Public health leaders, besieged and regretful, talk of re-establishing trust
Public health leaders met to celebrate the field but also to talk about regret and strategies for re-establishing public trust, for example, empathetic listening.
For public health agencies across the country, the Trump administration has meant taking blow after destabilizing blow. Covid-19 pandemic dollars were pulled. States like Minnesota and cities like Austin cut jobs that had been federally funded. Research grants were canceled in the name of excising diversity programs.
Against that backdrop, public health experts gathered this week at George Washington University in Washington for an annual event called National Public Health Week, now in its 30th year. Panel discussions on Monday at the American Public Health Association event were tinged with regret over missed opportunities and recognition they need to do better.
