Dr. Fleming is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Washington and former Deputy Director of the CDC.

Synopsis: By many measures of health, there has never been a better time to be a human being. Child mortality has plummeted, life expectancy has never been longer, and the proportion of people living in abject poverty is at its lowest level ever. Much work remains, however, as profound health disparities have become the primary drivers of health in our communities and around the globe. At the same time, there may never have been a worse time for the rest of our planet’s biosphere, at least since humans began walking on the planet. The same extraordinary scientific and technological developments that have driven unprecedented gains in human development for some of us are also degrading our planet’s environment, outstripping our resources, and creating a whole new set of health challenges for all of us. Are we being forced to pick between our own personal health, the health of those around us, and planetary health or is it possible to expand the realm of public health to include managing our planet’s natural systems and improving health for all?