Episode 1: Why Evidence-Based Public Health Programs Still Fail

We rely on evidence-based public health programs to guide policy, protect communities, and improve population health.Yet despite an unprecedented volume of research and best-practice guidance, many public health programs still struggle to achieve their intended impact.In the first episode of The Public Health Practice Gap, public health educator and consultant Bradley Fevrier examines why evidence-based interventions often break down in real-world settings — not because the science is wrong, but because systems are misaligned with the conditions required for success.Using the Flint Water Crisis as a central case study, alongside other well-documented public health failures, this episode explores how gaps in governance, workforce capacity, accountability, and evaluation undermine even the strongest evidence.This podcast is not about assigning blame.It is about understanding where implementation fails — and what it takes to bridge the gap between research, education, and practice.This episode is intended for public health professionals, educators, policymakers, and anyone working at the intersection of evidence and real-world impact.