Public Health Workforce Episodes

1154: Public Health Leadership and Innovation in the Islands
June 26, 2026

1154: Public Health Leadership and Innovation in the Islands

On today's episode, ASTHO's Joseph Kanter and Andy Baker-White highlight takeaways from the Executive Leadership Forum and the legislative actions advancing public health in island jurisdictions.
1153: Building Change Leadership and Implementation Capacity in Public Health
June 25, 2026

1153: Building Change Leadership and Implementation Capacity in Public Health

On today's episode, ASTHO's Sara Bell and Alice Schenall discuss how public health agencies can turn strategic plans into measurable progress and lead through change and uncertainty.
1152: Building a Strong Public Health Workforce Through Onboarding
June 24, 2026

1152: Building a Strong Public Health Workforce Through Onboarding

On today's episode, Mary Ramirez from the South Carolina Department of Public Health discusses the agency’s innovative onboarding program for new employees.
Guest: Mary Ramirez
1151: How States Are Strengthening Supply Chains and Stockpiles
June 23, 2026

1151: How States Are Strengthening Supply Chains and Stockpiles

On today's episode, ASTHO's Maggie Nilz shares how states are rethinking public health preparedness and adapting to a changing emergency management landscape.
1148: How Academic Health Department Partnerships Create Career Pathways
June 17, 2026

1148: How Academic Health Department Partnerships Create Career Pathways

On today's episode, Mayela Arana from the Public Health Foundation discusses academic health department partnerships, which are designed to strengthen the current workforce and train the next generation of public health professionals.
1147: PHIG Impact Report: How South Carolina Is Building a Stronger Workforce
June 16, 2026

1147: PHIG Impact Report: How South Carolina Is Building a Stronger Workforce

On today's PHIG Impact Report, Karla Buru from the South Carolina Department of Public Health discusses the agency’s Supplemental Tuition Assistance Program (STAP), an innovative workforce development initiative designed to support employee development, retention, and leadership.
1146: Budget Battles and Capitol Hill Updates
June 15, 2026

1146: Budget Battles and Capitol Hill Updates

On today's episode, Catherine Jones, senior analyst for government affairs at ASTHO, breaks down HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s FY27 budget hearings. Then, Jeffrey Ekoma, vice president of government affairs at ASTHO, highlights a recent Legislative Alert and developments in congressional appropriations, pending leadership nominations, and more.
1143: AI Literacy and the Future of Public Health Work
June 10, 2026

1143: AI Literacy and the Future of Public Health Work

On today's episode, ASTHO's Ari Whiteman discusses the growing importance of AI literacy across the public health field, for the current workforce and incoming professionals.
1141: Stopping Outbreaks Before They Spread: CDC’s Global Health Security Mission and World Cup Preparedness
June 8, 2026

1141: Stopping Outbreaks Before They Spread: CDC’s Global Health Security Mission and World Cup Preparedness

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.
1138: How Mentorship Strengthens the Maternal and Child Health Workforce
June 3, 2026

1138: How Mentorship Strengthens the Maternal and Child Health Workforce

On today's episode, Candice Simon from the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs discusses the Maternal Health Innovation Leaders Mentorship Program and the value of meaningful professional guidance in public health.
1137: Resetting Public Health with Big Ideas for Change
June 2, 2026

1137: Resetting Public Health with Big Ideas for Change

On today's episode, Lindsey Myers, ASTHO vice president for public health workforce and infrastructure, discusses the Insight and Inspiration webinar series featuring bestselling author Dan Heath and why his books resonate with public health professionals navigating today’s complex environment.
1136: Building Public Health Workforce Capacity Across Island Jurisdictions
June 1, 2026

1136: Building Public Health Workforce Capacity Across Island Jurisdictions

On today's episode, Melissa Sever from the Public Health Accreditation Board tells us about the Strengthening Public Health Workforce Capacity in Island Jurisdictions Project and the unique workforce challenges facing island jurisdictions.
1133: PHIG Impact Report: Inside America’s $4.6 Billion Infrastructure Investment
May 26, 2026

1133: PHIG Impact Report: Inside America’s $4.6 Billion Infrastructure Investment

