Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH
Aug. 10, 2026
1183: Five Years of Public Health: The Stories That Shaped Our Journey
In this episode, we celebrate five years of Public Health Review: Morning Edition and revisit some of the defining moments from the podcast's past years.
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.
392
Nov. 1, 2024
CMO Plescia Steps Away; Harris Sees Large Role for Public Health
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, is stepping away from ASTHO after seven years in the position; Dr. Scott Harris, state health officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health and ASTHO president, says the next few years are...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Scott Harris, MD, MPH
744
Aug. 23, 2024
735: Respiratory Virus Season Briefing, ASTHO Continues Work Through Recess
ASTHO hosted a Respiratory Virus Season Deskside Briefing attended by national media outlets with Dr. Marcus Plescia, Dr. Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge, Dr. Sameer Vohra, and Dr. Manisha Juthani; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO Senior Director of Government Affairs,...
743
Aug. 22, 2024
734: COVID Updates, AI’s Public Health Communication Applications
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, updates us on COVID rates across the country; Robert Jennings, executive director of the National Public Health Information Coalition, tells us how AI could benefit public health communication; and an...
323
July 25, 2024
714: Accessible Healthcare For People With Disabilities, Avian Influenza Update
Dr. Audrey Juhasz, researcher at the Institute for Disability Research, Policy, and Practice, explains a project she is working on that is focused on accessible healthcare for people with disabilities; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer,...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Audrey Juhasz, PhD
310
July 8, 2024
701: Creative Ways to Leverage Funding, Plan to End Homelessness
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, encourages ASTHO members to consider braiding and layering funding approaches; Carrie Poser, Continuum of Care director for the Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care, tells us how Wisconsin...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Carrie Poser JD
306
July 1, 2024
696: Best of PHRME: Avian Flu Symposium Takeaways, Adolescent Immunization Toolkit
This special episode of Public Health Review Morning Edition revisits a popular episode from May 6th, 2024. Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, elaborates on a blog he authored on takeaways from the recent Avian Flu Symposium; Katelyn...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Katelyn Wells PhD
267
May 6, 2024
658: Avian Flu Symposium Takeaways, Adolescent Immunization Toolkit
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, elaborates on a blog he authored on takeaways from the recent Avian Flu Symposium; Katelyn Wells, chief research evaluation and development officer for the Association of Immunization Managers,...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Katelyn Wells PhD
260
April 25, 2024
651: Building Non-Traditional Partnerships, Health Equity Alliance
Corinne Gillenwater, ASTHO chronic disease and health improvement analyst, talks about an ASTHO toolkit that uses the Healthy People 2030 framework to help build partnerships; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, says today’s Avian Flu...
259
April 24, 2024
650: Avian Symposium Happens Tomorrow, Gen Z Interested in PH
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, previews a national symposium on avian flu; Jack McClure, a public health consultant with the Association of Immunization Managers, helps us understand how to reach younger people interested in public...
255
April 18, 2024
646: Climate Health Training, Updated PFAS Provider Guidance
Ben Fulgencio-Turner, director of the Climate for Health Program at ecoAmerica, discusses a new ASTHO training program that connects the impacts of climate change to public health; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, tells the news site...
250
April 11, 2024
641: Tracking Avian Flu, Naloxone Doses Get Review
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, says bird flu is getting the attention of public health agencies; Emily Payne, an epidemiologist at the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, tells us about a New York state study of the...
239
March 26, 2024
629: Long COVID Strategies, Updated ACEs Approaches
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, updates us on the Long COVID situation; Dr. Mark Levine, commissioner of health for the State of Vermont, tells us about ASTHO’s recently updated policy statement on adverse childhood experiences; and...
