968: Long COVID Education, Shah Addresses Public Health Leaders

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, August 13, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

MICHELLE MORSE: 

Of the people who had COVID at some point, almost one in four of them reported ever experiencing symptoms lasting more than three months after their COVID infection, and that is quite concerning.

JOHNSON: 

The New York City Health Department has developed a video series called "Living with Long COVID" to reach more New Yorkers with important information about the illness. Michelle Morse is the acting commissioner for the department.

MORSE: 

One goal, of course, is just engaging people themselves and their real-life experiences with Long COVID, which is never enough of the story. Another is to really use those narratives and those real-life experiences to educate others about what Long COVID is and how it can be prevented.

JOHNSON: 

Morse says their community-based organization partners have been essential in the outreach process.

MORSE: 

They are the ones who guide us on on things like just basic access to free COVID testing kits or free masks, and information about where to get vaccinated for free, and so many other things, as well as things like, again, health, education, job training, and so many other areas of priority in the communities that we serve.

JOHNSON: 

You can learn more about the series. We have a link in the show notes.

ASTHO's Executive Leadership Forum brought together executive leaders from state and territorial health departments to address the biggest challenges facing public health. ASTHO alum and former principal deputy director at CDC, Dr. Nirav Shah, tells us more about his time at the conference.

NIRAV SHAH: 

One of the priorities that I've been talking about with groups and helping them think through is an extension of the work that was the core of what I did at the CDC, which is broadly health security, or to put it differently, are we prepared for the next significant infectious disease or non-infectious disease threat?

JOHNSON: 

This fall, Shah will be taking on a new role as a professor at Colby College. He hopes his own experiences will help to inspire the future public health workforce.

SHAH: 

A textbook can only spark so much love and passion for something. I think having somebody at the front of the classroom who's done it and who brings that zeal will hopefully be something that the students latch onto.

JOHNSON: 

Shaw says, sometimes all that's needed is a new perspective.

SHAH: 

I think when I look back on the reasons why I have been passionate about public health, it came down to, in my case, a mentor that I had when I worked and lived abroad, who showed me the power of thinking about outbreaks in a different way, not just as a patient and a doctor, but rather at a population level, something I had never thought of before.

JOHNSON: 

As public health continues to face workforce challenges, Shah says students need to know all that public health has to offer.

SHAH: 

One of the things I really want to impart on students is that no matter what your interest is, public health is a vehicle to make these ideas something very real and concrete.

JOHNSON: 

Emman Parian, with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation of the Northern Mariana Islands recently participated in the Building Capacity to Advance Health Program and shares more about the experience.

EMMAN PARIAN: 

I was able to connect and network with a bunch of diverse and dedicated healthcare professionals in different capacities and learn more about what they do for their communities to improve and advance health in their roles.

JOHNSON: 

Parian says those considering the program should apply.

PARIAN: 

It's worth the time and the dedication that you put in it, and it's great to hear from the speakers each week. Each week is a new topic. It builds up. The engagement is really good, and the people who are part of the BCH program are very, very supportive and will guide you to make sure that you are successful.

JOHNSON: 

You can read more about the program, just check out the link in the show notes.

Finally, a new ASTHO resource can help you and your team with infectious disease preparedness; communicating effectively about data, surveillance findings, and forecasting models can help your community make informed decisions during an emergency. Check out the resource guide now using the link 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.