1078: Inside the Public Health Data Consortium

JOHN SHEEHAN:

This is Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, March 2, 2026. I'm John Sheehan with news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

Today, we go inside the Public Health Data Consortium with Dr. Jen Layden, Senior Vice President of Population and Innovation at ASTHO. Dr. Layden will explain what the consortium is, what it means for the future of public health decision-making, and how this unique public-private partnership is designed to improve data access, quality, and analytics while keeping governance firmly in the hands of state and territorial health agencies. Dr. Jen Layden, welcome to the show.

JEN LAYDEN:

Thank you. Glad to be here.

SHEEHAN:

So, Jen, what is the Public Health Data Consortium?

LAYDEN:

The Public Health Data Consortium is a way to bring our state and territorial health agencies together with private partners to support better access to data, higher quality data. We know that there's a great need to leverage data for a whole host of public health use cases that improve the well-being of our communities and across our nation. We often in public health struggle to make that data available, but also to leverage the best technology out there. And so by partnering with private entities who are versed in some of the technology, we have a win-win. We are making data more accessible, we are making it higher quality, and the state health agencies are benefiting from it by leveraging the expertise of our private partners as well as gaining access to data they wouldn't often have on their own.

SHEEHAN:

And because it's a private-public partnership, what sorts of data problems does that fix?

LAYDEN:

So, it's a really great question, and maybe starting with a little bit of a couple of cornerstones or key principles of it. One, it's the concept of bringing together private partners and public state health agencies and territorial health agencies together on a united mission. So, committed to saying we're all aligned that we want to improve public health outcomes and the work of public health, and doing that by improving data access and data quality. So sometimes the challenge is making data accessible or having access in agencies to some of the more advanced technical, efficient ways to exchange data. These are things that our private partners can help sell for, and they can do it because they're very versed doing it, they can do it in a more efficient manner than we can within public health.

SHEEHAN:

Sure. And one of the focuses is on mortality data. Why and how does that speak to public health threats?

LAYDEN:

Yeah, so mortality data is so important. It captures an important outcome that is used for a whole host of public health use cases. So, understanding the longitudinal status of individuals with different diseases, understanding the outcome. So, when COVID happened, it was really important to understand the severity of disease, who was being hospitalized, who was at risk for severe disease. And so as a critical measure of disease outcome and disease severity, it's important to have that for a whole host and range of public health use cases and diseases. Public health agencies are stewards of that data. Most state health agencies oversee the vital statistics program that has mortality data. And because of that, we can make that available in secure manners in ways that are privacy protecting, in a way that can support the use for really important use cases. So, we're starting with that because there is significant importance to it from a public health perspective. And it's also one in which public health really has the gold standard in the data set.

SHEEHAN:

And you pointed out that private partners can bring a level of speed and efficiency to data sharing, which makes complete sense. But that the public partners, the public health agencies are really the stewards and the ones who own the data and own the process. Can you talk about why that's important?

LAYDEN:

Yeah, no, I think it's hugely important in the sense of one aspect of governance is the process of identifying who should have access to the data, that it's adhering to state laws, local laws, federal requirements, that the security aspects are being addressed. So, governance, when we think of it, what's unique about this model is it's placing the hands of governance within public health. So, ASTHO will be the convener of that governance. Our state health and territorial health agencies that are participating will be the active members of governance. So as individuals who understand the data the best, who understand some of the security and privacy requirements that they have to uphold, they can help to ensure that it is governed and used appropriately. And so I think this model, which is really unique in that we are saying public health should be governing that, helps us to really do that and also ensure that the responsibilities of the data stewards within agencies feel that they have that ability to do so.

SHEEHAN:

And it's not hard to imagine that the priorities for public agencies could be different than those for private entities. And this really leaves the control in the hands of the public interest.

