John Finnegan, emeritus dean of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, recently joined 20 members and friends of UMRA for an in-depth and thought-provoking discussion regarding the present state of public health. One of the foremost challenges discussed during the UMRA breakfast meeting on March 12 was where to find accurate and trustworthy health information in today’s environment.

Finnegan expressed skepticism about relying on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for dependable information at this time. He provided a list of alternative resources (below) for accurate, science-based information.

Lessons from the recent pandemic

Finnegan noted that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in the U.S. public health system. During President Trump’s first term, a coordinated disinformation campaign was launched by far-right groups—the “Disinformation Dozen”—utilizing social media and other communication channels. (Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was number two on the list.) This effort caught state-level public health systems off guard, revealing their fragmented nature. As a result, public health “has a long way to go to rebuild public trust,” Finnegan said. 

He also highlighted that, despite spending more per person on health care than all other countries, the United States continues to have some of the worst health outcomes. Social determinants—including education, socio-economic status, and various other factors— play a crucial role in shaping individual quality of life, and overall health.

Finnegan also addressed the detrimental impact of reduced funding for the World Health Organization and the U.S. Agency for International Development. He emphasized that such cuts have serious consequences for global health, particularly because viral diseases do not recognize national borders.

Reasons for optimism

Minnesota remains among the top five healthiest states, although the state is not immune to the decline in rural health systems, Finnegan said. 

Nationally, there are some positive developments. States are increasingly collaborating to share information and pool resources. Governors from blue states have initiated a new coalition focused on public health, and are encouraging their counterparts in red states to participate.

Another positive note is that a substantial amount of NIH funding has been restored as a result of lawsuits challenging the current federal administration’s cuts to medical research. Even many Republican lawmakers believed President Trump’s actions went too far in reducing support for scientific research.

Building trust

Finnegan concluded by emphasizing that the most important step for public health entities now is to strengthen their connections with community partners. Building these relationships is essential for restoring trust and improving health outcomes in the future.

—Lynn Slifer, UMRA Breakfast coordinator

Where to go for accurate, science-based health information

For general health
FamilyDoctor
Mayo Clinic Diseases & Conditions
American Academy of Pediatrics
National Institute of Mental Health

For reviews of medical science and research
Medscape

For public health information
World Health Organization
Minnesota Department of Health
Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota
Infodemiology

Reliable sites examined and used by journalists
The Journalist’s Resource
KFF (formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation)