Brittany Giles-Cantrell, program director at the de Beaumont Foundation, tells us why de Beaumont’s 40 Under 40 in Public Health program is so valuable; Catherine Jones, ASTHO government affairs senior analyst, tells us her journey to ASTHO in this week’s “Get to Know ASTHO” segment...
Brittany Giles-Cantrell, program director at the de Beaumont Foundation, tells us why de Beaumont’s 40 Under 40 in Public Health program is so valuable; Catherine Jones, ASTHO government affairs senior analyst, tells us her journey to ASTHO in this week’s “Get to Know ASTHO” segment; an interactive ASTHO tool compiles data to help your health agency in identifying measures for your suicide prevention programs; and ASTHO’s “Strengthening Administrative Preparedness” webinar will dive into everything you need to know for public health agency preparedness.
de Beaumont Foundation Web Page: 40 Under 40 in Public Health – Nominations
ASTHO Web Page: Suicide Indicator Tool
ASTHO Webinar: Strengthening Administrative Preparedness in Public Health Agencies
JANSON SILVERS:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, May 14. 2025 I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
BRITTANY GILES-CANTRELL:
There are so many professional recognition programs in the field and sectors like tech and business and healthcare, but none of them are really focused on elevating public health professionals.
SILVERS:
That's Brittany Giles-Cantrell with the de Beaumont Foundation, explaining why they began their 40 Under 40 public health program.
GILES-CANTRELL:
We really wanted to create a recognition program that was more than just a list, but to also recognize these unsung heroes in our communities and people that are working to create innovative solutions for public health every day.
SILVERS:
Giles-Cantrell says the program is more than just a recognition ceremony.
GILES-CANTRELL:
So, we really want this to be a professional development program where folks are able to have access to opportunities to improve their careers or build their peer networks that they can take with them, you know, now, and into the future. So, this is really a community for honorees.
SILVERS:
Giles-Cantrell says the program also focuses on networking.
GILES-CANTRELL:
So, we make connections across cohorts all the time. Everyone has access to everyone, and we really try to, you know, spark those connections as well. So, if we see someone who's like working in food, but you know, some- they might want a connection with someone in a past cohort, we're doing that matchmaking to see ifsomeone working in food policy or something like that, from like 2019, or 2021, cohorts, too.
SILVERS:
There's still time to apply for this year's cohort of de Beaumont's '40 Under 40 in Public Health' program. More information is online now, and applications are due by Friday, June 13. Use the link in the show notes to learn more.
This morning, we bring you the next edition of "Get to know ASTHO," where you hear firsthand from ASTHO's experts on what they do and how the work impacts members. Today, we continue to highlight the government affairs team. Here's ASTHO senior analyst Catherine Jones, who has had a colorful journey to ASTHO.
CATHERINE JONES:
I have a background as an author of nutrition cookbooks, and I've done research and development in the software space on gestational diabetes and women's health. During COVID, I went back to school to get my master's degree in public health. I concentrated on maternal and child health, but was really drawn to health policy. And after graduating, I did a fellowship with the Ways and Means Committee on the Hill, and then came to ASTHO. I love health policy despite how confusing and frustrating it can be at times. I want to see population health improve in the United States at all levels, for all people. And ASTHO is an instrumental part of that equation.
SILVERS:
Jones is proud of the work the team has done over the past year.
JONES:
A highlight of 2024 would be ASTHO's Hill Day. It's just amazing to convene health officials from around the country, territories, and freely associated states, to talk to members and committees on the Hill. I think stories from the field really make the appropriations we ask for so much more meaningful.
SILVERS:
When discussing the upcoming year, Jones looks forward to...
JONES:
Seeing where the new administration's focus on chronic disease takes the nation. It's an enormous issue in the U.S., and solving it will take nothing short of a miracle. You know, the work in public health is never finished. There's always something unexpected around the corner, and I like to be part of the solution.
SILVERS:
Make sure you are following the show so that you never miss a story, because we will continue to profile more members of the ASTHO government affairs team.
Also, this morning, an interactive ASTHO tool compiles data to help your health agency in identifying measures for your suicide prevention programs. The 'Explorer' has several uses that you can check out now. Click the link in the show notes to learn more.
Finally, make sure you sign up for ASTHO's Strengthening Administrative Preparedness webinar. Leaders from ASTHO, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the National Association of State Procurement Officials will dive into everything you need to know for public health agency preparedness. There's a link to sign up 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.
