Presidential influences on public health

In honor of Presidents Day, we asked our student ambassadors to name a president that has had a positive influence on the field of public health.

Kate Colpetzer, Health Services Management student

Under the Obama Administration, the Affordable Care Act was born. The ACA was created to expand healthcare coverage in America by reforming private insurance and expanding Medicaid coverage.

This Act, which still impacts the US healthcare system today, is a great public health achievement in our country.

Lucy Khatib, Epidemiology student

For both Presidents Day and Black History Month, it’s important to remember public health efforts from presidents.

One of these is the “Let’s move” campaign from the Obama administration. This campaign aimed to reduce obesity in America. This public health program worked to improve quality of food in schools, encourage children to be active, in-depth food labels and work to diminish food deserts.

These programs are still in place today and aim to help reduce obesity in America. Check out this article if you are interested about learning more about American presidents’ role in public health.

Jaida Speth, Health Services Management student

“A little change from big people will mean a big change in little people!”

Not only did Franklin D. Roosevelt serve an unprecedented four terms in office, but he was also the first president with a significant physical disability from contracting polio in 1921. FDR’s ultimate victory over his illness came on the 10th anniversary of his death when the discovery of the polio vaccine was announced.

Roosevelt made the eradication of polio his personal business while in office and his work was so important that the discovery of the polio vaccines “would not have occurred, at least until decades later, without him.”

According to the CDC, no cases involving naturally-occurring poliovirus have originated in the U.S. since 1979. FDR was a big person who made a little philanthropic change during his presidency and made a big health change in the lives of millions of ‘little’ Americans.