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Public Health Education

The Medical Foundation of Nashville equips physicians, patients, and community members with knowledge and tools to address pressing public health challenges, fostering informed decision-making and collaboration. By focusing on education, outreach, and community-engaged solutions, we strive to advance public health throughout Middle Tennessee.

FEATURED CONTENT THIS QUARTER

Welcome to our quarterly featured content. Each quarter, this hub highlights key public health observances aimed at raising public awareness on key health issues. Under each tab you will find information and resources about health observances happening this month.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Nearly 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Rates of breast cancer incidence also occur in men, but at much lower rates (about 18.6 per 100,000 in men versus 133.1 per 100,000 in women).

During the 1980-1990s, the rate of breast cancer incidence rose, largely due to increased breast cancer screening with mammography. The U.S. saw a decline in incidence during the early 2000s after certain hormonal therapy treatments were paused for older women. Since then, the mortality (death) rate of breast cancer in U.S. women have declined by 44% from 1989-2023 due to increased early screenings and improved treatments. For more information, please check out the following:

National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

National Breast Cancer Foundation Video Series

Susan G. Komen Organization Resources

Real Pink Podcast By Susan G. Komen Foundation

October was first declared as National Bullying Prevention Month in 2006. Since then, October has been a time to acknowledge that bullying has devastating effects on children and families such as school avoidance, loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety, and depression. Bullying can occur in multiple ways. It can be verbal, physical, through social exclusion, or via digital sources like email, texts, or social media. 

“Unlike mutual teasing or fighting, bullying occurs when one person or a group of people is perceived as being more powerful than another and takes advantage of that power through repeated physical assaults, threats of harm, intimidation, or by purposefully excluding a person from a valued social group.” – The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

In 2022, the Center for Education Statistics shared that one out of every five (19.2%) students report being bullied and 41.3% of students who reported being bullied at school indicated that they think the bullying would happen again. Additionally, they stated that females report a higher incidence of bullying via the spreading of rumors whereas males report higher incidence of physical bullying. If bullied for personal characteristics, students report being bullied most frequently for:

  • their appearance (32.7%)
  • race (13%)
  • disability (9.7%)
  • ethnic origin (9.4%)
  • gender (9.2%)
  • sexual orientation (8.9%)
  • religion (5.8%)

PACER National Bullying Prevention Center Statistics

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

STOMP Out Bullying Organization Resources

“Since 1990, Americans have celebrated the first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week after the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) lobbied Congress to create this critical awareness event. This year, Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 6 – 12 and World Mental Health Day is October 10.” – National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)

Below are some recent statistics from NAMI about mental health and mental illness:

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year
• 1 in 20 U.S. adults experiences serious mental illness each year
• 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experiences a mental health condition each year
• In 2023, 53.9% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment

National Alliance for Mental Illness

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Resources

WIC Works Resource Systems Links

November is American Diabetes Month.  “Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces (Type 2 diabetes). Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose. Hyperglycemia, also called raised blood glucose or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.” – Center for Disease Control and Prevention

As of 2024, more than 830 million people worldwide were living with diabetes. Approximately 39 million Americans are living with diabetes, and roughly 1 in 5 people don’t know they have it. Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes and Type 1 diabetes accounts for about 5% to 10%. As it stands currently, diabetes is the 8th leading cause of death in America.
In the United States:
• Diabetes is the No. 1 cause of kidney failure, lower-limb amputations, and adult blindness.
• In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled.
• Medical costs and lost work and wages for people with diagnosed diabetes total $413 billion yearly.
• Medical costs for people with diabetes are more than twice as high as for people who don’t have diabetes.

American Diabetes Association

American Diabetes Association Podcast Links

World Health Organization Facts and Figures

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. It is estimated that in 2025, over 67,400 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and about 52,000 will die from the disease. Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers and is currently the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States after lung and colon. It is expected to surpass colon cancer as the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030.

“Symptoms may include weight loss, abdominal discomfort, back pain, development of type 2 diabetes and some tumors may cause jaundice leading to earlier diagnosis.  For all stages combined, the 5-year relative survival rate is 13%. For the small percentage (15%) of people diagnosed with local disease, the 5-year survival rate is only 44%. Treatments can include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, which help extend survival and relieve symptoms, but seldom produce a cure. Surgery is possible in less than 20% of patients because detection is often in late stages and has spread beyond the pancreas. For advanced disease, chemotherapy (and sometimes targeted drug therapy) may lengthen survival. Clinical trials are testing several new agents for their ability to improve survival.”  – Hirschberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research

American Association for Cancer Research

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Purple Stride TN

The VOICE of Pancreatic Cancer Podcast Series

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. In the United States, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death for both men and women. More men die of lung cancer than the next two most deadly types of cancer for men (prostate and colorectal) combined. More women die of lung cancer (an estimated 59,280 deaths in 2024) than breast cancer (an estimated 42,250).

