Kelly Anderson Thomas, deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, explains why ASTHO’s Leadership Institute has been so helpful; Ali Grossman, prevention and intervention section supervisor at the Iowa Department of Health and Human...
Kelly Anderson Thomas, deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, explains why ASTHO’s Leadership Institute has been so helpful; Ali Grossman, prevention and intervention section supervisor at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, tells us the benefits of having a Public Health AmeriCorps service member on site; an ASTHO resource looks at modernizing public health data while also protecting privacy; and it’s a perfect time to sign up for ASTHO’s next INSPIRE: Readiness webinar which will take place on April 17.
ASTHO Web Page: ASTHO Leadership Institute
ASTHO Web Page: Modernizing Public Health Data and Protecting Privacy
ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE: Readiness – Navigating AI-Enabled Community-Inclusive Preparedness
SUMMER JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, March 27, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
KELLY ANDERSON-THOMAS:
We need more programs like ASTHO's Leadership Institute.
JOHNSON:
Kelly Anderson Thomas is the deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health. Anderson Thomas says as people grow in their public health careers, often leadership development is limited, which is why ASTHO's Leadership Institute has been so helpful.
ANDERSON THOMAS:
ASTHO walked me through key leadership skills that, in the moment, were so in-line with what I needed and was experiencing at my level. As a deputy commissioner, I was introduced to the DiSC assessment, which blew my mind, which allowed me to understand my behavior and personality and how it shapes me as a leader.
JOHNSON:
Participants are able to gain new insights and development opportunities through the curriculum.
ANDERSON THOMAS:
I was able to explore my own emotional intelligence to assist in how I managed the emotional intelligence and the situational awareness of my staff, and that was so important.
JOHNSON:
Anderson Thomas's only suggestion for the Institute is more of it.
ANDERSON THOMAS:
So, if I had my magical wish, the ASTHO Leadership Institute would be a year-long program, broken into phases with quarterly peer-to-peer meetings to support the learning experience. But if it's anything I can say about meeting in-person and about the Leadership Institute in general, ASTHO has not only created a great leadership program, but has also forged interpersonal relationships across the nation, where leaders know they have support, not only in public health issues, but also in our efforts to continue to build the foundation of public health by training visionary leaders.
JOHNSON:
You can learn more about ASTHO's Leadership Institute when you click the link in the show notes.
ASTHO is hosting an upcoming webinar on the impacts of Public Health AmeriCorps. Speakers will talk about their experience with the workforce and the real-life benefits they've seen in their states. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has a lot of positive things to say about having an AmeriCorps service member within their agency. Ali Grossman is the host site supervisor for their AmeriCorps service member.
ALI GROSSMAN:
So, she partners with peer leaders in Iowa to co-facilitate these workshops for participants, both virtually and in person. This has really increased and expanded our workshop opportunities and participant enrollment, and has enhanced partnerships with organizations throughout the state.
JOHNSON:
Grossman says the agency has seen plenty of benefits.
GROSSMAN:
Having a service member has really increased our staff capacity and has helped our team both meet and exceed our programmatic goals. Our service member has worked on a variety of activities and tasks with us, including the partnerships that she's created with organizations in Iowa to co-facilitate six-week participant workshops.
JOHNSON:
The positive impact has also extended to constituents.
GROSSMAN:
As a direct result of our service member's work, people living with chronic conditions, and their caregivers, have learned new skills on how to better manage their condition as a result of the additional participant workshops that have been able to be offered with the assistance of our AmeriCorps service member.
JOHNSON:
That webinar is April 3. You can use the link in the show notes to learn more.
Also today, an ASTHO how-to looks at modernizing public health data while also protecting privacy. Learn more about the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement, or TEFCA, and the legislative trends surrounding the subject by clicking the link in the show notes.
Finally, this morning, it's a perfect time to sign up for ASTHO's next INSPIRE: Readiness webinar. Important topics like AI, health policy, community-led exercise design, and more will be discussed. That webinar is on April 17. Click the link in the show notes to learn more.
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.
Kelly Anderson Thomas MPH MS CCRC
Deputy Commissioner, Public Health Services Branch, New Jersey Department of Health
Ali Grossman MA RDN LD
Supervisor, Prevention and Intervention Section, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services