Author Archives: CDC Foundation

The CDC Foundation is introducing a new take on its popular podcast series, Contagious Conversations. The updated show format will use a story arc in each episode to explore critical public health issues with experts from diverse fields. The latest episode—“The Costs of Getting Sick”—provides a behind-the-scenes look at a disease outbreak investigation and examines […]

By Judy Monroe, MD  Today our nation and world face incredible health challenges—costly infectious and chronic diseases and large-scale emergencies. These challenges take lives and negatively impact our economy. But by working together we have opportunities to positively impact health as well. For instance, the benefits offered by businesses to their employees, along with the […]

By April Biagioni  Peer navigators from the CDC Foundation’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program are on the front lines of the opioid crisis in Puerto Rico, engaging with communities across the island. Many have lived experience with substance use, so they’re not just talking the talk; they’re walking alongside individuals struggling with the issue, […]

By Ruth O’Neill In late August 2022, storms and flooding caused the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant in Jackson, MS to fail, leaving over 150,000 people without access to safe drinking water for weeks. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency and called in the national guard to help distribute bottled water to […]

By Claire Stinson  As we look forward to the year ahead, we are taking this opportunity to look back at some of the many highlights from our Contagious Conversations podcast in 2023. This year, we covered topics as diverse as community-based approaches to veteran suicide prevention, training the next generation of public health professionals and […]

By Toni Perling Something you might not know about bats: Bananas wouldn’t exist without them. Or avocados or mangoes, for that matter. But despite being key contributors to the ecosystem by pollinating fruit plants and feeding on crop-destroying insects, the species is probably most (in)famous for being one of the main carriers of the deadly […]

By Ruth O’Neill It was a grey and overcast day in Detroit when I met up with Deandra Smith, director of the AmeriCorps Climate R.E.A.D.Y. program at Wayne State University’s Center for Urban Studies. Climate R.E.A.D.Y.–Recreation, Education, Awareness, Demonstration and Youth–is a partnership between the university and AmeriCorps, an independent agency of the United States […]

Every day, the CDC Foundation witnesses communities coming together to ensure all residents are thriving. Businesses, nonprofits, health departments, community coalitions and others are forming meaningful partnerships to support healthier communities. Governmental public health plays a key role in ensuring the community is at the forefront of public health decisions and that, through cross-sector partnerships […]

By Lily Samuels Lorenza Beati, PhD, gave us instructions as we gathered on a nature trail in Statesboro, GA. “Don’t believe the sock theory. Ticks can bite through socks, and they can go through the mesh of socks. Use the Deet available. And tape the bottom of your pants. We have duct tape.” Dr. Beati […]

By Judy Monroe, MD Atlanta and the world lost a remarkable business leader and philanthropist with the passing of Kent C. “Oz” Nelson last week. While Oz made a big impact in business, he also had an incredible impact in the public health world as well, including serving as chair of the CDC Foundation’s board […]

By Lily Samuel When it comes to health, it’s important to recognize how interconnected the world is. No nation, including the United States, can be truly safe until all countries have core public health capabilities and reliable health systems to protect all communities regardless of their social, political, economic or environmental circumstances. The Centers for […]

By Judy Monroe On a recent trip through LaGuardia Airport as I made my way into the terminal and through security, I was amazed at the airport’s transformation. What was once one of the nation’s least-favorite airports has now been transformed into one of the best. I had to pause to consider how its transformation […]

By Robert Foley, M.Ed., Senior Project Director and Eric Strunz, MPH  This Native American Heritage Month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is launching a suite of new maternal health resources for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities to raise awareness of urgent warning signs during and after pregnancy. A good measure […]

By Judy Monroe, MD Dr. Eugene “Gene” J. Gangarosa, MD, MS, who passed away on August 11, 2022, at age 96, truly embodied compassion and commitment to improving the lives of others. His storied career spanned more than 70 years, and the results of his research and work on safe water initiatives has saved millions […]

By Judy Monroe, MD  In today’s news cycle you see a multitude of health threats—COVID-19, cardiovascular disease, monkeypox, opioids and more. However, there is one health threat facing each of us: the impact to health from our changing climate. At last week’s Aspen Ideas: Health Festival, the CDC Foundation was pleased to sponsor an enlightening […]

By Claire Stinson Did you know the World Health Organization (WHO) now describes climate change as the greatest health threat of the 21st century? But how does climate change affect health? This is just one topic we explore in our CDC Foundation podcast, Contagious Conversations. The podcast features monthly, compelling interviews with experts who are […]

By Ruth O’Neill Due to flooding and growing violence, an estimated 1.5 million people have been internally displaced in Cameroon—most of them women and children. In such conditions, pregnant women are especially vulnerable and face an increased risk of pregnancy loss or death due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth. “These women are less likely […]

By David Snyder The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed the nation’s public health system. The challenges exposed by the pandemic have underscored the need to invest in and develop comprehensive, flexible and interoperable data systems to track and address current and future infectious disease outbreaks. The recent multi-billion dollar government investment to modernize public health data […]

With more than 3,000 homes in rural Alaska lacking piped water systems, sanitation remains a serious challenge in many remote communities. As COVID-19 reached Alaska, residents in these unserved communities became even more vulnerable to the spread of the virus. “Those communities that lack basic services have higher rates of skin infections, infectious diarrhea and […]