Trust in Science: The High-Stakes Game for U.S. Public Health

As health misinformation spreads faster on social media than even the most contagious viruses, Americans’ overall trust in medical scientists continues to be lower than before the pandemic, according to a recent Pew Research Center study. It’s no surprise then that—as misinformation fueled ongoing vaccine hesitancy in 2024—whooping cough and measles outbreaks surged four times higher than the year before. Mistrust in public health has grown far beyond vaccines to include questioning the safety of fluoridated water and pasteurized milk. Public health has more than just a public relations problem; the consequences are deadly. What damage has already been done and what challenges lie ahead? Who decides what is true information versus misinformation? And what can public health leaders do to restore trust in medical science and U.S. health agencies? Join The Hill as we convene leaders in government, healthcare, science and patient advocacy to answer these questions and more and make sense of the current state of healthcare discourse.