In this episode, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Joseph Kanter, shares key insights from this year’s Spring Leadership Forum, an in-person opportunity to exchange lessons learned, strengthen peer support, and tackle the complex realities facing public health leaders today. From a productive visit with leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to renewed conversations about partnerships around healthy eating and chronic disease prevention, Dr. Kanter reflects on why strong federal–state collaboration is essential, how federal initiatives live or die at the state and territorial level, and how effective partnerships make all the difference.
Four Ways Public Health Agencies Are Strengthening Grants Management | ASTHO
Workforce Planning, Incorporating Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (@asthonews.bsky.social)
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https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-state-and-territorial-health-officials/
ASTHO (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials)
1
00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:02,960
This is Public Health Review
Morning Edition for Thursday,
2
00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,880
March 5th, 2026.
I'm John Sheehan for the
3
00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:08,680
Association of State and
Territorial Health Officials.
4
00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:13,280
Today inside Asto's Spring
Leadership Forum, we'll hear
5
00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,720
from Asto's CEO, Doctor Joseph
Cantor, who will share key
6
00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,920
insights from this year's event.
An in person opportunity to
7
00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,240
exchange lessons learned,
strengthen peer support, and
8
00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:26,360
tackle the complex realities
facing public health leaders.
9
00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:30,400
Today we'll hear why strong
federal state collaboration is
10
00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,600
essential, how federal
initiatives live or die at the
11
00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,320
state and territorial level, and
how effective partnerships make
12
00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,120
all the difference.
Well, we've had a great
13
00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,360
convening so far.
We're here at ASTO headquarters
14
00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:47,800
in Arlington and we've got the
lead health officials from
15
00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:49,960
States and territories across
the country.
16
00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,680
We do this twice a year and it's
been a really nice meeting so
17
00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,560
far.
It's been such a unique year in
18
00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,440
public health and you've got
multiple responses.
19
00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,920
Ongoing now is all types of
challenges and just being in the
20
00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,480
company of folks who are so
intimately involved in these
21
00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,000
efforts in their States and
territories is special.
22
00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,840
And it's nice to see folks share
successes, talk about things
23
00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,840
that didn't go well, give
support, give constructive
24
00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:21,160
ideas.
That's a really special
25
00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:25,600
environment that ASTO does so
well at organizing around.
26
00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,240
We spent the first day with the
board of ASTO.
27
00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:30,880
We had a really productive board
meeting.
28
00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:36,760
We also had a very nice visit to
HH S s offices in DC at the
29
00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,840
Humphrey Building where we were
fortunate to visit with HHS
30
00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,240
leadership.
We had productive conversations.
31
00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:46,440
You know, I left that meeting
with the impression that there's
32
00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:50,400
a lot of areas that are fertile
ground for partnerships right
33
00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,200
now and I sensed A renewed
interest in those type of
34
00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,520
partnerships, you know,
particularly around healthy
35
00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,200
eating and chronic disease, you
know, two things that I think we
36
00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,320
all see the value in.
So I thought to me that was a
37
00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:08,039
positive meeting and and I left
that fairly encouraged and I
38
00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:09,639
would love to see some more
partnerships.
39
00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,440
At the end of the day, and
despite, you know, any
40
00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:16,120
differences that may or may not
exist, the federal initiatives
41
00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,120
live or die in state and
territorial departments.
42
00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,600
Departments are heavily
dependent on federal funding and
43
00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:27,640
expertise and their initiatives
are closely intertwined.
44
00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:32,560
So the the closer that federal
agencies can partner, partner
45
00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,720
effectively with state and
territorial health departments,
46
00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,320
the better, the better for
everyone, particularly for the
47
00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,320
constituencies whose health and
Wellness depends on that.
48
00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:45,200
So traditionally ASTO has been
an effective partner in helping
49
00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:51,000
broker those type of
relationships and helping them
50
00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:52,720
be effective, mutually
beneficial.
51
00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,000
And that's a role that we look
forward to continuing to play.
