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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Global

Fast Isn’t Always Better: What the D&I Field Still Gets Wrong and Where We Go From Here

Each year, the Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health (D&I) offers a front-row seat to the cutting edge of how evidence is translated into action. The 17th conference, held in Arlington, VA, focused on a deceptively simple theme: “Moving Fast and Slow: Optimizing the Pace of Implementation.” While some studies […]

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News

Next Week in Public Health, July 25, 2025

Do you follow the HHS Facebook page? I do, mainly because I think I should. But, boy, it’s adopted the bizarre self-promotional tactics of the president. I’ve always been loath to jump into the comment sections on public Facebook posts — no good can come of it. Helpfully, I work under an HHS contract, so […]

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Social media analysis

The Health Industry’s $1M Campaign to Kill Universal Care

What if the biggest threat to universal health care isn’t in Congress, but in your Facebook feed? In 2019, a coalition of private healthcare giants launched a million-dollar advertising campaign on Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Their target wasn’t a competing company or product; it was you, specifically, your perception of universal health care. […]

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Commentary

Why the World is Losing the Fight Against Measles

The global fight against measles, once on the verge of being won, is witnessing alarming setbacks. Recent data and reports highlight a disturbing trend: the resurgence of measles outbreaks, driven by vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. This article explores why the world is struggling to keep measles in check and what it means for public health. […]

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Epi

420 Million Geo-Tagged Posts Reveal Pandemic Prediction Clues

Imagine trying to predict a hurricane, but your radar only works on half the sky. That’s the challenge public health officials face when trying to forecast COVID-19 surges using social media. New research published in Frontiers in Public Health reveals that politics and pandemic forecasting are more closely intertwined than previously expected. Researchers analyzed over 420 million […]

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Global

The Promise of Long-Acting Injections for HIV Prevention

So, in light of last week’s bad HIV news, here’s some good stuff In a significant leap forward in the fight against HIV, scientists and health organizations globally are celebrating the introduction of a long-acting injection that promises to transform prevention strategies. This groundbreaking solution is anticipated to offer near-total protection against HIV, and its […]

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Mental health

Why Resilience Matters in Mental Health: What Public Health Needs to Know

In the face of tough circumstances—poverty, trauma, unstable homes—some people manage to thrive. Why? What makes the difference? That’s where the concept of resilience comes in. More and more public health and mental health systems are embracing resilience as a key part of how we support people, especially those at risk of developing mental health […]

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Policy

Impact of Trump’s NIH and FDA Budget Cuts on Public Health in 2025

The budget’s been passed and awaits Trump’s signature, so let’s break it down again. Cuts the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), outlined in the administration’s fiscal policy for 2025, will reshape the landscape of public health in the United States. As we examine the implications of these budgetary […]

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Uncategorized

Next Week in Public Health, July 18, 2025

Hello. I know it’s tempting to chase the latest HHS news, and try to unpack what it means (e.g., Top staffers dismissed, the HHS Facebook page is meming Joe Biden? for some reason.) My ongoing theory is that these individuals are primarily seeking to consolidate wealth and power. That’s it. The health angle is merely […]

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Technology

The Promise of Three-Person IVF: A Holistic Approach to Overcoming Hereditary Diseases

Recent advances in reproductive technology are offering hope to families affected by hereditary diseases. The birth of babies conceived using three-parent IVF marks a groundbreaking achievement in medical science. This innovative technique involves the use of DNA from three individuals to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases. As this technology becomes more widely available, its […]

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