COVID-19 Episodes

1132: Leading Through the Storm: Carolyn Mullen on Public Health Advocacy, Crisis, and Change
May 22, 2026

1132: Leading Through the Storm: Carolyn Mullen on Public Health Advocacy, Crisis, and Change

On today's episode, Carolyn Mullen, senior vice president for government affairs and public relations, reflects on the defining moments, leadership lessons, and policy battles that shaped her nine years at ASTHO and her tenure in public health advocacy.
1131: Tracking Emerging Threats & Global Accessibility Awareness
May 21, 2026

1131: Tracking Emerging Threats & Global Accessibility Awareness

On today's episode, ASTHO Vice President of Health Security, Meredith Allen, tells us about the ongoing monitoring response tied to an outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. Later, Emily Lapayowker, assistant director of web content at ASTHO talks about Glo…
1112: Inside Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance
April 23, 2026

1112: Inside Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance

On today's episode, CDC's Heather Reese discusses the Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program: a cutting-edge effort that turns international travel into an early warning system for public health threats.
1095: Inside New York’s Next-Gen Wadsworth Lab
March 30, 2026

1095: Inside New York’s Next-Gen Wadsworth Lab

On today's episode, ASTHO member James McDonald returns to the show to unpack the state’s investment in the new, state-of-the-art Wadsworth Center Laboratory.
1094: Long COVID Isn’t Over: Inside Washington State’s Push to Track, Treat, and Destigmatize a Hidden Crisis
March 26, 2026

1094: Long COVID Isn’t Over: Inside Washington State’s Push to Track, Treat, and Destigmatize a Hidden Crisis

On today's episode, Heather Drummond from the Washington State Department of Health discusses the realities and urgent gaps in Long COVID care.
1093: How Palau Is Rethinking Care Beyond the Hospital
March 25, 2026

1093: How Palau Is Rethinking Care Beyond the Hospital

At this year’s ASTHO Spring Leadership Forum, Gaafar Uherbelau, advisor to the president of Palau and former minister of Health and Human Services, shared the story behind a long-awaited solution to a quiet but growing challe...
1084: Building Resilient Food Systems: Why States Must Plan for the Next Disruption
March 11, 2026

1084: Building Resilient Food Systems: Why States Must Plan for the Next Disruption

On today's episode, Cornell University's Elsie Moore breaks down food system resilience and why it's more than just food supply maintenance.
1074: From Wastewater to Radiological Readiness: Detecting and Responding to Public Health Threats
Feb. 23, 2026

1074: From Wastewater to Radiological Readiness: Detecting and Responding to Public Health Threats

On today's episode, Allison Wheeler from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shares how her team detected measles in wastewater before clinical cases appeared, helping local partners identify an outbreak early to act quickly. Then, Ziad Kazzi from Emory University breaks down w…
1065: Steady Hands: Leading Public Health Teams Through Chaos Without Losing Your Cool
Feb. 9, 2026

1065: Steady Hands: Leading Public Health Teams Through Chaos Without Losing Your Cool

What does calm leadership actually look like when everything feels urgent, political, and on fire?  In this episode, John Auerbach, senior vice president of health at ICF, offers a preview of ASTHO’s upcoming Insight & Inspiration webinar, 'Steady Hands, Steady Teams: Leading with Confidence and Co…
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 …
1048: Flu on the Rise: Vaccine Uptake, New Variants, and Protecting the Most Vulnerable
Jan. 7, 2026

1048: Flu on the Rise: Vaccine Uptake, New Variants, and Protecting the Most Vulnerable

As flu cases climb across the country and pediatric deaths rise, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, ASTHO member and Michigan’s chief medical executive, joins us to break down what this flu season means for families, health agencies, and health care systems.
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…
1038: Kentucky’s Pertussis Surge: Preventable Tragedies and a Path Forward
Dec. 8, 2025

1038: Kentucky’s Pertussis Surge: Preventable Tragedies and a Path Forward

Kentucky is experiencing its largest spike in whooping cough cases since 2012, an alarming rise that has already claimed the lives of three infants in the past year. In this episode, Dr. Steven Stack, secretary of Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services, joins us to unpack what’s driving …
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,…
1005: Scalable Data Surveillance For PH
Oct. 6, 2025

1005: Scalable Data Surveillance For PH

In this special episode of Public Health Review Morning Edition, Eric Whitworth, CEO of InductiveHealth, discusses the importance of scalable data surveillance systems and how taking a broader approach to modernization can benefit health departments.
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…
1001: Public Health + Medicaid
Sept. 30, 2025

1001: Public Health + Medicaid

In this special episode of Public Health Review Morning Edition, Julie Sullivan, principal at BerryDunn, discusses how public health agencies can partner with Medicaid to share data and obtain needed resources while saving funds.
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…
996: COVID Vaccine State Legislative Activity, Emergency Prep
Sept. 23, 2025

996: COVID Vaccine State Legislative Activity, Emergency Prep

Andy Baker-White, ASTHO’s senior director for state health policy, provides an update on the legislative actions states are taking across the country to ensure continued vaccination access within their jurisdictions; Captain Artensie Flowers, director of the division of regional operations with the…
992: Respiratory Vaccines Update, Succession Planning How-To
Sept. 17, 2025

992: Respiratory Vaccines Update, Succession Planning How-To

Dr. Susan Kansagra, chief medical officer at ASTHO, discusses updates to federal health initiatives that continue to impact public health agencies, including the latest report from the Make America Healthy Again Commission and recent activity regarding vaccines; Tiffany Day, public health specialis…
989: HIV and STI Efforts in States
Sept. 12, 2025

989: HIV and STI Efforts in States

Dr. Sameer Vohra, ASTHO member and director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, discusses the op-ed he co-authored in the Chicago Tribune on the progress his state has made in treating HIV; Brandon Kufalk, STI unit supervisor for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, explains...
987: One Health, Fall Vaccination Season
Sept. 10, 2025

987: One Health, Fall Vaccination Season

Dr. Catherine Brown, state epidemiologist and state public health veterinarian at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, discusses ASTHO’s recent meeting with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) and the importance of the One Health approach; a recent ASTHO blog artic…
971: Medicaid & Public Health Team Up, Respiratory Virus Season
Aug. 18, 2025

971: Medicaid & Public Health Team Up, Respiratory Virus Season

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, and Kate McEvoy, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, discuss a new partnership between the two organizations; Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO,...
970: Respiratory Virus Season Briefing, CICT Course
Aug. 15, 2025

970: Respiratory Virus Season Briefing, CICT Course

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO chief medical officer, Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO president and state health Officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, Dr. Ayanna Bennett, director of the District of Columbia Department of Health, and Dr. Manisha Juthani, ASTHO presid…