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e are pleased to share the 2020–21 Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Annual Report. This year
marked CSTE’s 70th anniversary, and while much has changed since the first CSTE annual meeting in 1951, our tireless
Wcommitment to advancing public health policy, growing epidemiologic capacity, and improving overall public health
has only grown. Our members continue to deliver high quality data in an effort that not only informs the national response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, but also highlights opportunities to advance health equity and data modernization.
The continued impact of COVID-19 on public health and applied epidemiology cannot be understated, as this once-in-a-century
crisis has tested the determination and resilience of epidemiologists in all jurisdictions. The ongoing national response continues to
demonstrate the resolve of CSTE members, as our members delivered high quality data to inform the pandemic response. You can
learn more about the second year of CSTE’s COVID-19 response
efforts on pages 19–22.

CSTE’s Data: Elemental to Health (DEH) campaign found both
new urgency and new partnership. The Association of State and
Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Big Cities Health Coalition
(BCHC), and National Association of City and County Health
Officials (NACCHO) have joined the campaign, which supports data Janet Hamilton, MPH
modernization at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CSTE Executive Director
(CDC). To date, CSTE and additional DEH partners Association of
Public Health Laboratories (APHL), Healthcare Information and
Management Systems Society (HIMSS), and National Association
for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems (NAPHSIS)
have generated $1 billion in new federal appropriations, yet
continued advocacy is necessary to secure sustained federal funding Ruth Lynfield, MD
for both data modernization and public health infrastructure. Learn State Epidemiologist (MN)
more about our advocacy efforts on pages 8–9. CSTE President (2021–22)

CSTE grew to its largest size ever in 2020–2021, with over 2,200
members. CSTE also launched a new Strategic Impact Plan to
guide the organization’s work with its four central pillars: Advance, Equip, Advocate, and Optimize. The plan builds upon significant
recent achievements by our Programs team in both infectious disease and non-infectious disease subjects. These accomplishments