Abstract Cancer prevention and early detection have the greatest potential for reducing incidence, suffering, and death from cancer of any modality we have available. HPV and HBV vaccination, as well as exposure avoidance (e.g., smoking cessation) are well documented to reduce cancer risks. Approaches such as mammography, colonoscopy and low-dose CT screening clearly provide mortality reductions. While these tools are effective, they are under-used and thus their potential for cancer reduction is sub-optimal. The field is also at a critical phase of development: we have substantial mechanistic understanding of cancer and novel technologies that provide new opportunities for prevention and early detection. We must consider a series of factors in order for effective translation and implementation of this knowledge to occur. Multisector involvement of academia, business, policymakers, biotech, community members, and others are required to build a common language and pathways from discovery to implementation. Diverse data and input from end used communities are required to ensure that these novel approaches do not induce or exacerbate disparities and can benefit all populations equitably. Increased compliance with existing population-based tools that are known to minimize cancer mortality must be improved, while new “precision” methods are developed and implemented. The field has the opportunity to disrupt the landscape of state of cancer by developing and implementing mechanism-based tools and technologies that will be used in novel prevention and early detection strategies. Citation Format: Timothy Rebbeck. Optimizing the public’s health through prevention and early detection (precision and otherwise). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Precision Prevention, Early Detection, and Interception of Cancer; 2022 Nov 17-19; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2023;16(1 Suppl): Abstract nr IA002.