Health Policy Update Episodes

June 2, 2025

918: Tick-Borne Diseases At All-Time High, PH Legislation Roundup

Laura Harrington, professor in the department of entomology at Cornell University and director of the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, explains how public health can combat tick-borne diseases; Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst for state health policy, discusses…
May 21, 2025

911: Admin. Preparedness Key In Emergencies, Mosquito Control Trends

Julia McIlroy, procurement content manager for the National Association of State Procurement Officials, discusses administrative preparedness for public health emergencies...
May 12, 2025

Ep 904: Childhood Obesity Report, States Act on Food Dyes

Rita Condon, program manager for obesity, nutrition, and physical activity with the New Mexico Department of Health, discusses the agency’s annual Childhood Obesity Update and the new initiatives in place to promote healthy eating; Andy Baker-White, senior director for state health policy...
April 24, 2025

892: PH Social Media Tool, Timely STI Testing

Adrienne Ammerman, founder and CEO of Arclet, explains how her platform will help health communicators; Amelia Poulin, ASTHO assistant director of emerging infectious disease, breaks down a blog article on what states are doing to combat syphilis and...
March 25, 2025

870: Opioid Overdose Declines, Tobacco Roundup

Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health and an ASTHO Member, tells us how Illinois worked to successfully reduce opioid overdoses; and Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst of state health policy, recaps some of the...
March 21, 2025

868: States Address Sepsis, CR Continues Funding PH

Erin Laird, ASTHO director of emerging infections, explains how states are taking action against sepsis; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO senior director for government affairs, tells us how the recently signed continuing resolution affects funding for public...
March 6, 2025

857: Mathematical Models + PH, States Address Rural Healthcare Issues

Dr. Spencer Fox, assistant professor at the University of Georgia, explains how a new course on mathematical models could help public health professionals; Dr. Lana McKinney, ASTHO senior policy analyst on the State Health Policy team, tells us how...
Feb. 14, 2025

844: Data Modernization Citizens Can Use, Indoor Air Quality

Wesley Kortuem, data analytics section lead at the Arizona Department of Health Services, explains how his team created a comprehensive public health data portal; Abraham Kulungara, senior director for Environmental Health at ASTHO, updates us on the...
Feb. 6, 2025

838: Oregon’s Bold Health Goals, Food Deserts

Dr. Sejal Hathi, director of the Oregon Health Authority, tells us that to achieve Oregon’s bold health goals we have to work together; Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst for State Health Policy, explains how some states are addressing food...
Jan. 24, 2025

829: Overdose Prevention in the Justice System, Fentanyl Crisis Federal Action

JoAnne McClure, senior analyst on ASTHO’s State Health Policy Team, discusses a new ASTHO Health Policy Update that centers on the need for more overdose prevention supports for those in the criminal justice system; Catherine Jones, ASTHO Government...
Nov. 27, 2024

800: Hemp’s Hazy Status, Climate Change Impacts Health Equity

Christina Severin, ASTHO’s director of Public Health Law, dives into the ins and outs of the status of hemp; Linda Helland, manager of California’s Climate Change and Health Equity Branch at the California Department of Public Health, tells us...
May 30, 2024

675: Latest Tobacco Concerns, Overdose Data Brings Mixed Results

John Bowman, executive vice president for U.S. Tobacco Programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, sounds the alarm about the tobacco industry’s relentless drive to encourage young people to use their products; Kayley Humm, ASTHO senior analyst...
Sept. 27, 2023

512: Court Cases Impacting Public Health, Helping PH Managers

Christina Severin, ASTHO’s Director of Public Health Law, outlines upcoming Supreme Court cases that will impact public health; Susan Donnelly, Workforce Director at the Oklahoma State Department of Health, shares the work her team is doing to...
July 24, 2023

466: New Workforce Recommendations, Community Health Worker Policy Discussion

Omar Khalid, ASTHO’s Director of Workforce, explains new strategies for enhancing workforce well-being and retention; Brianna Gorman, ASTHO’s Clinical to Community Connections team member, says community health workers are a key connection between...
July 12, 2023

458: Indiana Invests in Local PH,  Youth Mental Health Webinar

Pam Pontones, Deputy Health Commissioner of Local Public Health Services for the Indiana State Department of Health, shares Indiana’s plan to invest in local health departments to address community health needs; Ioana Ungureanu, ASTHO's Senior Analyst for...