Health Studies professor speaks on public health panel

A Texas Woman’s health studies professor spoke on a panel about public health challenges in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. 

Joshua Gold, PhD, a professor in the School of Health Promotion and Kinesiology was one of two panelists at the “Facing the DFW Health Crisis” event presented by the Alliance for Healthcare Innovation on May 18. 

“It was a wonderful experience connecting with health professionals from across the DFW,” Gold said. “It is my hope this event will serve as a starting point to bolster Texas Woman’s ties to the healthcare industry as we look to address the unique public health challenges facing our communities.”

One of the challenges that Gold spoke about was the sprawl in the Metroplex. Although the large amount of land can lead to affordable housing, the growth also leads to long drives, traffic and a lack of walker-friendly areas. 

Gold discussed the importance of understanding how a person’s health is not solely the result of their own personal responsibility, but is influenced by the social, economic and physical environments in which they live. 

Other discussion points included the rapid growth affecting access to care and nursing and physician shortages, and around the legacy of COVID in healthcare and how it highlighted existing disparities in the community.