Public Health Partnerships Episodes

On today's episode, ASTHO's Dan Tauriello explains how modernizing data systems in medical examiner offices can improve efficiency, strengthen connections with public health, and more.

On today’s installment of the PHIG Impact Report, data modernization funding is producing tangible change across Minnesota's public health system. Hear from the Minnesota Department of Health's Wendy Underwood on how PHIG funding is supporting employee development, modernizing the state's laboratory information management system, and strengthening partnerships with local, tribal, and community health organizations.

On today's episode, Denise Hanisch from the South Dakota Department of Health shares the state's maternal and infant health priorities, and ASTHO's Sanaa Akbarali highlights takeaways from the Region 7 Maternal Health ECHO Summit.

On today's episode, CDC's Paige Armstrong explains how the organization works with partners around the world to detect and contain emerging health threats before they reach U.S. communities. Also, Marcus Plescia from the Fulton County Board of Health in Atlanta discusses preparations underway for the FIFA World Cup.

On today's episode, ASTHO member Ayanna Bennett discusses the Potomac River sewage spill, the public health risks it created, and the coordination required between local, state, and federal agencies to protect residents. Later, ASTHO’s Jen Layden explains why partnerships are central to ASTHO’s 2026–2029 strategic plan.

Public health doesn’t stop at hospitals or health departments, it lives in barbershops, grocery stores, schools, and small businesses. In this episode for National Public Health Week, Megan DeNubila-Griffin, ASTHO assistant director of chronic disease and health improvement, explores how agencies are building meaningful partnerships with non-traditional community players to address the social and environmental factors that shape health. From collaborating with local business owners to rethinking transportation and food access, this conversation highlights how public health leaders act as conveners, bringing the right voices to the table and asking who’s missing. Megan shares real-world examples, including a multi-year collaboration in Walworth County, Wisconsin, that shows how cross-sector partnerships can drive measurable impact.

In this National Public Health Week conversation, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Susan Kansagra, explores how public health can better integrate innovation into everyday practice, from leveraging improvement frameworks to building partnerships with academic and research institutions.

In this episode, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Joseph Kanter, shares key insights from this year’s Spring Leadership Forum, an in-person opportunity to exchange lessons learned, strengthen peer support, and tackle the complex realities facing public health leaders today. From a productive visit with leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to renewed conversations about partnerships around healthy eating and chronic disease prevention, Dr. Kanter reflects on why strong federal–state colla...

What does it take for states to expand access to substance use disorder treatment and build stronger, more sustainable partnerships between Medicaid and public health?  In Massachusetts, leaders changed policies around provider models to increase access to care for opioid use disorder: Frances McGaffey, manager of the Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts, explains how pairing providers with dedicated nursing support has helped remove barriers to prescribing buprenorphine, expand the addiction workforce, and dramatically increase access to care. Then, Cory Caldwell, senior policy analyst at the National Association of Medicaid Directors, discusses the new 'Medicaid Leaders Playbook for Building Public Health Partnerships,' developed in collaboration with ASTHO.

In this episode and as part of our PHIG Impact Report series, Amy Perkins of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services talks about how the state is rethinking public health infrastructure funding to make life easier for local and tribal health departments.

As part of our state health policy portfolio, ASTHO releases an annual Legislative Prospectus Series: policy briefs summarizing state and territorial legislation that impacts public health. Today, Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO’s CEO, will summarize the 2026 series, identify trends in public health law for the next year, and provide a high-level overview for public health professionals and policymakers in time for upcoming legislative sessions.

Public health is at a crossroads. In this episode, Lillian Shirley and Itta Johnson from Public Consulting Group discuss how adaptive leadership can help rebuild trust, strengthen community partnerships, and drive meaningful change across systems. Drawing from real-world initiatives, they share practical insights on leading with empathy, collaboration, and purpose in today’s complex public health landscape.

Dr. Susan Kansagra, chief medical officer at ASTHO, shares an update on rising RSV activity and how states are tracking trends during the federal shutdown. She highlights new tools that protect infants, including maternal vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, and explains how public health and birthing hospitals are partnering to expand access through the Vaccines for Children program. Early results show increased hospital enrollment and fewer RSV-related hospitalizations among infants.

On today’s Best Of PHRME episode, we revisit an interview with ASTHO's Jennifer Layden, senior vice president for population health and innovation, who discusses how states are advancing data modernization and building creative partnerships to strengthen public 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.

Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health and an ASTHO member, explains how his state is taking action for youth behavioral health; Aurora GrantWingate, member and partner engagement manager at the National Association of...

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...

John Vick, director of the Office of Primary Prevention at the Tennessee Department of Health, discusses how important partnerships are since many industries affect public health; Esther Muna, chief executive officer of the CNMI Commonwealth...

Dr. Bradley Stoner, director of the Division of STD Prevention at the CDC, discusses the first few weeks in his new role; Dr. Barbara Van Der Pol, professor of medicine and public health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, explains how the UAB...

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...

Dr. Steven Stack, MD, MBA, Commissioner for Public Health and Chief Medical Officer, Commonwealth of Kentucky, and ASTHO President, discusses a partnership with HBCU Kentucky State University to bolster the public health workforce; Julia Greenspan,...

John Auerbach, senior vice president for health at ICF, previews an upcoming webinar on AI;  Paula Lee, manager of public health training at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Office of Public Health Practice, Planning, and...

Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO president-elect and state health officer with the Alabama Department of Public Health, tells us about an education campaign about tick-borne diseases; Sean Newhouse, staff reporter for Government Executive, explains a study...

Corinne Gillenwater, ASTHO chronic disease and health improvement analyst, talks about an ASTHO toolkit that uses the Healthy People 2030 framework to help build partnerships; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, says today’s Avian Flu...