Episodes

What does the future of public health look like, and what does it cost to build it? In this episode, ASTHO member Dr. James McDonald, commissioner of health for New York State, returns to the show to unpack the state’s $1.7 billion investment in a new, state-of-the-art Wadsworth Center Laboratory.

Long COVID didn’t end with the pandemic, and in some ways, the challenges are just beginning. In this episode, Heather Drummond, deputy director of the Center for Access to Whole Person Care for the Washington State Department of Health, joins us to discuss the myths, realities, and urgent gaps sur…

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...

Suicide remains one of the most urgent and complex public health challenges in the United States, with more than 49,000 lives lost in 2023 alone. In this episode, ASTHO’s director of state health policy, JoAnne Deehr, breaks down how states are responding with more targeted, data-driven strategies.

Leadership in public health has never been more complex, and navigating conflict is a critical skill for today’s leaders. In this episode, Dawn Morriston, director of faculty advancement in the Office of Faculty Affairs and L...

In this episode: what happens after Hill Day wraps, and what’s next for public health funding. We talk with ASTHO Senior Director for Government Affairs, Jeffrey Ekoma, about the fast-moving FY27 appropriations process and what it means for state and territorial health agencies.

How do you deliver specialty health care across a 14-island chain spread across the Pacific? In this episode we talk with Eleanor Cabrera, Chief Strategy Officer of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation for the Commonwealt...

Public health nurses are on the front lines of community health, but many are facing stress, burnout, and limited opportunities for advancement. In this episode, Shirley Orr, executive director for the Association of Public Health Nurses, talks about the final session in the Public Health Nursing W…

As Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funding moves into its later years, how can health departments maximize its impact? In today's PHIG Impact Report, Ron Bialek, president and CEO, Public Health Foundation, talks about the biggest opportunities ahead for state and local agencies.

Public health programs don’t operate in a vacuum; they’re shaped by policies that influence funding, access to care, reporting requirements, and more. In this episode, JoAnne Deehr, Director of State Health Policy at ASTHO, explains ASTHO’s Policy Institute for STI and Infectious Disease Prevention.

At the ASTHO Spring Leadership Forum, Justa Encarnacion, ASTHO member and commissioner of health for the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health, shared how island jurisdictions are tackling some of the nation’s toughest health challenges with collaboration, data, and community-driven prevention.

What does it really mean for a food system to be resilient, and why does it matter for public health? In this episode, we hear from Elsie Moore, postdoctoral associate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University, who breaks down the concept of food system resilience and why it goe…

A parasitic pest once eradicated from the United States is moving closer to the border and public health officials are paying close attention. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Shuford, an ASTHO member and commissioner of the Tex...

At the ASTHO Spring Leadership Forum in Arlington, public health leaders met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss the issues shaping health policy across the country. In this episode, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, an ASTHO me...

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 faci...

What does it take to build a resilient public health system? Keshana Owens-Cody, director of the Office of Public Health Infrastructure at the New York State Department of Health, talks about incorporating core competencies i...

Public health agencies across the country face a growing workforce shortage—but Missouri is tackling the challenge head-on. On today's installment of the PHIG Impact Report, we explore how Missouri internship programs are bui...

What if public health agencies could access better, faster, and more complete data without giving up control? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jen Layden, senior vice president of population and innovation at ASTHO, to e...

Today, two conversations highlight how policy shapes public health, both in communities and on Capitol Hill. First, Beth Giambrone, senior analyst for state health policy at ASTHO, explains how states are rethinking their app...

A major measles outbreak is testing public health systems, community trust, and the power of vaccination. In this episode, Dr. Brannon Traxler, ASTHO member and deputy director of health promotion and services and chief medic...

Public health is everywhere, but too often, people don’t see it. In this episode, we explore how the field can build a stronger future by investing in the next generation of professionals and improving how it communicates its...

How can public health detect invisible threats before they become crises? In this episode, we explore two powerful approaches shaping the future of preparedness: wastewater surveillance and radiological emergency response. Fi...

What happens when health coverage becomes unaffordable, and who’s stepping up to lead in moments like this? This episode connects two powerful public health stories. First, we break down the ACA enhanced premium tax credits:...

Major federal investments and national guidance can shape the future of public health, but only if states can turn policy into practice. This episode looks at two sweeping developments and the on-the-ground work required to m...