236
March 21, 2024
626: Island Heart Health, 2024 Preparedness Summit
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, tells us ASTHO continues to focus on improving heart health in our island areas; Lisa Peterson, ASTHO senior director for preparedness, discusses the upcoming 2024 Preparedness Summit; and an ASTHO...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Lisa Peterson MPH
217
Feb. 22, 2024
606: RSV Treatment Availability, Indiana’s Big Funding Win
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, discusses the supply and demand challenges impacting new RSV antibody products; Luke Kenley, former Indiana state senator, tells us how he helped lead the committee to develop and promote the public...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Hon. Luke Kenley
188
Jan. 10, 2024
577: New Preparedness Website Set to Launch, COVID Vaccine Messaging
Margaux Haviland, ASTHO director for Preparedness and Response Coordination, shares that the Inspire Readiness website goes live on January 16; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, wants public health to focus its COVID vaccine promotion...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Margaux Haviland MPH
185
Jan. 5, 2024
574: Tracking Respiratory Illness, Congressional Deadlines Loom
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, is tracking reports of respiratory illness across the U.S.; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO senior vice president for Government Affairs and Public Relations, discusses a federal funding deadline that is quickly...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Carolyn Mullen
175
Dec. 14, 2023
564: Flavored Tobacco Bans and Pricing Strategies, Respiratory Disease Guidance
Dr. Barbara Wallace, director of the Division of Chronic Disease Prevention at the New York State Department of Health, discusses various strategies to curb tobacco use; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, worries that too many sick...
169
Dec. 6, 2023
558: A Call to Expand Naloxone Availability, Policies to Solve Maternity Care Deserts
ASTHO President and Kentucky Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack says easier access to naloxone could help prevent many overdose deaths; former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams says naloxone should be as easy to find as AED devices that prevent...
162
Nov. 27, 2023
551: New Website Examines Public Health Priorities, Advocacy Drives Alzheimer’s Policy
Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer, ASTHO, examines ASTHO’s new webpage with a collection of evidence-based technical packages covering key public health concerns; J.T. Lane, senior vice president, Population Health and Innovation, ASTHO...
159
Nov. 20, 2023
548: Thankful for Public Health, New Guide to Manage Respiratory Illness
Dr. Steven Stack, ASTHO president and commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health; extends his gratitude for Public Health Thank You Day; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical officer, discusses how ASTHO worked on a discussion guide...
142
Oct. 25, 2023
531: RSV Vaccine Pitch, Virus Disparities
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, wants public health to focus on medical providers as the primary way to promote the RSV vaccine; an ASTHO blog article explains why public health readiness during the respiratory virus season is key; an...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Kris Bryant MD
138
Oct. 19, 2023
527: Disaster Exercise Toolkit, Healthy Brain Resources
Jennifer Lynch, Emergency Management Specialist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, says the frequency and intensity of natural disasters is changing the way planners think about emergency response; Nathan Wormington, Emergency Program...
126
Oct. 2, 2023
515: Menthol Messaging, Retail Food Safety Grants
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, offers public health agencies three talking points they can use when the tobacco industry tries to argue against proposed bans on flavored tobacco products; Dr. Alison Evans Cuellar, Chair of the...
124
Sept. 28, 2023
513: Menthol Ban Lessons, Retail Food Safety Networks
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, shares the challenges facing plans to ban tobacco flavorings; Dr. David McSwane, Executive Director of the Conference for Food Protection, explains the collaborative work of CFP and NACCHO to...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , David McSwane PhD
116
Sept. 18, 2023
505: Looking for New Vaccine Messaging, Fall Vaccine Strategy
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, says health departments are working to create effective vaccine messaging for this fall; Maggie Davis, ASTHO's Director of State Health Policy, shares policies aimed at reducing barriers to...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Maggie Davis JD MA
87
Aug. 7, 2023
476: Urging Calm Over COVID-19 Numbers, Health and Social Systems Alignment
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, shares the current COVID-19 status and a look ahead into the coming seasons; Dr. Steven Stack, ASTHO president elect and the Commissioner for Public Health for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, outlines...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Steven Stack, MD
75
July 20, 2023
464: Paxlovid Uptake Lags, New Healthy Aging Policy Statement
Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, says public health aims to strengthen the use of antiviral COVID-19 protections in nursing homes; Priya Shah, ASTHO’s Senior Analyst of Health Improvement and Healthy Aging, shares an updated policy...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Priya Shah MPH
39
May 25, 2023
428: FDA Meets on Drug Shortages
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, says drug shortages are on the docket for the FDA meeting in Chicago; and today is the last day to register to attend ASTHO’s TechXpo and Futures Forum online.
Guest: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH
27
May 9, 2023
416: Vital Records Accreditation, Sharing Medicaid and HIV Data
Melissa Bird, Bureau Chief for the Iowa Bureau of Health Statistics, explains why vital records accreditation is important to public health; Rachel Scheckman, ASTHO Senior Policy Analyst, says new data sharing techniques in Iowa improve care for...
