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Augusta Health Announces Internal Medicine Residents Class of 2029
New Psychiatry Residency Program Approved to Help Meet Growing Behavioral Health Needs FISHERSVILLE, VIRGINIA — Augusta Health is proud to welcome its third class of Internal Medicine residents. On July 1, fifteen new resident physicians began their training, continuing Augusta Health’s commitment to developing the next generation of healthcare providers for our community. The new […]
HHS Seeks Public Input on Electromagnetic Fields and Wireless Radiation
HHS issued a Request for Information (RFI) calling on Americans, scientists, physicians, industry, and public health experts to submit evidence and information on the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields.
Trump has long wanted to lose 15 pounds. Physicians wish he would.
Doctors say it’s worrying that the president has, according to his statements and those of aides, gained about 20 pounds since his campaign.
When “DEI” research is cut, what happens to community health?
“I’m just going to run to the grocery store!” How many times have we said this without thinking about it? For most of us, it's usually an easy walk or a short drive to get the cheese we forgot. In reality, though, 13% of the U.S. population (about 39 million people) live in “food deserts,” which means living more than a mile from a grocery store in urban areas and more than 10 miles in rural areas. This was the case for people in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, where a quick run to buy food wasn’t an option. In the 1930s, federal maps marked the Hill as "hazardous" for lending, a practice known as redlining that steered investment away from Black neighborhoods. Decades of disinvestment followed, and residents went about 30 years without a nearby grocery store. This made it hard to keep healthy eating habits and contributed to chronic disease. When a grocery store finally opened in the area in 2013, researchers saw the opportunity and launched the PHRESH study, which initially compared the health of participants from the Hill district to those in the Homewood district. Over time, the study expanded to other factors such as brain health and Alzheimer's risk. Residents like Roderick Blair overcame initial hesitation to share their health data, trusting it would benefit their neighborhood. Then, in August 2026, the NIH abruptly canceled the study’s grant, citing that it was “subjective” and fell outside their scientific scope—an effect of the administration’s interpretation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Research like PHRESH can help determine what changes in a neighborhood actually improve health, so cutting it has left that question unanswered. Other canceled studies have examined health issues like maternal health, preterm birth rates, or sickle cell disease. Courts have reversed some of these grant cancellations, but not all of them. If we really want America to be healthier, research into why some communities get sicker than others is absolutely critical. The law that created the federal minority health research institute passed with bipartisan support in 2000. But these days, as evidenced by grant cancellations, the political shift in attitudes toward DEI means we often lose access to the health information we need to help all communities thrive. DEI vs. health equity vs. equality and the overlap (or lack thereof) The letters “DEI” evoke very different reactions depending on who you are in the U.S. DEI programs can address gender, disability, age, and other factors, but the fiercest debate centers on race. For some people, hearing DEI brings to mind policies that may have cost them a job or a college seat because they are white. Others see DEI as a matter of justice: a way to expand representation and opportunity for groups that have been historically marginalized. Both perspectives are rooted in lived experience, and both center on the same question: whether hiring and admissions practices are fair. Hiring and admission practices, though related, are not the same as health equity. Health equity is “the attainment of the highest level of health for all people.” It’s the recognition that some groups of people consistently experience worse health outcomes than others. For instance, black mothers die from pregnancy-related complications at three times the rate of white mothers, and rural Americans are more likely to die from issues such as heart disease and cancer. Equity is also often conflated with “equality,” which leads to misunderstanding of how to actually best support communities. Equality ignores the fact that we aren’t all starting life with the same resources or circumstances, whereas equity is about helping people get what they specifically need based on their situation so they have the chance to achieve the same outcome as anyone else. For example, if every household in Pittsburgh got a $30 grocery gift card, that would be equal. But during the decades the Hill District went without a grocery store, that card wouldn’t have helped much. Equity means making sure everyone can actually access a store in the first place. DEI policies can overlap with health equity in many ways. For example, they may help expand access to quality education and stable, well-paying jobs, which in turn can provide health insurance, safer