The most popular public health stories of the year
These 10 research articles grabbed the attention of our readers in 2025
- 6 min. read ▪ Published
The readers of UC Berkeley School of Public Health’s Research News had a lot to select from in 2025—we published a total of 110 pieces on our website and through our twice monthly newsletter. The stories that rose to the top show that our readers are worried about the current state of public health, both nationally and internationally, as well as grateful for the positive impact that our faculty have had on the field.
Q&A with Dr. Will Dow on what potential cuts to Medicaid really mean
In July, we talked to health policy expert Dr. Will Dow about what the $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” would mean to Americans. “These cuts will indirectly harm the rest of the population by raising financial pressure on health facilities,” Dow warned. “More uninsured people implies more unpaid medical bills, which leads to health care price increases for everyone else.”
What do the looming cuts to Medicaid really mean?
Dr. Stefano Bertozzi on why a withdrawal from the World Health Organization could bring tragedy
In another UC Berkeley Public Health experts Q&A, former dean and current professor of health policy and management Stefano Bertozzi warned that “Anything we do that diminishes our ability to not only collaborate, but collaborate efficiently with countries all over the world—regardless of whether we agree with them politically—to stop global health threats, is really important.” The process of U.S. withdrawal from the WHO is still ongoing as of December 2025.
U.S. withdrawal from WHO could bring tragedy at home and abroad
Dr. John Swartzberg on how worried we should be about bird flu
Americans’ concern about another possible pandemic is evident from the interest in this Q&A and about bird flu with infectious diseases expert and emeriti professor John Swartzberg. His advice included only drinking milk that has been pasteurized. “Pasteurization kills the virus. We’ve done lots of studies now and the good news is that if we consume pasteurized milk, there’s no worry about getting influenza from it,” he said.
How worried should you be about bird flu?
What’s going on with the COVID-19 vaccine?
Dr. Swartzberg was also the expert voice for this story, which explained the then-current situation with COVID-19 vaccine eligibility. After much confusion and states breaking away to make their own rules separate from federal guidelines, the CDC ended up recommending vaccine doses “for people ages 6 months and older based on individual-based decision-making.”
What’s going on with the COVID-19 vaccine?
Study shows higher risk of childhood leukemia tied to PFAS exposure from household dust
Research led by Catherine Metayer, UC Berkeley adjunct professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, showed that children exposed to a mixture of eight PFAS, detected in at least half of the home dust samples, were 1.6 times more likely to develop leukemia than children with lesser exposure—the equivalent of a 60% increased risk.
Study shows higher risk of childhood leukemia tied to PFAS exposure from household dust
Memories of S. Leonard Syme, the father of social epidemiology, who passed away in 2025
“Len was a true giant, the father of social epidemiology, and one of the most beloved teachers and mentors Berkeley Public Health has ever had,” said Dean Michael C. Lu. Beloved by students and colleagues alike, Syme was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and received the Wade Hampton Frost Leadership Award—one of the most prestigious awards in the field of epidemiology—from the American Public Health Association, the Berkeley Citation for distinguished service to the university, and the Panunzio Prize as Outstanding Emeritus Professor in the UC system.
S. Leonard Syme, the father of social epidemiology, dies at 92
Top scientists issue urgent warning on fossil fuels
Top scientists, including David J.X. González, assistant professor of environmental health science, issued an urgent warning that fossil fuels and the fossil fuel industry are driving interlinked crises that threaten people, wildlife, and a livable future. “We’ve got to work fast to end fossil fuel operations near our homes, schools and hospitals and trade fossil fuel infrastructure for healthy, clean energy,” said González.
Top scientists issue urgent warning on fossil fuels
Reflecting on the storied career of retiring professor Art Reingold
Professor of Epidemiology Art Reingold retired this year after four decades at UC Berkeley School of Public Health. He never missed a semester teaching his course in outbreak investigations, as well as many other courses and seminars—sometimes as many as eight courses a year, which he believes is a campus record. In addition to teaching and mentoring a whole generation of epidemiologists, Reingold also sat on dozens of government and academic panels over the years. “He never says no,” said Dr. Claire Broome, former acting director of the CDC who supervised Reingold for some of his time there. “I’m in awe of his ability to get things done.”
How is the federal funding landscape affecting rural health?
In another UC Berkeley expert Q&A, we spoke with health policy and management expert Kimberly MacPherson, MBA, MPH, on current threats to healthcare in rural America. As the faculty lead of the school’s Rural Health Innovation Program, MacPherson knows that rural health is too often overlooked in America. “Rural health care professionals have a deep understanding of the health challenges facing their own communities, including problems with health care systems and policies — yet their voices are too often absent in discussions of health care policy at the state and federal levels,” she said.
How is the federal funding landscape affecting rural health?
Reaching the furthest behind, first
This long form story by Maggie Andresen of the Berkeley Human Right Center, looks at the work of UC Berkeley School of Public Health DrPH student Bhavya Joshi as she brings public health research to South Sudan.
