NEVER STARTING FROM ZERO
Journal of Public Health Sustainability
A journal that practices the equity it studies
Public health has a memory problem. When a program ends, what it learned usually ends with it. The Journal of Public Health Sustainability is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of research, practice and policy on what helps public health last. AHEA publishes it to keep that knowledge on the record. The Journal recognizes research expertise, applied practice, community knowledge and relevant lived experience, while holding clear standards for quality, relevance and integrity.
Equity built into the publication model
Written to be used
Every article includes a plain-language summary. The Practice section uses shorter, structured formats designed for people writing from the field, not only from academia.
Free to read
Everything the Journal publishes is open access, so anyone working in public health can read it, whatever their institution or budget.
Broad expertise
The Journal seeks editors and reviewers from research, practice and community settings, and holds every submission to defined editorial and peer-review standards.
Credit where it’s due
Community partners who contribute to the work are recognized as authors or acknowledged, according to clear standards, so their knowledge isn’t treated as background.
Editorial and peer-review participation
The Journal will be led by an independent Editor-in-Chief and Section Editors for Research, Practice and Policy, advised by an Editorial Board and supported by a network of peer reviewers. AHEA publishes the Journal and supports its operations. The Editor-in-Chief makes all publication decisions.
Editors
The Editor-in-Chief and Section Editors lead the Journal’s editorial work, from screening submissions and choosing reviewers to making publication decisions. Expressions of interest and nominations for these roles are welcome at info@americanhealthequity.org, with “Journal editor” in the subject line.
Editorial Board
Board members advise on the Journal’s standards and policies, review up to two manuscripts a year in their area of expertise, and encourage strong submissions from their networks. The board is open to AHEA members and takes a few hours a year.
Peer reviewers
Reviewers assess individual manuscripts in their areas and give confidential, constructive feedback to authors and editors. The reviewer interest list is open to everyone with relevant expertise, and editors will reach out as submissions open in 2027.
Preparing for submissions
The first call for papers opens in 2027. Submissions will be welcomed in three sections:
• Research: studies of what sustains or undermines public health programs, systems and workforce, and what that means for equity
• Practice: accounts of how programs were built and sustained, and what programs that ended can teach
• Policy: analysis of the laws, funding structures and policy choices that protect public health or leave it exposed
To keep the Journal open access and independent, accepted manuscripts will carry an article processing charge, reduced for AHEA members. Author guidelines, article types, fees, review procedures and timelines will be announced before submissions open.
Submissions are not yet open.