Blogs - This Week In Public Health

Communication

Beyond “Trust the Science”: How Public Health Must Relearn How to Engage Communities

Public health is facing a paradox. On the one hand, never before has scientific evidence played such a visible role in public life. During COVID-19, epidemiological models shaped national policy. Scientists became household names. Research moved at historic speed. On the other hand, trust fractured. Scientists were harassed. Communities disengaged. Evidence was reframed as ideology. […]

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Health tips

How Much Water We Really Need After Age 40

On a cool morning in Salzburg, a 52-year-old office worker arrives at a clinic for a routine health study visit. She hasn’t eaten for 10 hours, her urine sample is collected, and her blood is drawn. She thinks her hydration is “fine”—after all, she drinks tea, coffee, and eats fruits daily. But when her results […]

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News

Whiplash: January 15, 2026

At approximately 9 p.m. last night, SAMHSA funding was restored. I’m glad for that, but I’m also so freaking furious about the behavior, the short-sightedness, and the haphazard way public health is being handled by the federal government. I told some of my colleagues it feels like we’re dating a parody of a person with […]

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Policy

The Implications of RFK Jr.’s Changes to the Childhood Vaccine Schedule on Public Health

Recently, RFK Jr. announced sweeping changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, raising significant concerns among public health experts. As the new policy takes effect, various stakeholders, from medical professionals to parents, are grappling with understanding the potential implications of these modifications. Understanding the Changes The alterations involve recommendations from RFK Jr.’s newly appointed vaccine advisory […]

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News

HHS Grant Terminations: What Types of Programs Are Being Cut—and Why It Matters

Update: 9:47 pm It looks like the SAMHSA grants were restored. Such a terrible whiplash of a day. I said in another post that working with the feds on health is like dating a gross parody of a person with borderline personality disorder. https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/delauro-statement-hhs-reinstating-billions-addiction-and-mental-health-grants We obtained a copy of internal records detailing terminated U.S. Department […]

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Uncategorized

Why Nerve Agents Still Pose a Critical Public Health Risk

A little after sunrise, a rural health clinic in South Asia opens its doors. Within minutes, three patients stumble in, eyes burning, breathing shallow, confused, terrified. The symptoms come fast, and the local nurse recognizes something unusual. Not smoke. Not food poisoning. Something more dangerous. Something chemical. Scenes like this remain rare, but when they […]

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Epi

Bird Flu Viruses Raise Mounting Concerns Among Scientists

The recent resurgence of bird flu viruses, particularly H5N1, has drawn significant attention from scientists worldwide, as it poses potential risks to public health on a global scale. This article synthesizes insights from recent research and expert opinions to explore the key concerns surrounding these viruses and the measures being taken to mitigate their impact. […]

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Research

How Clinical Recommendations Are Really Built — And Why Public Health Should Care

Strong clinical recommendations are not just academic—they influence newborn screening policies, referral pathways, reimbursement decisions, and population-level outcomes. For public health settings, where resources are limited, and decisions affect entire communities, knowing how guidance is constructed helps: This is especially critical in fields with rare diseases, where randomized trials are scarce, and expert consensus often […]

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Health tips

Why Seniors Who Exercise Gain a Triple Health Boost

Just after sunrise in Wuhan, a familiar scene unfolds: older adults gathering in the park, stretching, swinging their arms, walking in loops, or following along with music from a portable speaker. What might look like a relaxed morning routine is actually far more powerful. According to new research, these moments of movement—whether jogging, dancing, or […]

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Commentary

When Surveillance Becomes a Social Determinant of Health

Juan Sebastián Pinto’s explosive essay is framed as a story about war, Silicon Valley, and authoritarianism—but for public health, it should read like an emergency briefing. What he describes is the rapid conversion of surveillance, data extraction, and narrative control into tools of population management. That has direct, measurable consequences for health, equity, and democracy. […]

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