251
March 1, 2023
367: Leading on Long COVID, PH Authority Legislative Tracker
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, outlines the role of public health in addressing the challenges of long COVID; Katie Moran McCabe, Lead Law and Policy Analyst with the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University, says...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Katie Moran-McCabe JD
216
Jan. 10, 2023
333: COVID-19 Booster Strategy, Medicaid Policies
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, says public health agencies are increasing the focus on COVID-19 boosters for those living in nursing homes and other care settings; Alex Kearly, ASTHO's Director of Medicaid and Value Based Payment,...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Alex Kearly, MPH
171
Oct. 21, 2022
288: ACIP Immunization Decisions Explained
In a special episode of the newscast, Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, explains the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices decision earlier this week. The committee voted Thursday to add pediatric COVID-19 vaccines to...
Guest: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH
165
Oct. 13, 2022
282: Pandemic Achievements
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, talks about an article he helped author in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, which discusses the work public health did in response to the pandemic; Bea Martinez, Southern...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Bea Martinez
129
Aug. 22, 2022
246: Back to School Concerns
Dylan George, Director of Operations for the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics with the CDC, discusses trying to evaluate the factors that could drive more COVID-19 infections in the fall as kids return to school; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Dylan George PhD MS
124
Aug. 15, 2022
241: Monkeypox Vaccine Strategy
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, discusses the plan to stretch monkeypox vaccine supplies by giving smaller doses; Arjun Srinivasan, Associate Director for Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention Programs with the CDC,...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Arjun Srinivasan, MD
123
Aug. 12, 2022
240: Monkeypox Funding
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, discusses the challenges posed by the monkeypox outbreak and admits the evolving strategy can be tough to communicate; Devon Page, an ASTHO Government Affairs Analyst, breaks down Congressional...
93
July 1, 2022
211: Monkeypox Response
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, discusses the growing concern over the monkeypox virus; Ellen Pliska, ASTHO’s Family and Child Health Senior Director, details a new supplement to the American Journal of Public Health addressing...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Ellen Pliska MHS
82
June 15, 2022
200: Common Ground on Gun Violence Responses
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, discusses the tragedy of gun violence in America and its connection to men’s mental health; Dr. Randall Williams, Missouri’s former Health Director, talks about a book he is writing about his...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Randall Williams MD
79
June 10, 2022
197: Preparing for Monkeypox
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, discusses the three-step approach to combat Monkeypox in the U.S.; Dr. Jinlene Chan, Maryland’s Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services, outlines her department’s response to Monkeypox; and...
68
May 25, 2022
186: 2022 COVID-19 Strategy Session
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, joins the show from the ASTHO COVID-19 Summit in Washington D.C. to discuss his expectations from the summit and the COVID-19 response going forward.
Guest: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH
58
May 11, 2022
176: Smart Health Cards
ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia says continued federal investment can help keep the nation on the right track in the fight against the COVID-19 virus; Dr. David Rhew, Global Chief Medical Officer at Microsoft, explains how Smart Health...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , David Rhew MD
53
May 4, 2022
171: Protecting Public Health Authority
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, defends public health authority after a recent federal court ruling tossed the requirement for masks on public transportation; Dr. Harry Chen, Vermont’s former health commissioner, discusses...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Harry Chen MD
28
March 30, 2022
146: Boosting Vaccine Uptake
ASTHO and the de Beaumont Foundation release early results of a new survey of America’s public health workforce; ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia says there are steps public health departments can take to address lagging COVID-19...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Scott Harris, MD, MPH
13
March 4, 2022
131: ASTHO Reacts to New COVID-19 Plan
Mike Fraser, ASTHO’s CEO, issues a statement offering early reaction to the Biden Administration’s new National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan; Dr. Elisha Hall, Clinical Guidelines Lead for the CDC’s Vaccine Task Force, explains the latest...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Elisha Hall PhD
11
March 2, 2022
129: Messaging New COVID-19 Metrics
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, says public health jurisdictions must have clear messaging when explaining the CDC’s new community-level COVID-19 metrics; Elizabeth Head, Deputy Director for Injury Prevention at the Georgia...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Elizabeth Head MPH
106
Jan. 27, 2022
106: Contact Tracing’s Role Today
ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia explains the latest thinking about how best to use case investigation and contact tracing to fight the Omicron variant; ASTHO joins several other national public health groups to issue a statement this...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Anne Zink, MD, FACEP
87
Dec. 17, 2021
87: 2022 Public Health Policy Agenda
ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia says even though everyone is tired of the pandemic, we can’t give up fighting the virus now; ASTHO CEO Mike Fraser, along with two other public health leaders, says the pandemic has been difficult but...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Maggie Davis JD MA
78
Dec. 6, 2021
78: Vaccine Mandate Prediction
ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia says influenza and COVID-19 have a lot in common, as National Influenza Vaccination Week kicks off today; Professor James Hodge Jr., at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , James G. Hodge JD
77
Dec. 3, 2021
77: ASTHO Reacts to Winter COVID Strategy
ASTHO leaders react to President Biden’s winter COVID-19 strategy. Dr. Nirav Shah, ASTHO President and Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, discuss booster shots,...
