Blogs - This Week In Public Health

Commentary

Mission or Margin: How Nonprofits Are Becoming Private Equity in Disguise

The Betrayal of the Nonprofit Promise Fifty years ago, the American nonprofit sector was anchored by trust. Community hospitals, faith-based charities, and behavioral health providers existed to fill the gaps left by markets and government alike. But in 2025, a darker transformation is unfolding. Large nonprofit health systems are increasingly behaving like private equity (PE) […]

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Communication

What the MAHA Summit Reveals About the U.S. Public Health Agenda

A high-profile health summit held just steps from the White House last week offered an unusual look at the ideas influencing U.S. health policy under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Vice President JD Vance. The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Summit brought together Silicon Valley anti-ageing entrepreneurs, social media influencers, and top federal […]

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Collaboration

Why Experiential Learning Is Transforming Global Health Education

In a packed university conference room, students aren’t cramming for an exam—they’re negotiating a global pandemic. One represents Kenya, while the other represents the United States. A delegate from Brazil just proposed an emergency resolution. Welcome to the World Health Assembly Simulation (WHA SIM), where undergraduate students at York University assume the roles of world […]

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Commentary

Is HHS still a Credible Health Leader? Next Week in Public Health, November 20, 2025

Late last night, the CDC posted the following on its website. This comes on the heels of the “gold-standard, peer-reviewed” white paper that HHS released, which pushes back on gender-affirming care for youth. Lately, I’ve found myself increasingly uneasy about how the terms “evidence-based” and “gold standard science” are being used in public conversations. Words […]

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Mental health

When Knowledge Saves Lives: Tackling Suicide Stigma Through Education

“Only seven people out of nearly a thousand could answer most questions about suicide correctly.” That’s one of the most striking findings from a 2025 study of everyday citizens in Iran. It’s not a typo—less than one percent had strong knowledge about suicide. And the less people knew, the more likely they were to believe […]

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Health equity

The Rise of “Gold Standard Science”—And How It’s Being Weaponized

Arecent executive order from the White House, titled “Restoring Gold Standard Science,” has quickly become one of the most consequential (and controversial) developments in federal science policy. Marketed as a push for research that is “transparent, rigorous, and impactful,” the order promises science that clearly communicates uncertainty, questions its own conclusions, and guides evidence-based decision making. […]

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Mental health

Exploring the Intersection of Public Health and Nature

Understanding the vital connection between public health and nature has never been more crucial. As societies continue to urbanize and industrialize, the natural environment remains a key factor in shaping community wellbeing, resilience, and overall health outcomes. The Importance of Nature for Public Health Nature plays a multifaceted role in supporting public health. From promoting […]

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Implementation

Is the 17-Year Evidence-to-Practice Gap Holding Us Back?

The meeting room was packed. Local health leaders, researchers, and frontline practitioners squeezed into chairs as a project team unveiled its new implementation plan. Early on, someone mentioned it—the familiar line many of us in public health have heard for years: “It takes 17 years for research to make it into practice.” Heads nodded. People […]

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Epi

Respiratory Illnesses Surge in November 2025

The global health community is grappling with an unexpected and significant uptick in respiratory illnesses in November 2025. Recent reports from various public health departments highlight a troubling trend: respiratory illnesses, including flu and other viral infections, are on the rise, posing challenges for healthcare providers and policy makers worldwide. Current Trends and Data Analysis […]

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AI

Tackling Antibiotic Resistance With AI

The world of public health is witnessing transformative changes with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. This week, the spotlight is on the UK government’s commitment of millions to leverage AI in the battle against drug-resistant infections, also known as superbugs. Such initiatives indicate a critical shift in how we approach public health challenges […]

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