Chasing Life Why You Should Care About Public Health
Sep 19, 2025
Dr. Thomas Frieden, a public health expert and former CDC director, discusses the vital yet often overlooked role of public health in keeping society safe and healthy. He shares insights from his new book, The Formula for Better Health, highlighting the blend of science and politics in public health decisions, the communication challenges encountered during COVID, and strategies to rebuild trust in these institutions. Frieden emphasizes the need for scalable solutions to create positive health outcomes despite current political pressures.
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What Public Health Really Means
- Public health is "the organized actions of society to make people safer and healthier."
- Tom Frieden emphasizes that science gives humility and requires clarity about what we know and don't know.
Decide With Imperfect Data
- In emergencies you must act on imperfect data because inaction is also a decision.
- Frieden urges transparency about levels of certainty when making recommendations.
Use Local Risk Alerts
- Use clear, local risk-alert systems to empower people with actionable information.
- Let individuals and communities choose protective actions based on local risk levels.
