This Week in Public Health

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Could AI be the key to reliable healthcare info? A study checks how AI programs tackle thunderstorm asthma. The twist: readability is still a hurdle (Zhu 2025). Thoughts?

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Dementia is on the rise, but what if teaching brain health early could change that? Studies reveal primary school kids can gain from learning about it (Smith 2025). This could curb future risks!

ChatGPT as a therapist? New study reveals serious ethical risks As millions turn to ChatGPT and other AI chatbots for therapy-style advice, new research from Brown University raises a serious red flag: even when instructed to act like trained therapists, these sys...

Millions seek therapy from AI chatbots like ChatGPT—but new research warns these bots routinely break ethical standards, risking harm in crisis care and bias. Can we trust AI with our mental health? www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

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What if those most at risk from the climate crisis are often ignored? Climate change affects everyone, but people with disabilities face greater risks. Researchers urge we prioritize inclusive studies.

Closing the gap in maternal and child health: Rural Birthing on Country model shows positive results A new study into the clinical effectiveness of a rural Birthing on Country service—compared to mainstream maternity services—has revealed First Nations women had significantly more normal vaginal birt...

A community-run maternity program helped more Aboriginal moms have natural births and breastfeed. This shows care designed by and for Indigenous families works.

medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03...

In Camden, NJ, a program connects patients to community care, housing, and healthy food—proving health is more than medicine.

triplepundit.com/2026/camden-...

Beyond the numbers: How DC-area doctors are addressing challenges for new Black moms - WTOP News Improving Black maternal outcomes is at the heart of a Montgomery County, Maryland, program aimed at working with expectant mothers from their pregnancy.

One of the grossest injustices in the US is that black women are dying in childbirth at three times the rate of white women because of deep health care gaps and bias. This urgency demands change.

wtop.com/health-fitne...

States face pushback on their rural health transformation plans Some Republican state lawmakers and health associations are pushing back against spending plans under the Trump administration's $50 billion federal rural health fund.

States won billions for rural health—but political fights risk delaying funds and leaving rural hospitals behind.

www.cbsnews.com/news/states-...

‘Right to Refuse’ amendment sparks debate over public health vs. personal liberty PHOENIX—Arizonans may get the chance to decide if they're free to refuse vaccines without losing their right to go to school, keep a government job, or go to a public

Arizona may let voters decide if people can refuse vaccines and masks without losing access to schools or parks. This could weaken efforts to stop outbreaks.

www.yumasun.com/news/right-t...

DC health officials lift water advisory on Potomac River after sewage spill - WTOP News D.C. health officials are lifting a recreational advisory on the Potomac River, citing an improvement in water quality after a sewage line collapsed in January.

A collapsed sewer spilled millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River. Now, water quality is safe—but the threat showed how fragile our systems are.

wtop.com/dc/2026/03/d...

Hospitals are making cuts after ‘big beautiful bill,’ fueling Democrats’ midterm attacks | CNN Politics In northeast Georgia, a hospital closed its maternity ward. In rural New Hampshire, a community health center shuttered. And in Iowa, a Des Moines hospital system laid off dozens of employees and clos...

Hospitals in rural America are closing clinics and cutting care because recent federal cuts have slashed funding. This means longer waits and less access for millions.

www.cnn.com/2026/03/02/p...

The Red State–Blue State Healthcare Divide Is Dangerous for Everyone Whether or not you have access to independent, scientifically sound public health guidance may depend on how your state voted for governor.

States are splitting on public health, with access to vaccines and guidance now tied to politics. This divide risks everyone’s health.

www.thenation.com?post_type=ar...

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College students who use AI-driven fitness apps stick to their workouts more! The secret? AI boosts their motivation and alters beliefs, making goals feel attainable (Zhang, 2023). Ready to try?

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We found that when healthcare workers understand diverse cultures, it's not just a nice extra—it's essential. Teams gel better, job satisfaction spikes, and workers want to stay longer.

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Mental health in US prisons took a nosedive post-COVID. Surprising? But the twist: it's the healthcare workers facing the brunt. Why this matters for future staffing and care.

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What if I told you synthetic data could revolutionize healthcare without sacrificing privacy? By emulating real patients, we safeguard personal info while advancing medical research (Abgrall 2024).

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Pandemics reveal hidden truths. South Korea's COVID-19 patterns unravel age-specific spread mysteries. Why are super spreaders pivotal? This isn't just data—it's future-proofing lives.

If it can't be measured, it's not a problem /s

HHS’s reported AI uses soar, including pilots to address staff ‘shortage’ The department's 2025 tally of AI uses continues a trend of dramatic annual increases, adding deployments for unaccompanied minors data as well as agentic AI uses.

HHS boosted AI use by 65% amid big job cuts to fill gaps—but transparency on privacy risks is missing. This matters to everyone’s health.

2026 State of the Union Data Shows Trump At Odds With Reality Want to save yourself the trouble of listening to Trump's propaganda campaign? Tune in to the People's State of the Union and watch the official responses.

Trump’s State of the Union won’t match what most Americans face—many say the country’s getting worse. Alternatives offer truth and hope.

blackamericaweb.com/2026/02/25/2...

6 in 10 U.S. Women Projected to Have at Least one Type of Cardiovascular Disease by 2050 Statement Highlights: Over the next 25 years, the number of women living with cardiovascular disease is expected to rise sharply, as nearly 60% of women in the U.S. could have high blood pressure by 2...

Heart disease will affect nearly 60% of U.S. women by 2050, fueled by rising high blood pressure. Early prevention is key.

apnews.com/press-releas...

14 states sued the feds over new vaccine rules that drop protections for kids—raising risks of preventable disease outbreaks.

goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntim...

The 2026 State of the Union: What It Means for Health and Public Health - This Week In Public Health A public health analysis of the 2026 State of the Union, examining health care reform, drug pricing, fentanyl policy, Medicaid, and environmental impacts.

Some commentary on last night:

thisweekinpublichealth.com/blog/2026/02...

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What if climate change affected your mind? New research finds rising heat and rain boost anxiety and depression rates in the US. Here's why this matters for all of us.

The Future of American Healthcare: Collapse, AI, or Reinvention? - This Week In Public Health In one viral online discussion, hundreds of people—from nurses and physicians to freelancers and retirees—shared their predictions for the next 5, 10, and 25 years. Their answers were strikingly consi...

What do a few hundred Redditors think about the future of American Healthcare?

thisweekinpublichealth.com/blog/2026/02...

Oppose Nomination of Casey Means for Surgeon General The Senate HELP Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the nomination of Casey Means to serve as U.S. Surgeon General on Wednesday, February 25th. While we were hoping this nomination was dead, i...

Agreed

actionnetwork.org/letters/oppo...

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What if exercise wasn't just physical? Older people in South Korea found joy and connection through movement. It's not just fitness—it's belonging. Are we missing this social aspect?

Oppose Politically-Motivated Public Health Funding Cuts ⭑ 5 Calls The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has instructed the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to claw back $600 million in public …

5calls.org/issue/politi...

Column: One year of RFK Jr. has left public health devastated HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s legacy will be measured by the senseless suffering his policies have wrought, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Lisa Jarvis writes.

America’s health system is unraveling—trust, vaccines, and science all under attack in one chaotic year.

www.pilotonline.com/2026/02/22/c...

The Trump Administration Is Ending Aid That It Says Saves Lives The State Department will let lifesaving projects expire because “there is no strong nexus between the humanitarian response and U.S. national interests,” according to an internal email.

Millions face death as the U.S. cuts lifesaving aid in the dead of night—who will speak for them?

www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/...