Public health at its core is the practice of preventing disease and promoting good health within groups of people, from small communities to entire countries. All public health services depend on the presence of basic infrastructure – skilled health professionals, up-to-date data and surveillance systems, and agencies with the capacity to assess and respond to community health needs. This infrastructure is often underfunded and overlooked until a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The neglect and under funding of our national, state and local public health infrastructure  means slower crisis response and less resilient communities. Emergency funding which is dumped into the system during times of crisis is not the answer. We must commit to long-term and consistent funding for public health if we are going to be prepared for future health challenges.

Read more in recent Roll Call article, here.

NashvilleHealth Hero

NashvilleHealth is proud to recognize health professionals who are going above and beyond to care for and lead our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our first NashvilleHealth Hero is Dr. Alex Jahangir, an orthopaedic trauma surgeon and professor of orthopaedic surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and current chair of the Metropolitan Board of Health.

Dr. Jahangir is leading Nashville’s Coronavirus Taskforce. Everyday he updates Nashvillians on the city’s coronavirus case numbers, provides us with sound medical guidance and assures us of the city’s coordinated response efforts. But, his daily press briefings are just a small part of his response work, Dr. Jahangir also meets with first responders, health department staff and the mayor to ensure the community’s needs are met.  For his commitment, selfless work and the expertise he brings to Nashville’s response efforts, Dr. Jahangir is a NashvilleHealth Hero. Thank you Dr. Jahangir.

Nashville Response Fund Update

Nashville’s COVID-19 Response Fund has distributed nearly $1 million to 36 community-based organizations to quickly and effectively address the health and economic challenges of this virus. The advisory committee is now allocating funds on a rolling basis in order to meet community needs as quickly as possible. Allocations are going to organizations to help meet people’s basic needs as well as to meet the specific organizational needs of agencies on the frontlines.

Please give at the link below or text NashvilleUnited to 41444.

• TIME – 3 Ways Policymakers Could Help Our Nation’s Doctors And Nurses
• LinkedIn – We Failed to Act on Pandemic Preparedness Before. Let’s not Make that Mistake Again.
• A Second Opinion Podcast – COVID-19 Update: Dr. Marty Makary
• A Second Opinion Podcast – COVID-19 Update HCA CMO Dr. Jon Perlin
• A Second Opinion Podcast – COVID-19 Update: Dr. William Schaffner

• A Healthy Nashville I: COVID-19 Community Response
•  A Healthy Nashville II: COVID-19 Community Response – Underlying Health Conditions
• A Healthy Nashville III: COVID-19 Community Response – Innovation
• A Healthy Nashville IV: COVID-19 Community Response – Mental Health
• A Healthy Nashville V: COVID-19 Community Response – Partnerships