housing, and improved finances—all of which can reduce health disparities. But to make that happen, we first need data to identify disparities in communities and to develop solutions that effectively address them. What we lose when the research stops Community data is important to health equity because: You can’t fix what you don’t see: Data show which communities are most affected by health factors such as infection, heart disease, and cancer. If we don’t know what is happening and where, then we can’t develop interventions to help. Poor health costs everyone: Chronic disease is expensive—both to the individual person and to the overall economy. Understanding what groups of people are most at risk allows us to develop interventions that can save everyone money. Disparities exist for many communities: Health equity includes disparities that exist due to a whole host of factors, such as family background, race and ethnicity, rural vs. suburban residence, gender and sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, and lower income. This means many Americans can benefit from research into differences in health outcomes and how to improve them. Trust is easy to lose: Some participants in the PHRESH study were initially vocal about their concerns about participating. But that trust was earned because the researchers kept their promises and centered their work on the community. When projects are canceled mid-cycle, researchers have no choice but to leave behind communities they had promised to help. This hurts trust in the long run. It’s also a very inefficient use of resources, and it will take significant time and effort to redo the work when the government realizes this work is important again. How should we talk about health equity? This is hard because the words “equity” and “DEI” are currently very politically charged. So whether you’re a public health professional, teacher, or friend, how we talk about this topic matters. The right framing can help people who might otherwise be skeptical see why health equity research is important and deserves funding. Here are some suggestions to help your conversations: Choose your words strategically: Who are you trying to reach with your message? Are they likely to be resistant to terms like “diversity” and “equity”? If so, find alternative words to use to still get the message across. It is frustrating to be in that position, but the goal of improving health is too important not to try to make inroads. Sometimes simply reframing can help the message reach those who need to hear it. Focus on the problem: The terms “health equity” and “DEI” are abstract. Make it more specific. For example, discuss differences in maternal death or ways to improve health outcomes in rural communities. These still have equity at their core but will likely be better understood by those you’re talking with. Focus on systems: Disparities exist, but if they are communicated poorly, people can mistakenly think the issue is the individual’s fault. Disparities are largely driven by failures of the system—such as lack of access to health care and a long legacy of racism. When discussing the disparities, frame them around these systemic issues to ensure blame isn’t placed on the individuals impacted. Tell stories: Personalize these policies by using stories from those impacted that connect to the data you’re trying to convey. This helps make the policies and outcomes more concrete and meaningful. Bottom line Some communities end up sicker than others. That’s just the facts. We can argue about the best way to do that research, but canceling it simply because it may be linked to DEI doesn’t make anyone healthier. It just leaves communities like the Hill district behind. And in the end, it causes us all to move backward in our efforts to improve health in this country. Love, EM Big thanks to MacKenzie Isaac & Legairre Radden, who reviewed this piece and generously shared their expertise and lived experience to help improve it. Dr. Liz Marnik, PhD, is Executive Director of The Evidence Collective and a science communicator and immunologist working at the intersection of public trust, science, and public health. To discuss communication training on topics like health equity and storytelling, email Liz at liz@yle.health or learn more on our website. Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) comprises a team of experts, ranging from physicians to immunologists to epidemiologists to nutritionists, working together with one goal: to “translate” ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. The YLE suite of newsletters reaches over 475,000 people across more than 132 countries. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below: Your Local Epidemiologist is a reader-supported publication. 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Ochsner Lafayette General Welcomes New Physicians
Ochsner Lafayette General welcomes new physicians in infectious diseases, orthopedics, psychiatry, pediatrics and pediatric neurosurgery across Acadiana.
CT hospitals are redesigning ERs for behavioral health crises
Physicians and hospital leadership say the units provide a calm, healing environment for patients arriving with mental health crises.
ECU Health expands prenatal care with group visits
Health officials launched the “CenteringPregnancy” program at ECU Health Women’s Physicians in Greenville.
