Commentary
Once a field grounded in data, experimentation, and skepticism, public health has morphed into something resembling a secular religion. Where it used to prioritize measurable outcomes and open debate, it now often demands faith, enforces dogma, and ostracizes dissenters. This transformation, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, threatens the credibility of public health and its ability to serve the common good.
The Academic Roots of Public Health
Historically, public health was an academic discipline rooted in the scientific method. From John Snow’s cholera investigations in 19th-century London to the eradication of smallpox in the 20th century, public health relied on evidence, hypothesis testing, and iterative progress. Practitioners debated fiercely, questioned assumptions, and adapted to new data. The field’s strength lay in its humility: no single expert or institution claimed to have all the answers, and policies were shaped through scrutiny.
