The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has launched a new series of monthly discussions to help members of the public navigate many of the complex health topics in the news. Health in the Headlines will explore high-profile health and health policy issues from a scientific viewpoint and include nuanced discussion and respectful debate among experts. Taking on topics such as the role of ultra-processed foods in children’s health and accessibility and safety of weight loss drugs like GLP-1s, each event in the series will cover what is known, what is unknown, and why disagreements can occur, even among scientists. Events will also incorporate audience Q&A.
The series will take a unique approach that encourages panelists to distinguish clearly between empirical evidence and personal, cultural, or policy values that may shape their interpretations of the science. This approach is designed to promote public trust by illuminating how scientific consensus is built, how uncertainty is communicated, and how values inevitably influence the interpretation and application of science and evidence.
“The NAM is committed to fostering public understanding of science — and the ways in which science informs policy — in a manner that is rigorous, transparent, and responsive to societal needs,” said Victor J. Dzau, president of the National Academy of Medicine. “We are proud to offer this forum for members of the public to hear directly from scientists and clinicians and ask questions about issues that impact their health and well-being.”
Health in the Headlines is co-chaired by Alex Azar, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health, and steered by an advisory group with representation from the American Enterprise Institute, American Public Health Association, Cato Institute, CBS News, WebMD, and other organizations.
“At a time when the public is inundated with health information — some of it accurate, much of it not — this series will offer a much-needed forum for clarity, civility, and evidence-based discussion,” said Azar. “By highlighting both the data and the diversity of viewpoints, we hope to empower the public to think critically, ask new questions, and feel more confident navigating today’s complex health landscape.”
“So much of what people hear today is politicized or oversimplified,” said Ranney. “With Health in the Headlines, we’re creating a forum to explore both the science and the context behind it. We want to pull back the curtain on how scientific knowledge is generated and applied, especially around issues that affect people’s lives every day. Ultimately, we hope to show that disagreement can be a sign of intellectual rigor, not a reason to disengage.”
Events in the Health in the Headlines series will be hosted virtually on the second Wednesday of each month. The first event, “What Should Kids Eat? Exploring the Science on Ultra-Processed Foods and Children’s Health,” will take place Sept. 10 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT. Ranney will moderate a discussion among panelists Christopher Gardner, professor and director of nutrition studies, Stanford University; Kevin Hall, former senior investigator, National Institutes of Health; Susan Mayne, former director, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and Fatima Cody Stanford, pediatrician and professor, Harvard Medical School, and member, 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Registration is now open.
Founded in 1970 as the Institute of Medicine, the NAM is one of three academies that make up the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The National Academies are private, nonprofit institutions that work outside government to provide objective advice on matters of science, technology, and health.