52
00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:00,800
Today at our SP Evolution Forum,
we had really nice conversations
53
00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,160
around the role of AI,
particularly in public Health
54
00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:06,320
Communication.
We were joined by Monica
55
00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,080
Burrell, currently with Google
Health and ASTO alumni member,
56
00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:11,640
formerly the show of
Massachusetts.
57
00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:15,440
We had a really fascinating
conversation on what AI can do,
58
00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,840
what the future holds.
I learned a ton.
59
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,680
Things are moving so fastly and
it's, you know, really going to
60
00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,200
change how we do business and
health departments and we would
61
00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,280
all like to see how departments
not be behind the 8 ball in
62
00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:28,960
this.
So that was an eye opening
63
00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,600
conversation from an industry
leader that I thought we were
64
00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:35,800
fortunate to have.
We had some good conversations
65
00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,400
with our Innovation Advisory
Council.
66
00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,080
These are industry leaders that
have an interest in public
67
00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,160
health and this is the second
year we've done that program.
68
00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,920
And it's a nice opportunity to
discuss with industry leaders
69
00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,600
trends, opportunities, threats.
You know, partnering with the
70
00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,920
private world is something that
I don't think we've always done
71
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,440
that well in public health.
Other parts of government, I
72
00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,480
think do a better job at that.
But we're going to need to
73
00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,120
because, you know, public
health, we need all the partners
74
00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,240
we can get.
So that was a nice conversation.
75
00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,640
We had some open time where
health officials got to discuss,
76
00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:11,000
you know, what's on their mind
in a closed door confidential
77
00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,000
session, discuss what are the
issues that are coming to the
78
00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,480
forefront and hear from other
peers how they're responding to
79
00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,320
these type of issues.
We're gearing up for our Hill
80
00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,880
Day where health officials will
take to the Hill, meet with
81
00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,800
their congressional delegations,
really with the purpose of
82
00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,280
ensuring that their
representatives in Congress know
83
00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,400
what's happening on the ground
in public health, in their
84
00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:35,680
jurisdictions.
What are the issues that folks
85
00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,960
care about, what our programs
that their health departments
86
00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,880
are working on they should know
about, and what resources do
87
00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,440
they need?
We do this every year and it's
88
00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,480
always well received.
So it's been a really nice
89
00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,000
convening.
I'm always struck when we do
90
00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,800
these convenings of just how
impressive our roster of health
91
00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,600
officials are, these remarkably
impressive individuals with
92
00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,880
really interesting personal
stories, so very committed to
93
00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,200
the job of improving health
within jurisdictions and so
94
00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,640
talented and doing so.
These are not easy jobs now more
95
00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,600
than ever.
And I, I leave these meetings so
96
00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,160
inspired, you know, particularly
because of the caliber of health
97
00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,000
officials that were fortunate to
have across the country.
98
00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,520
Doctor Joseph Cantor is CEO of
ASTO.
99
00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:28,920
Managing public health grants
isn't simple, but it is
100
00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,160
essential.
In a new ASTO blog post, experts
101
00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,320
breakdown four ways health
agencies across the country are
102
00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,880
strengthening grants management,
from centralizing operations and
103
00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:43,000
modernizing outdated systems to
improving internal processes and
104
00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:44,960
strengthening sub recipient
oversight.
105
00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,560
Featuring examples from States
and territories like Illinois,
106
00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:52,040
North Carolina, Washington, and
the US Virgin Islands, this
107
00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,600
piece highlights practical
strategies that are helping
108
00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,120
agencies improve efficiency,
accountability, and resilience,
109
00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,520
especially amid funding
uncertainty.
110
00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,800
Strong grants management isn't
just administrative, it's
111
00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,080
foundational to public health
infrastructure.
112
00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,000
You can find a link to the post
in the show notes.
113
00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:13,000
Want more public health insights
beyond the podcast?
114
00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,920
Follow ASTO on social media for
the latest news, resources, and
115
00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,120
conversations shaping state and
territorial public health.
