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
Alan B. Cohen
Sandro Galea
Paula M. Lantz
Sep 2, 2026
Aug 19, 2026
Jun 29, 2026
Back to The Milbank Quarterly
This year marks the 100th anniversary of The Milbank Quarterly. For the past century, the Quarterly has served the public health, medical, and health policy communities by publishing timely, rigorous, evidence based research and policy-focused commentaries. Now, on the occasion of the journal’s centennial, there is cause for both celebration and reflection.
Initially named The Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly Bulletin, the inaugural issue in 1923 reported on the Fund’s Health and Tuberculosis demonstrations in New York State. These demonstrations emanated from the Fund’s mission “to improve the health of individuals and populations by applying the findings of the best available research and relevant experiential learning to health policy and practice.” Volume 1, Number 1 of the Bulletin was the first in a series of quarterly reports on the Fund’s work in cooperation with the New York State Department of Health to build a public health infrastructure by establishing County Health Districts and local boards of health in towns to undertake tuberculosis case finding surveys.1
Over the course of the next decade, the journal played an instrumental role in charting the progress of public health campaigns to reduce the prevalence of tuberculosis and mitigate its effects in both rural and urban communities across New York State.2 During this period, the journal published numerous articles on public health efforts to control diphtheria, pertussis, and other diseases of global concern in England, Russia, China, and Yugoslavia.3 These various updates were valuable contributions to the fight against communicable diseases in the early 20th century. Thus began the journal’s legacy of publishing action-oriented research evidence aimed at improving public health.
1. New York Health and Tuberculosis Demonstrations. The Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly Bulletin 1923;1(1):1-9. 2. The New York Health Demonstrations Project to Terminate. The Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly Bulletin 1930;8(3):49-56. 3. The Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly Bulletin 1933; 11(2): 82–87; 11(4): 256–272; 11(4) 325–341; & 1934;12(1):15-27.