Episodes

1162: Rebuilding Public Trust Through Storytelling
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.
1161: Finding Your Voice: Leadership Lessons from the DELPH Program
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.
1160: PHIG Impact Report: Palau's Data Transformation Journey
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.
1159: Strengthening Public Health Through Preparedness
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.
1158: Staying Safe During Tick Season, and Leading with Purpose
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.
1157: How Wastewater Data Protects Public Health
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.
1156: PHIG Impact Report: AI in Public Health
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.
1155: Maternal Health Solutions from South Dakota
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.
1154: Public Health Leadership and Innovation in the Islands
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.
1153: Building Change Leadership and Implementation Capacity in Public Health
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.
1152: Building a Strong Public Health Workforce Through Onboarding
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
1151: How States Are Strengthening Supply Chains and Stockpiles
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.
1150: Building a Community-Driven State Health Improvement Plan in Oregon
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.
1149: Mid-Session Check-In: The Public Health Trends Shaping State Legislatures
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.
1148: How Academic Health Department Partnerships Create Career Pathways
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.
1147: PHIG Impact Report: How South Carolina Is Building a Stronger Workforce
June 16, 2026

1147: PHIG Impact Report: How South Carolina Is Building a Stronger Workforce

On today's PHIG Impact Report, Karla Buru from the South Carolina Department of Public Health discusses the agency’s Supplemental Tuition Assistance Program (STAP), an innovative workforce development initiative designed to support employee development, retention, and leadership.
1146: Budget Battles and Capitol Hill Updates
June 15, 2026

1146: Budget Battles and Capitol Hill Updates

On today's episode, Catherine Jones, senior analyst for government affairs at ASTHO, breaks down HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s FY27 budget hearings. Then, Jeffrey Ekoma, vice president of government affairs at ASTHO, highlights a recent Legislative Alert and developments in congressional appropriations, pending leadership nominations, and more.
1145: Why the South Is Facing a Syphilis Crisis
June 12, 2026

1145: Why the South Is Facing a Syphilis Crisis

On today's episode, Thomas Dobbs from the University of Mississippi discusses syphilis in the U.S., from the use of antibiotics and public health interventions to the rising case rates over the past decade. Later, Joshua O’Neal from the Southeast STD/HIV Prevention Training Center discusses how prevention training centers are helping health departments and local providers respond to the crisis.
1144: Tracking Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Why Massachusetts Is Monitoring a Growing Tick-Borne Threat
June 11, 2026

1144: Tracking Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Why Massachusetts Is Monitoring a Growing Tick-Borne Threat

On today's episode, ASTHO member Robert Goldstein discusses why Massachusetts recently made alpha-gal syndrome a reportable condition and the benefits of expanded case surveillance.
1143: AI Literacy and the Future of Public Health Work
June 10, 2026

1143: AI Literacy and the Future of Public Health Work

On today's episode, ASTHO's Ari Whiteman discusses the growing importance of AI literacy across the public health field, for the current workforce and incoming professionals.
1142: Why Immunization Information Systems Matter
June 9, 2026

1142: Why Immunization Information Systems Matter

On today's episode, ASTHO’s Andy Baker-White explains why Immunization Information Systems are essential to modern public health, and what lawmakers and the public should understand as policy debates continue.
1141: Stopping Outbreaks Before They Spread: CDC’s Global Health Security Mission and World Cup Preparedness
June 8, 2026

1141: Stopping Outbreaks Before They Spread: CDC’s Global Health Security Mission and World Cup Preparedness

On today's episode, CDC's Paige Armstrong explains how the organization works with partners around the world to detect and contain emerging health threats before they reach U.S. communities. Also, Marcus Plescia from the Fulton County Board of Health in Atlanta discusses preparations underway for the FIFA World Cup.
1140: Inside the Growing Ebola Outbreak in Central Africa
June 5, 2026

1140: Inside the Growing Ebola Outbreak in Central Africa

On today's episode, ASTHO’s Meredith Allen, vice president of health security, explores what sets the Ebola outbreak apart, discussing the virus strain, response efforts, and factors contributing to its rapid spread.
1139: How North Dakota Built a Statewide Medical Cache for Emergencies and Everyday Needs
June 4, 2026

1139: How North Dakota Built a Statewide Medical Cache for Emergencies and Everyday Needs

On today's episode, Tim Wiedrich from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services tells us how the state developed a unified public-private partnership that supports hospitals, public health agencies, EMS providers, and long-term care facilities.
Guest: Tim Wiedrich