LAYDEN:

Right. And we are adding. We have that expertise within public health. We understand some of the nuances of the data. And we are contributing to use cases that are really important. So, understanding the outcome of someone on a certain treatment or being able to ensure that health systems, for example, who are treating patients are aware of whether or not a patient has deceased. These are also often missing data components for other users, but they are really of critical public health importance. So, it's helping to tie that gap that often exists of sharing data there for meaningful public health purposes.

SHEEHAN:

And could you give us a sense of some other new tools that will be newly available thanks to this consortium?

LAYDEN:

Yeah, it's a great question. So, it'll evolve as technology evolves. But some of the ways in which data is electronically shared require technology, things such as the FHIR and API technology that are becoming more and more the standard in the health care and other industries are things that often public health struggles to to build the capability, the capacity to do so. So, working with private partners that are very versed in doing that will provide it. Another is advanced analytics. So, again, we understand the public health use cases often, but sometimes don't have access to some of the more advanced analytic tools, as well as the ways to link data across data sets that sometimes some state health agencies have built up that capabilities. Other pay for those type of services. But there's ability to really have that service when it's important to link different types of data sets within your own jurisdiction, that those type of technical capabilities can be provided.

SHEEHAN:

And can you give us a sense of what participation in the consortium will look like and and how participants themselves can actually help steer the agenda?

LAYDEN:

Yeah, absolutely. So we've been doing a lot of outreach to state and territorial health agencies, myself including reaching out and talking to the state health officials, territorial health officials. The initial level of engagement is doing the deeper dives with the teams that are part of this consortium. So, folks at ASTHO, but additionally with our two private partners. This helps to make sure folks feel comfortable, their questions around data security, privacy, the legal aspects are addressed. And so that's the first level engagement. The next is, OK, we want to do this. We want to participate in this model and give a shot. Is really working through some of those policy aspects that need to be worked through and being an active participant on the governance board, which is important to ensure that their data stewardship responsibilities are upheld. It also will help to shape this new consortium. This is a growing consortium. Our charter is being developed. What we're defining as the real-world data that states will get access to, what those important use cases are, are really in that early phase of development. And so, state and territorial health agencies that are joining are really helping to shape what that is. So active participation is meeting with us, getting awareness and understanding of the project, to participating in the governance board and three, helping to shape what that real world data and services will be for public health. So, what's going to be available to them to make their job better?

SHEEHAN:

Yeah, that sounds really valuable, especially if you're an agency with your own specific needs, as every agency is.

LAYDEN:

Yeah, no, absolutely. There's a whole range of data within health agencies. We don't often have access or easy access to claims data or pharmacy data or over-the-counter purchases, things that could be really valuable that these private partners have access to. And so depending on what the priority use cases are, you know, what questions they need answered that they don't have an easy answer to get, we can create those that access to the data and data visualizations to answer those questions.

SHEEHAN:

Dr. Jen Layden is Senior Vice President of Population and Innovation at ASTHO. And so, Jen, if someone listening, an official, an agency member wants to get involved or learn more, who should they reach out to?

LAYDEN:

We will talk to any state health, state territory health agency that's interested. There's a couple of ways. One, there is a website and they can go to that. There's a submission form. There's also an email box, PHDC@ASTHO.org, Public Health Data Consortium at ASTHO.org.

SHEEHAN:

And you can find those links as well in our show notes. 

In the first session of a five-part series, "Leadership Power Hour: Your Launchpad for Impact," attendees will explore frameworks for decision-making and strategies for engaging with teams, communicating with clarity, and prioritizing competing demands. Learn key techniques for articulating decisions that build trust and drive action. You can register for the series now at the link in our show notes.

ASTHO is dedicated to supporting state and territorial health officials as they lead through critical times, providing technical assistance, thought leadership, and capacity building resources. While our work expands across the entirety of the public health landscape, ASTHO's top resources from 2025 punctuate significant themes and work from the past year, from data modernization to chronic disease prevention, One Big Beautiful Bill, the government shutdown, and more. You can find a link to these resources in the show notes.

This has been Public Health Review Morning Edition. I'm John Sheehan for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.