As hazy as life can feel when days seem to blend with nights, and weeks blur into months, this pandemic has brought a couple of things into clear focus. One, in the (wine) glass-half-full camp, is the collective resolve and perseverance of people on the “front lines,” from healthcare workers who see COVID patients daily, to first responders, farmers, personnel at manufacturing plants, grocery store staff, delivery workers, and more. 
 
We’re navigating a confluence of crises, and our collective resolve still impresses me. At the same time, the ability to develop and scale what, so far, seem to be safe and effective vaccines for a novel virus, in such a short timeframe, is truly remarkable. What can we learn and apply toward other ongoing epidemics? What if we directed attention and resources to solve a crisis like obesity, or hunger, or climate change?
 
On the other end, in the glass is (half) empty camp, the coronavirus has exposed pervasive inequities in our society, which have devastating consequences when it comes to public health, especially for many of those front-line workers we keep praising. 
 
In an important discussion, Karen Howard from the Organic & Natural Health Association noted Black Americans disproportionately suffer from underlying health conditions associated with severe cases of COVID-19, “each of which is related to vitamin D deficiency, a chronic condition for the vast majority of Blacks, who have twice the death rate from COVID-19 as whites.”
 
“Let’s use this time and place of confusion and dissension to be a healing force, support young Black professionals in their education, and transform our own work culture,” she suggested, in a call to help support historically Black colleges and universities. 
 
Meanwhile, poor nutrition is the leading cause of chronic disease and obesity. An estimated 60% of Americans suffer from one or more chronic diseases. A new health paradigm needs to include nutritional intervention as a core tenet. 
 
Market forces—including growing consumer interest in personal ownership of health and wellness—scientific/technological advancement, an aging population, and an obvious public health need for diet and lifestyle intervention are colliding. The result of those forces includes opportunities to deploy personalized nutrition solutions at a broader scale. 
 
“Differences in our genetics, biochemistry, metabolism, and microbiota all contribute to our unique nutritional needs and expressions of health or illness,” said Michael Stroka, CEO of the American Nutrition Association, which has been working to train and certify healthcare practitioners in nutritional genomics. 
 
“Nutritional genomics isn’t about assessing disease risk or discussing diagnostic genes. It’s about providing patients with personalized, actionable advice to support their health goals and improve their nutritional status.”