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Dr. Brian Castrucci, CEO and President of the de Beaumont Foundation, talks about data that shows public health is on track to lose 130,000 people by 2025; an ASTHO blog article discusses how colonialism, military presence, and political influence all...
Dr. Brian Castrucci, CEO and President of the de Beaumont Foundation, talks about data that shows public health is on track to lose 130,000 people by 2025; an ASTHO blog article discusses how colonialism, military presence, and political influence all have had an impact on disparities in the eight territories and freely associated states; and Dr. Mark Levine, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health, offers his opinion on how state and territorial health officials should be prominent spokespersons for health equity as well as other topics in ASTHO’s Leadership Trailblazer series.
ASTHO Blog Article: Overcoming Baked-In Inequities and Promoting Health Equity in the Island Areas
ROBERT JOHNSON:
This is Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, March 16th, 2023. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
BRIAN CASTRUCCI:
I think the problem is, when I talk about these numbers, I understand what they mean. And so they're very alarming to me. When most people hear these numbers, they don't know what the personal cost is.
JOHNSON:
de Beaumont Foundation President and CEO, Dr. Brian Castrucci, talking about data from the latest the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) when survey that shows public health is on track to lose 130,000 people by 2025.
CASTRUCCI:
The problem here really is if these headlines were about doctors, or teachers or the military, there would already be congressional hearings, we said that 75% of the under 35 workforce between 2017 and 2021 moved jobs. Imagine, if we were to say that 75% of the early career military, were no longer in the military. What would be the response?
JOHNSON:
Castrucci and ASTHO CEO Mike Fraser were part of a team that wrote an article about the data in the current issue of Health Affairs. Castrucci says people don't relate to public health the same way they connect with others who also impact their lives.
CASTRUCCI:
If there are no teachers, my kids don't learn. If there are no doctors, who will care for me when I am sick? If there is no military, who will protect our borders. If there is no public health, crickets. We need to fill that space and fill it effectively, with consistent messaging.
JOHNSON:
Castrucci urges public health agencies to do whatever they can to find a way to communicate their value.
CASTRUCCI:
We're saying to folks, here's this alarming problem, but they don't understand the repercussions. If there are no fire people, then my house could burn down. You see, there's always that like, "If this, then this", we are only half of an "If then" statement, because we have not articulated the "Then if", we lose public health services, then what? And our challenge is when we do try to articulate that, that list becomes so long, that it's almost noise.
JOHNSON:
Castrucci compares the loss of public health jobs to an asteroid heading for Earth.
CASTRUCCI:
So, we need to hit very hard with some consistent messaging that can help everyone. Elected officials, business leaders, and the general public understand what's at stake here.
JOHNSON:
You can read more about the survey results in Health Affairs. There's a link in the show notes.
History is a key consideration when working to achieve health equity in the US Island Areas. Colonialism, military presence and political influence all have had an impact on disparities in the eight territories and freely associated states. Four members of ASTHO's islands support team have written about this history in a new blog article now online. You can read it using the link in the show notes.
Also today, a well-known ASTHO member with a passion for saving lives is profiled in a new ASTHO Trailblazer blog article. O’Keyla Cooper has more.
O’KEYLA COOPER:
Dr. Mark Levine, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health, is featured in ASTHO's Leadership Trailblazer series. He offers his opinions on a number of topics, including how state and territorial health officials should be prominent spokespersons for health equity, the secrets of Vermont success during the COVID-19 response and actions that can be taken now that will have significant impact on the future. Read the full blog using the link found in the show notes.
JOHNSON:
Finally, this morning, ASTHO is talking with Congress, and that means we're talking with Carolyn Mullen, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations tomorrow. She joins us with her latest "View from Washington D.C." report gets online at 5am Eastern Time.
That'll do it for today's newscast. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.
