The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has unveiled the Center for Population Health Data Science, aimed at bolstering the city’s public health data infrastructure. This initiative is part of a broader effort to create a comprehensive population health data system, focusing on data modernization, health equity, and informed policymaking. The center will facilitate the integration of healthcare, public health, and social service data, emphasizing data visualization, modeling, and interoperability. It will also support emergency preparedness and delve into mental health and chronic condition impacts on the city’s diverse population.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has recently inaugurated the Center for Population Health Data Science, with the primary goal of enhancing the city’s public health data infrastructure. This new center is a pivotal component of broader initiatives aimed at creating a comprehensive population health data system for the city, ultimately driving data modernization, health equity, and informed policymaking.
The center’s core mission is to effectively connect and harness data from healthcare, public health, and social service sectors. Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the DOHMH commissioner, emphasized the transformative power of data in public health, highlighting that data catalyzes action, planning, programs, and policy formulation. Drawing from the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city recognizes the urgency of strengthening its public health data infrastructure.
In line with this mission, the center will prioritize various strategic capabilities, including data visualization and communication, data modeling and forecasting, analysis of diverse data streams, data governance and privacy, and the application of artificial intelligence, aligning with the “New York City Artificial Intelligence Action Plan.” Furthermore, the center will work on establishing interoperability protocols to enhance the sharing and utilization of diverse data sources, all aimed at advancing the city’s population health objectives.
The center’s scope extends to addressing communicable diseases and outbreak responses, aligning with the city’s broader emergency preparedness and response initiatives. Additionally, it will delve into the impact of mental health and chronic conditions on the well-being and lifespan of New York City’s diverse population.
Support for the Center for Population Health Data Science comes partially from the Data Modernization Initiative (DMI), a federally funded program managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This initiative underscores the importance of data modernization in improving public health outcomes.
In a larger context, the establishment of this center reflects a broader trend at local and state levels to enhance public health. For example, the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine launched its Center for Health Equity and Precision Public Health in April, focusing on improving health outcomes in disadvantaged, rural, and minority communities. The center’s mission includes integrating precision medicine, genomics, population health, and health equity, connecting clinical, genomic, and social determinants of health data to provide a comprehensive view of human health and healthcare across Virginia.
