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Dr. Robert Goldstein, commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and an ASTHO Member, describes how SAPHE 2.0 will promote health equity throughout the state; Dr. Scott Harris, Alabama state health officer and ASTHO president, is...
Dr. Robert Goldstein, commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and an ASTHO Member, describes how SAPHE 2.0 will promote health equity throughout the state; Dr. Scott Harris, Alabama state health officer and ASTHO president, is quoted in a recent Governing article that details the rise of bird flu in dairy cattle and weighs the risk to humans; and Dr. Anne Zink, former chief medical officer for the Alaska Department of Health and ASTHO’s 80th president, has been appointed as a lecturer and senior fellow at the Yale School of Public Health.
Boston Globe News Article: New law aims to shore up and equalize state’s public health services
Governing News Article: Bird Flu Continues to Spread. What Are the Risks for Humans and Cows?
SUMMER JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Tuesday, December 17, 2024. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
ROBERT GOLDSTEIN:
So, this is about telling everyone you've got to meet certain standards, but you can do it in the way that is best for you and your communities.
JOHNSON:
Massachusetts recently passed the SAPHE 2.0 Act, which stands for State Action for Public Health Excellence. Dr. Robert Goldstein, commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and an ASTHO member, says SAPHE 2.0 builds upon SAPHE 1.0 to create a standard set of guidelines for each of the 351 local boards of health.
GOLDSTEIN:
All 351 cities and towns get to do public health the way they want to do public health. SAPHE 1.0 told those local boards of health, you should have some standards. There should be some unifying understanding of what public health is in this state, and SAPHE 2.0 came in to implement those standards.
JOHNSON:
Goldstein says SAPHE 2.0 promotes health equity.
GOLDSTEIN:
SAPHE 1.0 and SAPHE 2.0 really lean in on what we call shared service arrangements in Massachusetts, and that's the idea of local boards of health coming together from one particular region in the state and beginning to share resources.
JOHNSON:
The state's also working to ensure infrastructure is up to par for everyone.
GOLDSTEIN:
We're investing close to $100 million in local public health across Massachusetts so that we can bring everyone up to the same level. Make sure they all have the same computer system, the same network, connecting them together.
JOHNSON:
Goldstein adds that he sees these investments as recurring, not one-time, influxes of funds. Read more about SAPHE 2.0 by clicking the link in the show notes.
A recent Governing article details the rise of bird flu in dairy cattle and weighs the risk to humans. ASTHO President, Dr. Scott Harris is quoted in the article saying the biggest concern is the unknown. Harris said, "We feel comfortable making the statement that the risk is very low, and yet there's a lot that's just not known." He also goes on to say that although public health routinely works with the agricultural industry, new bonds are still being forged. Harris says, "We're trying to build trust and understanding, so we're all on the same page about our priorities. It's going to take some time, but it's moving in the right direction." You can read more from Harris in the full Governing article. That link is in the show notes.
Also, news about a former ASTHO President, Dr. Anne Zink, the former chief medical officer for the Alaska Department of Health and ASTHO's 80th president. Zink has been appointed as a lecturer and senior fellow at the Yale School of Public Health. The honor is well-earned. Congratulations to Dr Zink.
Finally, don't miss a thing when you sign up for ASTHO's Public Health Weekly newsletter. The link to sign up is in the show notes.
That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.
