David Rhew

Part 1: A Conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy

Phil Murphy, Edward Greissing, Lynn Goldman, Judith Monroe, David Rhew, Alyssa Rieder

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy detailed the state's data-driven pandemic response, highlighting the establishment of a massive PPE stockpile, the training of surge healthcare workers, and the creation of a $100 million relief fund for small businesses. Alongside First Lady Tammy Murphy, the administration launched the "Nurture NJ" initiative to address systemic disparities in Black maternal infant mortality while advocating for a strengthened national public health infrastructure and increased federal investment in the CDC and NIH. The broader panel emphasized that future preparedness requires modernizing data infrastructure, closing the digital divide, and implementing a holistic strategy that integrates health equity into all policy decisions to prevent a return to pre-pandemic inequities.