116
00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,480
You can find us on Instagram,
Facebook X, LinkedIn, and Blue
117
00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:28,600
Sky, where we share updates from
the field, new tools, policy
118
00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,280
developments, and stories from
health leaders across the
119
00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:34,360
country.
Follow ASTO wherever you scroll
120
00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:36,560
and find those links in the show
notes.
121
00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:39,880
This has been Public Health
Review MORNING Edition.
122
00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,680
I'm John Sheehan for the
Association of State and
123
00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,080
Territorial Health Officials.
00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:02,960
This is Public Health Review
Morning Edition for Thursday,
2
00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,880
March 5th, 2026.
I'm John Sheehan for the
3
00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:08,680
Association of State and
Territorial Health Officials.
4
00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:13,280
Today inside Asto's Spring
Leadership Forum, we'll hear
5
00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,720
from Asto's CEO, Doctor Joseph
Cantor, who will share key
6
00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,920
insights from this year's event.
An in person opportunity to
7
00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,240
exchange lessons learned,
strengthen peer support, and
8
00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:26,360
tackle the complex realities
facing public health leaders.
9
00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:30,400
Today we'll hear why strong
federal state collaboration is
10
00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,600
essential, how federal
initiatives live or die at the
11
00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,320
state and territorial level, and
how effective partnerships make
12
00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,120
all the difference.
Well, we've had a great
13
00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,360
convening so far.
We're here at ASTO headquarters
14
00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:47,800
in Arlington and we've got the
lead health officials from
15
00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:49,960
States and territories across
the country.
16
00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,680
We do this twice a year and it's
been a really nice meeting so
17
00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,560
far.
It's been such a unique year in
18
00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,440
public health and you've got
multiple responses.
19
00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,920
Ongoing now is all types of
challenges and just being in the
20
00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,480
company of folks who are so
intimately involved in these
21
00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,000
efforts in their States and
territories is special.
22
00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,840
And it's nice to see folks share
successes, talk about things
23
00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,840
that didn't go well, give
support, give constructive
24
00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:21,160
ideas.
That's a really special
25
00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:25,600
environment that ASTO does so
well at organizing around.
26
00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,240
We spent the first day with the
board of ASTO.
27
00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:30,880
We had a really productive board
meeting.
28
00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:36,760
We also had a very nice visit to
HH S s offices in DC at the
29
00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,840
Humphrey Building where we were
fortunate to visit with HHS
30
00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,240
leadership.
We had productive conversations.
31
00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:46,440
You know, I left that meeting
with the impression that there's
32
00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:50,400
a lot of areas that are fertile
ground for partnerships right
33
00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,200
now and I sensed A renewed
interest in those type of
34
00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,520
partnerships, you know,
particularly around healthy
35
00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,200
eating and chronic disease, you
know, two things that I think we
36
00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,320
all see the value in.
So I thought to me that was a
37
00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:08,039
positive meeting and and I left
that fairly encouraged and I
38
00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:09,639
would love to see some more
partnerships.
39
00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,440
At the end of the day, and
despite, you know, any
40
00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:16,120
differences that may or may not
exist, the federal initiatives
41
00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,120
live or die in state and
territorial departments.
42
00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,600
Departments are heavily
dependent on federal funding and
43
00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:27,640
expertise and their initiatives
are closely intertwined.
44
00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:32,560
So the the closer that federal
agencies can partner, partner
45
00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,720
effectively with state and
territorial health departments,
46
00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,320
the better, the better for
everyone, particularly for the
47
00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,320
constituencies whose health and
Wellness depends on that.
48
00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:45,200
So traditionally ASTO has been
an effective partner in helping
49
00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:51,000
broker those type of
relationships and helping them
50
00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:52,720
be effective, mutually
beneficial.
51
00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,000
And that's a role that we look
forward to continuing to play.
52
00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:00,800
Today at our SP Evolution Forum,
we had really nice conversations
53
00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,160
around the role of AI,
particularly in public Health
54
00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:06,320
Communication.
