Bill Frist, M.D.

Myth: Downpours have always happened. Rainfall isn’t changing. Truth: Warmer air holds more moisture — about 4% more per 1°F of warming. When storms form in warmer air, they can produce heavier rainfall. A nationwide analysis of 1,700 U.S. weather stations shows a clear shift toward heavier rain in recent decades. When it rains, it pours — more than it used to.

What this means for health care leadership—and what comes next: tr.ee/climaterisk

As part of the @theNAMedicine’s Climate Grand Challenge, we’re working to turn this into practical, measurable action.

I remember the moment the room changed. Higher costs. Disrupted care. Rising patient risk. Climate wasn’t theoretical anymore—it was operational.

On World Health Day, a bigger question: As the U.S. pulls back from global health institutions, what happens to diplomacy? Global health has long been a quiet force in foreign policy - building trust, opening doors, shaping alliances. When it fades, so does influence. In this InContext perspective, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader and physician Bill Frist examines what’s truly at stake and why it matters now. To get a better understanding, watch his full #TEDMED Talk: ow.ly/obOY50YCNTX #WorldHealthDay #GlobalHealth #Diplomacy #ForeignPolicy #HealthSecurity #InContext #BillFrist

As the U.S. pulls back from global health institutions, the ripple effects extend far beyond healthcare. Global health has long been a quiet force for diplomacy – building trust where politics alone cannot. What happens when that force weakens? Watch Bill Frist’s #TEDMED Talk on why health collaboration may be one of the most powerful tools for global stability. ow.ly/hQ3J50YCRQx #GlobalHealth #HealthDiplomacy #NationalPublicHealthWeek #PublicHealth #GlobalPolicy #BillFrist #HealthCollaboration #Diplomacy #Trust

What does it look like to prepare the next generation of environmental leaders in Tennessee while also protecting one of the most biodiverse regions in the country? In a webinar on Wednesday, April 15, senators @bfrist and @SenAlexander will join expert panelists to explore how Tennessee is connecting conservation, student success, and career pathways through efforts like the new Lamar Alexander Institute for Environmental Education and the Sciences. Panelists include Katherine Medlock with @nature_org, Dr. Jennifer Oody with @MaryvilleC, and Deputy Commissioner @BrianMClifford with @TNEnvironment. Register today to join the conversation: tnscore.org/what-we-do/eve… #EarthDay #EnvironmentalEducation

I wrote more about it in today’s new Substack: tr.ee/60feetunder

The ocean isn’t separate from us. It helps regulate our climate, supports the food we eat, and shapes our health in ways we don’t always see.

I waved to a manta ray. It waved back.

Tracy and I wish a Happy Easter to all celebrating today. Easter is a beautiful reminder of hope and new beginnings. It is also a time when spring and the beauty of the natural world echo that message in their own quiet way. Wishing you peace, joy, and a renewed sense of purpose in the days ahead.

As a steering committee member of the @theNAMedicine's Climate Grand Challenge, I’ve had the opportunity to work with leaders across medicine, science, and policy to advance practical solutions at the intersection of climate and health. This new NAM report outlines concrete actions to reduce the health impacts of a changing climate and highlights pathways for health systems and clinicians to act. 🔗 Read it here: nam.edu/our-work/progr…

Today, Tracy is back in the arena. It’s her second day competing in the Super Stakes in Fort Worth, Texas with her cutting horse, Tripp—and her first show back since recovering from a broken leg. Getting here took time, patience, and real resolve. A big stage and a big moment. Proud of her today.

Healthy systems don’t happen by accident. They are protected. Sustained. Chosen. At Palmyra, you can see what resilience looks like. Read the full piece I wrote about it today in @Forbes: tr.ee/scuba

The ocean is not distant. It absorbs >90% of excess heat and ~30% of CO₂. It shapes climate, food systems, and coastal safety. When it’s stressed, the consequences don’t stay offshore.

What I saw on Palmyra Atoll was not just beauty. It was coordination. Circulation. A living system moving in balance. Fish, coral, predators all connected in ways we rarely see.

At sixty feet below the surface, the reef revealed itself not as a collection of species, but as a system of relationships. A reminder: ocean health is human health.