Death By 1000 Cuts: The Dismantling of Public Health
Three Things Thursday
Three Things Thursday highlights three things I am paying attention to as an epidemiologist each week. It has been another hard week—the Trump Administration cut $11.4 billion in grants to state and local health departments. The number of measles cases continues to grow. At least one state is proposing new legislation to loosen vaccine requirements.
In the midst of a stream of bad health news, I had a busy week. My busy week is the source of this week’s Three Things; I am highlighting one thing that happened each day leading up to this post. The presentation I gave on Monday is the real news — many of you have asked for the recording. It is below, along with highlights and links to my slides.
The news from Tuesday & Wednesday is a little more fun/joyful. Hoping you will take a moment and celebrate with me and share what is bringing you joy these days (we cannot let the world or this Administration suck the life out of us).
Hoping this post helps to educate and empower you
to be healthy and create healthy communities.
On Monday, I gave a presentation at Allegheny College titled, Death By 1000 Cuts: The Dismantling of Public Health. In this presentation, I noted that —
“Bad things come in threes.”
Public health is being erased by —
Bad leadership
Resources that are disappearing
Misinformation.
Despite the continuous stream of bad news, funding cuts, increases in vaccine-preventable diseases, and misinformation, we all need to take action to create healthy communities for all. Actions do lead to impact — remember, Trump’s first pick for CDC Director, David Weldon, did NOT make it through the nomination process. The withdrawal of Weldon's nomination did not happen by chance. It happened because the public health community was not quiet. Despite threats, dismissals, and overwhelming disappointment -- we have continued to take action.
In my presentation, I highlighted five things we can each do to take action —
Check your vaccination status; make sure you have received two doses of the MMR vaccine
Find & follow a trusted, evidence-based news source; be sure you are subscribed to Epi Matters
Participate — talk to others about health, ask questions about posts you see on social media, write an op-ed for your local newspaper, or talk with local hospital officials about their plans for a measles outbreak. Get involved.
Remember – this is a marathon. Take care of yourself and others; I highly recommend yoga. And remember, we have four long years ahead of us.
Collaborate — (it may be cliche, but…) a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Work together with others. Combine your efforts and skill sets. Ask questions. Share evidence-based news. Provide answers. Speak up. Host a clinic or a book club. Participate in a community needs assessment. Encourage high schoolers and college students to study public health.
The in-person presentation on Monday ended with an amazing conversation about the need for a local public health department in my hometown of Meadville, PA. Not only do we need the services of a health department, but we also need a leader to guide and inform us daily. Additionally, we need to raise money for public health programming and ensure that elected officials understand that public health saves lives.
We have a lot of work to do. Want to join us?
Following the presentation, I hopped in the car and drove to Philadelphia on Tuesday.
WHY?!?!
Well, because I was honored with the Above & Beyond Award.
It was a humbling and heartwarming experience.
And the recognition would not be possible without all of you. Many of you have been around since the beginning — when I was a new contributor on Erie News Now and just beginning my Monday Night COVID Q&As. You have continued to support my work, promote public health, and encourage me to be bold, truthful, and authentic in all that I do.
Thank you.
A friend asked me today — what’s bringing you joy these days?
And the news I received Wednesday is the most joyful…
On Wednesday, learned that my Epidemiology class project (called “My Favorite Outbreak”) was highlighted/discussed on the podcast My Favorite Murder (minisode #424). My “My Favorite Outbreak” assignment asks students to research an outbreak and create a podcast episode focused on the outbreak (in a similar format to My Favorite Murder). A former student wrote to the hosts of My Favorite Murder (Georgia & Karen) and told them about my class, the project, and her family connection to the outbreak she researched.
Georgia and Karen read her email and talked about me, my class, and the assignment on the podcast.
I’m starstruck and giddy with excitement that my class and assignment were highlighted on My Favorite Murder. Plus, Georgia and Karen were “proud” of the assignment and the connections to their podcast. Definitely a highlight of my career as a professor.
What’s bringing you joy these days? Please share!
Please do not forget to —
Click the “Like” button on the posts you enjoy. It’s a small thing, but it helps.
Share posts, either on social media or with your friends and family.
And stay in touch — What questions do you have? What information do you need? concerns are keeping you awake? Let me know, and we can discuss them together.
Epi(demiology) Matters is written by Dr. Becky Dawson, PhD MPH — an epidemiologist, teacher, mom, wife, and dedicated yogi. She is a tenured professor at Allegheny College, Research Director at a community hospital, and an exclusive contributor (all things health & medicine) at Erie News Now (NBC/CBS). Her goal is to create healthy communities for all. She writes Epi Matters — first & foremost because epidemiology does matter (to all of us) and she hopes that each post will help to educate and empower readers to be healthy and create healthy communities.
Be sure you and your friends and family are subscribed so you don’t miss a post —
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I sent the information to Mike Kelly. Thanks for your efforts for public health!