Epidemiology Episodes

On today's bonus long-form episode, we hear from three public health experts as they highlight the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) program and how it has become one of the nation's most important investments in infectious disease preparedness.

Today: Ben Lopman, professor at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, discusses the new Vaccine Impact Map. Later, Bryan Patenaude, associate professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, breaks down the financial realities of measles outbreaks and why even relatively small outbreaks can carry massive costs.

As health departments modernize their data systems, an unexpected challenge has emerged: traditional public health job classifications no longer match the reality of today’s data landscape. In this episode, Ari Whiteman, ASTHO’s senior advisor for public health data and informatics workforce, talks about why the field urgently needs new informatics-focused roles, and what it will take to build them.

In this episode: how telehealth has evolved from a pandemic-era necessity into a powerful tool for improving access to health care. ASTHO senior analyst Ashley Cram breaks down the different types of telehealth, from video visits and audio-only consultations to remote patient monitoring, and why each plays an essential role for patients facing challenges like provider shortages, transportation barriers, or limited broadband access. Also, State Epidemiologist Tracy Miller explains how a partnership with North Dakota State University created a student assistantship program that gives MPH students hands-on experience, builds leadership skills among early career staff, and strengthens public health capacity. She shares lessons learned, how the model evolved, and why it could be a blueprint for other states and health departments looking to grow the next generation of public health professionals.

In today's installment of the PHIG Impact Report, Nicole Yerkes, data modernization director with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, shares how the state is using PHIG funding to advance a unified, future-ready public health data system. She discusses innovations like AI-assisted analysis, real-time lab data exchange, and the power of cross-agency collaboration through Utah's Data Modernization Council. Yerkes also highlights the importance of academic partnerships and sustainable funding to ensure modernization efforts endure and evolve.

Dr. Daniel Edney, state health officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health and ASTHO member, shares how his state declared infant mortality a public health emergency to offer services across the state more rapidly; Bonny Mayes, epidemiologist with the Texas Department of State Health Services, discusses the article she co-authored...

Dr. Catherine Brown, state epidemiologist and state public health veterinarian at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, discusses ASTHO’s recent meeting with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) and the importance of the One Health approach; a recent ASTHO blog article details the importance of ensuring animals are accounted for during radiological incidents; Dr. Dave Chokshi, chair of the Common Health Coalition..

In today's episode of the PHIG Impact Report, Sara Patterson, acting director of CDC’s Public Health Infrastructure Center, details her view of the Public Health Infrastructure Grant.

Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, epidemiologist and CEO of Your Local Epidemiologist, addresses the intersection between health and politics and provides words of encouragement to her fellow colleagues in public health; Grace Lee, senior analyst for infectious disease infrastructure and policy at ASTHO...

Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, epidemiologist and CEO of Your Local Epidemiologist, shares how her public health newsletter helps to educate readers about the policies and science impacting public health today; Tracy Gruber, executive director of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services...

Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO president and state health officer with the Alabama Department of Public Health, discusses takeaways from the most recent ASTHO Board of Directors meeting; Alex Kurutz, dialysis epidemiologist for the Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program at the Tennessee Department of Health...

In the latest PHIG Impact Report, Dr. James McDonald, commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, explains how the Public Health Infrastructure Grant strengthens the state’s public health workforce.

Liz Hamel, vice president and director of public opinion and survey research at KFF, discusses the latest KFF Tracking Poll on Information and Trust; Tina Tan, state epidemiologist at the New Jersey Department of Health, tells us about the Protect Me With 3+ program...

Danny Staley, ASTHO senior vice president for public health programs and practice, details the recent Healthy Brain Initiative Summit where he presented a keynote presentation; Catherine Murphy, ASTHO government affairs analyst, explains...

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, begins the new “Get To Know ASTHO” series, which will highlight different experts at ASTHO; Madison Yerges, section supervisor for the student education section at the Center for Foundational Health, part of the...

Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, provides an update on avian influenza; Dr. Susan Hernandez, an epidemiologist at Public Health Seattle and King County, explains how her team used novel data...

Dr. Sarah Lyon-Callo, senior deputy director for public health administration and the state epidemiologist for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, tells us how the unique ability to use PHIG across sectors helps break down silos in the latest PHIG Impact Report.

Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health and ASTHO president-elect, breaks down some of the recommendations from the most recent ACIP meeting; Kelsey Tillema, ASTHO senior analyst, discusses the recent PH-HERO...

Dr. James Huynh, assistant professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, discusses what the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey says about racism; Sarah Auer, program analyst for the...

David Moffitt, captain of the Phoenix Fire Department's Homeland Defense Bureau and public health program manager and threat liaison officer, tells us how Fusion Centers are integrating with public health; Keon Lewis, health equity consultant for C4...

Sarah Auer, program analyst for the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, tells us about the Applied Epidemiology Competencies toolkit; Lillie Seels, director of Practice Transformation at the National Community Action Partnership, says...

Margret Cooke, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, says the CDC has selected her state to develop one of five Pathogen Genomics Centers of Excellence in the country; there are new and updated Women's Prevention Services...