Sharon Gilmartin, executive director of the Safe States Alliance, tells us about the Keep America Safe Coalition; Dr. Victor Ramos, secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Health and an ASTHO member, breaks down the health priorities for Puerto...
Sharon Gilmartin, executive director of the Safe States Alliance, tells us about the Keep America Safe Coalition; Dr. Victor Ramos, secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Health and an ASTHO member, breaks down the health priorities for Puerto Rico; ASTHO has several resources to keep your team prepared during STI Awareness Month; and Julia Arel is the Vermont Department of Health Interim Commissioner of Health.
Keep America Safe Coalition Web Page
Keep America Safe Coalition Events
ASTHO Web Page: Sexually Transmitted Infections
SUMMER JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, April 17, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
SHARON GILMARTIN:
So, the Keep America Safe Coalition is a group of national partners who have decided that they want to engage and highlight the good work of the CDC Injury Center and protect it from elimination in the appropriations process.
JOHNSON:
Sharon Gilmartin leads the Safe States Alliance, a member of ASTHO's Affiliate Council. Recently, the group launched the Keep America Safe Coalition, focused on the protection of the CDC Injury Center.
GILMARTIN:
So, we wanted to come out proactively in defense of the CDC Injury Center, and use it as an opportunity to really talk about all of the good work that comes out of that center, and educate our legislators on what exactly the CDC Injury Center does.
JOHNSON:
Gilmartin's team launched the campaign in January, and Gilmartin says the effort is even more relevant. Since then, there's been a significant depletion of the CDC Injury Center.
GILMARTIN:
The recent cuts are devastating to the injury and violence prevention field, we rely on our partners for that expertise, for that data, and there's a lot of concern in the field about what the impacts will be from the federal cuts.
JOHNSON:
Until recently, the CDC Injury Center was divided into three specific parts:intentional injury, unintentional injury, and overdose. However, now Gilmartin says only overdose remains.
GILMARTIN:
The Keep America Safe Coalition is actively voicing these concerns and coming out in opposition of the cuts and in any future budget cuts, and we would be so grateful for any additional partners who are willing to join us and speak up on behalf of the CDC Injury Center.
JOHNSON:
To learn more about Safe States Alliance and the work they do, you can visit their website. That link is in the show notes.
Dr. Victor Ramos is the secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Health and an ASTHO member. We caught up with him recently in D.C. at the Spring Leadership Meetings [Forum] and asked him what he's focused on. Ramos began his new role in January.
VICTOR RAMOS:
We also have a problem with the money. We have less money. We have a 76% FMAP for only five years until 2027. We need to renegotiate that position. We try to have a permanent FMAP, like the other islands, but we also know that we are the island that more people live.
JOHNSON:
Ramos says staffing is an issue. The lack of physicians, nurses, and other health professionals, according to Ramos, is because many workers will leave Puerto Rico to get the same job in the states.
RAMOS:
We are American citizens, [and] only need to get a plane ticket for get[ting] to other state and mov[ing] to a better position in the state.
JOHNSON:
Also today, April is Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Awareness Month [Week], and ASTHO has everything your team needs to be prepared. O'Keyla Cooper has more.
O'KEYLA COOPER:
ASTHO supports state and territorial health departments in preventing and responding to sexually transmitted infections. In partnership with CDC and others, ASTHO works to raise awareness, reduce stigma, foster collaboration, and strengthen public health infrastructure. You can find the link to the full set of resources in the show notes.
JOHNSON:
Finally, ASTHO would like to extend a hearty welcome to its newest member, Julie Arel of the Vermont Department of Health. Arel was recently named the department's interim commissioner of health. Arel has been deputy commissioner since July 2022, and managed the operational aspects of the department's COVID-19 pandemic emergency response. Learn more about Arel by checking out her ASTHO bio. It's 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.
