CDC Episodes

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 t…
1140: Inside the Growing Ebola Outbreak in Central Africa
June 5, 2026

1140: Inside the Growing Ebola Outbreak in Central Africa

On today's episode, ASTHO’s Meredith Allen, vice president of health security, explores what sets the Ebola outbreak apart, discussing the virus strain, response efforts, and factors contributing to its rapid spread.
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 …
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.
1104: View from Washington, D.C.: Breaking Down the FY27 Budget Proposal
April 10, 2026

1104: View from Washington, D.C.: Breaking Down the FY27 Budget Proposal

The FY27 federal budget proposal is officially out, and while it’s just the opening move, there’s already a lot to unpack. In this episode, ASTHO’s Senior Director for Government Affairs, Jeffrey Ekoma, breaks down what’s in the proposal, what’s changed from last year, and what it all signals for p…
1102: National Public Health Week Day 3: Community Leadership
April 8, 2026

1102: National Public Health Week Day 3: Community Leadership

In this National Public Health Week conversation about community leadership and tobacco control, Josh Berry, director, chronic disease risk factors, at ASTHO, breaks down how state and territorial programs partner with trusted, on-the-ground community organizations to reach at-risk populations and …
1096: How the CDC Is Forecasting the Next Outbreak
March 31, 2026

1096: How the CDC Is Forecasting the Next Outbreak

On today's episode, CDC's Jason Asher joins us to explain how new data tools are transforming detection and response to infectious diseases.
1090: The View from Washington, D.C.: Inside FY27 on Capitol Hill
March 20, 2026

1090: The View from Washington, D.C.: Inside FY27 on Capitol Hill

Today, hear from ASTHO'S Jeffrey Ekoma as he details the fast-moving FY27 appropriations process and the implications for state and territorial health agencies.
1083: A Growing Threat: Preparing for the New World Screwworm
March 10, 2026

1083: A Growing Threat: Preparing for the New World Screwworm

On today's episode, ASTHO member Jennifer Shuford discusses how Texas is preparing for a potential return of New World screwworm, prompting proactive clinician alerts and enhanced environmental surveillance for detection and containment.
1071: Culture, Coordination, and Care: From Dialysis Safety to Disaster Response
Feb. 18, 2026

1071: Culture, Coordination, and Care: From Dialysis Safety to Disaster Response

What do infection prevention in dialysis clinics and hurricane response in the Caribbean have in common? More than you might think. This episode explores how culture, leadership, and coordination shape health outcomes, whether in a treatment chair or a disaster zone. First, Shalini Nair, a senior a…
1064: From Formula Recall to Federal Grants: How Public Health Responds Under Pressure
Feb. 5, 2026

1064: From Formula Recall to Federal Grants: How Public Health Responds Under Pressure

Two very different challenges, and one shared public health reality: systems have to work when it matters most. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Erica Pan, director and state public health officer for the California Department of Public Health, and ASTHO member, about a rare and unprecedented inf…
1057: STI Trends: Progress, Prevention, and the Urgent Rise in Congenital Syphilis
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 …
1056: Keeping the Public Health Workforce Strong: What Data, Leadership, and Flexibility Tell Us
Jan. 22, 2026

1056: Keeping the Public Health Workforce Strong: What Data, Leadership, and Flexibility Tell Us

What does the public health workforce need to stay engaged, supported, and committed, and how can leaders act on those insights? Heather Krasna, associate dean of career and professional development at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, joins us to break down new research on what …
1045: Bringing Island Voices Into the Data: Inside the First PH WINS Territories Survey
Dec. 18, 2025

1045: Bringing Island Voices Into the Data: Inside the First PH WINS Territories Survey

For the first time, all eight U.S. territories and freely associated states have been included in PH-WINS, or the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey. Rachel Hare Bork joins the show to discuss how this landmark pilot effort came together, why it took extensive travel and collaborati…
1040: Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive Discusses the Stakes of ACIP’s Vote on Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns
Dec. 10, 2025

1040: Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive Discusses the Stakes of ACIP’s Vote on Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns

In this episode, ASTHO member and Michigan Department of Health & Human Services Chief Medical Executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian breaks down a major development in national vaccine policy: the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP’s) decision to narrow its guidance on the hepatiti…
1035: Building Sustainable Public Health Data Systems in Montana
Dec. 2, 2025

1035: Building Sustainable Public Health Data Systems in Montana

On today's installment of the PHIG Impact Report, we talk with Jenn Rico, data modernization and surveillance & informatics supervisor at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Jenn shares how Montana has used PHIG funding to accelerate statewide data modernization, and investe…
Guest: Jenn Rico MA
1027: RSV Season Update: Data Gaps, Trends, and Immunization Efforts
Nov. 12, 2025

1027: RSV Season Update: Data Gaps, Trends, and Immunization Efforts

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 birthi…
1019: PH Lessons From Wildfires, End-Of-Year Legislative Priorities
Oct. 27, 2025

1019: PH Lessons From Wildfires, End-Of-Year Legislative Priorities

Michelle Hale, preparedness program director with the Office of Preparedness and Response at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, shares what her state learned about responding to critical public health challenges amid a surge of wildfires in the state; Catherine Murphy, senior analyst…
1015: PHIG Grant Management Improvements
Oct. 21, 2025

1015: PHIG Grant Management Improvements

In today's installment of the PHIG Impact Report, Amy Ferris, chief financial officer at the Washington State Department of Health, shares how her department is using the Public Health Infrastructure Grant to centralize its grant management system.
Guest: Amy Ferris
1012: Public Health’s 40 Under 40, Litigation Round-up
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,…
1009: ACIP Updates, Suicide Prevention Studies
Oct. 10, 2025

1009: ACIP Updates, Suicide Prevention Studies

Dr. Susan Kansagra, chief medical officer at ASTHO, discusses some of the downstream implications of CDC’s adoption of recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices earlier this week; Dr. Holly Wilcox, founder and director of the Center for Suicide Prevention and professor a…
1004: CHWs + Dementia, Government Shutdown Effects
Oct. 3, 2025

1004: CHWs + Dementia, Government Shutdown Effects

Mickal Lewis, associate director of the Center of Excellence on Dementia Risk Reduction with the Alzheimer's Association, shares how community health workers play an essential role supporting a continuum of care for community members with dementia, and how public health leaders can help advance pro…
998: Recent ACIP Meeting, Emergency Preparedness Priorities
Sept. 25, 2025

998: Recent ACIP Meeting, Emergency Preparedness Priorities

Kim Martin, director of immunization at ASTHO, recaps the recent ACIP meeting that took place and discusses the conversation’s potential impacts on public health; Veronica Bryant, emergency preparedness and outbreak coordinator for North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' environment…
995: CDC Funding Impact Report, Falls Prevention, EVD
Sept. 22, 2025

995: CDC Funding Impact Report, Falls Prevention, EVD

Dr. Joseph Kanter, CEO of ASTHO, joined Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, president and CEO of Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), Rhea Farberman, director of strategic communications and policy at TFAH, and Lori Freeman, CEO of NACCHO, during a recent briefing about TFAH’s report that details the impact of CDC…