Preparedness Episodes

March 27, 2025

872: Leadership Skills in Public Health, PH AmeriCorps

Kelly Anderson Thomas, deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, explains why ASTHO’s Leadership Institute has been so helpful; Ali Grossman, prevention and intervention section supervisor at the Iowa Department of Health and Human...
March 26, 2025

871: Hypertension in Prenatal Care, Newscast Award

Maria Gabriela Ruiz, an analyst on ASTHO’s maternal and infant health team, discusses a new ASTHO resource on strategies to use during prenatal care to address hypertension and other chronic diseases; Warren Villagomez, director of...
Feb. 27, 2025

852: Lassa Fever Response, Suicide Rates See Decline

Dr. Robert Kruse, state medical director and the division director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and an ASTHO Member, tells us about his state’s response to a confirmed case of Lassa fever; Clarie Miller, lead suicide...
Feb. 10, 2025

840: Our Healthy Kentucky Home, Dementia Set To Double

Dr. Steven Stack, ASTHO immediate past president and commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, tells us more about the Our Healthy Kentucky Home initiative; Dr. Josef Coresh, director of the Optimal Aging Institute at the NYU Grossman...
Dec. 4, 2024

803: ASTHO Legislative Prospectus Series Kicks Off

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, gives us an overview of what to expect from ASTHO’s annual Legislative Prospectus Series; ASTHO’s INSPIRE: Readiness Series can help you foster innovation in your public health systems; and learn all about PHIG by...
Nov. 14, 2024

791: ASTHO Innovation Advisory Council Launch, ASPR Hurricane Helene Response

Greg Papillon, ASTHO director of Public Health Innovation, tells us about the launch of ASTHO’s Innovation Advisory Council; Jonathan Greene, deputy assistant secretary at the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response at the U.S....
Oct. 17, 2024

772: Texas Uses ASTHO Peer Assessment Program, Major Overdose Death Reduction

Lily McClure, workforce director for the Texas Department of State Health Services, tells us how Texas benefited from the ASTHO Peer Assessment Program; Christina Mullins, deputy secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders at the West...
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...
Feb. 20, 2024

604: How to Build a Rural Health Workforce, Pacific Island Agencies Make PHIG Plans

Dr. Nizar Wehbi, ASTHO Member and North Dakota state health officer, says North Dakota has a plan to attract healthcare workers; Lindsey Myers, ASTHO vice president for Public Health Workforce and Infrastructure, tells us Pacific Island area public...
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...
Jan. 30, 2024

590: Four Overdose Prevention Policies Explained, Winter Storm Lessons

Kayley Humm, ASTHO Senior Analyst, discusses a new ASTHO report that outlines a series of overdose prevention policies for consideration by public health agencies; Sarah Bonk, Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Response Coordinator for Erie County,...
Jan. 16, 2024

580: Reflections on Racial Healing, Readiness Website Launches Today

Natasha Harper-Levy, ASTHO director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, reflects on the National Day of Racial Healing’s value and purpose; Margaux Haviland, ASTHO director of Preparedness and Response Coordination, explains what users will see...
Jan. 12, 2024

579: Tracking Congressional Deadlines, King’s Message Mirrors PH Concerns

Kyle Gasaway, ASTHO communications manager for the Leadership and Learning Unit, talks about the very successful Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health program; Jeffrey Ekoma, senior director for Government Affairs, is monitoring progress on...
Jan. 10, 2024

577: New Preparedness Website Set to Launch, COVID Vaccine Messaging

Margaux Haviland, ASTHO director for Preparedness and Response Coordination, shares that the Inspire Readiness website goes live on January 16; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, wants public health to focus its COVID vaccine promotion...
Jan. 2, 2024

571: AI Concerns Aired on Capitol Hill, Modern Data Systems Encourage Transparency

Dr. David Newman-Toker, director, Division of Neuro-Visual & Vestibular Disorders, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, discusses his time with House members talking about the bias and privacy issues involved with artificial intelligence; Dana Moore, deputy director…