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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Mental health

65% of Migrants Report Loneliness—Why Communities Aren’t Ready

Loneliness has been called an “epidemic” by governments in the U.K., U.S., Japan, and elsewhere. It’s linked to depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and even early mortality. For public health professionals, loneliness is not a soft social issue—it’s a modifiable risk factor with tangible health impacts. The Assyrian case is instructive because it reflects patterns found […]

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AI

Who Controls What AI Knows? The New Gatekeepers of Information

In the age of generative AI, not all information is created equal — or equally visible. A new analysis from Fractl reveals that a handful of publishers now dominate the “knowledge base” behind AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot. These partnerships between AI companies and major media outlets are reshaping who and what gets […]

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Implementation

17 Years: Why Communities Still Struggle to Put Research into Action

Across the U.S., health departments spend millions training providers, distributing toolkits, and launching new prevention programs. Yet, years later, adoption often lags. For example, clinics may struggle to integrate smoking cessation interventions despite robust evidence that they save lives. Why? Because programs don’t just need to work in theory—they must be delivered efficiently, affordably, and […]

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News

Next Week in Public Health, October 16, 2025

Some temporary good news. A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from laying off federal workers during the ongoing two-week government shutdown, ruling that the administration’s “reductions in force” violated federal law. Judge Susan Illston criticized the administration for exploiting the shutdown to bypass legal constraints and restructure the government. So, we’ll take the […]

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Policy

Building the Health Workforce America Deserves

Across the United States, patients are struggling to find basic care. Families drive hours for dental appointments. Rural hospitals are closing. Nurses are burning out. And despite spending nearly twice as much per person on health care as other wealthy nations, America faces a dire shortage of doctors, nurses, and dentists. The Health Resources and […]

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Environment

What Most People Don’t Know About Scented Candle Risks

I confess. I love a good Yankee Candle. Yet, while this may be a familiar scene in your home, there is an overlooked azard Picture a family gathering on a hot evening in the Gulf region. The air conditioner hums, windows are sealed tight, and a few scented candles glow on the table. While these […]

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Policy

The Escalating NHS Waiting Lists Crisis

The NHS is currently grappling with a crisis characterized by rapidly increasing waiting lists. Recent data reveal that the number of patients waiting for treatment has reached unprecedented levels, sparking concern among healthcare professionals and the public alike (BBC News). The rise, attributed to various factors, is creating substantial pressure on the healthcare system. Understanding […]

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Climate

Only 2 in 10 Communities Are Prepared for Fire Smoke

It’s a dry spring morning in northern Australia. A nurse in a small rural clinic notices an increase in patients presenting with wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. The nearest bushfire is hundreds of kilometers away, yet the smoke has settled thick over town. What feels like just another smoky day has life-and-death consequences. […]

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Health equity

Only 2 in 10 Migrants Feel Safe Seeking Care

Last spring in Phoenix, a community clinic reported a sharp decline in migrant families bringing in their children for routine care. The reason wasn’t a sudden improvement in health. It was fear. Parents worried that seeking care would expose them—or their loved ones—to immigration authorities. This example illustrates a broader reality. Migrants make up over […]

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