Category: Policy

How healthy eating can protect us from extreme weather

Hurricane season starts June 1, and many of us in the Southeast and along the Gulf Coast are stocking up on bottled water and other supplies. As a physician focused on preventive medicine and public health, I recommend filling your pantry with healthfu…

Georgia’s new law promoting truth and transparency in health care credentials

Landmark legislation was signed into law by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on May 2, 2023. Senate Bill 197, the Health Care Practitioners Truth and Transparency Act, is likely the most comprehensive state law promoting exactly what its name promises: trut…

Unveiling the global pandemic threat: insights into risk factors and urgent measures for prevention

As the current COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the globe, many are left wondering when the next pandemic will occur. The reality is that pandemics are not a new phenomenon, and throughout history, we have seen numerous instances of infectiou…

Why the WHO’s pandemic accord is critical for global health care

In a recent article in Health Affairs, U.N. Foundation vice president Peter Yeo and former Director of The Global Fund Mark Dybul, MD, broke down the elements and imperatives of a process underway to develop a better approach to pandemic preparedness. …

The revolutionary Kaiser-Geisinger deal: How health care giants are reshaping the industry and empowering patients

Health care’s most recent billion-dollar deal took the industry by surprise, leaving medical experts and hospital leaders grappling to comprehend its implications. In case you missed it, California-based Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospital…

Here’s How Lawmakers Can Slash Medicare Spending Without Cutting Benefits

Republicans and Democrats alike have made it clear that they have no interest in cutting Medicare benefits. But the status quo is not fiscally sustainable.

Unveiling the intricate link between housing costs and health care

While housing costs have escalated, health care costs have not been left behind. According to the National Health Expenditure Account (NHEA), health care spending grew 4.6 percent in 2019, reaching $3.8 trillion or $11,582 per person. The correlation b…

Uncovering the truth about racial health inequities in America: a book review

When I started my intern year, that is my first year of training in medical residency, I noticed something peculiar about the epidemiology of disease in our hospital. The Black patients on the medical wards would often present with the morbidity of the…

Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

Harvard and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are among the higher ed institutions involved in a U.S. Supreme Court battle over affirmative action that is expected to be decided this spring or summer. As a former appellate defender in the…

The untold story of Hispanic/Latino health: Why subgroup data matters

In 2000, the question, “Is this person Spanish/Hispanic/Latino?” emerged on the U.S. census, grouping these populations for the first time on a national scale. Prior to this, there was no consistent or comprehensive way to collect data on t…