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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AI

AI-Powered Antibiotics: Hope Against Superbugs?

Artificial intelligence has taken a significant leap in medicine by designing potent new antibiotics capable of combating drug-resistant bacteria. These AI-designed antibiotics target notorious superbugs such as gonorrhoea and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) which pose a growing threat worldwide. AI in Antibiotic Development Using advanced generative AI models, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology […]

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News

Next Week in Public Health, August 15, 2025

I know we didn’t pay enough attention to the shooting at the CDC last week. I could blame the firehouse of insanity, the bizarre lack of media coverage of this event, the general shrugs that accompany mass shootings, or the fact that I was in a daze working on a project. I don’t know. So […]

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Policy

Trump Administration Slashes Health Disparities Research, Halting Decades of Progress

The Trump administration has sharply curtailed federal funding for research on health disparities, halting hundreds of projects that for decades sought to narrow gaps in life expectancy and disease rates between racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. The move follows a series of executive orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies across federal agencies. The […]

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Health equity

Healthcare Crisis in Gaza: The Impact of Depleting Resources Amidst Conflict

The ongoing healthcare crisis in Gaza has reached alarming levels, with reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighting a ‘catastrophic’ situation. Hospitals are overwhelmed and life-saving medicines have run out, raising serious concerns about the capacity of the health system to cope with the increasing demand (UN News.) The Dire State of Gaza’s Health […]

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Research

Being Better Ancestors for a Healing and Just Healthcare System

Healthcare in the United States is at a crossroads. Rising costs, declining (or precipitously falling) trust, and persistent racial and social inequities have made it clear: patchwork fixes and short-term programs aren’t enough. In their NEJM Catalyst article, Being Better Ancestors for a Healing and Just Healthcare System,”Somava Saha, MD, MS, Kellie Easton, and Kenneth […]

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Environment

Living Near Illegal Dumpsites Doubles Respiratory Risks

Every morning in Rocklands, a township in Bloemfontein, South Africa, families step out into air tinged with smoke, dust, and decay. Just down the road lie vast illegal waste dumping sites—three of them—where household garbage, rotting food, and plastics pile up in the open air. It’s unsightly, yes. But as new research shows, it’s also […]

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Policy

Growing Concerns Over Rising THC Levels in Cannabis

Cannabis legalization across the globe has sparked a new wave of debates and research around its health implications, especially concerning the rising levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component in cannabis. Recent reports suggest that higher THC levels are linked to increased risks of mental health disorders and addiction. Rising THC Concentrations THC levels […]

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Climate

Heat Deaths Rise 15% When You Count the Right People

Public health experts know that heat kills. But what if the way we measure heat is hiding just how deadly it really is, especially in the world’s hottest regions? A new study published in Environmental Health Perspectives reveals that the traditional methods used to estimate temperature—like relying on airport weather stations—may significantly underestimate heat-related deaths […]

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Epi

Addressing the Cholera Outbreak in Darfur

Cholera, a preventable and treatable disease, has once again reared its head in North Darfur, Sudan. The North Darfur region has become the epicenter of a cholera outbreak, threatening the already fragile healthcare infrastructure. This public health crisis is exacerbated by ongoing conflict, displacement, and limited access to resources, thereby putting thousands of lives at […]

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