The health of communities where we live, work, learn, and play now and in the future is dependent on many key factors, including the capacity of the public health workforce. In a period of rising healthcare costs, increasing health inequities, increasing racial and ethnic disparities, as well as a targeted focus on population health and healthcare reform, leadership is central to the future of public health. Leadership is essential to effectively address the social determinants of health (SDOH) that contribute to health equities, including institutional barriers.