Marty Makary’s nomination to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers a potential path for public health advocates to engage with the incoming Trump administration on chronic disease prevention and environmental health.
Leana S. Wen writes for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon, has been selected as the FDA commissioner under the Trump administration.
- Makary supports tackling preventable chronic diseases by addressing the impact of ultra-processed foods, pesticides and microplastics.
- His approach could serve as a bridge between Trump’s health agenda and mainstream public health strategies.
Key quote:
“We are ignoring a giant blind spot, and that is we are not addressing the root cause of obesity.”
— Marty Makary, surgeon at Johns Hopkins
Why this matters:
Makary’s focus on prevention, diet reform and environmental factors could improve public health outcomes despite concerns over Trump’s health policies. His willingness to address issues like ultra-processed foods and plastic pollution could influence FDA regulations and help mitigate chronic diseases in the U.S.
Related: Trump’s health team faces scrutiny over vaccine skepticism and pandemic readiness
