Blogs - This Week In Public Health

Commentary

Destined to Suffer. How Prosperity Theology Is Shaping U.S. Health Policy

What if your health wasn’t just a matter of biology or economics, but of divine judgment? For centuries, American culture has been shaped by an unspoken theology: that the healthy are favored, and the sick are suspect. Today, as proposed cuts to Medicaid target the most vulnerable, it is worth asking. Are we still living […]

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Policy

When Cannabis Laws Change, So Do Crash Risks

Picture this: It’s 1:45 a.m. on a quiet stretch of highway. A state trooper responds to a crash that looks like a tangle of metal and glass. Toxicology reports will later show what the eye cannot — both alcohol and cannabis were involved. It’s a scene that’s become increasingly familiar across the United States, where […]

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News

Next Week in Public Health, October 23, 2025

APHA is coming up, and we’ll have more details about that soon. We’re partnering with WE in the World to share tools, strategies, and methods to help continue the work from a grassroots perspective. Here’s what’s in the research. And what’s in the news. Anti-science bills hit statehouses, stripping away public health protections built over […]

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Environment

Zero-Fare Transit: Can Free Buses Improve Public Health?

I’m a Philly guy, and our public transportation system is a mess. There’s a lot of reasons for that, but I doubt you’ll find anyone who is satisfied with SEPTA. And this is a negative for public health throughout the city. But this happens in other cities, too. On a humid July morning in Kansas […]

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Wellbeing

How a Low-Budget Campaign Saved Lives in Barnet

In Barnet, a borough in North London, public health officials faced a grim reality: three-quarters of suicides in the UK are by men, yet only one in four had recent contact with mental health services. For many, help comes too late—or not at all. In 2021, Barnet launched a bold, low-budget initiative: a mix of […]

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Wellbeing

3 Ways “Voice to Vision” Is Rebuilding Trust in Civic Decision-Making

Only 14% of Americans say they trust their local government to do the right thing. A new MIT-led project, Voice to Vision, may change that—by turning community feedback from “black box” to open book. 🗣️ 1. Every Voice Gets Logged, Linked, and Seen Voice to Vision connects every piece of community input—every survey response, town […]

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Resources

The Game-Changing HIV Protection Jab in England and Wales

A new HIV protection jab, Cabotegravir (CAB-LA), has been approved for use in England and Wales. This injectable treatment, considered ‘game-changing’ by health professionals, is set to become available to patients on the National Health Service (NHS), offering a significant alternative to traditional daily pills used for HIV prevention. The Breakthrough Injection Cabotegravir is a […]

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Wellbeing

Jealousy, Infidelity, and IPV: What Works Now

On a humid evening clinic night, a community health worker walks a couple to a quiet bench. He’s been “checking her phone.” She’s been skipping the market to avoid gossip. Their argument isn’t just about trust; it’s about power, roles, and fear. Within weeks, tension turns into controlling behaviors—and then into violence. Why this matters […]

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Health equity

Are We Measuring Health Equity All Wrong?

Picture this: a city rolls out a new school-based nutrition program. Kids are encouraged to eat more fruits and vegetables, teachers add fun lessons on healthy food choices, and the results look great—at least on paper. Test scores tick upward, and obesity rates decline. But dig deeper, and a troubling pattern emerges. The biggest improvements […]

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Uncategorized

The Gut Microbiome and Long-term Public Health

Public health is not just influenced by present conditions but is significantly impacted by past factors, including medication usage. Recent research shines a light on how medication affects the gut microbiome, potentially shaping health outcomes years later. The link between our gut flora and long-term health is more profound than previously understood, and it underscores […]

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