--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Public health is a powerful tool to level…" description: "\"Public health is a powerful tool to level that playing field, to bend the arc of our country away from distrust and disparities and back towards equity..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/leana-s-wen-5829_back_public-health-is-a-powerful-tool-to-leve_1647183.jpg" --- # Public health is a powerful tool to level that playing… ![“Public health is a powerful tool to level that playing field, to bend the arc of our country away from distrust and disparities and back towards equity and justice.” quote by Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/leana-s-wen-5829_back_public-health-is-a-powerful-tool-to-leve_1647183.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/leana-s-wen-5829_back_public-health-is-a-powerful-tool-to-leve_1647183.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/leana-s-wen-5829_back_public-health-is-a-powerful-tool-to-leve_1647183.jpg) > “Public health is a powerful tool to level that playing field, to bend the arc of our country away from distrust and disparities and back towards equity and justice.” [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Health equity requires using public health to reduce distrust and disparities, moving toward justice. **In simple terms:** Use health tools for fairness. Key Takeaway Prioritize equity in health policy. Themes equity justice public health policy social determinants Mood hopeful determined Type policy advocational When to use this quote - policy drafting - community outreach - health program design - advocacy - research funding Key Concepts systemic bias access prevention community trust Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevent health equity? - How can trust be rebuilt in underserved communities? A Different Perspective Implementation can be hindered by political resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Public health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-health/) ## Related quotes > [“referring, for example, to the principle of fairness, out of which our whole concept of equity and justice is developed. Little children seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/referring-for-example-to-the-principle-of-fairness-out-of-which-our/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [Competition in our health system is a powerful force of cost-containment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-frazier/competition-in-our-health-system-is-a-powerful-force-of-cost/) [Kenneth Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-frazier/) > [My sense of self and my mental HEALTH Is much more powerful than any hint of WEALTH.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-o-zee/my-sense-of-self-and-my-mental-health-is-much-more-powerful-than-any/) [M O'zee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-o-zee/) > [Despite heated political debates on the future of our health care system, there is bipartisan agreement that health IT can be a powerful tool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/despite-heated-political-debates-on-the-future-of-our-health-care/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [The moment I gave birth to my son, Eli, was the happiest in my life. He changed my world. My identity had always been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/the-moment-i-gave-birth-to-my-son-eli-was-the-happiest-in-my-life-he/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Public health relies on public trust. Admitting mistakes and explaining prompt corrective actions engender that trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-relies-on-public-trust-admitting-mistakes-and/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Public health depends on winning over hearts and minds. It's not enough to just have a good policy, you have to convince people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-depends-on-winning-over-hearts-and-minds-it-s-not/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Improvements in global public health must begin locally, and must be driven by leaders who will learn the hard lessons from COVID-19.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/improvements-in-global-public-health-must-begin-locally-and-must-be/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Public health works by using evidence to lessen harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-works-by-using-evidence-to-lessen-harm/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [In my life as an immigrant living in low-income communities, as an emergency physician and as a public health advocate, I have seen more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/in-my-life-as-an-immigrant-living-in-low-income-communities-as-an/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [As a public health official, paid sick leave is first and foremost an issue of health - of people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/as-a-public-health-official-paid-sick-leave-is-first-and-foremost-an/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Public health is hard. Nobody goes into it for the money or the acclaim. People work many long hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-is-hard-nobody-goes-into-it-for-the-money-or-the/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Addressing motor vehicle crashes as a public health issue didn't stop people from driving cars, but it did make being on the road a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/addressing-motor-vehicle-crashes-as-a-public-health-issue-didn-t-stop/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Paid sick leave is a public health necessity. Not only does it allow employees to seek medical care promptly and appropriately, it reduces the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/paid-sick-leave-is-a-public-health-necessity-not-only-does-it-allow/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Public health research has saved countless lives in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-research-has-saved-countless-lives-in-the-past/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) ## More by Leana S. Wen > [Over and over again, I have also seen our health care system fail women because of discriminatory policies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/over-and-over-again-i-have-also-seen-our-health-care-system-fail/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [When I finally addressed my stuttering - I was almost through with medical school by the time that I finally sought therapy for speech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/when-i-finally-addressed-my-stuttering-i-was-almost-through-with/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [It is imperative that we address the barriers to access and the systemic racism that we know is contributing to our astronomically high maternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/it-is-imperative-that-we-address-the-barriers-to-access-and-the/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [The higher the rate of covid-19 in a community, the more likely any one individual you come into contact with has the virus and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/the-higher-the-rate-of-covid-19-in-a-community-the-more-likely-any/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [It's unrealistic to expect that your doctor will be at your beck and call 24/7; however, before you leave your doctor's office, he or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/it-s-unrealistic-to-expect-that-your-doctor-will-be-at-your-beck-and/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [A covid-19 patient who experiences a substantial drop in oxygen saturation is unstable. It was correct to transfer him to the hospital to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/a-covid-19-patient-who-experiences-a-substantial-drop-in-oxygen/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [To be clear, from an epidemiological perspective, there shouldn't be any mass gatherings during a pandemic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/to-be-clear-from-an-epidemiological-perspective-there-shouldn-t-be/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Public health works by using evidence to lessen harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-works-by-using-evidence-to-lessen-harm/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Every time I am on air, I will receive actually quite a few messages that specifically tie me to the Chinese Communist Party -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/every-time-i-am-on-air-i-will-receive-actually-quite-a-few-messages/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [An effective public-health response requires that those leading the response pivot when new information comes out and change course when unexpected circumstance arise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/an-effective-public-health-response-requires-that-those-leading-the/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Violence, poverty and health disparities have many inputs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/violence-poverty-and-health-disparities-have-many-inputs/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [The most critical key to getting good medial care is a trusting relationship between you and your doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/the-most-critical-key-to-getting-good-medial-care-is-a-trusting/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [We really need to be talking about the COVID vaccine the same way that we talk about other vaccinations - which is that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/we-really-need-to-be-talking-about-the-covid-vaccine-the-same-way/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Planned Parenthood's work - bringing affordable and accessible health care to as many women (and men and all people) as possible - isn't just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/planned-parenthood-s-work-bringing-affordable-and-accessible-health/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Doctors have limited time to listen to your story, but you must make sure they understand why you're there. Don't just say that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/doctors-have-limited-time-to-listen-to-your-story-but-you-must-make/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) [Explore all 100 Leana S. Wen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) ## More Back quotes > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/) [Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) Browse all 9,709 Back quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Public health is a powerful tool to level that playing field, to bend the arc of our country away from distrust and disparities and back towards equity and justice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leana S. Wen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-is-a-powerful-tool-to-level-that-playing-field-to-bend/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Back" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-is-a-powerful-tool-to-level-that-playing-field-to-bend/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/leana-s-wen-5829_back_public-health-is-a-powerful-tool-to-leve_1647183.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/leana-s-wen-5829_back_public-health-is-a-powerful-tool-to-leve_1647183.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/leana-s-wen-5829_back_public-health-is-a-powerful-tool-to-leve_1647183.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Public health is a powerful tool to level that playing field, to bend the arc of our country away from…” — Leana S. Wen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leana S. Wen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Public health is a powerful tool...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-is-a-powerful-tool-to-level-that-playing-field-to-bend/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-is-a-powerful-tool-to-level-that-playing-field-to-bend/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```