NCH Continues its Expansion of Cancer Program with New Specialists and Services
Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) is expanding its cancer program through the recruitment of specialized physicians, the addition of new clinical services and the continued expansion of an integrated model of
Drs. Zachary Daily and Sana Shaukat Join Baptist Health Primary Care as Internal Medicine Physicians
Internal medicine physicians Zachary Daily, D.O., and Sana Shaukat, M.D., have joined Baptist Health Primary Care. Prior to joining Baptist Health, Dr. Daily completed his internal medicine residency training at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, FL, and […]
Lee Health drops United Healthcare insurance as an in-network provider starting in 2027
Lee Health says its hospitals and physicians will be out-of-network for UnitedHealthcare customers starting in 2027.
The Hyde Amendment's 50th Anniversary: Enough is Enough
Today is the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment, a budget rider that bars federal insurance programs from covering abortion care. Physicians for Reproductive Health President and CEO, Dr. Jamila Perritt, shares reflections.
The science behind tomatoes and better health
Tomatoes contain lycopene and other nutrients linked to heart and prostate health. Learn the science and how to add tomatoes to your diet.
SGMC Health Welcomes Internists Brandon Rockwell, MD, and Justin Owens, DO
SGMC Health welcomes Internal Medicine physicians Brandon Rockwell, MD, and Justin Owens, DO, to the health system. Drs. Rockwell and Owens will see patients at SGMC Valdosta Medical Clinic in Valdosta beginning August 24.
California moves closer to banning work involving countertops containing silica
An occupational physicians group says an “epidemic” of silicosis “is causing disabling disease and death” among fabrication workers.
More than just a boost: Caffeine’s effects on teens
Energy drinks and coffee are common among teens. A pediatric cardiologist explains concerns about caffeine, heart palpitations, and sleep.
Twelve U.S. Health Systems and Aidoc Unite to Confront America’s Diagnostic Capacity Crisis
As demand for diagnostic answers outpaces the physicians available to deliver them, health systems are collaborating with Aidoc on a shared goal: helping patients receive a safe, accurate diagnosis sooner.
Reimagined night-call model boosts interventional radiologist well-being
Stanford University Medical Center has sought to alleviate burnout by rearranging its call model to minimize strain on physicians.
How a Bay Area healthcare system is navigating AI by balancing tech upgrades and patient trust
Sutter Health’s inaugural Chief AI Officer, Ashley Beecy, spoke with this news organization about some of the ways Sutter Health is using artificial intelligence to support physicians, improve patient care and transform the healthcare…
Louisville's DeMelo sues doctors after cardiac arrest during NWSL game
Racing Louisville FC midfielder Savannah DeMelo is suing the University of Louisville Health and two physicians for allegedly failing to diagnose a heart condition that led to her suffering cardiac arrest on the field during a match in September 2025.
Interventional radiologists see largest year-over-year pay gain among physicians: Doximity
IR specialists saw their average annual compensation leap 10.8%, up to $634,658 in 2025, according to the online professional network for doctors.
Rights group warns Israel’s policies are pushing the West Bank healthcare system to collapse
A new report by Physicians for Human Rights Israel warns that Israel’s policies in the occupied West Bank have pushed the territory’s health system to the brink of collapse.
Women of Sutter Health: Shaping the Future of Medicine
The face of medicine is changing. Women now make up nearly 40% of practicing physicians in the United States, up from 26% in 2004 and comprise a majority of U.S. medical school students. At Sutter Health, women are helping shape the future of healthcare through research, specialized care and medical education — making a lasting […]
U. of I. innovation detects dialysis access failure
Auvi Labs will pilot a wearable ultrasound device that detects early dialysis access failure, helping physicians intervene before complications.
UToledo Medical Students Set Sail to Study How Lake Erie Shapes Human Health
An evening on the water showed future physicians how the health of the Great Lakes and the health of their patients are deeply connected.
