Entrepreneurs serving public health

Yesterday, I spent the day at Brown University to participate in its program for National Public Health Week. Every time I go back to campus (+3 hours each train ride), I feel like I got so much more than I gave.

Spending time with the new dean of Brown's School of Public Health, Bess Marcus, is always a fascinating pleasure. I can't get enough of her insights and perspectives.

Spending time with Karl Kelsey and Joe Braun--professors, researchers, and epidemiologists who also study the effects of toxic exposures--is also always enriching.

And I really enjoyed meeting and talking to Greg Wellenius, who is teaching a class in the fall on how climate change may affect human health. He had so many good tips on easy things we can do to help our planet, and I'll be talking to him further about how real estate developers can design buildings and neighborhoods for the well-being of people. As he said, we should "design cities for people rather than for cars."

My fellow panelists are doing wonderful work to help improve our healthcare. It was so nice to meet others who want to contribute to the common good. Definitely check them out!