Public Health Is Political: A Student's View on a Necessary Shift in Public Health Curricula.

Abstract

[ ]since the start of the pandemic, mask wearing has consistently been a controversial topic across the nation despite evidence that it slows the spread of COVID-19 2 However, we observe daily throughout San Diego, California (as in other parts of the country), community members who refuse to wear masks and believe that adhering to public health recommendations restricts their personal freedoms 3 Current public health dissemination efforts have been unable to reach many such individuals Public health efforts are further hampered by the Trump administration's circulation of misinformation-statements that are often at odds with state and federal public health officials or not grounded in evidence Engaging public health students in political processes should not be seen as radical but as a necessary shift in public health's approach to attain health equity >4JPH CORRESPONDENCE Correspondence should be sent to Sally P Windisch, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182 (e-mail: swindisch3830@sdsu edu)