Episodes

In this episode, Alysia Mihalakos, chief of the Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Rhode Island Department of Health, shares how serving as a subject matter expert for Jodi Picoult's novel "Hollow Bones" helped bring the realities of public health preparedness to life, from emergency exercises and partnerships to resource constraints and post-pandemic workforce challenges.

Paul Cantey of CDC and U.S. Public Health Service discusses the current status of New World Screwworm in the United States and explains how federal, state, territorial, and local agencies are coordinating their response, early recognition and treatment, and what public health professionals should know.

Jessica Malaty Rivera from The Public Good Projects discusses the questions and concerns emerging around the new mRNA flu vaccine and why communicators should focus on providing clear information to encourage questions while keeping evidence-based information front and center.

In today's episode, Lawrence Greenblatt, an ASTHO member and state health director of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, discusses the state's approach to healthy aging. Later, hear from Jewel Mullen, an ASTHO alum and associate professor at Dell Medical School, about the importance of boundary-spanning leadership in addressing public health challenges.

Colin Gerber from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists discusses the Data Science Team Training program and how the initiative helps public health staff build data science skills through project-based training, professional development, subject matter expert coaching, and peer collaboration.

CNMI Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation's Warren Villagomez, Patrick Fitial, and ASTHO Member Esther Muna discuss how the territory prepared for back-to-back super typhoons in 2026 and responded to their aftermath. They describe efforts to activate emergency operations, protect health care facilities, plan workforce coverage, and more before the storms arrived.

Brannon Traxler, ASTHO board member and acting director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health, discusses how coordination among public health, law enforcement, emergency medical services, treatment providers, and community partners has led to a two-year decline in overdose deaths.

In this episode, ASTHO's Anna Bradley explores practical tools, from CRM platforms to SharePoint and spreadsheets, and shares how intentional relationship management can help agencies build stronger, more sustainable connections with the organizations they serve. Discover how public health agencies can strengthen community partnerships by using customer relationship management (CRM) strategies to reduce duplicate outreach, improve coordination, and respect partners' time.

Maggie Nilz, senior analyst for preparedness at ASTHO, discusses how EMS systems are adapting to meet changing community needs and what policymakers are doing to strengthen the systems that support emergency care.

Jennifer Lloyd, assistant director for RecoveryOhio in the office of Governor Mike DeWine, shares about RecoveryRachel, an AI-powered treatment finder designed to help people quickly identify appropriate mental health and substance use treatment providers.

On today's installment of the PHIG Impact Report, hear from ASTHO's Colton Anderson and DeMatt Harkins from the Mississippi State Department of Health on how a Quality Advisory Group creates a space to share challenges, exchange tools, and build stronger systems for performance management.

ASTHO member and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Raynard Washington discusses his plans to strengthen the state's public health infrastructure, pulling from his past experience in North Carolina and Philadelphia.

ASTHO CEO, Dr. Joseph Kanter, and Vice President for Government Affairs, Jeffrey Ekoma, reflect on the effects of 9/11 and subsequent health emergencies on creating our modern public health preparedness system.

Beth Maldin, deputy commissioner for the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, reflects on her experience responding to 9/11, the anthrax attacks that followed, and how the events helped transform public health emergency preparedness.

Rhonda Randall, executive vice president and chief medical officer for United Healthcare Employer and Individual, discusses the 14th edition of the America’s Health Rankings Senior Report and what its findings mean for state and territorial health officials.

On today's episode, guest Luigi Leblanc, a doctoral student at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, shares his research findings on data modernization across the territories. Leblanc highlights why data interoperability, governance, and workforce stability are critical to residents' health care in island areas.

Congress returns from its August recess facing a packed fall agenda, with federal funding, public health leadership and the looming midterm elections shaping what lawmakers can accomplish before the end of the year. On this View from Washington D.C., ASTHO’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Jeffrey Ekoma, discusses the latest developments on Capitol Hill: the continuing resolution that will keep the federal government funded through December 11, what to watch in negotiations over FY2027 fun...

On today's episode, ASTHO's Dan Tauriello explains how modernizing data systems in medical examiner offices can improve efficiency, strengthen connections with public health, and more.

Brannon Traxler, acting director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health, and an ASTHO member, shares about the state's public health and environmental laboratory, which was recently built in response to the demands of COVID-19 testing and modern laboratory equipment.

On today's installment of the PHIG Impact Report, Raynard Washington, ASTHO member and commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, discusses how PHIG funding supports local health departments, strengthens the state’s public health workforce, and enhances communications infrastructure.

In recognition of National Overdose Awareness Day, Michael Jurasek, a CDC Foundation public health analyst with the ORS program serving Alaska, shares the work the program has done in Alaska to help prevent and be prepared for overdose in the community.

On today's episode, ASTHO's Corinne Gillenwater discusses ASTHO’s updated e-learning course for community health workers (CHWs) on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including information related to dementia risk reduction, early detection, caregiving, and more.

Brittany Cox, assistant commissioner of the Division of Health Disparities Elimination at the Tennessee Department of Health, shares about how attending an ASTHO Leading Change workshop helped her be a better leader.

On today's episode, ASTHO's Danny Staley discusses how innovation and capacity building can help health departments adapt by strengthening the workforce and using data in new ways.