Public Health Advocacy in the Tumultuous Times of the Trump Administration

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 108; no. 4; pp. 449 - 450
• Main Author: Sundwall, David N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington American Public Health Association 01-04-2018
• Subjects: Accountability; Advocacy; Bisexuality; Childrens health; Deregulation; Federal budget; Federal employees; Federal government; Federal legislation; Funding; Health care; Health care policy; Law; Legislatures; Management; Maternal & child health; Medicaid; Medical laboratories; Nominations; Politics; Presidents; Public health; Public officials; Surgeons General; Transgender persons; Transplants & implants; Trump, Donald J; Women's groups; United States > US; Utah
• ISSN: 0090-0036
• DOI: 10.2W5/AJPH.2017.304300

The following are just a few of the principles I identified that I think are especially relevant to our current circumstance: * The importance of being honest, informed, and evidence-based-earnest advocacy will not likely get very far without data and information to support a proposal. * The importance of not judging a book by its cover-the confirmation process for US Surgeon General C. Everett Koop: Koop's nomination for this position was strongly opposed by several women's groups and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizations because of his conservative views, resulting in a protracted series of Senate confirmation hearings.[...]modifying regulations certainly applied to management of the Medicaid program in Utah when I was the executive director of the Utah Department of Health- most of the changes in this program were achieved by amending our rules, not by seeking legislative changes.The Trump Administration is committed to such administrative simplification, deregulation, and therefore is likely to support such proposals for constructive changes. * The importance of understanding and respecting "who's in charge" and of nonpartisan advocacy, for public health-cultivating relationships with key elected officials: I think it is fair to generalize that, historically, most advocates for public health have favored a strong federal government role in funding public health initiatives, and have favored regulations holding states and grantees accountable to achieve improved health outcomes.