Episodes

On today's episode, ASTHO member James McDonald returns to the show to unpack the state’s investment in the new, state-of-the-art Wadsworth Center Laboratory.

On today's episode, Heather Drummond from the Washington State Department of Health discusses the realities and urgent gaps in Long COVID care.

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 challenge in public health. Palau’s new transition facility is designed for individuals who are medically cleared to leave the hospital but have nowhere to go or no one to care for them. What sounds like a simple fix is actually the result of decades of cultural shifts, resource c...

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.

On today's episode, Dawn Morriston from the UNC School of Medicine highlights her upcoming webinar, part of ASTHO's Leadership Power Hour series, designed to help supervisors and managers strengthen their leadership skills through focused professional development sessions.

Today, hear from ASTHO'S Jeffrey Ekoma as he details the fast-moving FY27 appropriations process and the implications for state and territorial health agencies.

On today's episode, Eleanor Cabrera from the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shares how telehealth is helping transform care delivery in island jurisdictions.

On today's episode, Shirley Orr from the Association of Public Health Nurses shares insights from the Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab series, including what the results of the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey reveal about this essential group of professionals.

On today's PHIG Impact Report Ron Bialek from the Public Health Foundation talks about the biggest opportunities ahead for state and local agencies including the use of AI within operations work and performance management systems improvement.

In this episode, ASTHO's JoAnne Deehr highlights ASTHO’s Policy Institute for STI and Infectious Disease Prevention and its offerings to state health agencies and public health professionals.

On today's episode, 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 using real-time data, advanced training, and wastewater surveillance.

On today's episode, Cornell University's Elsie Moore breaks down food system resilience and why it's more than just food supply maintenance.

On today's episode, ASTHO member Jennifer Shuford discusses how Texas is preparing for a potential return of New World screwworm, prompting proactive clinician alerts and enhanced environmental surveillance for detection and containment.

In today's episode, hear updates from ASTHO's Spring Leadership Forum. ASTHO member Natasha Bagdasarian shares how bipartisan conversations with members of Congress revealed a shared commitment to healthier communities. Plus, ASTHO's Carolyn Mullen provides a behind-the-scenes look at meetings with lawmakers during Hill Day.

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 facing public health leaders today. From a productive visit with leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to renewed conversations about partnerships around healthy eating and chronic disease prevention, Dr. Kanter reflects on why strong federal–state colla...

On today's episode, Keshana Owens-Cody from the New York State Department of Health discusses why fostering a culture of learning is essential in an era of constant change. Later, ASTHO's Catherine Murphy details the status of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act.

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 building a diverse, skilled pipeline of future public health professionals while strengthening partnerships between state and local agencies. Scott Allen, an administrator and health officer of the Webster County Health Unit, shares how hands-on internships are giving students ...

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 explore the new Public Health Data Consortium and what it means for the future of public health decision-making. Dr. Layden explains how this unique public–private partnership is designed to improve data access, quality, and analytics while keeping governance firmly in the ha...

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 approach to hypertension. From telehealth and remote blood pressure monitoring to expanded insurance coverage, policymakers are leveraging new technology to improve heart health across the lifespan. Later, Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO’s senior director of government affairs, shares wha...

On today's episode, ASTHO member Brannon Traxler shares the latest on South Carolina’s measles outbreak response. Then, ASTHO's Heather Tomlinson breaks down the growing presence of kratom in the U.S.

On today's episode, ASTHO's Kimberlee Wyche Etheridge highlights why workforce pathway programs, mentorship, and hands-on partnerships between universities and health departments are critical. Then, Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, discusses his recent article, focused on ways the public health field can communicate its impact.

On today's episode, Allison Wheeler from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shares how her team detected measles in wastewater before clinical cases appeared, helping local partners identify an outbreak early to act quickly. Then, Ziad Kazzi from Emory University breaks down what a radiological incident really looks like, from accidental exposures to nuclear incidents, and what a manageable response looks like.

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: what they were, who they helped, and what’s at stake now that they’ve expired. Catherine Jones, senior analyst for government affairs at ASTHO, will explain how these pandemic-era subsidies dramatically expanded access to marketplace coverage, helping middle-income famili...

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 make them matter. First, Chris Salyers, director of programs and evaluation at the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health explains the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a $50 billion, five-year investment aimed at strengthening rural communities. Wit...