According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 235,000 patients received a diagnosis of lung or bronchus cancer in the United States in 2024 and a little more than 50% of patients (125,070) died of the disease. – American Association for Cancer Research
Smoking is considered the most common risk factor for developing lung cancer in the United States; causing 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths, according to experts.

Other risk factors for lung cancer include:
• being exposed to secondhand smoke
• having a family history of lung cancer
• being treated with radiation therapy to the breast or chest
• exposure to asbestos, chromium, nickel, arsenic, soot, or tar in the workplace
• exposure to radon
• **When smoking is combined with these risk factors, the chances of lung cancer increases

American Lung Association

George Washington University Lung Cancer Resources

Lung Cancer Awareness Month WKRN News

DocTalk Podcast: November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

December is International Sharps Injury Prevention Awareness Month. The month reminds healthcare workers, waste management workers, laboratory staff, and others to practice sharp safety and follow safety protocols. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates healthcare workers report between 600,000 to 800,000 needlestick and other percutaneous injuries every year.

Sharps injuries can include items other than needles. Other sharps include syringes, lancets, auto-injectors, connection and infusion sets, wires, and scalpels. All sharps are biohazardous waste generated during care, treatment, or services. Punctures from sharps can introduce bloodborne pathogens into the body, like Hepatitis B and C viruses (HPV and HCV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), as well as others. Most sharps-related injuries can be prevented with proper care. Below are some rules for sharps and sharps container use:

  • Never reach inside these containers to retrieve items.
  • Sharps containers should only be reserved for items that could puncture the skin.
  • Never bend, break, or recap needles or blades.
  • Immediately place needles and other sharps into a sharps disposable container.
  • The location of a sharps container should be deliberate.
  • Report any injuries with sharps.

International Sharps Injury Prevention Society

SteriCycle: "Sharps 101" Injury Prevention Video

Every year, the first full week of December (Dec. 1st – 7th 2025) is Influenza Awareness Week. This annual event is focused on raising awareness about the importance of getting a yearly flu vaccination to prevent the spread of the flu virus and it’s potential complications.
Between 2010-2023, the United States saw annual estimates between 9 to 40 million illnesses, 120,000 to 600,000 hospitalizations and 6,000 to 52,000 deaths from the influenza virus. Influenza’s prevalence makes it so important to know where and how to get an annual flu vaccine.

Flu shots are available at various locations including:

  • local pharmacies
  • primary care providers
  • clinics
  • even through some employers.

Be sure to check with your local health departments about getting your annual flu shot.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Flu Resource Center

Tennessee Department of Health Influenza Immunizations Info

KidCentral TN Resources

“The first World AIDS Day (December 1st)  took place in 1988, to help raise awareness about HIV and AIDS and honor the lives affected by the epidemic. Since 1988, there has been significant progress in addressing HIV and AIDS thanks to advancements in medical research, increased access to treatment and prevention, and a broader understanding of the virus.” – HIV.gov

World AIDS Day is an important opportunity for communities and individuals to honor the more than 40 million people who have died worldwide from AIDS-related illness since the start of the epidemic more than 40 years ago.

Facts & Figures about HIV and AIDS as of 2024:

  • 40.8 million [37.0 million–45.6 million] people globally were living with HIV.
  • 1.3 million [1 million–1.7 million] people became newly infected with HIV.
  • 630 000 [490 000–820 000] people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2024.
  • 31.6 million people [27.8–32.9 million] were accessing antiretroviral therapy.
  • 91.4 million [73.4 million–116.4 million] people have become infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic.
  • 44.1 million [37.6 million–53.4 million] people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic.    – UNAIDS.org

World AIDS Day Organization

Nashville CARES

The HIV Podcast

October

November

December

  • National Safe Toys and Gifts Month
    • National Public Health Information Coalition Resources
    • CBS Expert on toy Safety  Video 
  • Handwashing Awareness Week

Public Health Resources

Tennessee Department of Health

Metro Nashville Public Health Department

Sycamore Institute

My Healthcare Home

MULTI-MEDIA PUBLIC HEALTH RESOURCES

Featured Podcast Feeds

Humans in Public Health
Brown University Podcast

George Washington University Health Education Podcast

KFF Health News
Podcast

TED Health
Podcast

Public Health On Call Johns Hopkins SPH Podcast

CDC Emerging Infectious Disease Podcast

GRANT FUNDERS

We are exceedingly grateful for the generous participation of the organizations that provide ongoing grant funding to support our work.
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