What if a single test, done just days after birth, could prevent a lifetime of illness or even save a life? That’s the power of newborn screening — a public health breakthrough that quietly protects millions of babies each year.
In this episode of What is Public Health, during National Public Health Week April 7-13, 2025, we have a special series "How we built a healthier communities". On Day 2, I take you inside the story of how newborn screening began, how it has evolved, and why early detection is one of the most cost-effective and life-changing interventions in healthcare.
We cover:
The incredible story of how Dr. Robert Guthrie launched the first screening test for PKU
Why newborn screening now detects over 60 conditions in many states
How I helped co-develop the first population-based screening test for SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency)
What happens if we don’t invest in early detection — and how you can support policies that save lives
A few drops of blood. A lifetime of difference.