part of response.

Dr. Kelly Kimple, Acting Director, North Carolina Division of Public Health, highlighted the roles trust, partnership, and communication play in addressing uncertainty. She noted the importance of ensuring that communications is part of a department’s ongoing operations and the value of communicating the impact of public health. “When you don’t know what to do, nourish the relationship,” said Kimple. 

Dr. W. Craig Vanderwagen, Instructor at the Harvard School of Public Health and Co-Chair of NAM Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies, spoke about the gaps left by withdrawn federal support, both those we can address and those we can’t. He reminded attendees that “you have agency and leadership experience; you can bring those to the table.” He noted the role of joint planning and tabletop exercises as examples of ways that the preparedness community prepares for uncertainty and encouraged the identification of opportunities for community experiences and knowledge that can address gaps.

Additional Highlights from Day One

In addition to the keynote session, day one of the Preparedness Summit included over 50 demonstrations, learning sessions, and workshops. The Exhibit Hall also opened with over 70 exhibitors showcasing services and products for public health and emergency preparedness professionals.

The day concluded with attendees networking and connecting during a reception in the Exhibit Hall.

Click here to see photos from the day.