HIV Episodes
June 12, 2026
1145: Why the South Is Facing a Syphilis Crisis
On today's episode, Thomas Dobbs from the University of Mississippi discusses syphilis in the U.S., from the use of antibiotics and public health interventions to the rising case rates over the past decade. Later, Joshua O’Neal from the Southeast STD/HIV Prevention Training Center discusses how prevention training centers are helping health departments and local providers respond to the crisis.
Guests: Thomas Dobbs, MD, MPH , Joshua O'Neal, MA
Jan. 26, 2026
1057: STI Trends: Progress, Prevention, and the Urgent Rise in Congenital Syphilis
New CDC surveillance data show encouraging declines in several sexually transmitted infections—but a troubling increase in syphilis among newborns. In this episode, the Director of the Division of STD Prevention at CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Dr. Bradley Stoner, breaks down the key takeaways from the 2024 Provisional STI Surveillance report, including declines in chlamydia, gonorrhea, and primary and secondary syphilis, alongside the continued rise in congenital syphilis.
Guest: Bradley Stoner, MD, PhD
417
Oct. 16, 2025
1012: Public Health’s 40 Under 40, Litigation Round-up
Amelia Poulin, assistant director of emerging infectious disease at ASTHO, discusses how she was recently recognized as an honoree of de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 under 40 in Public Health awards; Christina Severin, director of public health law at ASTHO, breaks down her recent Health Policy Update,...
394
Sept. 12, 2025
989: HIV and STI Efforts in States
Dr. Sameer Vohra, ASTHO member and director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, discusses the op-ed he co-authored in the Chicago Tribune on the progress his state has made in treating HIV; Brandon Kufalk, STI unit supervisor for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, explains...
Guests: Sameer Vohra MD JD MA FAAP , Brandon Kufalk
389
Sept. 5, 2025
984: Childhood Vaccination Efforts; FY26 Public Health Funding
Dr. Arti Barnes, chief medical officer at the Illinois Department of Public Health, describes how her agency is working collaboratively with other state departments to enhance access to pediatric vaccinations; Jeffrey Ekoma, senior director of government affairs at ASTHO, discusses changes to the CDC, this month’s federal funding deadline...
Guests: Jeffrey Ekoma, MBA, MS , Arti Barnes, MD, MPH
354
July 15, 2025
947: PH Workforce Survey, STI Education Credits
Dr. Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, shares how the 2024 PH WINS survey can help state and local health departments develop more strategic workforce development plans; Dr. David Spach, editor-in-chief of the National STD Curriculum...
Guests: Brian Castrucci, DrPh, MA , David Spach MD
326
June 2, 2025
918: Tick-Borne Diseases At All-Time High, PH Legislation Roundup
Laura Harrington, professor in the department of entomology at Cornell University and director of the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, explains how public health can combat tick-borne diseases; Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst for state health policy, discusses public health legislation in states around the country...
Guests: Beth Giambrone, MPP , Laura Harrington PhD
494
April 16, 2025
886: Syphilis Prevention Videos, Fostering Relationships
Robbyn Kistler, senior consultant for the Social Impact Media Program at KFF, tells us about recent syphilis videos that ASTHO, KFF, and CDC created; Theresa Arriola, director of the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services, discusses the importance of face-to-face interactions at ASTHO’s Spring Leadership...
Guests: Theresa Arriola MBA , Robbyn Kistler
444
Feb. 3, 2025
835: Mission Zero, NASTAD Progress
Patricia Tilley, associate commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and an ASTHO member, discusses New Hampshire’s Mission Zero; Dr. Stephen Lee, the executive director of the National Alliance of State and...
Guests: Stephen Lee MD , Patricia Tilley MS Ed
234
March 18, 2024
623: Readiness Report Ranks States and DC, Hill Day Gets High Marks
Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, president and CEO of Trust for America's Health, discusses the 21st edition of the Ready or Not Report; Catherine Jones, ASTHO Government Affairs senior analyst, tells us ASTHO’s Hill Day program in late February continues to...
