896: Get To Know ASTHO, PH in the Classroom

JANSON SILVERS: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, April 30, 2025. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

This morning, we bring you a new segment called "Get to Know ASTHO." You'll hear from ASTHO's experts on what they do and the positive effect on ASTHO's members. First, we showcase the government affairs team. Here's ASTHO CEO, Joseph Kanter on the team's impact.

JOSEPH KANTER: 

It takes a really unique skill set to be able to command the attention of very busy legislators and their very busy staffs, explain to them public health issues that are likely not their wheelhouse, and more importantly, make them really care about those issues. Care about those issues to the point that they're going to exert their own capital to try and make a difference.

SILVERS: 

While their days are currently filled with public health advocacy work, the government affairs team brings with them experience from many different backgrounds.

KANTER: 

The most surprising thing to me that I've learned about ASTHO's government affairs team is the diverse backgrounds that the team members have had that led them to this current work. And we have members of the government affairs team that have come to this job through very unique and interesting career paths and life choices. They're really a fascinating group, and they're so good at advocating for public health behind closed doors.

SILVERS: 

Kanter also underlines the importance of ASTHO's relationships on the hill.

KANTER: 

They are on the Hill every day, explaining how public health projects and priorities are really being implemented, and in that work, Congress gets a better sense of what the need to focus in on, what needs more resources, what the success stories are, and that's how we advance the work for the public's health.

SILVERS: 

He says the day to day work of the government affairs team is critical, not only for ASTHO members, but for public health efforts.

KANTER: 

We provide very valuable information to Congress of what is actually happening on the ground. The government affairs team is able to paint a very granular picture to members of Congress of how their programs that they voted for are being implemented, what the bottlenecks or the pitfalls are, where the opportunities for engagement or improvement are. And I have learned that that is highly valuable information to Congress, so they can make sure that what they have invested in is actually making the difference they thought it would.

SILVERS: 

Finally, Kanter appreciates that a high priority of the government affairs team is keeping members informed at all times.

KANTER: 

I have learned that there, unfortunately, can be a wide gulf between what folks know or appreciate in Congress, on public health issues and what is actually happening on the ground. ASTHO, in a big way, is that bridge between that gulf and if we are that bridge, the government affairs team is the mortar.

SILVERS: 

In the coming weeks, you'll hear straight from the government affairs and state health policy teams about the work they do supporting ASTHO members and public health. Make sure you subscribe or follow the show wherever you get your podcasts so that you never miss a story.

The Kentucky Department for Public Health has been working on an initiative to integrate public health content into classrooms across the state. Here's Madison Yerges with the Center for Foundational Health, which is part of KDPH.

MADISON YERGES: 

This initiative stemmed from a need that we'd been hearing from teachers across Kentucky and how they wanted to bring public health knowledge and activities into their classroom, but they hadn't been formally trained to do so.

SILVERS: 

The instructional materials cover a wide array of topics.

YERGES: 

We have different content areas, including an introduction to public health, epidemiology, health equity, environmental health, and then public health careers, books, and movies. And then we leave it up to the teachers' discretion on which activities they would like to implement into their classrooms.

SILVERS: 

So far, it's been a win-winin for both the students and public health.

YERGES: 

And I've heard from the teachers, who have responded to the impact survey, that they have implemented integrating public health content into the classroom, and it's an opportunity for the students just to learn more about the breadth and depth of public health. I always like to say, how on earth do you know to pursue a career if you don't know it exists?

SILVERS: 

A link to more information on the initiative is in the show notes.

Next Thursday, May 8, you can join ASTHO for a webinar on how to be an effective crisis communicator, and it's hosted by ASTHO CMO, Dr. Susan Kansagra. Again, that's next Thursday, May 8. You can sign up today using the link in the show notes.

Finally, if you're looking for your next great hire, make sure you check out Publichealthcareers.org. All kinds of public health professionals are on the site, and it could be your pathway to bolster your team. That link is in the show notes.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.