Population Health

The new federal administration is implementing its strategy of, as one if its puppet masters, Steve Bannon, likes to say, “flooding the zone.” Over the course of three weeks, it has released over 50 executive orders and taken administrative actions designed to abolish agencies, flush out a swath of the government workforce, and test the constitutional balance of powers. Collectively this is a real gully washer of executive branch activity. The state and local health officials that Milbank supports are leaders in the communities at the mouth of the gully who are dealing with all that is washing out to them.   More

In the spring of 2021, my favorite T-shirt to wear on the soccer sidelines sported an image of Dolly Parton singing “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vacceeeeeene” to the tune of “Jolene.” Parton herself sang the rewritten lyrics repeatedly urging Tennesseans to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. It prompted countless conversations about how the vaccine was made, where people could get it, and how safe it was. As a state public health official, my colleagues and I were rejoicing at how quickly the Trump administration had indeed delivered on a several vaccine options less than a year into the pandemic. More

Which companies have the biggest impact on Americans’ health? Drug companies? Hospital systems? What about restaurant chains like McDonald’s or… More

Public health laws affect health not only through their substance and design but also through implementation and enforcement. Equitable policymaking requires implementation that respects and works for everyone, with careful attention to the steps of the policy process that follow policy enactment, including enforcement, evaluation, and revision — all of which are necessary to ensure that public health laws have their intended effect. State and local officials working in a range of agencies — from public health to fair employment, housing, consumer protection, government law offices, and more — play a significant role in the implementation and enforcement of public health laws.  More

Many high schools in Wake County, North Carolina, are situated in economically vulnerable areas, so there is also a correlation between the density of outlets and Wake County’s most vulnerable areas. These areas are often populated by low-income families and communities of color. The saturation of vape shops in low-income areas not only perpetuates a cycle of poor health outcomes but also highlights the systemic inequities present in the availability and marketing of harmful substances. Addressing these disparities is essential to ensuring all communities benefit from progress in reducing teen vaping rates.   More

On September 20, 2024, the National Institute of Health (NIH) held a ceremony to unveil a plaque honoring the 625 Black men in the US Public Health… More