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Health and health care now occupy a well-deserved place of prominence in the national conversation. Prompted in part by the debate over health reform, we are now starting to examine and question virtually everything we know, or thought we knew, about our health care system—and our own roles and responsibilities as users of that system.

What we’re seeing is a marked shift away from blithe acquiescence to the status quo, and toward creating a "culture of health."

But what does that mean?

Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, put it best in a recent lecture to medical professionals at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine:

“What we foresee is a vibrant American culture of health:

• Where good health flourishes across geographic, demographic, and social sectors.
• Where being healthy and staying healthy is an esteemed social value.
• And everyone has access to affordable, quality health care.

“In this national culture of health…

• Individuals, businesses, government, and organizations will foster healthy communities and lifestyles.
• The economy will be less burdened by excessive and unwarranted health care spending.
• Individuals will be proactive in making choices that lead to a healthy lifestyle.
• And efficient and equitable health care will deliver optimal patient outcomes.

It will be a given that…

• The health of the population guides public and private decision-making.
• And, Americans will hold public leaders and policy-makers accountable for the community’s health.

At the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we are committed to this vision, and we are in it for the long haul. In this blog, we will regularly share our thoughts and ideas on how best to realize this vision, and we invite you to take part in the conversation.