A Lecture in Public Health: Health Status of the United States versus Other Nations

Stephen Bezruchka, Senior Lecturer at the Departments of Health Services and Global Health of the University of Washington in Seattle, talks about his article "The Hurrider I Go the Behinder I Get: The Deteriorating International Ranking of U.S. Health Status," which he wrote for the 2009 Annual Review of Public Health. Using graphics to illustrate his points, Dr. Bezruchka describes how the United States has fallen to the 34th place in life expectancy, after Cuba, Chile, and Denmark. He also emphasizes the deteriorating health of women, as measured by their life expectancy, which has dropped in 30% of U.S. counties between 1987 and 2007. Finally, Dr. Bezruchka outlines his recommendations for improving health in the United States, including creating awareness about the nation's low ranking among developed countries and investing more in early life.