Episodes

1135: From Sewage Spills to Strategic Partnerships
May 28, 2026

1135: From Sewage Spills to Strategic Partnerships

On today's episode, ASTHO member Ayanna Bennett discusses the Potomac River sewage spill, the public health risks it created, and the coordination required between local, state, and federal agencies to protect residents. Later, ASTHO’s Jen Layden explains why partnerships are central to ASTHO’s 202…
1134: Breaking Boundaries in Overdose Prevention Leadership
May 27, 2026

1134: Breaking Boundaries in Overdose Prevention Leadership

On today's episode, ASTHO’s Alice Schenall, senior advisor, cross sector leadership and change management, and ASTHO's Alyssa Merski, a senior analyst for social and behavioral health, talk about the role of boundary-spanning leadership in strengthening Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) efforts.
1133: PHIG Impact Report: Inside America’s $4.6 Billion Infrastructure Investment
May 26, 2026

1133: PHIG Impact Report: Inside America’s $4.6 Billion Infrastructure Investment

What does it take to rebuild the foundation of public health in the United States, and why did it take 30 years to get here? Director of the Division of Jurisdictional Support, CDC's Public Health Infrastructure Center, Stacey Mattison Jenkins breaks down the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHI…
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…
1130: From Recruitment to Retention: Strengthening the Public Health Workforce
May 20, 2026

1130: From Recruitment to Retention: Strengthening the Public Health Workforce

On today's episode, ASTHO'S Brianna Gorman discusses ASTHO’s new Workforce Employee Experience Implementation Tool. Later, LaShonda Freeman with the South Carolina Department of Public Health discusses South Carolina’s Supplemental Tuition Assistance Policy Program (STAP).
1129: The Rising Cost of Falling Vaccination Rates
May 19, 2026

1129: The Rising Cost of Falling Vaccination Rates

Today: Ben Lopman, professor at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, discusses the new Vaccine Impact Map. Later, Bryan Patenaude, associate professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, breaks down the financial realities of measles outbreaks and why even relatively …
1128: Building the Future of Public Health Through Communication and Classrooms
May 18, 2026

1128: Building the Future of Public Health Through Communication and Classrooms

On today's episode, the de Beaumont Foundation's Amanda Kwong discusses why effective public health communications go far beyond public awareness campaigns. Later, ASTHO's Ashley Nanthavongsa-Mosley highlights innovative efforts to introduce public health education into K-12 schools.
1127: AI, Public Health, and the Future of Proactive Care
May 15, 2026

1127: AI, Public Health, and the Future of Proactive Care

What happens when artificial intelligence, clinical care, and public health finally start working together? Umair Shah, chief medical officer at Jaan Health and the AI-powered care management platform, Phamily, discusses the future of proactive healthcare and the role AI can play in connecting pati…
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 …
1125: Colorado’s Upstream Approach to Suicide Prevention
May 13, 2026

1125: Colorado’s Upstream Approach to Suicide Prevention

On today's episode, Conlin Bass, health systems suicide prevention manager for the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention, explains Colorado’s comprehensive, data-driven strategy focused on reaching people before they hit a breaking point.
1124: PHIG Impact Report: How Tennessee Is Rewiring Public Health from the Ground Up
May 12, 2026

1124: PHIG Impact Report: How Tennessee Is Rewiring Public Health from the Ground Up

On today's PHIG Impact Report, leaders from the Tennessee Department of Health (Sanjana Stamm and Jen Trail) share how they’re using PHIG funding to transform care at both the clinical and community levels, including the use of care coordinators across rural areas, and targeted grant management.
1123: Inside Maine’s Rural Birth Crisis
May 11, 2026

1123: Inside Maine’s Rural Birth Crisis

On today's episode, Senior Advisor for Public Health at MaineHealth, former state health official, and ASTHO Alumni Society Representative, Dora Anne Mills, tells us about the rapidly escalating rural maternity crisis, beyond just hospital closures.
1122: Mississippi’s Fight Against Infant Mortality
May 8, 2026

1122: Mississippi’s Fight Against Infant Mortality

On today's episode, ASTHO member and State Health Officer Daniel Edney explains what’s driving the infant mortality crisis and what it will take to improve infant outcomes, including the roles of maternal health, obesity, and preterm births.
1121: The Power of a Strong Impact Statement
May 7, 2026

1121: The Power of a Strong Impact Statement

On today's episode, ASTHO Director of Infrastructure Communications Elise Moore explores a growing trend in grant funding: community impact statements, and how they explain not just what public health agencies are doing, but why it matters.
1120: How Pacific Islands Are Facing a Growing Health Crisis
May 6, 2026

1120: How Pacific Islands Are Facing a Growing Health Crisis

Today, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Environmental Health Shelbi Davis shares how island communities are navigating some of the most severe climate-related health risks in the world, with limited infrastructure and strained public health systems.
1119: How PopHIVE Is Rewiring Public Health Intelligence
May 5, 2026

1119: How PopHIVE Is Rewiring Public Health Intelligence

Today, we’ll hear about a new platform, PopHIVE, aiming to unlock the full potential of population health data with insights from Anne Zink, ASTHO past president and a senior fellow at the Yale School of Public Health, and Jen Layden, senior vice president of population health and innovation at AST…
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.
1117: Cybersecurity and Public Health Preparedness
May 1, 2026

1117: Cybersecurity and Public Health Preparedness

On today's episode, ASTHO's Maggie Nilz explains how cyber disruptions are reshaping the foundation of public health systems. She shares how digital infrastructure makes core health functions more vulnerable and what jurisdictions can do to meet these challenges.
1116: How “Tabletop in a Box” Helps Communities Respond to Overdose Spikes
April 30, 2026

1116: How “Tabletop in a Box” Helps Communities Respond to Overdose Spikes

In this episode, Jessica Pough, director of overdose preparedness and response at ASTHO, talks about a new tool designed to help communities prepare before a crisis hits.
1115: How Mentorship and Training Are Transforming Public Health Leadership
April 29, 2026

1115: How Mentorship and Training Are Transforming Public Health Leadership

Strong leaders don’t just appear, they’re developed. In this episode, Joshua Allen, leadership training director for the South Carolina Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Organizational Development, talks about how targeted supervisor training and mentorship programs are reshaping workforce cu…
1114: PHIG Impact Report: Inside Multnomah County’s Workforce Resilience Strategy
April 28, 2026

1114: PHIG Impact Report: Inside Multnomah County’s Workforce Resilience Strategy

What does it take to build and sustain a strong public health workforce in uncertain times? In this episode Kirsten Aird, public health director for Oregon’s Multnomah County, explores how strategic investments are strengthening workforce capacity, stability, and community impact. Aird breaks down …
1113: Data Modernization Is a Long Game: Progress, Partnerships, and Policy
April 27, 2026

1113: Data Modernization Is a Long Game: Progress, Partnerships, and Policy

Public health data modernization isn’t a quick fix; it’s a multi-decade transformation. In this episode, ASTHO Senior Vice President for Population Health and Innovation, Jen Layden, talks about the real progress happening across the country and the persistent challenges that remain. Drawing from i…
1112: Inside Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance
April 23, 2026

1112: Inside Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance

How do public health officials detect emerging viruses before they spread widely across the U.S.? Heather Reese, genomic epidemiology and preparedness team lead at CDC, tells us about the Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance (TGS) program: a cutting-edge effort that turns international travel into a…