The Fund supports networks of state health policy decision makers to help identify, inspire, and inform policy leaders.
A bipartisan group of state health policymakers from both the executive and legislative branches who are focused on improving population health.
Supporting networks of state officials, advocates, and others aiming to invest in and transform primary care.
Advancing state-based efforts to make health care more affordable for residents, employers, and states.
The Milbank Memorial Fund supports two state leadership programs for legislative and executive branch state government officials committed to improving population health.
A leadership development program for early and mid-career state government officials who are committed to improving the health of all people in their communities.
A leadership program for senior state government officials who are committed to improving population health.
The Fund focuses on creating an affordable health care system built on strong primary care and partnerships that improve health outcomes for all.
Improving state leaders ability to enact and implement evidence-based health policies.
Advancing policies that create a more prevention- and primary care-oriented health system.
Improving population health through policies that contain health care cost growth.
Our state health policy resources provide relevant data analysis and best practices.
The Fund publishes reports, issues briefs, and case studies on state health policy issues.
Short takes on health policy issues from Milbank staff and guest authors.
Insights from Milbank President Debra Lubar on state health policymaking.
Reported articles and Q&As on timely health policy issues, as well as foundation updates.
Upcoming and past Milbank Memorial Fund and Milbank Quarterly webinars featuring state health policymakers and researchers.
Updates and expert contact information for reporters.
The Milbank Memorial Fund is a private foundation that works to improve population health and health equity.
The Future of Population Health (Volume 101)
Quarterly Article
Suhas Gondi
Dave A. Chokshi
Sep 2, 2026
Aug 19, 2026
Jun 29, 2026
Back to The Milbank Quarterly
Policy Points:
Most of the world’s population lives in cities. More than 56% of people lived in urban areas in 2020, while only 29% did in 1950. This proportion is significantly higher in Europe and North America, where 75% and 84% of the population, respectively, is urban.1 By 2050, nearly 70% of people globally will live in cities.2
The health of urban populations is dramatically influenced by the urban context, including its social, economic, environmental, and political conditions, in both positive and negative ways.3,4 Socially, the geographic concentration and colocation of people facilitate the formation of health-promoting social networks, while poor sanitation and high crime rates in population-dense areas feed the spread of communicable disease and physical injury. Economically, cities produce 80% of global gross domestic product, offering attractive employment prospects and elevating living standards but distributing both opportunities and gains from production unevenly, which drives urban poverty and growing inequality. Environmentally, robust transportation makes the workplaces and amenities of cities more accessible but contributes to air and noise pollution and rising carbon emissions, exacerbating associated health risks and climate change. Politically, opportunities for participatory democracy and community-level self-determination are often constrained by systematic disenfranchisement of marginalized populations and municipal corruption. The interplay of these complex factors occurs in the background of evolving challenges in health and medicine, ranging from aging populations and growing health care expenditures to novel pathogens and global pandemics.