We were joined by Monica
55
00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,080
Burrell, currently with Google
Health and ASTO alumni member,
56
00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:11,640
formerly the show of
Massachusetts.
57
00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:15,440
We had a really fascinating
conversation on what AI can do,
58
00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,840
what the future holds.
I learned a ton.
59
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,680
Things are moving so fastly and
it's, you know, really going to
60
00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,200
change how we do business and
health departments and we would
61
00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,280
all like to see how departments
not be behind the 8 ball in
62
00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:28,960
this.
So that was an eye opening
63
00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,600
conversation from an industry
leader that I thought we were
64
00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:35,800
fortunate to have.
We had some good conversations
65
00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,400
with our Innovation Advisory
Council.
66
00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,080
These are industry leaders that
have an interest in public
67
00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,160
health and this is the second
year we've done that program.
68
00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,920
And it's a nice opportunity to
discuss with industry leaders
69
00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,600
trends, opportunities, threats.
You know, partnering with the
70
00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,920
private world is something that
I don't think we've always done
71
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,440
that well in public health.
Other parts of government, I
72
00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,480
think do a better job at that.
But we're going to need to
73
00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,120
because, you know, public
health, we need all the partners
74
00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,240
we can get.
So that was a nice conversation.
75
00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,640
We had some open time where
health officials got to discuss,
76
00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:11,000
you know, what's on their mind
in a closed door confidential
77
00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,000
session, discuss what are the
issues that are coming to the
78
00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,480
forefront and hear from other
peers how they're responding to
79
00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,320
these type of issues.
We're gearing up for our Hill
80
00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,880
Day where health officials will
take to the Hill, meet with
81
00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,800
their congressional delegations,
really with the purpose of
82
00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,280
ensuring that their
representatives in Congress know
83
00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,400
what's happening on the ground
in public health, in their
84
00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:35,680
jurisdictions.
What are the issues that folks
85
00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,960
care about, what our programs
that their health departments
86
00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,880
are working on they should know
about, and what resources do
87
00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,440
they need?
We do this every year and it's
88
00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,480
always well received.
So it's been a really nice
89
00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,000
convening.
I'm always struck when we do
90
00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,800
these convenings of just how
impressive our roster of health
91
00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,600
officials are, these remarkably
impressive individuals with
92
00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,880
really interesting personal
stories, so very committed to
93
00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,200
the job of improving health
within jurisdictions and so
94
00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,640
talented and doing so.
These are not easy jobs now more
95
00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,600
than ever.
And I, I leave these meetings so
96
00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,160
inspired, you know, particularly
because of the caliber of health
97
00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,000
officials that were fortunate to
have across the country.
98
00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,520
Doctor Joseph Cantor is CEO of
ASTO.
99
00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:28,920
Managing public health grants
isn't simple, but it is
100
00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,160
essential.
In a new ASTO blog post, experts
101
00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,320
breakdown four ways health
agencies across the country are
102
00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,880
strengthening grants management,
from centralizing operations and
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modernizing outdated systems to
improving internal processes and
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strengthening sub recipient
oversight.
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00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,560
Featuring examples from States
and territories like Illinois,
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North Carolina, Washington, and
the US Virgin Islands, this
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00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,600
piece highlights practical
strategies that are helping
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agencies improve efficiency,
accountability, and resilience,
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00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,520
especially amid funding
uncertainty.
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00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,800
Strong grants management isn't
just administrative, it's
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foundational to public health
infrastructure.
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You can find a link to the post
in the show notes.
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00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:13,000
Want more public health insights
beyond the podcast?
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Follow ASTO on social media for
the latest news, resources, and
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conversations shaping state and
territorial public health.
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You can find us on Instagram,
Facebook X, LinkedIn, and Blue
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Sky, where we share updates from
the field, new tools, policy
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developments, and stories from
health leaders across the
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country.
Follow ASTO wherever you scroll
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and find those links in the show
notes.
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This has been Public Health
Review MORNING Edition.
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I'm John Sheehan for the
Association of State and
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Territorial Health Officials.