Climate And Health Episodes
May 6, 2026
1120: How Pacific Islands Are Facing a Growing Health Crisis
Today, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Environmental Health Shelbi Davis shares how island communities are navigating some of the most severe climate-related health risks in the world, with limited infrastructure and strained public health systems.
Guest: Shelbi Davis MPH PMP
Feb. 4, 2026
1063: How Public Health Prepares for Wildfire Season
Wildfire smoke is no longer a rare emergency; it’s a predictable, climate-driven public health threat. In this episode, Gabriela Goldfarb, environmental public health section manager for the Oregon Health Authority's Public Health Division, tells us why health agencies must begin outreach and coordination long before wildfire season starts. Goldfarb walks through Oregon’s collaborative wildfire smoke response protocol, explaining how state, federal, tribal, and local partners translate complex data into timely public health advisories.
Guest: Gabriela Goldfarb, MPP
353
July 14, 2025
946: Stay Cool Campaign, Telling The Public Health Story
Kristin Raab, director of the Minnesota Climate and Health Program at the Minnesota Department of Health, shares how the state’s “Stay Cool Minnesota” campaign is working to protect Minnesotans against the negative health effects of extreme heat; ASTHO alum, Dr. Matthew Christiansen, chief medical officer and vice president of health affairs at Valley Health Systems...
Guests: Matthew Christiansen MD MPH , Kristin Raab MLA
410
Dec. 2, 2024
801: Take Control of Your Birth Control Program, Lame Duck Priorities
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for the State of Michigan, discusses the launch of the Take Control of Your Birth Control program; Catherine Jones, ASTHO senior analyst for Government Affairs, tells us what the priorities are for the...
408
Nov. 26, 2024
799: Climate Change & Health Equity Partners, ASTHO's Alzheimer's Work
Linda Helland, manager of the Climate Change and Health Equity Branch in the Office of Health Equity at the California Department of Public Health, tells us how the California Department of Public Health is working to incorporate health equity into...
321
July 23, 2024
712: Preparing for Tornadoes, Helping People with Disabilities During Emergencies
Dr. Kristina Kintziger, associate professor and the associate director of the Water, Climate, and Health program at the University of Nebraska, explains the long-term community impacts of a tornado; Nassira Nicola, deputy director for Access and...
270
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...
Guests: Dylan George PhD MS , Anil Nair, PhD, MPH
259
April 24, 2024
650: Avian Symposium Happens Tomorrow, Gen Z Interested in PH
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, previews a national symposium on avian flu; Jack McClure, a public health consultant with the Association of Immunization Managers, helps us understand how to reach younger people interested in public...
256
April 19, 2024
647: A New Social Determinant, Measles Outbreak Response
Admiral Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for health at the United States Department of Health and Human Services, reflects on the policy factors that impact public health; Massimo Pacilli, deputy commissioner of the Disease Control Bureau with the...
255
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...
193
Jan. 18, 2024
582: Telehealth Recommendations, Empowering Diverse Executives
Mike Ellsworth, Federal Relations director at the Washington State Department of Health, says his organization has released a study of telehealth activities and opportunities; Erika Kirtz, an epidemiologist at the Tennessee Department of Health, tells...
Guests: Michael Ellsworth MPA JD , Erika Kirtz MPH CPH
189
Jan. 11, 2024
578: New Fentanyl Laws, Report Indicates Climate Impacts on Mental Health
Dr. Sameer Vohra, ASTHO member and director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, tells us new laws in Illinois will seek to address the deadly effects of fentanyl; Paul Schramm, health scientist for the CDC, details the far-reaching and...
179
Dec. 20, 2023
568: Equity Policies Improve Health for All, Apprenticeship Program Builds the Workforce
Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, deputy secretary of Public Health for the Maryland Department of Health, says his state has been able to engage bold policies to help people and address health inequities; Dr. Mondi Mason, workforce manager with the Denver...
Guests: Nilesh Kalyanaraman MD , Mondi Mason PhD MPH
166
Dec. 1, 2023
555: New Climate Policy Calls for Funding, Actions to Prevent Dengue
Elke Shaw-Tulloch, public health administrator, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, says ASTHO’s revised policy statement on climate and health recommends more funding for state and territorial climate programs; Dr. Lyle Petersen,...
165
Nov. 30, 2023
554: Ending Structural Racism, New Book on Public Health Strategy
Dr. Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge, senior vice president, Health Equity and Diversity Initiatives, ASTHO outlines the organization’s updated policy statement on structural racism in public health; Dr. Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de...
149
Nov. 3, 2023
538: One Health Simplified, Shutdown Potential
Dr. Karen Smith, Former California Public Health Officer, discusses how agencies can begin their One Health approach; an ASTHO report outlines how Idaho and New Jersey are taking a One Health approach to address environmental health concerns; Jeffrey...
139
Oct. 20, 2023
528: Flexible Climate Funding, New Federal Budget Deadline
State Public Health Officials Dr. Umair Shah, Dr. Joseph Kanter, and Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, discuss the public health impacts of climate change; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, discusses hot...
108
Sept. 6, 2023
497: New Approach to ACEs Prevention, Climate Challenges Lead to Cooperation
Safia Khan, Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff at the Minnesota Department of Corrections, outlines how the Healthy Start Act will reduce the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences in Minnesota; Danny Staley, ASTHO’s Senior Vice...
Guests: Danny Staley, MS , Safia Khan
76
July 21, 2023
465: New Violence Prevention Plan, FY 24 Public Health Funding Proposal Examined
Tracie Campbell, Senior Health Manager and the leader of Mecklenburg County Public Health Office of Violence Prevention, shares a five-year plan to reduce community violence; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public...
Guests: Carolyn Mullen , Tracie Campbell MS
74
July 19, 2023
463: Tracking West Nile Virus, Funding Doula Care
Dr. Catherine Brown, State Epidemiologist at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, explains how Massachusetts is addressing West Nile Virus found in the state; Jennifer Lee, Director of the Bureau of Tobacco Control at the New York State...
65
July 6, 2023
454: REPLAY: Childhood Toxic Stress, Encouraging Exercise
This special edition revisits Episode 408 of Public Health Review Morning Edition from April 27th. Dr. Nathaniel Harnett, Assistant Professor at The Harvard Medical School, discusses findings from his study connecting early childhood stress to...
Guests: Nathaniel Harnett PhD , Alison Cuellar, PhD
42
May 31, 2023
431: Harmful Nicotine Formulas, Wildfire Smoke Bloggers
Neil Charvat, Director of the North Dakota Health And Human Services Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, explains the challenges of reducing the use of nicotine and tobacco products with so many options on the market; Kaitlyn Kelly, Air Quality...
31
May 15, 2023
420: Maternal Mortality Disparities, Risk Appropriate Care Could Help
Dr. Brannon Traxler, Director of Public Health for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, explains why South Carolina is seeing high rates of infant and maternal mortality; Dr. Eugene Toy, Gynecologist and professor of...
19
April 27, 2023
408: Childhood Toxic Stress, Encouraging Exercise
Dr. Nathaniel Harnett, Assistant Professor at The Harvard Medical School, discusses findings from his study connecting early childhood stress to mental health problems; Dr. Alison Cuellar, Chair of the Community Preventive Services Task Force and a...
Guests: Alison Cuellar, PhD , Nathaniel Harnett PhD