Strengthening Pathways to Disease Prevention and Improved Health Outcomes
FAS x Doris Duke Foundation
Through partnership with the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF), the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is practicing “policy entrepreneurship-in-action” ensuring that rigorous, evidence-based ideas on the cutting edge of disease prevention and health outcomes reach policymakers in an effective and timely manner. This collaboration builds upon the Foundation’s Strengthening Pathways effort, a series of national conversations held in the Spring of 2025 to reimagine innovation and investment in prevention and care research. By connecting insights from these symposia conversations to actionable policy opportunities, FAS is helping to translate promising ideas into tangible, real impact for public health.
While each publication developed under this initiative focuses on a distinct aspect of health and innovation, from artificial intelligence in healthcare, to rethinking national health frameworks, and advancing heat-health resilience, they share a common goal in being designed to support decision makers with actionable ideas for making evidence-driven prevention a national priority. Collectively, they show how research, collaboration, and strategic policy engagement can deliver immediate and scalable solutions to some of the country’s most pressing health challenges.
This collaboration between FAS and the Doris Duke Foundation also demonstrates the potential of cross-sector partnership to accelerate the uptake of science and evidence in federal decision-making. By leveraging the conversations and ideas generated through the Strengthening Pathways symposia, this work helps bridge the gap between innovation and implementation, ensuring that ideas aimed at improving public health outcomes achieve meaningful policy traction.
Making Healthcare AI Human-Centered through the Requirement of Clinician Input
Cheri Banks
This memo explores how the United States can ensure that artificial intelligence enhances healthcare while safeguarding patient safety and clinical expertise. It calls for embedding clinician input throughout the developing and testing of AI tools, using representative data, and requiring ongoing oversight through post-market evaluation. This memo was inspired by insights shared during the NYU: Catalyzing Change Through Research: Building Learning Health Systems for Tomorrow symposium, which highlighted the critical role of collaboration and evidence in shaping responsible AI integration across healthcare systems.
A National Blueprint for Whole Health Transformation
Tina Savla, Grace Wickerson, Tracy Gaudet, Alexander Krist, Catherine Baase
Despite the United States spending over 17% of GDP on healthcare, Americans experience poorer health outcomes than their peers in other high-income nations. This memo outlines a framework for transforming U.S. healthcare around the concept of Whole Health, which is an evidence-based model pioneered by the Veterans Health Administration that integrates medical, behavioral, and community care. It proposes federal and state actions to standardize Whole Health strategies, finance cross-sector integration, strengthen the workforce, and scale proven models that align prevention, care, and community support.
In Honor Of Patient Safety Day, Four Recommendations To Improve Healthcare Outcomes
Susan Sheridan, Martin J. Hatlie, Leslie Tucker, Michael Stebbins
This memo outlines four key recommendations to improve patient safety in healthcare systems, presented on World Patient Safety Day 2025. It highlights the need for a bold, modernized approach to safety, particularly through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to empower patients and clinicians in real-time. Focusing on four key recommendations, this memo aims to encourage reduction in preventable harm, enhance diagnostic safety, and improve collaboration across healthcare systems.