Latest Insights & Research

Stay informed with the latest public health research, insights, and evidence-based analysis from our team of experts.

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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Climate

Protecting Lives in a Warming World: Health Takes Centre Stage at COP30

The ongoing COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, has underscored the paramount importance of integrating health strategies into climate action. As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become increasingly common, public health systems are facing unprecedented challenges. This week, the United Nations and participating countries launched a blueprint to ensure that health systems worldwide […]

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Workforce

Public Health Degrees at Risk Under New Federal Loan Rules

The U.S. Department of Education is moving toward a new definition of “professional degree programs” under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and public health programs appear to be left out. This proposed classification will determine which graduate degrees qualify for the highest federal loan limits, giving students access to up to $200,000 in […]

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News

Next Week in Public Health, November 13, 2025

After a record-breaking 43-day shutdown, the federal government has finally reopened following President Trump’s signature on a long-delayed funding package. While political leaders traded blame, the public health consequences were immediate and far-reaching. Food assistance for more than 40 million Americans stalled, and some families ran out of resources entirely. Meanwhile, federal workers across essential […]

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Policy

Why “Evidence-Based” Policy Needs Politics Too

Public health professionals are trained to see evidence as the gold standard. The logic seems simple: if research shows what works, governments should act accordingly. Yet, as the authors note, policy isn’t medicine. In clinical settings, evidence guides treatment for an individual patient. But health policy affects entire populations, and every policy choice reflects competing […]

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Policy

Why U.S. Health Care Premiums Are Rising – and What Can Be Done

Do you have sticker shock? I do. My family’s premiums are increasing by nearly $10,000 next year. And I’m not unique. Health insurance premiums in the United States are rising at a concerning rate for families, employers, and public health professionals. From a public health standpoint, increasing premiums reveals deeper issues in how our healthcare […]

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Commentary

Resilience or Ruin? The Future of U.S. Public Health — Coming Soon

America’s public health system is standing at a crossroads. Over the past several years, the foundations that protect our communities—disease prevention, outbreak response, and population surveillance—have been weakened by political interference, funding cuts, and leadership instability. Resilience or Ruin? The Future of U.S. Public Health, a forthcoming report from This Week in Public Health, reveals […]

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Commentary

Measuring Equity in an Age of Disinvestment: A Critical Look at IHI’s New Framework

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) 2025 white paper, Advancing Health Equity: An Approach to Systematically Identify and Evaluate Health Disparities, offers a structured, evidence-based pathway for health systems to measure inequities in care. It arrives at a crucial moment. The very concept of “equity” has become politically fraught, and when public health infrastructure itself […]

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AI

The AI-Driven Infodemic Threatening Public Health

A few years ago, “publish or perish” was an academic cliché. Today, it’s being supercharged by machines. Since ChatGPT burst into the scene in late 2022, artificial intelligence has infiltrated nearly every corner of science—writing, reviewing, and even summarizing research papers. The result? A flood of AI-generated studies that could overwhelm even the most diligent […]

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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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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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Health tips

Public Health Impact of Rising E-Cigarette Use Among Youth

In recent years, the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes has become a significant public health concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted that over 100 million people, with at least 15 million children, are now using e-cigarettes. This unprecedented rise is fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction, warranting urgent attention from health professionals and […]

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