SGMC Health Welcomes Internal Medicine Residency Faculty
SGMC Health welcomes Anna Ledford, MD, and Mariya Tom, MD, to SGMC Internal Medicine – Park Avenue, where they will serve as attending physicians and teaching faculty for the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Cottage Health Hosts Sepsis Conference Focused on Early Recognition and Treatment
Cottage Health brought together physicians, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory care practitioners and other clinicians from across the region on Friday,
New study raises concerns over use of weight-loss drugs in elite sport
Researchers surveyed 114 sports medicine physicians from 38 countries, covering 93 different sports, to explore their views on athletes' use of GLP-1 drugs. Twelve percent said they were aware of athletes ...
New York’s physician shortage is creating a health care crisis
Congress must act to stabilize Medicare payments to help encourage more physicians to establish practices in high-need communities.
‘A financial lifeline’: Rural pharmacists hope federal funds can bridge healthcare gaps
CINCINNATI (The Ohio Newsroom) -- A large federal grant could help better connect rural pharmacies with local physicians.The Ohio Department of Health recently announced that $2 million from the T
Hoosiers need easy access to qualified health care providers
While physicians discuss the perceived threat of expanding professional roles, Hoosiers face a greater threat: inaccessible, unaffordable healthcare.
How Jefferson Health centered physician well-being in a merger
During rapid organizational change, the Philadelphia-based health system used AMA Joy in Medicine tools to support physicians and build trust.
ECU Health Medical Center celebrates 50 years of Graduate Medical Education
For 50 years, resident physicians have lived, trained and learned in eastern North Carolina through GME at ECU Health Medical Center.
Exercise snacks for better heart health
Exercise snacks are short bursts of activity throughout the day that can support heart health and make movement easier to fit in a busy day.
Iowa shows healthcare reform is possible
Iowa has shown that reform is possible. We should build on that progress so more of our health care dollars, and more of our physicians' time, are devoted to what
Texas Health Care
Health care access is vital to Texans. This week, we'll explore different angles of the health care challenges & systems in Texas with the help of local leaders, physicians and health care advocates.
Monmouth Medical Center Honored by AMA for Commitment to Well-Being of Physicians
Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) has earned bronze level recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA) as a Joy in Medicine® organization. MMC joins fellow RWJBarnabas Health facility Community Medical Center, Toms River, in being named to the 2026-2027 list of Bronze-level hospitals and sister hospitals Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, who currently hold the Bronze level status.
New philosophical framework reframes moral distress in health care
Nurses and physicians often recognize what kind of care a patient deserves at a given moment, whether it is more time at the bedside, a change in pain management or a detailed conversation about the goals ...
A Florida university focuses on space medicine to train future astronaut healthcare providers
A university is expanding its space medicine program to train future physicians to care for astronauts before, during, and after space missions.
Doctors at Banner Health make history, vote to unionize
The physicians voted to unionize, with 149 voting in favor and 66 voting against, in a groundbreaking development for the state.
RFK Jr. Names Gender-Care Opponents to Preventive Health Panel
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on Thursday named new members to an advisory panel whose recommendations establish which preventive health procedures insurers must cover without cost-sharing, including two physicians known for their opposition to gender-affirming care.
Misleading AI-generated doctors pose ‘huge danger to public safety’
Research shows AI-generated physicians are gaining millions of views on TikTok by spreading dubious health advice
Here\'s what older adults should know about measles protection
As the number of Lancaster County residents sickened with measles grows by the day, older adults may wonder if they are protected. LNP | LancasterOnline talked with two family physicians
Advances in Oncology Treatment Are Changing the Way Cancer Is Detected and Treated at Broward Health
Dr. Sajive Aleyas performing the first case with the Ion Endoluminal System. Cancer care is evolving as researchers and physicians gain a deeper understanding of how cancer develops, progresses and responds to treatment. Advances in molecular testing, imaging, minimally invasive procedures and targeted therapies are giving physicians more information to guide decisions and patients access […]
Empowering Health Professions Education in Africa
Through a longstanding collaboration with the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda, Feinberg medical educators support and train educators who will go on to teach thousands of future physicians, nurses and other health professionals.
