Public Health Leadership 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 20, 2025

867: Ethics of Wastewater Surveillance, Opioid Funding for Next Two Decades

Allison Wheeler, wastewater surveillance unit manager at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and co-director of the Wastewater Center of Excellence in Colorado, tells us about a recently published ASTHO report on ethical considerations in public health wastewater surveillance;…
Jan. 22, 2025

827: Alpha-Gal Syndrome Interest, New Congress Priorities

Courtney Anderson, a director with ASTHO’s Environmental Health Team, discusses a blog article on alpha-gal syndrome that was one of ASTHO’s most popular resources of 2024; Catherine Murphy, government affairs analyst for ASTHO, uses past...
Jan. 14, 2025

822: Shah Steps Down, ASTHO Welcomes New Member

Dr. Umair Shah, secretary of health for the Washington State Department of Health, shares some of his proudest accomplishments as he steps away from his position; Dirk Wilke is the new interim commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Health and...
Dec. 19, 2024

814: Safe States Alliance Leader Retires, VRHS Reaccreditation

Rich Hamburg, executive director of the Safe States Alliance, reflects on his career in public health as he prepares to retire; Marita Chilton, senior director of Accreditation and Recognition at the Public Health Accreditation Board, tells us about...
Dec. 11, 2024

808: Infectious Disease Legislative Prospectus, Fifth DELPH Cohort Begins

Dr. Robert Goldstein, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and an ASTHO Member, discusses the containment and prevention of the spread of infectious disease as part of ASTHO’s Legislative Prospectus Series; Allyson...
Dec. 3, 2024

802: ASTHO Affiliate Council, More Syphilis Testing

David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors and the ASTHO Affiliate Council chair, tells us how the ASTHO Affiliate Council assists public health; Patrick Allen, former secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health,...
Nov. 18, 2024

793: Braiding & Layering Funds, EPA PFAS Limits

Karl Ensign, ASTHO vice president for Territorial Support, tells us why braiding and layering funding can be beneficial as ASTHO launches a learning module on the subject; Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst for State Health Policy, discusses the EPA...
Nov. 8, 2024

788: Honoring Veterans in Public Health, Public Health Planning Learning Community

Dr. Kenneth Fink, director of the Hawaii Department of Health, an ASTHO member and a retired Air Force colonel, tells us how the military prepared him for his role in public health; Sara Bell, ASTHO senior analyst for Public Health Systems and...
Oct. 21, 2024

774: Elimination of Health Inequities, Partnering With Community Action Agencies

Dr. Sejal Hathi, Director of the Oregon Health Authority and an ASTHO Member, dives into her state’s strategic plan to eliminate health inequities by 2030; Shalini Nair, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Infectious Disease, wrote an article about ASTHO’s...
June 25, 2024

692: Training New Tobacco Prevention Hires, Challenges Facing Work on Social Determinants

Katie Steffens, deputy program manager for the State of Alaska Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, is working to give potential employees the skills they need to thrive; Suja Shunmugavelu, ASTHO senior director of Engagement, discusses this...
May 7, 2024

659: Break Free From Burnout; Nurse Workforce Diversification

Omar Khalid, ASTHO director of workforce, tells us about the American Nurses Foundation’s upcoming webinar, “Break Free From Burnout”; Maya Goldman, a healthcare reporter for Axios, discusses her article on the nurse workforce; and ASTHO has a...
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...
April 8, 2024

638: New ASTHO CEO Kanter Starts Today, Where to Talk About Emergency Preparedness

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, looks forward to a smooth transition as he begins his new job; Rebecca Adamson, preparedness section director at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, discusses the sixth day of National Public Health Week as...
March 6, 2024

615: Grad Considers DELPH Colleagues Family, New ASTHO CEO is “Nice, Kind, Caring”

Keon Lewis, equity and development coordinator for the Cabarrus Health Alliance, talks about his experience as a recent graduate of ASTHO’s DELPH program; Dr. Joseph Kanter is ASTHO’s new CEO and begins his role in April; Dr. Steven Stack, ASTHO...