Amelia Poulin, assistant director of emerging infectious disease at ASTHO, discusses how she was recently recognized as an honoree of de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 under 40 in Public Health awards; Christina Severin, director of public health law at ASTHO, breaks down her recent Health Policy Update,...
Amelia Poulin, assistant director of emerging infectious disease at ASTHO, discusses how she was recently recognized as an honoree of de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 under 40 in Public Health awards; Christina Severin, director of public health law at ASTHO, breaks down her recent Health Policy Update, which covers key case decisions from the Supreme Court’s last term; ASTHO and the Public Health Foundation will host a webinar on academic health department partnerships on Monday, October 27; and ASTHO is looking for health agency leaders and program staff that have strengthened their capacity to prevent mental health-related harms to apply to participate in discussions that will shape future strategies and drive impact.
de Beaumont Foundation: 40 Under 40 in Public Health
ASTHO Health Policy Update: Public Health Litigation Round-Up
JANSON SILVERS:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, October 16, 2025. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
AMELIA POULIN:
This honor recognizes not just my individual achievement, but more importantly, I think, the power of collective leadership across both ASTHO's health security unit and the organization more broadly.
SILVERS:
That's ASTHO's Amelia Poulin on her recent recognition as an honoree of de Beaumont Foundation's 40 under 40 in Public Health award, which recognizes leaders who are changing the face of public health in creative and innovative ways. Poulin shares more about her role as ASTHO's assistant director of emerging infectious disease.
POULIN:
My work focuses on helping states and territories prepare for and manage infectious disease threats ranging from TB, HIV, STIs, to novel pathogens.
SILVERS:
Before joining the team at ASTHO, Poulin provided public health services in the community setting, conducting HIV and STI testing and health education in southern Indiana.
POULIN:
Being on the ground, interacting with folks most at-risk for these infections, gives me a deep appreciation for how barriers to infectious disease prevention and treatment play out on the ground.
SILVERS:
Poulin says this experience drives her to develop impactful, evidence-based products, like the policy toolkit she created to improve access to TB and STI medications facing shortages.
POULIN:
Shortly after the toolkit was released, it was shared in a CDC Health Alert Network update to support jurisdictions that were facing shortages of dialysis and IV solutions, showing the breadth of potential impact there.
SILVERS:
Although the award is seen as an individual achievement, Poulin says it wouldn't have been possible without the expertise and support of her colleagues. To learn more about the recognition and de Beaumont Foundation, just click on the link in the show notes.
This month, the Supreme Court ended one term and started another. To help public health agencies stay up-to-date, Christina Severin, ASTHO's director of public health law, authored a new Health Policy Update breaking down key case decisions from the last term. One case highlighted in the update focuses on the coverage of preventative services under the Affordable Care Act and the authority of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to make recommendations.
CHRISTINA SEVERIN:
So, the challenge was to the constitutionality of that Task Force. In this case, the decision of the court maintained the Task Force's current operations and their authorities. So, that avoids some disruptions to that structure of preventive care coverage, at the moment.
SILVERS:
Another case decided on the right of individuals to challenge state actions related to their Medicaid program.
SEVERIN:
In that case, the court found no right to challenge the state's actions there, and that could have some other implications for future challenges, using that same theory in the courts.
SILVERS:
Severin says there were also a number of relevant decisions made in lower federal courts.
SEVERIN:
There were two cases of note about the operation of two different states' newborn screening programs and some challenges to the operation and practices of those programs. And then also two cases about vaccination requirements and exemptions that were highlighted in the blog as well.
SILVERS:
Severin adds that there have been several developments within the state court, such as ongoing litigation related to COVID-19 and a case about the emergency powers of the Governor as it relates to public health issues. You can read all about these cases and more in the newest Health Policy Update. We'll have a link in the show notes.
On October 27, join ASTHO and the Public Health Foundation for their webinar on Academic Health Department partnerships. Hear from the Vermont Department of Health and learn about PHF's new toolkit designed to support the development and sustainability of partnerships with academic health departments. You can register for this event now by clicking on the link in the show notes.
Finally, calling all jurisdictions that have strengthened their capacity to prevent mental health-related harms: ASTHO is inviting health agency leaders and program staff from up to six jurisdictions to help shape strategies and drive impact relating to adverse childhood experiences, suicide, overdose, and other mental health-related harms. If this applies to your jurisdiction, make sure to check out the link in the show notes for more information. The deadline to apply is October 24.
That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.