Women's health: what physicians say, in their own words
What obstetricians, gynecologists, and the women they treat have written on KevinMD about pregnancy, maternal mortality, postpartum care, fertility, contraception and abortion, menopause, and the conditions dismissed for years. Every claim named, dated, and linked.
Low-income patients at UCLA Health scramble to find new doctors as contract ends
Thousands of low-income patients, some desperately ill, are scrambling to find new doctors as they lose access to UCLA Health physicians after an eight-year Medi-Cal contract was not renewed.
World Alzheimer’s Month: How far has science come?
The following expert commentary can be used by journalists and media organizations in their own publications and news coverage. Please attribute all quotes to David Hunter, MD, associate professor at UTHealth Houston and behavioral neurologist and neuropsychiatrist with UT Physicians. Alzheimer’s disease, named for the German pathologist Dr. Alois Alzheimer, is a progressive brain disorder that affects a person’s memory and ability to carry out daily tasks. The number of Americans
DHR Health Enhances Ear, Nose, and Throat Care with Addition of Dr. Tess Hill
As part of its ongoing commitment to expanding access to outstanding healthcare throughout the Rio Grande Valley, DHR Health is pleased to welcome Dr. Tess Hill to its growing team of physicians. Dr. Hill joins DHR Health as an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat physician) and looks forward to providing compassionate, patient-centered care.
Keeping elite women's basketball players healthy during international competition
Two UCLA Health doctors, both faculty in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and team physicians for UCLA Athletics and professional sports teams, are accompanying ...
SSM Health professionals assemble kits to help people experiencing homelessness
MADISON (WKOW) -- SSM Health physicians from across Wisconsin came together for a community service project to help people experiencing homelessness.
Former Cocoa Beach classmates are now Orlando Health doctors. Photos
Former classmates from Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High, Dr. Anita Fazeli and Dr. Srividya Kannan will share an Orlando Heath location in Viera.
Provinces are turning to U.S. health-care workers to help with shortages. And it’s working
With shortages of nurses, physicians and other health workers, some provinces are actively recruiting U.S. health-care professionals — and they’re getting results.
SGMC Health’s Hospitalist Group Honored with Relentless Pursuit of Perfection Award
SGMC Health announces that its hospitalist group, Apogee Physicians, has been honored by its national leadership with the Relentless Pursuit of Perfection Award.
The science behind tomatoes and better health
Tomatoes contain lycopene and other nutrients linked to heart and prostate health. Learn the science and how to add tomatoes to your diet.
OpenAI enlists doctors to enhance ChatGPT's health advice
OpenAI enlisted over 260 global physicians to improve ChatGPT's health advice amidst legal challenges and a high-stakes healthcare push.
Augusta Health Celebrates Five Years in Mayo Clinic Care Network
Membership brings leading clinical expertise and resources closer to patients in the community. FISHERSVILLE, VIRGINIA — Augusta Health is celebrating five years as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a select group of independent healthcare providers with access to Mayo Clinic’s knowledge, expertise, and resources. Through the membership, Augusta Health physicians, advanced practice […]
How Jefferson Health recruits and retains resident physicians
The Philadelphia-based health system offers varied environments, mentors, and mental health support to engage prospective medical graduates.
Family ties bring 2 generations of physicians together
Medicine is a family affair for Drs. Niranjan, Megha and Nakul Rao who work as doctors and colleagues at Saint Peter's Healthcare System.
Researchers north of the border find Canadian emergency departments in crisis—still
Burnout levels among Canada’s emergency physicians are as high now as they were at the height of the COVID pandemic, according to a study published July 27 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Orlando Health and fire department train for football spine injuries
Orlando Health & OFD partner for spine injury training, preparing physicians for football sideline care.
AI in Health Care Moves Toward More Autonomous Roles
Federal health agencies are testing AI applications that move into patient care typically handled by physicians. And recent research suggests people may place more trust in conversational AI, while false claims attributed to authoritative sources can increase willingness to share them.
New proclamation highlights respiratory health awareness across Phoenix, Arizona
At the request of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), the City of Phoenix and Mayor Kate Gallego officially proclaimed October 18, 2026, as Love Your Lungs Day for Phoenix, Arizona.
Vermont’s population of primary care doctors is declining
A new Vermont Department of Health census gives a snapshot of a dwindling population of primary care docs and a steady increase of specialists statewide.
America’s Gerontocracy Needs a Public Physician
Congress should create an office of physicians that report to the public on American leaders’ medical fitness for duty.
Mizzou study shows small scheduling change has big health benefits for night-shift physicians
The findings highlight Mizzou’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of those working overnight.
Physicians Committee Applauds New Guidance on Animal Use From the National Cancer Institute
In August, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published new guidance on grant applications for studies involving animal experiments. This guidance requires researchers to justify their use of animals in the publicly available abstract section of applications and encourages them to use human-based methods.
Arizona doctors vote to form state’s first physicians’ union
Primary care physicians in the Valley voted Wednesday to form a union to collectively bargain with Banner Health.
OU Health performs rare dual pulmonary valve procedure
Physicians at OU Health have successfully performed a rare and technically complex heart procedure that placed two artificial pulmonary valves at the same time.
The Fall of Roe Changed Doctors. Now They’re Changing Politics.
State-level abortion debates have activated physicians as a political force like never before.
Twenty Thousand Breaths A Day: How The Environment Shapes The Health Within Us
Environmental quality is a personal health issue. And it should shape how physicians, communities, and policymakers respond.
UCLA physicians protest end of contract providing free care for low-income patients
Dozens of physicians protested on campus at noon Tuesday to denounce the termination of a Medi-Cal contract that allowed low-income patients to access UCLA Health services.
UC San Diego Health Doctors Earn Top Honors in Peer Recognition Survey
More than 115 UC San Diego Health physicians celebrated as the best on the annual San Diego Magazine Top Docs peer rankings.
Employment or autonomy? Comparing pathways and tradeoffs for PCPs
Primary care physicians who are on the payrolls of hospitals and health systems enjoy well-supported practice infrastructure and robust peer engagement. But they’re sometimes vexed by red tape and style-cramping oversight. Meanwhile independent PCPs …
HCA Healthcare presents 2026 Awards of Distinction
The Awards of Distinction are the highest honors HCA Healthcare bestows on colleagues, nurses, physicians and volunteers.
The public's trust in science and medicine
A recent survey of the public about their trust in science and medicine was reassuring: scientists and physicians are well-respected. But it also raised some concerns. The 2026 Edelman Trust
Beyond 'healthy' obesity: New framework weighs organ damage and daily limitations
A new approach to defining obesity could help physicians better determine which patients need more intensive treatment by focusing on the effects of excess adiposity on organs and tissues rather than ...
Rights group warns Israel's policies are pushing the West Bank healthcare system to collapse
A new report by Physicians for Human Rights Israel warns that Israel’s policies in the occupied West Bank have pushed the territory’s health system to the brink of collapse.
Your Doctor’s Office Might Soon Start Charging an Unexpected Fee
Some physicians say it's a positive thing. Would you pony up?
How a rural health merger brought more care closer to home
The combination of Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic helps recruit physicians, improve retention and expand access to care in rural communities.
Does public health *need* MAHA?
