Grinnell’s pre-caucus foreign policy lecture series, sponsored by the Rosenfield Program, came to a close on Monday, Nov. 26 when Dr. Mary Gilchrist and Andrew Schoenbaum discussed “Global Public Health.” Gilchrist is currently the director of the Bureau of Laboratory Sciences at the State Laboratory Institute of the Massachusetts Department of Health. The former director of the Iowa State Hygenic Laboratory discussed disease epidemics past and present and how governments have responded to them. Her recommendations included retaining public health experts in government, improving cooperation between agencies and increasing scientific literacy among leaders.
How do we put public health in the spotlight without hyperbole?
Get the communication across. I try to tell stories; there was a child in Grinnell who found a bat in his house. We tested it, and it saved so many thousands of dollars, and so on. People think public health is like public housing. Tell stories about protecting water, about science that keeps daily life functioning. In six to eight simple stories, you can tell legitimately the value of real human beings.
You have to talk of outcome. Get people concerned but not paralyzed with fear. Even the word risk sounds fearsome to people. Look at the CDC testimony I showed—“some sort of impact on national infrastructure”—that wouldn’t do it. I think it’s as bad as hyperbole, it sounds so bureaucratic. It’s a reality factor; when you talk about a death rate of 30 percent from influenza and that climate change could be even worse, it’s a big deal. I don’t think the candidates may even be aware [of public health], they’re on a campaign of a half-dozen issues that they think everyone cares about.
Why is legislation such as the Kid Safe Chemicals Act difficult to pass?
It’s going to be challenging to pass because chemical companies have to prove the safety of their chemicals rather than otherwise. People may think these amounts in our water are measured in “parts per billion,” but I heard a speaker recently that talked about the amount of Cialis in a human male is measured in parts per billion. When you measure the effect of Cialis on a male in that small amount, that’s a way to show the impact. The fact that we’re exposed to chemicals in utero that we wouldn’t drink in our water is important.
You mentioned that you were afraid of the effect of bloggers during an epidemic. Why?
I’m not into reading blogs; I didn’t read one knowingly until the week I was fired [from the Iowa State Hygenic Lab]. I read things that were inaccurate about me, against and in favor of me, during the firing. I’m offended that the material has a credence of truth, like printed material. I’m afraid the bloggers could spread misinformation about what to do, where to go to. Unless we have rapid accurate information available online, people are believing resources that are not credible.
How can Grinnell students play a role in the fight against pandemics and for advancement of global health?
You are living in a protected time period. You can go out there and champion a cause; I know I did, I was a ’60s person. You can go out and form your thoughts, I’m just a catalyst. You can have an impact if you stand up in the audience. In a small setting like Iowa, you can make a big difference because there aren’t as many political action committees … You are looking down the barrel of the future.
