John M. Westfall, Winston Liaw, Kim Griswold, Kurt Stange, Larry A. Green, Robert Phillips, Andrew Bazemore, Carlos Roberto Jaén, Lauren S. Hughes, Jen DeVoe, Heidi Gullett, James C. Puffer, Robin S. Gotler
Corresponding Author: John M. Westfall; 1Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Primary Care. Email: jwestfall@aafp.org
Section: Family Medicine & The Health Care System
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The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the dis-integrated healthcare system in the United States. Decades of inattention and dwindling support for public health, coupled with declining access to primary care medical services have left many vulnerable communities without adequate COVID19 response and recovery capacity. Health is a Community Affair is a 1966 effort to build and deploy local communities of solution that align public health, primary care, and community organizations to identify healthcare problem sheds, and activate local asset sheds. After decades of independent effort, the COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportunity to reunite and align the shared goals of public health and primary care. The ideas and concepts laid out in Health is a Community Affair offer a COVID-19 response and recovery approach. By bringing public health and primary care together in community now, a future that includes a shared vision and combined effort may emerge.