JAMA’s Post

A hearty “Chants Up!” from our PUBH320: Public Health Policy & Advocacy class! Students in the class, instructed by Sherer Royce, Ph.D., discussed the U.S. government this week and how the executive branch, cabinets, and regulatory agencies impact public health.

On this Human Rights Day, we wanted to share why public health matters in the context of human rights. Public health is not just about preventing disease; it is fundamentally about ensuring that every individual can live with dignity, health, and well-being. Why Public Health Matters in Human Rights: Foundation of Dignity: Public health initiatives recognize that health is a basic human right, essential for the dignity and quality of life of every person. Equitable Health Outcomes: By addressing social determinants of health, public health efforts work to eliminate disparities and ensure that marginalized communities receive the care they need. Empowerment and Advocacy: Public health empowers individuals and communities to advocate for their rights, promoting self-determination and participation in health-related decisions. Let’s commit to advancing public health as a vital aspect of human rights, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Together, we can foster a society that values health and well-being for all. 🌍❤️ #HumanRightsDay #PublicHealth #HealthEquity

As we end #NationalPublicHealthWeek, we’re contemplating what the future of public health looks like. The future of public health is all about partnering with different sectors and communities who are at the heart of decision-making. The future of public health is all about partnering with communities who are at the heart of decision-making. The future of public health is one rooted in racial justice and health equity. We partnered with the Big Cities Health Coalition to explore strategies that root public health’s practice in racial justice and health equity. In “Centering Racial Justice to Strengthen the Public Health Ecosystem: Lessons from COVID-19,” we challenge the public health field to commit to an ecosystem approach to public health. Read our report to learn more: https://lnkd.in/egeHEZZv https://lnkd.in/eebwqpnm #NPHW #RacialJustice #PublicHealth

Public Health is more than just a field of study - it's a commitment to creating healthier communities, reducing disparities, and promoting equity. Whether its through health education, policy advocacy, or community outreach, public health professionals work tirelessly to address the root causes of health issues and create lasting change. In a world where health disparities and inequities continue to impact so many lives, public health stands as a powerful tool to bridge those gaps. It's about ensuring everyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to lead a healthy life. I'm proud to be part of this field, working towards a healthier, more equitable future for all.

Yvette van der Eijk’s insightful article on the tobacco industry’s impact and the urgent need for ‘tobacco endgame’ strategies highlights a critical public health issue. The tobacco industry, responsible for millions of deaths annually, continues to profit immensely while employing unethical practices to sustain its market. This article calls for a robust approach to denormalize and regulate the industry, emphasizing the importance of education and stringent policies to protect public health. A must-read for anyone interested in public health advocacy and policy-making. #PublicHealth #TobaccoControl #HealthPolicy

Civic engagement is the actions that we and our communities take to identify and address problems, which helps shape our opportunities to be healthy. By taking actions to get more civically engaged, like voting, we exercise our right to make decisions about our communities, like whether our neighborhoods have walkable sidewalks, how much funding goes to reproductive health clinics in our states and how prepared the nation’s infrastructure is for future pandemics and disasters. Learn more about different ways to improve your civic engagement here: https://loom.ly/0LnKquA American Public Health Association

Uniting Civil Society: A Collaborative Fight Against Commercial Determinants of Health In the ongoing battle against non-communicable diseases, confronting the commercial determinants that adversely affect public health remains a significant challenge. These successes have been made possible through the unwavering support and collaborative efforts of our members and allies, who are deeply rooted in their respective countries, advocating for public health, advocating for public health and supporting each other's work across countries for our common goal of improving public health in Europe from both EU and national perspectives. Through persistent collaborative efforts and strategic advocacy, we are dismantling the barriers erected by commercial determinants of health. https://lnkd.in/eb653iha #PublicHealth #Europe #StayInformed #StayEmpowered

Understanding the intersection of public health and politics is crucial for effectively navigating and influencing policy decisions. As public health professionals, we must prioritize placing health concerns on the political agenda and advocating for evidence-based policies. To succeed in this arena, we must sharpen our skills in analyzing political contexts, grasping complexities, and framing compelling arguments. By actively engaging in the political sphere, we can amplify the voice of public health organizations and drive meaningful change locally and globally. Let's equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the political landscape and emerge as influential advocates for public health. #socialdeterminantsofhealth #politicaldeterminantsofhealth

I am grateful to have gotten to work with Profs. Cassandra Burke Robertson and Zoë Robinson on a piece entitled "Speech as Public Choice Remedy," which explains the current public health landscape and why government policy on diseases such as C19 does not reflect the scientific evidence--leaving the population open to widespread disability and/or death--and what we can do about it. It will be included in the health disinformation symposium edition of the Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy. You can download the full draft of the article under the included link. #covid19 #covid #publichealth #publicchoice #speech

Last year we participated in an accessibility research project with the UNSW about information accessibility and how to support more accessible crisis information. Our advocacy around Easy Read funding has been included in the final report. Some of the main points we made were: - People need support to use Easy Read - We need Australian Easy Read guidelines - We need more ongoing funding to develop accessible information “Accessible information provider organisations should also have reliable, ongoing funding (not only project to project payments), with capacity for expansion during weather emergencies and public health disasters.” The research reports can be found here (including Easy Read): https://lnkd.in/g2DQ7Hkn You can read an article about the research here: https://lnkd.in/gbGCeiV5