Dr. Jeff Bland’s latest article is a must-read for anyone thinking about how we can learn from our experience with this pandemic and shape our world for the better. Dr. Bland eloquently explains how, when we realize that COVID-19 isn’t a random event that happened to us all, we can start to identify what we have the opportunity to harness going forward that will change how we experience and respond to pandemics in the future.
In concise terms, he outlines:
1. Pandemics, redefined
2. Public health, redefined
3. Prevention, redefined
4. Reimbursement for Medical Services, redefined
5. Planetary health, a new awareness.
Some of our favorite quotes:
“Could compromised immune resilience be a public health crisis that is not yet adequately measured or tracked in a way that encourages individuals to engage deeply and personally with this critical biological system?”
“Is there a silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic? Are people now asking more questions about climate change, pollution, our reliance on ultra-processed foods, our sedentary lifestyles, our excessive alcohol intake, our use of medications and drugs, and our stress — SO MUCH STRESS — from being over-scheduled and dependent on smart-devices?”
“How will COVID-19 result in a new awareness of planetary health? What is a worldwide pandemic if not a “grand challenge”? Spaceship Earth keeps spinning. On its beautiful surface, many of us are still in quarantine, awaiting humanity’s next chapter. Let’s write it collectively. Let’s get it right. We’re in this together.”
Kara Fitzgerald, ND, received her doctor of naturopathic medicine degree from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She completed the first Counsel on Naturopathic Medicine-accredited post-doctorate position in nutritional biochemistry and laboratory science at Metametrix Clinical Laboratory under the direction of Richard Lord, PhD. Her residency was completed at Progressive Medical Center, a large, integrative medical practice in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Fitzgerald is the lead author and editor of Case Studies in Integrative and Functional Medicine and is a contributing author to Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine and the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)’s Textbook for Functional Medicine. With the Helfgott Research Institute, Dr. Fitzgerald is actively engaged in clinical research on the DNA methylome using a diet and lifestyle intervention developed in her practice. The first publication from the study focuses on reversal of biological aging and was published 04-12-2021 in the journal Aging. She has published a consumer book titled Younger You as well as a companion cookbook, Better Broths and Healing Tonics and has an application-based Younger You Program, based on the study.
Dr. Fitzgerald is on the faculty at IFM, is an IFM Certified Practitioner and lectures globally on functional medicine. She runs a Functional Nutrition Residency program, and maintains a podcast series, New Frontiers in Functional Medicine and an active blog on her website, www.drkarafitzgerald.com. Her clinical practice is in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.
Additional publications
I’m feeling more like U.S. health care industry will further isolate themselves from the rest of the world. Just my IMO. An example may be that the U.S. leads the world in auto-immune related illness. Also, oh so much illness and disease is categorized by more developed countries. Often the guts of the people in these places are stripped by broad spectrum over use of antibiotics in surgery, general health care, and CAFO operations via food supply.
This may be good further reading. “Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching” by Michael Greger
I wish number 5 would be number 1, following Gaia theory, the rest could, should fall into place more so. But, it’s great that Jeffrey broke it down into pieces as our society of industrialization of everything, victim, liability, and accountability culture is rather complex. Many people could be healthier, they just don’t care enough, and the genetic jackpot isn’t something we all get to hit, same for exposures, and even ability to detox from what life throws at us, be it mental, or physical challenges.
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I’m feeling more like U.S. health care industry will further isolate themselves from the rest of the world. Just my IMO. An example may be that the U.S. leads the world in auto-immune related illness. Also, oh so much illness and disease is categorized by more developed countries. Often the guts of the people in these places are stripped by broad spectrum over use of antibiotics in surgery, general health care, and CAFO operations via food supply.
This may be good further reading. “Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching” by Michael Greger
I wish number 5 would be number 1, following Gaia theory, the rest could, should fall into place more so. But, it’s great that Jeffrey broke it down into pieces as our society of industrialization of everything, victim, liability, and accountability culture is rather complex. Many people could be healthier, they just don’t care enough, and the genetic jackpot isn’t something we all get to hit, same for exposures, and even ability to detox from what life throws at us, be it mental, or physical challenges.