Healing the Sick? Easing Suffering? Let's get to the root of the problem.

With all the change that has been happening, there is a lot of discussion in changing how we as a nation approach health and health care issues. There's whispers of the Obama presidency using their initial political capital to try to move toward a model for universal health care within the first 100 days. With Sen Tom Daschle at the helm of the Department of Health and Human Services, Rahm Emanuel calling for sweeping health care reforms, we may possibly get closer to ensuring that all americans can access health care.

But beyond health care, can we be a nation that promotes health? Not just waiting for diseases and treating them, but keeping people healthy.

The CDC and a number of other national organizations are leading an initiative to improve the health of our country -- the Alliance for the Healthiest Nation. As an epidemiologist, my job was to measure disease and the burden of disease in our country. I would love to see us as a country
move away from looking at diseases but getting to a point where we can prevent diseases. This is something I'm personally excited about and will be working on!

If you're interested in learning more, check out the website, or come talk to me. Let's change the way we build our communities, educate our children, protect immigrants and marginalized populations to keep everyone healthy, not just those who can afford to be.