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Larry Michael, State Environmental Health Director at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, tells us about the many public health careers available to people interested in science and public service; Marissa Vigar, Health...
Larry Michael, State Environmental Health Director at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, tells us about the many public health careers available to people interested in science and public service; Marissa Vigar, Health Scientist at the CDC, explains that a new study says providers don’t feel equipped to treat patients sickened from harmful algal blooms; and an ASTHO webinar dives into a Washington State study about the ways Medicaid enrolled tobacco users access their health care.
ASTHO Webpage: Public Health Workforce
ASTHO Webinar: Lessons with the State of Washington on Medicaid Data and Tobacco Use
ROBERT JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, February 7, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
LARRY MICHAEL:
We have staff that conduct inspections of food establishments, swimming pools, tattoo establishments, Institutional Facilities, childcare centers, camps and other similar public places.
JOHNSON:
North Carolina Environmental Health Director Larry Michael talking about the many public health careers available to people interested in science and public service. He got his start looking for dangerous lead contamination.
MICHAEL:
So, this is a program where we conduct investigations to determine the source of lead poisoning in young children. And although lead-based paint is the number one contributor to elevated blood lead levels, at least in North Carolina, the list of sources is very, very long.
JOHNSON:
Michael is searching for the next generation of environmental health leaders on social media and in classrooms.
MICHAEL:
And we've been working with schools, but high schools, and colleges and universities to attend career days, or even volunteer as a guest speaker or lecturer to really create awareness and interest in our field. And that seems to really be helping quite a bit. We're also using social media for the first time and trying to reach some of the younger population.
JOHNSON:
Michael says everyone is impacted by his work and he wouldn't have it any other way.
MICHAEL:
I've been doing this for well over 28 years and it's just been an extremely rewarding career. It's a profession where you can look in the mirror every day and know that you're making an impact to save lives and provide a better quality of life for your community.
JOHNSON:
Learn more about public health careers by visiting the links in the show notes.
A new study says providers don't feel equipped to treat patients sickened from harmful algal blooms that occur in bodies of water. Marissa Vigar is at the CDC.
MARISSA VIGAR:
68% of providers reported having little or no competence in their ability to identify illnesses and they most often reported needing more knowledge to confidently identify and diagnose them.
JOHNSON:
Vigar and others wrote about the study in an article for the American Journal of Preventive Medicine's FOCUS journal.
VIGAR:
This report is highlighting the need for public health to engage with clinicians in their jurisdictions; to provide them with the knowledge and tools they need to diagnose HAB illnesses and to encourage them to report any illnesses they do diagnose.
JOHNSON:
Vigar says one way to increase awareness would be to reach providers sooner in their careers.
VIGAR:
We can improve outreach by focusing on educating early career providers, and pediatricians as well as using information channels that providers prefer to use. Having a body of clinicians that are equipped to diagnose and report illnesses would greatly contribute to surveillance efforts, which are needed to inform prevention of HAB-associated illnesses.
JOHNSON:
You can read the article and review the study by clicking the link in the show notes.
Also, today, Washington State has a study about the ways Medicaid-enrolled tobacco users access their healthcare. You can learn what they found during an ASTHO webinar on Wednesday, February 14. There's a link to the event in the show notes.
Finally this morning, stay informed about the latest policy moves in Congress when you sign up for ASTHO's Legislative Alert emails. There's a link in the show notes.
Before we go, a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player so you don't miss a single report and connect with ASTHO on social media. We're on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.
State Environmental Health Director/Section Chief, North Carolina Division of Public Health, NC Dept. of Health & Human Services