Guests: J. Nadine Gracia MD MSCE , Catherine Jones, MPH
220
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...
202
Jan. 31, 2024
591: Infant Mortality Data Offers Mixed Results, Preparedness Lessons
Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO Member and State Health Officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, says new numbers in Alabama show infant deaths are dropping but the news isn’t all good; an ASTHO blog article outlines practical strategies for...
156
Nov. 15, 2023
545: Medicaid and Public Health Collaborate, Covey’s Parting Advice
Dr. Shannon Dowler, chief medical officer for North Carolina Medicaid, says healthcare gets better when state Medicaid and public health agencies take the time to understand each other; Dr. Matthew Christiansen, state health officer for the West...
127
Oct. 3, 2023
516: Mpox Approaches, Health Equity Report Card Creator
Chris Taylor, ASTHO’s Director of Infectious Disease Outbreak Response and Recovery, says it's important that health departments remain vigilant against Mpox; Alyssa Gonzales, Communication Specialist at Salud America, shares a tool that identifies...
Guests: Chris Taylor , Alyssa Gonzales
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
70
July 13, 2023
459: LGBTQ+ Youth Health Disparities, Syphilis Cases Jump in Minnesota
Robin Matthies, ASTHO’s Director of Social and Behavioral Health, discusses the disparities facing LGBTQ+ youth, which is the topic in an upcoming ASTHO webinar; Christine Jones, Assistant Manager of the STD and HIV Section at the Minnesota...
Guests: Robin Matthies MSW , Christine Jones
69
July 12, 2023
458: Indiana Invests in Local PH, Youth Mental Health Webinar
Pam Pontones, Deputy Health Commissioner of Local Public Health Services for the Indiana State Department of Health, shares Indiana’s plan to invest in local health departments to address community health needs; Ioana Ungureanu, ASTHO's Senior Analyst for...
Guests: Ioana Ungureanu MPH , Pam Pontones MA
63
June 30, 2023
452: Making Federal Connections, Malaria in the U.S.
Dr. Anne Zink, ASTHO President and Chief Medical Officer for Alaska Department of Health, explains best practices for building connections with the federal government; Dr. Benjamin Beard, Deputy Director of the CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Diseases,...
60
June 27, 2023
449: PH’s Data Challenge, Scholarly Advice
William Kassler, Chief Medical Officer for Palantir Technologies, calls for a comprehensive and collaborative approach to understanding health data; Krystle White, Manager of Health Equity Outcomes for the Gaston County Government in North Carolina,...
56
June 21, 2023
445: Pride Month Lessons, DELPH Graduate
Dr. Stephen Lee, Executive Director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, shares advice for building public health programs for the LGBTQ+ community; Heather Pangelinan, Director of Public Health Services at Commonwealth...
55
June 20, 2023
444: STI Interventions, Communication Priorities
Dr. Jonathan Mermin, Director of the CDC National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, shares how public health can better address the STI epidemic; ASTHO Alum Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Immediate Past Director of the Illinois Department of...
45
June 5, 2023
434: Mpox Concerns, Newborn Screening Policies
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Deputy Coordinator of the Mpox National Response for the White House, shares steps public health leaders can take to protect against a potential rise in Mpox cases; Christina Severin, Director of Public Health Law at ASTHO,...
27
May 9, 2023
416: Vital Records Accreditation, Sharing Medicaid and HIV Data
Melissa Bird, Bureau Chief for the Iowa Bureau of Health Statistics, explains why vital records accreditation is important to public health; Rachel Scheckman, ASTHO Senior Policy Analyst, says new data sharing techniques in Iowa improve care for...
257
March 9, 2023
373: PH Funding Barriers, Planning an Equity Movement
Dr. Thomas Dobbs, former State Health Officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health and now dean of the John D. Bower School of Population Health at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, urges agencies that fund local public health...