Uniting public health and legislators: the Society of Behavioral Medicine Health Policy Ambassador Program as a model framework

Abstract

There is a growing need for public health professionals to develop effective strategies for integrating scientific expertise into the decision-making processes that influence population health. In line with the concept of “political determinants of health,” we advance the position that public policy shapes the health of our nation, and that sustained, nonpartisan engagement between scientists and policymakers is essential for evidence-based policy development. We describe the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s (SBM) Health Policy Ambassador Program as a model framework for uniting scientists and legislators. The program was launched in 2020 with the goals of training and supporting scientists to build ongoing, bidirectional relationships with policymakers, and providing timely, accurate, policy-relevant scientific expertise without partisan alignment. We outline the program’s structure, policy focus areas, and scope of legislative engagement, and discuss its anticipated benefits for scientists, policymakers, and public health. We conclude by discussing how ambassador-style models can strengthen the relationship between scientists and legislators, improve the integration of scientifically accurate evidence into policy decisions, and support academic institutions to integrate nonpartisan policy engagement as a core component of public health education and practice.