Public Health On Call

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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Evidence and experts to help you understand today's public health news—and what it means for tomorrow.

  1. 1d ago

    What's Happening to the Federal Task Force that Oversees Prevention?

    About this episode:  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force makes recommendations for preventive services that insurers in the United States must cover. Its rigorous process, however, is getting a makeover from the new administration. In this episode: Host Josh Sharfstein and former USPSTF chair Michael Silverstein discuss the panel's operations and how recent changes to the task force will shape the future of healthcare.  Guest:  Dr. Michael Silverstein, MPH, is a pediatrician, former chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and professor at the Brown University School of Public Health. Host:  Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department. Show links and related content:  Kennedy Fires Leaders of Key Health Task Force—The New York Times The ACA Preventive Services Coverage Requirement—Congressional Research Service US Health Secretary Kennedy Jr. Adds Eight New Members to Key Health Committee—U.S. News & World Report Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript. AI disclosure (as of September 2026): The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu.  Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(667) 217-6214‬ for the chance to hear your voice on the podcast. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

  2. 2d ago

    Is MAHA Making Food Great?

    About this episode:   The Make America Healthy Again movement has embraced the cause of reform of federal food policy. Two years after one of its prominent leaders came into government, what has—and what has not—been accomplished? In this episode: Two food systems experts from Johns Hopkins provide an interim assessment. Guest:  Patti Anderson, PhD, MPH, is an assistant practice professor of Environmental Health and Engineering and the policy director of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future. Tom Philpott is a senior research associate at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future. Host:  Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.  Show links and related content:  Glyphosate is driving a rift in MAHA. Here's what the science says about its effects on health—Scientific American The MAHA Strategy and Food Systems—Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future Marion Nestle on the New Dietary Guidelines—Public Health On Call (January 2026) The FDA Says Goodbye to Red Dye No. 3—Public Health On Call (January 2025) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript. AI disclosure (as of September 2026): The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu.  Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(667) 217-6214‬ for the chance to hear your voice on the podcast. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

  3. 3d ago

    Raising Kids in the Digital World

    About this episode:   Talking about tech and social media with kids can be stressful, but according to a new resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics, intentional conversations about social media use rooted in shared values can help families connect over healthy habits. In this episode: Dr. Megan Moreno, co-author of "Connecting: Raising Kids in the Digital World," addresses common concerns about technology use and youth mental health, the benefits of digital connection, and how to set boundaries with devices. Guest:  Dr. Megan Moreno, MSEd, MPH, is a pediatrician and professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She also serves as the co-medical director of the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence: Creating a Healthy Digital Ecosystem for Children and Youth. Host:  Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs. Show links and related content:  Connecting: Raising Kids in the Digital World—American Academy of Pediatrics (book) Mental Health in the Scroll Age—Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Meta Settled a Case Over Social Media Addiction Claims. What Happens Now?—Public Health On Call (September 2026) Chatbots, Mental Health, and Suicide—Public Health On Call (April 2026) Voices in Print: Elevating Patient Perspectives in Medical Literature—Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript. AI disclosure (as of September 2026): The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu.  Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(667) 217-6214‬ for the chance to hear your voice on the podcast. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

  4. 5d ago

    A Beleaguered Baltimore Incinerator Shuts Down

    About this episode:   A massive incinerator located in the Curtis Bay neighborhood of Baltimore will no longer burn medical waste under a new deal with the state of Maryland. It's a big win for local activists and neighbors who have long voiced concerns about the facility's repeated air pollution violations and residents' health. In this episode: Community leader Shashawnda Campbell and professor Christopher Heaney detail the neighborhood advocacy and research partnerships that led to this pivotal moment—and the work still ahead to safeguard the health of communities like Curtis Bay. Guest:  Shashawnda Campbell is a community leader and the environmental justice director of the South Baltimore Community Land Trust. Christopher Heaney, PhD, MS, is an associate professor of Environmental Health and Engineering and Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.   Host:  Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor for The Uptake, and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  Show links and related content:  Troubled Baltimore incinerator will stop burning medical waste under state deal—The Baltimore Banner Curtis Bay Energy will end incineration of medical waste under agreement with state—Maryland Matters Explosion at CSX coal terminal rattles Baltimore buildings—WUSA9 Air Pollution in Baltimore's Curtis Bay Community Linked to Nearby Coal Terminal Activities and Wind—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Community vs. Coal: Reclaiming Health in Curtis Bay—Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript. AI disclosure (as of September 2026): The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu.  Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(667) 217-6214‬ for the chance to hear your voice on the podcast. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

  5. Oct 23

    Should It Be Daylight Saving Time All the Time?

