638: New ASTHO CEO Kanter Starts Today, Where to Talk About Emergency Preparedness

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, April 8, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

JOSEPH KANTER: 

I'm joining this team that has already been built that is performing at the top of their game. And I'm just so very excited for the road ahead.

JOHNSON: 

It's the first day on the job for newly appointed ASTHO CEO, Dr. Joseph Kanter. He says he's looking forward to a smooth transition.

KANTER: 

I've been working in government long enough to have been part of administrative transitions that have gone well and administrative transitions that have been more challenging. And it's my first priority in the first few weeks and months of this new role to ensure that this administrative transition within ASTHO is smooth and ultimately respectful of the team members.

JOHNSON: 

Hear more of our conversation with Dr. Kanter and the announcement from ASTHO Board President, Dr. Steven Stack, in newscasts airing on March fifth and sixth. The links to those episodes are in the show notes.

Today, also is the sixth day of National Public Health Week where the focus is on emergency preparedness. Rebecca Adamson is the preparedness section director at the Kansas Health Department.

REBECCA ADAMSON: 

When individuals, communities, and organizations are prepared, lives can be saved.

JOHNSON: 

Adamson says agencies can work with local chambers of commerce to raise awareness about the need to be prepared.

ADAMSON: 

Businesses are always interested in learning how to prepare and mitigate so that they can decrease costs associated with emergencies.

JOHNSON: 

She adds community fairs are another good place to connect with audiences.

ADAMSON: 

We've participated in our state fair in the past, and we hand out these emergency preparedness checklists and people just love them.

JOHNSON: 

Read ASTHO's legislative prospectus on preparedness and review other resources by clicking the link in the show notes. Our coverage of National Public Health Week concludes tomorrow, we discussed the future of public health with AJ Pearlman, director of Public Health at America.

Public Health modernization was on the HIMSS conference agenda in Orlando last month. Illinois State Public Health Director and ASTHO Member, Dr. Sameer Vohra says it was good to see people from across the country in the same room thinking about the future.

SAMEER VOHRA: 

The more all of us in public health across the country are innovating around information systems and data modernization, the more we can share those collective benefits and improve the health of this country.

JOHNSON: 

Vohra says the conference creates a special opportunity for public health leaders to support one another.

VOHRA: 

One state to another state health departments also learning from the county and local level and it really allows us to maximize opportunities and position our agencies for the future.

JOHNSON: 

Speaking of the future Vohra says there are many questions including this one.

VOHRA: 

How do we empower physicians, primary care providers, hospitals, to think about not just the health of an individual, but the health of an individual in the context of the health of their communities.

JOHNSON: 

Finally this morning, a new article about lessons learned during the pandemic is now online. O'Keyla Copper has more.

O'KEYLA COOPER: 

A recent article by ASTHO staff in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice offers strategies to enhance public health emergency preparedness learned from COVID-19. It emphasizes streamlined procurement, workforce expansion, and prioritizing health equity through data driven planning and community partnerships. Access the full article via the link in the show notes.

JOHNSON: 

Before we go a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player 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.