Last week, our friend Dr. Craig Spencer sparked an ongoing volatile discussion with his Atlantic article “Public Health Needs MAHA.” Some have come out in strong dissent, others are cheering, and others are simply lamenting that we find ourselves in such a divided world to begin with. We will dare to dip our toes in these controversial waters, too. Does public health need MAHA? We think in some ways yes, and in other ways, no. MAHA leaders versus the everyday MAHA supporter The vitriol in this debate mostly comes from one collapsed distinction: the leadership of MAHA is not necessarily the same as the people who support it. Say “MAHA” and most people picture RFK Jr. Fair enough, as he coined the term and holds most of the power. And, yes, some MAHA followers treat Kennedy as something close to a saint. But talk to the grassroots, and it’s not a monolith. They’re Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. People who distrust vaccines and vaccine supporters. It’s a wide, eclectic coalition. The data backs this too: 4 in 10 Americans support the movement—that’s a lot of people! But according to polls, vaccines and medical choice (the issues most tied to Kennedy personally) are cited by only 4% as their reason for supporting the movement. For many, the motivations are much broader. Many MAHA supporters are signing up for the idea that “something needs to change” with health in this country. They’re asking good-faith questions about corporate influence on our health systems, health care costs, nutrition, chemicals, and clean air and water. These are all questions that plenty of public health professionals recognize as legitimate and also care about very deeply. Blurring the lines between the leadership and grassroots does real damage in two important ways: It hands the 4 in 10 exactly the narrative already fed—that the health ecosystem doesn’t listen, doesn’t care, and paints every critic with the same brush. It gives the actual bad actor more power. RFK Jr. has done irreparable damage and can’t be trusted. What the MAHA movement gets right A healthy population is something the public health field was literally built on, and many of these topics are things we have dedicated our lives to. Yet the MAHA movement has captivated nearly half the country in a way the public health establishment has failed to achieve. So that means MAHA is doing something right. Some of it may be timing (after a Covid-19 pandemic and deep frustration and mistrust with institutions). The movement also does three other things really well: 1. It gives a new, louder voice to system failures. While MAHA is not a monolith, one theme stays consistent across their stories: the system failed them. For some, it was the system that flooded their communities with opioids and then walked away. For others, it was the system that let their business collapse during Covid with no safety net in sight. For others still, it was the system that failed to help them manage a complex chronic illness, bouncing them from physician to physician without any real answers. And in many ways, our health ecosystems are failing Americans. Why are medical bills so incomprehensible? Why do some kids get a healthy school lunch and others don’t? Why do an epidemiologist and a MD/PhD student have to start newsletters in the middle of the biggest public health emergency in a century, just so people can get straight information? Because the systems failed. This deep-seated frustration driving many Americans to search for solutions elsewhere needs to be recognized. 2. MAHA has brilliant comms central to their efforts. MAHA figured out something most health institutions still have not: the information landscape changed. It’s participatory now, not top-down; influence runs through many nodes in a community, not one institution; and storytelling and telling audiences “what you really think” moves people more than data dumps do. MAHA goes where audiences are listening, using podcasts, social media, and memes in ways most health institutions would scoff at—but it works. 3. They are very good at organizing. A MAHA meeting feels like a rally: energy, speakers, music, and most importantly, an action for everyone. Someone’s writing the next policy brief, someone’s seeding a narrative, someone knows the next legislative deadline, someone’s sending the text messages for a campaign. None of this is new (ask the civil rights movement), but MAHA knows it works and has capitalized on it. What MAHA gets wrong This list could be much longer, and this newsletter has spent a lot of time covering it, but here are a few things: Poor use of scientific evidence. This is the fundamental problem with many MAHA policies: the hype outpaces the science, and experts are often villainized for pointing this out. MAHA leadership has traded real solutions for cheap wins. For example, instead of taking on the powerful food industry and passing real reforms, it has celebrated french fries made of beef tallow and taken out artificial dyes from still very sugary children’s cereal. These changes won’t move the needle on America’s diet. MAHA leadership has tried to dismantle vaccine access in the U.S. While many MAHA supporters emphasize other issues, the effort to change vaccine policy has become MAHA’s signature effort. This is not surprising given RFK Jr.’s extensive track record campaigning against vaccines. It has rallied behind the wrong leader. RFK Jr. has a decades-long track record of villifying doctors, scientists, and public health workers, well before he became HHS secretary. He is known for his decades-long work sowing distrust in vaccines as well as life-saving treatments like antiretroviral therapy for HIV. This is not a serious person who can move the needle on health in the U.S, and he has already done serious damage. Public health needs more than defense Defending the evidence is absolutely necessary so health