Viewpoint Archives

02.06.2026 Weigh scales tied with measuring tape on a yellow background, top view. BMI concept

Health Equity

Beyond the Number: Why Public Health Should Rethink Use of BMI

When BMI drives decisions about care and coverage, it can reinforce stigma and deepen the inequities that public health is designed to reduce.

Fellow Aidan Stotz

02.03.2026 Portrait of a young woman grocery shopping. Hunger concept

The Hidden Hunger Crisis on Massachusetts Campuses

One in three college students across the Commonwealth faces food insecurity, forcing many to skip meals or ration groceries just to get by.

Guest Authors Annamarie Rapa, Alister Martin

12.08.2025 Portrait of an older Black woman in yellow shirt leaning against the wall and talking on the phone

Call Me Maybe? It Might Help People Stay Enrolled in Medicaid

A recent intervention in Wisconsin shows that a quick phone call can increase Medicaid renewals and prevent lapses in coverage.

Guest Authors Monica Aswani, Paul Shafer

12.02.2025 Group of multigenerational people smiling and laughing outdoors. Community empowerment concept

Health Equity

The Power Within Communities Is the Prescription We Keep Overlooking

We often look for prescriptions in clinics, but the most powerful tools for improving health begin in neighborhoods, schools, and communities.

Guest Author Lily Fotovat

Editor Monica L. Wang

10.27.2025 Black pregnant woman touching her belly with gentle fingers while resting in a comfortable setting, showing tenderness and connection

Black pregnant woman touching her belly with gentle fingers while resting in a comfortable setting, showing tenderness and connection

Sexual & Reproductive Health
Maternal Health

How H.R. 1 Will Harm Maternal Health in the U.S.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will reshape how women experience pregnancy in the U.S., threatening access to care and deepening disparities.

Guest Authors DeJah Fleurancois, Sarah Gordon, Kathryn Thompson

10.21.2025 Group of friends enjoying time together outdoors, smiling and laughing. Social connection concept

Connection as Medicine

Humans are wired to connect. The relationships we build with family, friends, and community protect our health in many ways.

Guest Author Lily Fotovat

Editor Monica L. Wang

10.06.2025 Medical drug bottles and medication pills spilling out onto a pastel blue background. Top view with copy space. Healthcare, pharmacy, medicine concept

Medical drug bottles and medication pills spilling out onto a pastel blue background. Top view with copy space. Healthcare, pharmacy, medicine concept

We Need Congress to Get Serious About Lowering Drug Costs

Drug middlemen hold power over the prescription drug industry and Americans’ health. Reform is necessary to ensure they put customers first.

Guest Author Katherine O'Malley

09.24.2025 Serene young black woman enjoying a moment of peace lying on vibrant green grass, hands clasped behind her head, and a gentle smile on her face. Connecting with nature concept

Serene young black woman enjoying a moment of peace lying on vibrant green grass, hands clasped behind her head, and a gentle smile on her face. Connecting with nature concept

Nature as Medicine

Public health research today reaffirms what intuition has long told us: contact with green and blue spaces is protective for health.

Editor Monica L. Wang

09.16.2025 The White House in Washington DC at summer day. U.S. policy concept

A Cruel Summer for Medicaid

President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act slashed $1 trillion from Medicaid. The consequences may cost thousands of lives.

Guest Author Paul Shafer

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