MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University School of Nursing faculty member and Coordinator of Global Programs Dana Friend recently participated in the Safeguarding Public Data and Information Ecosystems in the United States working group at the Clinton Global Initiative 2025 Annual Meeting, joining national and global leaders working to strengthen trust in public health information.
Friend served as a member of the Truth & Information Working Group, an initiative designed to address real-time challenges related to data integrity, public trust, media ecosystems, and institutional knowledge. The working group gathered approximately 80 to 120 participants from a wide range of sectors, including public health, government, journalism, technology, education, and nonprofit organizations, for two intensive sessions focused on collaboration and problem-solving.
Within the broader initiative, Friend contributed specifically to discussions centered on safeguarding public data in the United States. This group examined vulnerabilities created by resource cuts, workforce reductions, and longstanding gaps in access and representation across federal agencies such as the CDC, USDA, and EPA. Participants explored strategies to strengthen data security, increase transparency, maintain critical longitudinal datasets, expand access to trustworthy information, and address the growing decline in public trust.
Throughout the sessions, members worked to identify cross-sector solutions, outline areas for near- and long-term action, and develop potential partnerships that support resilient public data ecosystems. The working group also emphasized the importance of expanding public access to reliable information and reinforcing the systems that underpin evidence-based decision-making in public health and beyond.
“Participating in this working group reinforced the importance of my role in educating future nurses, among the most trusted health professionals, who our communities rely on to deliver accurate, evidence-based health information,” Friend said.
Friend’s involvement reflects the School of Nursing’s commitment to advancing public health infrastructure and contributing to national conversations that shape data integrity, health communication, and community trust.
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ms/11/05/25
MEDIA CONTACT:
Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu