Episodes

July 23, 2026

1171: Leveraging the Rural Health Transformation Grant to Strengthen Maternal Health Systems

In this bonus, long-form episode, Daniel Edney, ASTHO president-elect and state health officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health, explains how Mississippi is using Rural Health Transformation Program grant funding to strengthen maternal health systems, Then, Ramya Flores, director of Maternal and Infant Health at ASTHO, puts Mississippi's work into a national context, highlighting how states are adopting levels of maternal care to improve access to risk-appropriate services.
July 22, 2026

1170: Making Data Modernization Matter: Communicating Change in Public Health

Sarah Shaw, senior informatics analyst at the Public Health Informatics Institute, discusses a new Data Modernization Communications Toolkit designed to help public health professionals explain complex initiatives in ways that resonate with colleagues, leaders, and communities.
July 21, 2026

1169: PHIG Impact Report: Building a Stronger Public Health Workforce in New Mexico

On today's PHIG Impact Report, Shadee Lauer, director for the Office of Training and Development at the New Mexico Department of Health, explains how the state is using PHIG funding to recruit, retain, and develop its workforce through data-driven strategies and innovative professional development programs.
July 20, 2026

1168: Strengthening Pennsylvania's Emergency Response System

In this episode, ASTHO member and Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen discusses how Pennsylvania's investment in EMS has strengthened emergency care across the state.
July 16, 2026

1167: PFAS, Public Trust, and the Power of Partnership

Christen Linke Young, cabinet secretary for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, discusses the collaborative, cross-agency approach Delaware has built to address PFAS contamination and other environmental health concerns in the state.
July 15, 2026

1166: Building Better Trainers in Public Health

Kaylin Clonch, workforce essential learning director at the South Carolina Department of Public Health, tells us about the agency’s approach to strengthening its training culture.
July 14, 2026

1165: Colorado's Healthy Kids Survey Reveals Encouraging Trends for Youth Well-Being

Emily Fine, school and youth survey manager in the Prevention Services Division at the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, highlights how findings from the 2025 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey showcased record low rates of persistent sadness, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts among youth.
Guest: Emily Fine
July 13, 2026

1164: Why States Are Watching the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

ASTHO’s Andy Baker-White, senior director for state health policy, discusses his recent Health Policy Update that focuses on the role of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in shaping preventive care recommendations and insurance coverage.
July 10, 2026

1163: New Faces, New Direction at HHS: June 2026

On today's episode, ASTHO's Catherine Murphy highlights the latest leadership changes across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including nominations within CDC, FDA, and more.
July 9, 2026

1162: Rebuilding Public Trust Through Storytelling

Jerome Larkin, ASTHO member and director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, discusses Rhode Island's "Better State of Healthy" campaign and how it is helping the department build connections with the community.
July 8, 2026

1161: Finding Your Voice: Leadership Lessons from the DELPH Program

On today's episode, Gabby Hadly, emergency preparedness and response manager for the Snohomish County Health Department in Washington state, reflects on her experience in ASTHO's Developing Executives Leading in Public Health (DELPH) program.
July 7, 2026

1160: PHIG Impact Report: Palau's Data Transformation Journey

On today's PHIG Impact Report, Tmong Udui with the Palau Ministry of Health and Human Services shares how Palau is using PHIG funding to modernize its health data systems.
July 6, 2026

1159: Strengthening Public Health Through Preparedness

On today's episode, Catherine Jones, senior analyst of Government Affairs at ASTHO, breaks down the importance of federal preparedness in strengthening public health.
July 2, 2026

1158: Staying Safe During Tick Season, and Leading with Purpose

Alison Hinckley, lead of Epidemiology and Surveillance in CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, explains this season's increase in tick data and simple prevention steps to reduce Tick-borne diseases. Then, Latoya Sahadeo, ASTHO’s director of the Developing Executives Leading in Public Health (DELPH) Program, shares about the DELPH program and the call for applications.
July 1, 2026

1157: How Wastewater Data Protects Public Health

Epidemiologist and Program Manager for Washington State's Wastewater-based Epidemiology Program Breanna McArdle,sits down with ASTHO and discusses how wastewater surveillance offers important data that fills in public health gaps. She also touches on the ethical and privacy concerns that come with wastewater surveillance, and the importance of collaboration in creating healthier futures.
June 30, 2026

1156: PHIG Impact Report: AI in Public Health

On today's PHIG Impact Report, Tatiana Lin and Shelby Rowell from the Kansas Health Institute highlight how health departments are using AI to improve efficiency and expand workforce capacity.
June 29, 2026

1155: Maternal Health Solutions from South Dakota

On today's episode, Denise Hanisch from the South Dakota Department of Health shares the state's maternal and infant health priorities, and ASTHO's Sanaa Akbarali highlights takeaways from the Region 7 Maternal Health ECHO Summit.
June 26, 2026

1154: Public Health Leadership and Innovation in the Islands

On today's episode, ASTHO's Joseph Kanter and Andy Baker-White highlight takeaways from the Executive Leadership Forum and the legislative actions advancing public health in island jurisdictions.
June 25, 2026

1153: Building Change Leadership and Implementation Capacity in Public Health

On today's episode, ASTHO's Sara Bell and Alice Schenall discuss how public health agencies can turn strategic plans into measurable progress and lead through change and uncertainty.
June 24, 2026

1152: Building a Strong Public Health Workforce Through Onboarding

On today's episode, Mary Ramirez from the South Carolina Department of Public Health discusses the agency’s innovative onboarding program for new employees.
Guest: Mary Ramirez
June 23, 2026

1151: How States Are Strengthening Supply Chains and Stockpiles

On today's episode, ASTHO's Maggie Nilz shares how states are rethinking public health preparedness and adapting to a changing emergency management landscape.
June 22, 2026

1150: Building a Community-Driven State Health Improvement Plan in Oregon

On today's episode, ASTHO member Naomi Adeline-Biggs discusses the development of Oregon’s five-year State Health Improvement Plan.
June 18, 2026

1149: Mid-Session Check-In: The Public Health Trends Shaping State Legislatures

On today's episode, Beth Giambrone discusses ASTHO’s mid-session update, reviewing the current public health trends emerging in state legislatures.
June 17, 2026

1148: How Academic Health Department Partnerships Create Career Pathways

On today's episode, Mayela Arana from the Public Health Foundation discusses academic health department partnerships, which are designed to strengthen the current workforce and train the next generation of public health professionals.