In the News

Structural Racism Is Not an Exemption from Accountability

In February 2021, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) tweeted, “No physician is racist, so how can there be structural racism in health care?” The tweet was designed to promote a podcast that was ostensibly focused on structural racism yet did not include experts on the topic. The subsequent uproar highlighted the harm caused by deep intentional ignorance of the term structural racism, defined in the American Journal of Public Health as “policies and practices…that confer advantages on people considered White and ideologies that maintain these advantages, while simultaneously oppressing other racialized groups.”

Treatment Barrier Falls, but More Remain for People with Opioid Issues

New Research from Thuy Nguyen

Policy shift could improve access to buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, but stigma and training still pose significant challenge.

4 Myths about What It Means for a Vaccine to Be 'FDA Approved'

Arnold Monto Quoted in HuffPost

A recurring sentiment among some in the vaccine-hesitant community is a desire to wait to receive any of the three available COVID-19 vaccines until they have been officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration. And while the FDA has authorized the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines―and is expected to also approve each one in turn―for many people, the difference between “authorized” and “approved” has been confusing.

Michigan's New Mask Rules for Fully Vaccinated People: What You Need To Know

Fully vaccinated Americans can now safely shed their masks and skip social distancing, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week, sparking a flurry of questions about how the new guidelines will be implemented at businesses, schools and other places where fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people mingle.

How the United States Beat the Variants, for Now

Emily Martin featured in the New York Times

The country has managed to avoid a variant-fueled spike in coronavirus cases. Scientists say we were lucky.

Michigan Utilities Should Prioritize Public Health Inequities in Retirement Plans, Regulator Says

Amy Schulz Quoted by Energy News Network

The Michigan Public Service Commission is seeking input on how it can ensure utilities incorporate environmental justice as they transition to clean energy.