CDC Episodes

May 30, 2024

675: Latest Tobacco Concerns, Overdose Data Brings Mixed Results

John Bowman, executive vice president for U.S. Tobacco Programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, sounds the alarm about the tobacco industry’s relentless drive to encourage young people to use their products; Kayley Humm, ASTHO senior analyst...
May 24, 2024

672: Pacific Islands Embrace PHIG Investments, New Dashboard Calculates Heat Risk

ASTHO staff, members, and alumni, discuss a recent meeting focused on the implementation of the Public Health Infrastructure Grant program for the island areas; Dr. Mark Levine, commissioner of Health for the State of Vermont, says his state’s...
May 22, 2024

670: ASTHO Profile Workforce Takeaways, Viral Hepatitis Goals

Dr. JP Leider, Associate Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, tells us what the ASTHO Profile reveals about the public health workforce; Dr. Carolyn Wester, Director of the...
May 16, 2024

666: Digital Accessibility, Research Guides Healthy Aging Work

Derek Olson, web content manager for the Washington State Department of Health, tells us the importance of digital access and inclusion; Emily Lapayowker, assistant director of Web at ASTHO, says ASTHO has systems to ensure its online products are...
May 13, 2024

663: Michigan Wildfire Lessons, Empowering Community Health Workers

Aaron Ferguson, manager of the Climate and Tracking Unit in the Division of Environmental Health at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, tells us what Michigan leadership learned when they dealt with unprecedented air quality in the...
May 9, 2024

661: PH Adopts EJ Priorities, Health Forecasts Model Weather Service Approach

Anil Nair, director for the Division of Environmental Health Epidemiology within the Department of Health in Pennsylvania, says their state is taking a deeper look at environmental justice; Dr. Dylan George, director of the Center for Forecasting and...
May 2, 2024

656: Racism A Public Health Threat, Syndemic Approaches

Dr. Robert Goldstein, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and an ASTHO member, details his state’s Strategic Plan to Advance Racial Equity; Michelle Van Handel, associate director for the Program and Performance Improvement...
April 29, 2024

653: HPAI National Symposium, 30 Days of Public Health

A national symposium on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, moderated by ASTHO CEO Dr. Joseph Kanter and attended by many ASTHO members, discussed many aspects of the virus; Dr. Janice Phillips, assistant director at the Illinois Department of Public...
April 25, 2024

651: Building Non-Traditional Partnerships, Health Equity Alliance

Corinne Gillenwater, ASTHO chronic disease and health improvement analyst, talks about an ASTHO toolkit that uses the Healthy People 2030 framework to help build partnerships; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, says today’s Avian Flu...
April 18, 2024

646: Climate Health Training, Updated PFAS Provider Guidance

Ben Fulgencio-Turner, director of the Climate for Health Program at ecoAmerica, discusses a new ASTHO training program that connects the impacts of climate change to public health; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, tells the news site...
March 27, 2024

630: Data Sharing Considerations, Alliance Benefits Women’s Health

Susan Bsharah, associate director at Guidehouse, discusses an upcoming TEFCA webinar set for April 4; Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and an ASTHO member, tells us about the “Good Housing = Good...
March 26, 2024

629: Long COVID Strategies, Updated ACEs Approaches

Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, updates us on the Long COVID situation; Dr. Mark Levine, commissioner of health for the State of Vermont, tells us about ASTHO’s recently updated policy statement on adverse childhood experiences; and...
March 22, 2024

627: Alcohol Deaths Rise, PH Funding Update

Marissa Esser, CDC Alcohol Program lead, discusses the steep rise in deaths from excessive alcohol use; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO senior vice president of Government Affairs and Public Relations, gives an update on the public health funding situation; and...
March 15, 2024

622: High Food Costs Hurt WIC, Proposed Budget Breakdown

Dr. Scott Harris, state health officer with the Alabama Department of Public Health and ASTHO Member, recalls his recent visit to Congress a few weeks ago; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO senior director for Government Affairs, says ASTHO continues to talk with...
March 12, 2024

619: Review Food Safety Policies, New Misinformation Toolkit

Dr. Susan Kansagra, assistant secretary for public health in North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services and an ASTHO member, tells us how the tenacity of one inspector caused an investigation that uncovered lead-contaminated applesauce packets in North Carolina; Dr. Tara Kirk...
March 11, 2024

618: HIMSS Preview, NC Lead Investigation

J.T. Lane, ASTHO senior vice president for Population Health and Innovation, previews the HIMSS Global Health Conference that kicks off today; Maggie Davis, ASTHO director of State Health Policy, tells us how routine lead level screenings in North...
March 8, 2024

617: Social Media Oversight, Spending Deadline Concerns

Dr. Matthew Biel, professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Georgetown University Medical Center, worries about the impact of social media on young people; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO senior vice president for Government Affairs and Public Relations, says...
March 7, 2024

616: Social Media Epidemic, States Act to Address Youth Eating Disorders

Dr. Matthew Biel, professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Georgetown University Medical Center, tells us social media is not necessarily a good part of childhood; Lexa Giragosian, ASTHO senior analyst for Maternal and Infant Health, says...
Feb. 27, 2024

609: Tool Helps Assess Outdated HIV Laws and Policies, Fraser on Time as ASTHO CEO

Iyanrick John, vice president of External Affairs at ChangeLab Solutions, tells us about his organization partnering with the CDC to create a legal and policy assessment tool; Mike Fraser, ASTHO CEO, will be leaving the organization after more than...
Feb. 15, 2024

602: Public Health Skills Discussion Preview, Oregon’s New Director

Amber Williams, ASTHO Senior Vice President for Leadership and Organizational Performance, previews next week’s webinar about strategic skills for public health professionals; Dr. Sejal Hathi, ASTHO Member and Director of the Oregon Health...
Feb. 14, 2024

601: Use Policy to Achieve Health Equity, Stigma Hurts Long COVID Patients

Dr. Brooke Cunningham, ASTHO Member and Health Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Health, reflects on the importance of using policy to achieve racial equity; Dr. Priti Patel, CDC...
Feb. 9, 2024

598: CDC’s Hepatitis C Strategy, Wastewater Testing Debate

Dr. Carolyn Wester, director of the division of viral hepatitis at the CDC, says the CDC has a plan to increase access to the diagnosis and treatment resources for hepatitis C; Tim Henderson, senior writer/demographics analyst for Stateline, explains how wastewater testing...
Feb. 7, 2024

596: Environmental Health Careers, Providers Don’t Feel Equipped to Treat Harmful Algal Blooms

Larry Michael, State Environmental Health Director at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, tells us about the many public health careers available to people interested in science and public service; Marissa Vigar, Health...
Feb. 1, 2024

592: Teamwork Helps Contain Measles Outbreak, How to Reduce Stigma Related to Opioid Therapy

Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, Philadelphia Health Commissioner, discusses a measles outbreak that was detected in the city in early December; Grace DeLeon, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Overdose Preparedness and Response, tells us about an ASTHO report to help...