Re-Airing: Health in the Context of People’s Lives (HLOL #263)

Helen is taking a break to recover from back surgery, so we’re re-running some classic episodes. Here’s one from 2024.

Rear Admiral (RDML) Paul Reed, MD is the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, the Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, a pediatrician, and a senior U.S. Public Health Service Officer. His primary responsibility is to advise the Assistant Secretary for Health on disease prevention and health promotion programs and policies. Additionally, RDML Reed provides direction and oversight for national health initiatives such as Healthy People 2030, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.

In this podcast, RDML Paul Reed talks with Helen Osborne about:

• Finding health in context of people’s lives including in the environments where they live, work, play, grow, and age.


• Reframing health in terms of vital conditions for well-being and justice.


• Building resilience within communities and encouraging citizens to flex their “civic muscles” so as to help everyone reach their full potential.

More ways to Learn:

• Health.gov. Includes important links to health literacy information and resources. From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.


• Health Literacy in Healthy People 2030. Includes the health literacy definitions and objectives in this U.S. public health initiative. From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.


• Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being Framework, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.


• “Health and Well-Being Begin with Health Literacy”, a blog post by RDML Paul Reed, October 12, 2021


• “Organizations Have an Opportunity to Enhance Health Literacy”, a blog post by RDML Paul Reed, October 25, 2022.


• “Living Artful Lives to Enhance Health and Well-Being”, a blog post by RDML Paul Reed, March 28, 2023.


• “Establishing Equitable Resilience Requires Shared Stewardship”, a blog post by RDML Paul Reed, January 30, 2023


• “Akron-Summit County Public Library and Healthy People: Prioritizing Educational Opportunities for Community Members”, a blog post that is part of Healthy People 2020 in Review, December 5, 2022


• “Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry and Healthy People: Repairing Homes to Help Ensure Safety and Independence”, a blog post that is part of Healthy People 2020 in Review, November 9, 2022.


• “Sacramento Public Library and Healthy People: Prioritizing Health Literacy to Meet Community Members’ Needs”, a blog post that is part of Healthy People 2020 in Review, October 26, 2022.

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast are the chapters, “Community Connections,” “Health Equity in the Context of Health Literacy,” and “Organizations: Health Literacy Across Programs, Companies, Communities, and Countries.”

Read a transcript of this podcast.

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