What does it take to rebuild the foundation of public health in the United States, and why did it take 30 years to get here? Director of the Division of Jurisdictional Support, CDC's Public Health Infrastructure Center, Stacey Mattison Jenkins breaks down the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG), a $4.6 billion investment reaching more than 100 health departments nationwide.
1130: From Recruitment to Retention: Strengthening the Public Health Workforce
May 20, 2026

1130: From Recruitment to Retention: Strengthening the Public Health Workforce

On today's episode, ASTHO'S Brianna Gorman discusses ASTHO’s new Workforce Employee Experience Implementation Tool. Later, LaShonda Freeman with the South Carolina Department of Public Health discusses South Carolina’s Supplemental Tuition Assistance Policy Program (STAP).
1128: Building the Future of Public Health Through Communication and Classrooms
May 18, 2026

1128: Building the Future of Public Health Through Communication and Classrooms

On today's episode, the de Beaumont Foundation's Amanda Kwong discusses why effective public health communications go far beyond public awareness campaigns. Later, ASTHO's Ashley Nanthavongsa-Mosley highlights innovative efforts to introduce public health education into K-12 schools.
1126: Leadership, Trust, and the Future of Rural Health Investment
May 14, 2026

1126: Leadership, Trust, and the Future of Rural Health Investment

In this episode, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Government Affairs, Catherine Murphy, unpacks the ripple effects of ongoing changes at the Department of Health and Human Services and CDC. Later, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Susan Kansagra, zooms out to the state level, where leaders are racing to deploy Rural Health Transformation Program funds.
1124: PHIG Impact Report: How Tennessee Is Rewiring Public Health from the Ground Up
May 12, 2026

1124: PHIG Impact Report: How Tennessee Is Rewiring Public Health from the Ground Up

On today's PHIG Impact Report, leaders from the Tennessee Department of Health (Sanjana Stamm and Jen Trail) share how they’re using PHIG funding to transform care at both the clinical and community levels, including the use of care coordinators across rural areas, and targeted grant management.
1120: How Pacific Islands Are Facing a Growing Health Crisis
May 6, 2026

1120: How Pacific Islands Are Facing a Growing Health Crisis

Today, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Environmental Health Shelbi Davis shares how island communities are navigating some of the most severe climate-related health risks in the world, with limited infrastructure and strained public health systems.
1118: Bridging the Rural Health Gap: Building Capacity, Workforce, and Connection
May 4, 2026

1118: Bridging the Rural Health Gap: Building Capacity, Workforce, and Connection

On today's episode, Melanie Ramsey from CDC’s Office of Rural Health addresses rural public health challenges. She shares how the Rural Health Academy offers state and local health leaders the opportunity to strengthen capacity and meet jurisdictional needs.
1115: How Mentorship and Training Are Transforming Public Health Leadership
April 29, 2026

1115: How Mentorship and Training Are Transforming Public Health Leadership

In this episode, Joshua Allen from the South Carolina Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Organizational Development discusses how targeted supervisor training and mentorship programs are reshaping workforce culture in public health.
1114: PHIG Impact Report: Inside Multnomah County’s Workforce Resilience Strategy
April 28, 2026

1114: PHIG Impact Report: Inside Multnomah County’s Workforce Resilience Strategy

In this episode, Kirsten Aird, from Oregon’s Multnomah County, explores how strategic investments are strengthening workforce capacity, stability, and community impact.
1113: Data Modernization Is a Long Game: Progress, Partnerships, and Policy
April 27, 2026

1113: Data Modernization Is a Long Game: Progress, Partnerships, and Policy

In this episode, ASTHO Senior Vice President for Population Health and Innovation, Jen Layden, discusses the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, or HIMSS, conference and the real public health progress happening across the country and the persistent challenges that remain.
1109: Modernizing Grants Management
April 20, 2026

1109: Modernizing Grants Management

In this episode, ASTHO's Colton Anderson explains how agencies across the country are rethinking and improving their grants management processes.
1108: How Louisiana Transformed Performance Management
April 16, 2026

1108: How Louisiana Transformed Performance Management

On today's episode, Anna Bryant from the Louisiana Department of Health breaks down the essential connection between performance management and quality improvement, showing how big-picture strategy and day-to-day problem solving must work hand in hand.