BETHESDA, MD—Due to its ability to track patient health data within its system and to orchestrate initiatives inside what is essentially a unified healthcare program, VA has played a pioneering role in showing how chronic disease treatment, such as for cardiovascular disease, can be improved over large swathes of a patient population.

WASHINGTON, DC—With two-fifths of the world’s population at risk for dengue fever, a severe flu-like illness which sometimes leads to fatal complications, the development of a vaccine has long been an important, albeit elusive, goal in managing the disease.

WASHINGTON, DC—Although an increase in the prevalence of asthma has slowed since the mid-1990s, it still remains at historically high levels, a CDC report released this year found.

BETHESDA, MD—This past October saw the 20th anniversary of the start of the Human Genome Project; and this year marks the 10th anniversary of the publishing of the draft human genome sequence.

WASHINGTON, DC—Two out of three US adults with high cholesterol and half of US adults with high blood pressure are not being treated effectively, according to CDC’s Vital Signs. “Heart disease is the leading killer in America, and the bottom line is that high blood pressure and high cholesterol are out of control for most Americans who have these conditions,” said CDC Director Thomas Frieden, MD.

BETHESDA, MD—With the continuing rise in the rates of diabetes and obesity, researchers are exerting more and more effort to find a viable pharmaceutical treatment to combat weight gain. The pediatric population is especially at risk. Obesity in children and young adults is becoming more and more prevalent, but there is very scant data on pharmacotherapy for that age group.

WASHINGTON, DC—Obesity and psychological problems are taking a toll on children. How can health providers, federal agencies, schools, and other entities address these issues in young people?

Howard K Koh, MD, MPH
Assistant Secretary for Health, US Department of Health and Human Services
At the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), we uphold mobilizing leadership in science and prevention as a cornerstone of our mission.

Rear Admiral Scott F Giberson
US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Chief
US Public Health Service (PHS) pharmacists often refer to our pharmacy program as the profession’s “best kept secret.”

BETHESDA, MD—Where do you find resiliency as a healer and a soldier? As the role of combat medics becomes more and more important to the increasing survival rate of combat casualties, that is a question that military psychiatrists are asking.