76
Dec. 2, 2021
76: Omicron Variant Now in the U.S.
ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia says there are more questions than answers regarding the Omicron variant now in the United States; Dr. Plescia writes in a new ASTHO blog article that the pandemic presents an historic opportunity to...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Aika Aluc, MPH
61
Nov. 4, 2021
61: Pediatric Vaccine Challenges
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, reacts to the decision to recommend approval of a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine; Dr. Nicole Alexander Scott, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, says Health Equity Zones have helped many...
46
Oct. 14, 2021
46: New FDA Booster Shot Debate
ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia forecasts this week’s FDA discussions about the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 booster shots; ASTHO President Elect Dr. Anne Zink explains the importance of recognizing small victories even...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Anne Zink, MD, FACEP
38
Oct. 1, 2021
38: Wildfire and Hurricane Preparedness
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, discusses the appropriate role of monoclonal antibodies in the COVID-19 response; ASTHO has a Q/A for public health teams who need to explain the CDC’s revised guidance for pregnant or...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Margaux Haviland MPH
33
Sept. 24, 2021
33: Booster Votes Explained
ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia explains several votes taken by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Thursday, including one against COVID-19 booster shots for people with occupational or institutional risks; Dr. Ed...
28
Sept. 17, 2021
28: Supporting the Public Health Workforce
Dr. Norman Oliver, Virginia’s Health Commissioner, discusses the approach states and territories should take to funding for the public health workforce; ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia reacts to a new CDC/Trust for America’s Health...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Norman Oliver MD MA
23
Sept. 10, 2021
23: The President’s COVID-19 Strategy
Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, reacts to President Biden’s new COVID-19 strategy; Dr. Norman Oliver, Virginia’s Health Commissioner, discusses the network ready to administer COVID-19 booster shots; Robin Matthies, ASTHO’s...
17
Sept. 1, 2021
17: New Vaccine Messaging
Dr. Thomas Dobbs, Mississippi’s State Health Officer, questions vaccine misinformation; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, discusses vaccine safety on KNX NewsRadio, Los Angeles; Rhea Farberman, Director of Strategic Communications...
9
Aug. 20, 2021
9: Booster Shot Logistics
Jim Blumenstock, ASTHO’s Senior Vice President for Pandemic Response and Recovery, discusses the logistics of standing up COVID-19 vaccination sites to provide booster shots; ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia ponders demand for third...
8
Aug. 19, 2021
8: COVID-19 Booster Shots
ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia considers what states and territories need to do to deliver COVID-19 booster shots starting next month; Dr. Anne Zink, ASTHO President-Elect and Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer, shares her approach to...
6
Aug. 17, 2021
6: Preparing for COVID-19 Boosters
ASTHO President Dr. Nirav Shah (SHO-Maine) considers the risks to watch for as states and territories administer COVID-19 booster shots to some immunocompromised people; ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia discusses the work to address...
Guests: Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH , Nirav Shah MD JD
5
Aug. 16, 2021
5: Back to School Mask Messaging
ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcus Plescia discusses back-to-school mask messaging; Dr. Gillian SteelFisher of the Harvard Opinion Research Program offers help to public health teams communicating mask and vaccine requirements in schools; and...