in the U.S. doesn’t move further backward. The public health establishment is very good at defense. The problem is this defense often sounds like defending the status quo, which has failed many people. Public health needs to offer an alternative to RFK Jr.’s MAHA—one that is rooted in evidence, truly listens to and addresses people’s frustrations, and has innovative solutions and the courage to change the systems. How do we get there? Find common ground. Do you know what most people care most about? The abysmal cost of healthcare. Start there. Fight for the human loudly. Too often, communications and engagement center on science with a capital S, funding mechanisms, or the CDC/FDA/NIH. Not the person. So the public doesn’t see themselves in it. Instead, they see people fighting for the very powerful systems that they feel negatively impact their health and well-being. Let the public feel and hear that you see their frustrations, you get it, and you’re fighting for them within the system. Recognize when pro-science messages are alienating people. Facts absolutely matter, but angrily venting only alienates people further. Our friend Elisabeth Marnik recently wrote a New York Times article about her experience growing up unvaccinated and how listening and empathetic conversation are the only ways to reach people that really work (a position backed by communication science). Her comments section was full of hateful comments from pro-vaccine individuals attacking her for daring to suggest we approach vaccine-hesitant individuals with empathy. It is possible to both stand firm behind scientific evidence and empathize with people who don’t trust it. Lean into politics smartly. Often, public health has shied away from politics: Don’t touch it, lest you get burned. But this fails to recognize that the third rail is what fuels the train: who is elected determines our budgets, our priorities, and our authority. Being political means being very savvy in strategy on both sides of the aisle, knowing your audience, and recognizing that political capital is as scarce as financial resources and needs to be allocated accordingly. Bottom line So does public health need MAHA? That’s not really the right question. Public health has a responsibility not to dismiss 40% of the country who feel heard by this movement and are frustrated that the system has failed them. And it has a responsibility to stick to the evidence and recognize MAHA leadership for what it is: a danger to our nation’s health. Both can, and should, be done. Love, YLE and KP A big thanks to Craig Spencer, who had the courage to put his neck out there to start a much-needed discussion at such a critical moment—one that is determining the identity of an entire field. Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD is completing an emergency medicine residency and research fellowship focusing on health literacy and communication. In her free time, she writes the newsletters You Can Know Things debunking health myths and rumors and The Public Health Roundup. Views expressed belong to KP, not her employer. Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) comprises a team of experts, ranging from physicians to immunologists to epidemiologists to nutritionists, working together with one goal: to “translate” ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. The YLE suite of newsletters reaches over 475,000 people across more than 132 countries. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below: Subscribe
Rights group warns Israel's policies are pushing the West Bank healthcare system to collapse
A new report by Physicians for Human Rights Israel warns that Israel’s policies in the occupied West Bank have pushed the territory’s health system to the brink of collapse.
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In Good Health: Finding A Primary Care Physician
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Intermountain Health Plans to Expand Ownership of Hospitals and Clinic Operations Group in Southeast Idaho
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Taos Whole Health announces it will shut its doors
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Howard Fensterman
Howard Fensterman is the managing partner and co-founder of Abrams Fensterman, a full-service law firm representing healthcare professionals, physicians, licensed professionals, businesses and institutions in regulatory, corporate, litigation and transactional legal matters.
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Focal therapy for localized prostate cancer has divided physicians. Will new data change minds?
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Local psychiatry practice Insight Physicians acquired by out-of-state behavioral health group
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Immigration policies put stress on the health care of immigrants; new study finds their doctors feel it too.
Despite the challenges, physicians and health systems adapted to support patients and staff, which has helped .
The Changing Practice of Medicine: Keeping Physicians at the Center of Healthcare
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NEA Business Notes: Deel named as Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians president of the board
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Physician Organizations Oppose Legislation That Gives Health Insurers Unilateral Control Over Out-of-Network Payments
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and American College of Radiology (ACR) today expressed strong opposition to the Lower Premiums, Faster Payments Act, legislation introduced by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) that would eliminate the independent dispute resolution (IDR) process established under the No Surprises Act (NSA) and replace it with payment rates calculated by health insurance companies.