klothphd.bsky.social
Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs at the UMN's Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Behavioral epidemiologist, clinical dietitian, public health advocate. Mom to three boys. Lover of swimming, running, and hiking.
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171 following
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Please look into the UMN student taken into custody yesterday. We need people to stand up and take on this administration.
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I'm so sorry to hear this. Please take care of yourself. We need you well. It's okay to take breaks to allow yourself to show up when you need to.
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Please reach out if you are looking for people willing to talk. I'll try to help connect you with people who are.
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It is a huge threat. I'm heartbroken. For you, of course, but for the whole field and for science. It's just devastating and so harmful to so many.
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I am so sorry. This is horrible.
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Where can I read more about this? I have not heard about this directive?
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Now is the time to act—to stand up for science and protect the future of public health. Will you stand with me?
#standupforscience2025
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And finally, we must hold our leaders accountable. Elections matter. Vote. Policies matter. Speak up. Call your representatives and demand that they stand up for you by standing up for science.
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Third, we must advocate for funding. Public health research is not a luxury. It’s essential for improving health outcomes and building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
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Second, we must demand transparency. Fight for open access to knowledge and for the right of scientists to communicate without political interference.
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These stories matter. They connect us. And they help us find common ground with those who may not yet understand what is at stake.
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Maybe it was the policy change that made school meals free across Minnesota and enabled your kid to get breakfast and lunch. Maybe it was the medical advancement that gave someone you love more time.
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First, we must tell our stories. Science isn’t just about numbers—it affects our everyday lives. Talk to your family, your friends, your neighbors, your elected officials. Share how science has impacted you. Maybe it was the early invention that helped your child with special needs to thrive.
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To prevent political interference from undermining public health we must stand up for science.
Standing up for science is a team effort. Don’t sit out because you assume someone else will stand for you. We need you to act. And I know you’re ready, because you’re here today.
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This data helps shape programs and policies that address issues like teen substance abuse, mental and physical health. However, the current administration is attempting to limit public access to this data, placing programs and policies that support young people’s health at risk.
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When funding is cut, scientists are silenced, and vital data disappears, we all suffer. For example, scientists have collected data on the health behaviors of young people for over three decades through the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.
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Science doesn’t just help us solve problems and make decisions, it also helps us find the problems to be solved. That’s why I’m so worried about recent examples of censorship. Censorship slows progress and puts communities at risk.
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As one of many examples, the current administration paused $65 million in funding for Alzheimer’s research, derailing progress on curing a disease that affects millions of families. To protect the health of Minnesotans, we must stand up for science.
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We all make better decisions when we have better information, and yet, today, public health research is under attack. Funding freezes and cuts are happening right now, these aren’t just theoretical threats.