Keyonie 'Key' James, reproductive health unit manager with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, shares her takeaways as a recent graduate of ASTHO’s Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health program; Suleima Salgado, CEO of the Global Partnership for Telehealth and principal investigator for the Southeastern Telehealth Resource Center...
Keyonie 'Key' James, reproductive health unit manager with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, shares her takeaways as a recent graduate of ASTHO’s Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health program; Suleima Salgado, CEO of the Global Partnership for Telehealth and principal investigator for the Southeastern Telehealth Resource Center, discusses emerging trends in telehealth and its important role in expanding access to care; a new study published in Journal of Public Health Management & Practice explores AI’s potential in expediting the content analysis of public health documents to facilitate continuous program improvement; and Dr. John Langefeld, ASTHO member and commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, will provide a keynote at the 10th Annual Kentucky Rural Telehealth Summit on September 25 in Frankfort, Kentucky.
ASTHO Web Page: Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health
Global Partnership for TeleHealth
ASTHO Web Page: 2025 Telehealth Needs Assessment
University of Kentucky: Registration open for the 10th annual Kentucky Rural Telehealth Summit
SUMMER JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, August 25, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
KEYONIE 'KEY' JAMES:
As a leader, I feel that learning never stops, right? There's always an opportunity to learn something new.
JOHNSON:
ASTHO's Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health, or DELPH, program provides public health leaders with the opportunity to expand their access to key networks while enhancing their leadership identity. Key James with the Michigan Department of Health is a recent graduate of the program.
JAMES:
I realized some behavioral traits several of my colleagues exhibit, and how I've responded to those traits, and that was eye-opening for me, because it really helped me understand in that moment how I have been working productively and sometimes not so productively, with various personalities on my team on a daily basis.
JOHNSON:
Another takeaway: how to lead in an evolving public health environment.
JAMES:
I have been a lot more cognizant of my role in navigating my team through these really, kind of, uncertain and changing times, and so, doing so has, kind of, required me to lead with purpose, knowing, being consistent and transparent in terms of leading my team.
JOHNSON:
James says the program exceeded her initial expectations.
JAMES:
I have been challenged, and I think others will be challenged and presented with opportunities to, kind of, reassess or assess and build their leadership toolbox, and not just in a way that just really ticks all the boxes, but really thoughtful, purposeful leadership development happens in the DELPH program.
JOHNSON:
There's still time to apply for cohort six of the DELPH program. We have a link to the application in the show notes. Don't miss out. Applications are due soon, on Sunday, August 31.
The Global Partnership for Telehealth is working with healthcare providers across the country to improve access to care through remote services. Suleima Salgado, CEO of the Global Partnership for Telehealth, explains how virtual medical care is making a difference for patients who have historically struggled to access services.
SULEIMA SALGADO:
Telehealth also helps with limited mobility. So, we know we have lots of individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses or transportation challenges that can't access really much their providers without being remote.
JOHNSON:
As new technology continues to emerge, one trend that telehealth is seeing is remote patient monitoring.
SALGADO:
It's monitoring people from home and really looking at their metrics and their day- to-day to really see what their vital signs look like, and kind of predict throughout the day.
JOHNSON:
Salgado says the partnership's telehealth resource centers work to support any organization looking to implement telehealth services.
SALGADO:
We can help with just general technical assistance training, if you need partners to collaborate within your region, if you're looking at workflows, if you're looking at just options of telehealth solutions, and you're like, 'This sounds great, I want to start, but I don't even know what to begin.'
JOHNSON:
To learn more about the Global Partnership for Telehealth and how they may be able to support your jurisdiction, click the link in the show notes.
Also, a new study published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, explores how AI could help facilitate continuous program improvement by expediting content analysis of public health documents. Click on the link in the show notes to learn more.
Finally, today, Dr. John Langefeld, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, will provide a keynote at the 10th Annual Kentucky Rural Telehealth Summit on September 25 in Frankfort, Kentucky. You can register for the summit 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.
Suleima Salgado MBA
CEO, Global Partnership for TeleHealth
Principal Investigator, Southeastern Telehealth Resources
Keyonie 'Key' James MPH
Reproductive Health Unit Manager, Division of Maternal and Infant Health, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services