Blogs - This Week In Public Health

Epi

SVI vs. ADI: What Public Health Practitioners Need to Know Since the CDC Removed SVI

TLDR; SVI and ADI overlap but measure different concepts: vulnerability vs deprivation Public health professionals often rely on composite indices to identify disadvantaged communities and guide interventions. Two prominent tools in this space are the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and the Area Deprivation Index (ADI). Both indices measure socioeconomic and demographic disadvantage, but they were […]

Read more →

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. […]

Read more →

Research

From Compliance to Confidence: Practical Ways to Put Patients in the Driver’s Seat

Healthcare continues to evolve at a rapid pace. New technologies, updated policies, and shifting patient expectations are transforming how care is delivered. Yet one principle remains constant: better outcomes happen when patients take an active role in their own care. That’s why understanding how to empower patients in healthcare has become essential for providers, administrators, […]

Read more →

Why do rehabs allow smoking in addiction treatment centers

Mental health

Smoking in Rehab: Understanding the Controversial Policy

When families begin researching addiction treatment, one question often stands out: Why do rehabs allow smoking? At first glance, it seems contradictory. After all, rehab programs focus on health, healing, and long-term recovery. So why would a treatment center permit tobacco use, knowing its well-documented risks? The answer involves psychology, medical science, and a practical […]

Read more →

how to stop microaggressions in the workplace

Health equity

Building Respectful Workplaces: Practical Steps to End Microaggressions at Work

Creating a healthy workplace goes far beyond offering competitive salaries or flexible schedules. True organizational wellness depends on how people treat one another every day. For many employees, subtle comments, assumptions, or behaviors often unintentional can create an environment that feels unwelcoming or even harmful. That’s why learning how to stop microaggressions in the workplace […]

Read more →

Health equity

Building Fairer Futures: How Health Equity Strengthens Communities and Public Health

Health shapes how we live, work, learn, and thrive. Yet, not everyone has the same opportunity to achieve optimal health. That reality raises an urgent question: Why Health Equity Matters in Modern Society. The answer goes far beyond healthcare access. It touches education, housing, income, environmental safety, and public policy. Today’s public health landscape makes […]

Read more →

Nutrition

How Alternative Foods Could Reshape Livelihoods

Imagine a rural community reliant on small-scale livestock farming. Here, families have fed herds and tended fields for generations. Now, a newly introduced lab-grown meat product begins to make its way into local supermarkets, offering a glimpse into a future that could drastically change how people work and sustain themselves. How would this modern alternative […]

Read more →

Health equity

Bridging Health Decisions Across Generations

On a bustling Saturday morning, Ayse, a 28-year-old IT consultant, helps her grandmother navigate a health app while sipping her coffee. Her grandmother, born in the Baby Boomer era, squints through her glasses to see the small print on the screen, highlighting the growing importance of digital health literacy across generations. Revolutionizing Health Decisions Through […]

Read more →

Global

ED Quality Upgrades in Palestine: Possible or Pie in the Sky?

A nurse in a bustling Palestinian emergency department (ED) juggles multiple cases, each more critical than the last. She works tirelessly under intense pressure, balancing the provision of life-saving care with systemic inefficiencies stretching resources to the limit. But there’s hope. A new study from BMC Health Services Research assesses how the implementation of Emergency […]

Read more →

Commentary

The 2026 State of the Union: What It Means for Health and Public Health

In his February 24, 2026, State of the Union address, President Donald Trump devoted significant attention to issues that directly affect health, public health systems, and the social conditions that shape well-being in the United States. While the speech was framed around economic revival, border security, and national strength, it included several major claims and […]

Read more →

Health equity

Microaggressions and Mental Health: Unseen Impacts

Imagine a young Black adult, let’s call him Jason, walking into a high-paced urban college campus. Jason is not just another student — he is carrying the weight of daily microaggressions. Perhaps at the coffee shop, he receives a dismissive glance or hears an offhand comment about his intellect during a group study session. While […]

Read more →