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

WHO Reaffirms Vaccine Safety Amid US Autism Claims

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently reaffirmed the safety of vaccines, countering claims circulating in the U.S. associating vaccines with autism. This discussion has been rekindled by recent remarks from the U.S. leadership, stirring both public and scientific communities. Vaccines and Autism: Dissecting the Claims Historical debates around vaccines often cite autism as a […]

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Environment

Climate Anxiety and the Future of Parenting

In British Columbia, the summer of 2021 was unlike any other. A record-breaking heat dome gripped the region, claiming hundreds of lives. Later that fall, floods washed away highways and homes. For residents like Emma, a 29-year-old nurse in Burnaby, the question wasn’t just how to cope with today’s emergencies—it was whether it was fair […]

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Global

The Economy and Suicide: The Numbers

Last year, a health department official in a mid-sized U.S. county faced a tough question from her board: “Why are suicide rates still rising when the economy is improving?” That disconnect—between better numbers on paper and worse outcomes in real life—captures a dilemma that stretches far beyond one county. A new global study offers fresh […]

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News

Quick Sunday update, 9/28/25

Hi all, Coming to you from a soccer field early Sunday morning. I’m asking you to follow us on Facebook. You may skeptically ask, “Why?” Well, we all know Twitter is a cesspool, and Bluesky, bless its heart, is a bit of a science-positive echo chamber. The people we need need to reach still are […]

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AI

3 Ways Smart Public Art Boosts Low-Carbon Cities

Did you know urban areas produce more than 70% of the world’s carbon emissions? A new study reveals that intelligent public art—encompassing sculptures, lighting displays, and interactive installations powered by smart technology—can reduce emissions and foster community cohesion in. Here are the top three takeaways for city leaders, health professionals, and community advocates: 1. Smart Design Slashes […]

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Wellbeing

What This Study Reveals About TB Stigma in India

Last year, India recorded nearly 3 million cases of tuberculosis (TB) and over 340,000 deaths. But beyond the biology of infection lies another challenge—one that rarely makes it into program reports or media headlines. TB stigma continues to derail care, deepen inequities, and cost lives. A new narrative review published in PLOS Global Public Health […]

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News

Next Week in Public Health, September 26, 2025

Everyone stockpiling their Tylenol? Actually, I don’t mind research. I don’t mind replication studies. Scientists should NOT be afraid of testing linkage and relationships and causation over and over and over again. Science can and should take all comers. What I do mind is when the government pretends that people have not been studying this […]

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Society

A Rising Urgency for Dementia Prevention

Last summer, nearly one in three counties across the U.S. reported heat emergencies that disproportionately impacted older adults. At the same time, local clinics struggled with rising cases of diabetes and hypertension—two well-known risk factors for dementia. With an aging population and constrained health budgets, primary care providers face a pressing question: how can we […]

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Climate

How Wildfire Smoke’s Public Health Impact is Escalating

Wildfires, long regarded as a seasonal inconvenience, are now emerging as a significant public health crisis, exacerbated by climate change. As wildfires increase in frequency and intensity, their smoke is becoming a lingering threat to human health, contributing to a wide range of diseases and safety challenges. The Invisible Killer: Understanding Wildfire Smoke Wildfire smoke […]

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