Posted on April 21, 2026

By Lindsey Angioletti, Hofstra News | Hofstra School of Health Sciences

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From artificial intelligence (AI) to misinformation, public health leaders say the next crisis may be as much about communication as it is about disease.

At Hofstra University’s School of Health Sciences’ (SHS) “Public Health Preparedness: Identifying Risks and Crisis Response Strategies” panel, held during National Public Health Week (NPHW), experts examined how the field must evolve to meet increasingly complex and unpredictable threats.

Rather than revisiting what went wrong during COVID-19, panelists focused on what still is working, and what could make the next response even more difficult.

“We’re dealing with a credibility crisis,” said Michael Balboni, founder and managing partner of Redland Strategies Inc., pointing to growing public skepticism and polarization. “If I said to all of you right now you need to take this pill … people would ask, ‘Where am I getting my information from?’”

That erosion of trust, panelists said, is being accelerated by social media, fragmented media ecosystems, and the rapid rise of AI.

“Half of the population by default would not listen,” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Suffolk County health commissioner, describing the challenge of communicating even the most basic public health guidance.

Dr. Irina Gelman, Nassau County health commissioner, noted that public health officials are now competing with a constant stream of misinformation and “white noise” that makes it harder to reach communities with accurate, actionable information.

In that environment, panelists agreed, how information is delivered can be just as important as the information itself.

“You have to give the facts as you know them,” Balboni said. “And you have to be willing to say, ‘I don’t know.’”

At the same time, AI is emerging as both a powerful tool and a potential risk.

Health systems and public agencies are already using AI to predict outbreaks, analyze population-level data, and improve efficiency. Gelman described how predictive modeling, wastewater surveillance, and travel data are helping officials anticipate emerging threats before they spread widely.

But panelists cautioned that AI is still evolving and not always reliable, warning that inaccurate inputs can lead to flawed conclusions.

Beyond technology, speakers emphasized that longstanding structural challenges remain unresolved, particularly around funding, coordination, and access.

“We need way more resources than we have,” said David Nemiroff, president and CEO of Harmony Healthcare Long Island, reflecting on the strain placed on community health providers during the pandemic.

Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, stressed that solutions must be grounded in the communities they serve.

“You can decide messaging from the ivory tower,” she said, “but that messaging may not resonate with community members.”

Mitchell Cornet, vice president, community and strategic partnerships, Institute for Community Health and Wellness, Northwell Health, echoed the importance of consistency and coordination, particularly during fast-moving crises.

“If the community finds out that what you have told them is not truthful, you’ve lost them,” he said.

For moderator Dr. Isma Chaudhry, executive-in-residence, Hofstra Master in Public Health program, the conversation underscored a broader shift in the field, from planning for emergencies to actively preparing for the unknown.

“Public health preparedness is shifting from planning to execution,” she said. “We need to be ready to act quickly, consistently, and equitably.”

Dean Reginald Alston, SHS, shared that the discussion highlighted the evolving demands on public health professionals.

“Today’s challenges require a new level of agility, critical thinking, and collaboration,” Alston said. “Our students must be prepared not only to respond to crises, but to navigate the complex information landscape that shapes public health outcomes.”

The panel was one of more than two dozen events held during Hofstra’s NPHW. The initiative reflects Hofstra’s commitment to the Hofstra 100 strategic plan, particularly its focus on community engagement and preparing students to address real-world challenges through interdisciplinary, applied learning.