Course Description What is MAHA? Similar to MAGA, a familiar acronym, MAHA stands for Make America Healthy Again -- a movement aimed to improve our nation's health. MAHA's controversial champion, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., states its purpose is to "dismantle the corporate stranglehold on government agencies that's led to widespread chronic disease, environmental degradation and rampant public distrust." These goals appeal to many Americans -- 82% consider wellness a key priority -- uniting them around a single idea. Thus, MAHA's crusade for a healthier country seems to be something we can all get behind. But can you believe the hype? The MAHA movement has prioritized the dismantling of public health agencies, promoting unproven treatments and alternative therapies, disregarding scientific consensus, oversimplifying complex health issues, and eliminating crucial aspects of public health. This course will unpack President Trump's pivot into wellness through RFK Jr. We will look at who MAHA is aimed at, who stands to benefit and suffer from it, and report on progress to date. Ann Farrell, BSN RN, is a career-long patient and clinician advocate in roles as direct care provider, hospital and HealthIT vendor executive and a principal of Farrell Associates, a strategic healthcare consulting firm. Ann has been a popular featured speaker in numerous international and national forums and an instructor in prior Osher courses focused on the U.S. healthcare market and medical industrial complex.

To our private communication on 9/20/2025 she added these comments:

Hi Dan,

Yes, the initial MAHA report was widely panned and the second "strategic" one not much better. I am teaching a course at Towson U adult ed on MAHA and spent hundreds of hours researching the movement and RFK Jr.'s tenure at HHS.

I dropped my jaw learning he doesn't believe in the germ theory! That explains a lot. I hope you will post some more info on MAHA and HHS under RFK Jr. and his minions. Don't know if RNs are tuned into this at all, let me know your thoughts on this.

Great as always to hear from you.

Ann