    About this episode:   In addition to making you feel a bit jetlagged, the semiannual practice of moving our clocks forward and back can have health impacts. And while many Americans agree that we should "lock the clock," there's a growing debate about whether the clock should be fixed to daylight saving time or standard time. In this episode: Sleep expert Vadim Zipunnikov discusses the biology behind changing clocks and why many scientists—himself included—are on team standard time. Guest:  Vadim Zipunnikov, PhD, MS, MA, is a professor of Biostatistics at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.   Host:  Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor for The Uptake, and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  Show links and related content:  H.R.139 - Sunshine Protection Act of 2025—Congress.gov 7 Things to Know About Daylight Saving Time—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health End of daylight saving time can send our internal clocks into a tailspin—The Hub Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript. AI disclosure (as of September 2026): The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu.  Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(667) 217-6214‬ for the chance to hear your voice on the podcast. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

  6. Oct 22

    How Can We Respond Better to Sexual Violence?

    About this episode:   Headlines about an alleged sexual assault at Cornell University provide a devastating reminder of how common sexual violence is in the U.S., particularly among high school and college students. In this episode: Michele Decker, whose research focuses on gender-based violence prevention and response, discusses the scope of sexual violence as a public health problem, misconceptions about how it's perpetrated, and evidence-backed methods for prevention, survivor support, and accountability. Note: This episode includes discussion of incidents of sexual assault. If you or someone you know are concerned about having experienced sexual violence or supporting a survivor, you can reach out to to http://RAINN.org or call 800-656-HOPE or text HOPE to 64673. Guest:  Michele Decker, ScD, MPH, is a Bloomberg Professor of American Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the founder and director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Women's Health and Gender Equity. Host:  Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor for The Uptake, and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  Show links and related content:  Stop downplaying the plague of violence against women—The Hill How a Cornell Student Went From Shame to Action—The New York Times The Jeanne Clery Act—Clery Center Chanel Miller reads her entire victim impact statement—60 Minutes via YouTube The "Red Zone" of Sexual Assault—Johns Hopkins Student Well-Being Blog Child Sexual Abuse is Preventable, Not Inevitable—Public Health On Call (August 2026) The 30th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act—Public Health On Call (October 2024) Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) and the Dual Crises of Nurse Shortages & Post-Roe Fallout—Public Health On Call (November 2022) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript. AI disclosure (as of September 2026): The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu.  Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(667) 217-6214‬ for the chance to hear your voice on the podcast. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

  7. Oct 21

    Public Health and… Anesthesiology?

    About this episode:   We promise this episode won't put you to sleep. Adam Milam is a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist with a PhD in public health who leverages this unique background to improve the quality of care for his patients inside the operating room and beyond. In this episode: Dr. Milam shares how his public health training has allowed him to probe at larger questions about ethics and care as a clinician, and how his time in the operating room has given him a sense of urgency in solving population-level challenges.   Guest:  Dr. Adam Milam, PhD, MHS, is a professor of anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and he serves as vice chair for health outcomes in the department of anesthesiology and critical care medicine. Host:  Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.  Show links and related content:  Equity and Quality—Improving Health Care Delivery Requires Both—JAMA Advancing Health Equity Research in Perioperative Medicine—Anesthesiology & Analgesia Social drivers of health and perioperative outcomes: Identifying domains and barriers with significant impact—The American Journal of Surgery Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript. AI disclosure (as of September 2026): The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu.  Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(667) 217-6214‬ for the chance to hear your voice on the podcast. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

  8. Oct 19

    Kratom, the Opioid-Like Drug Available at Your Gas Station

    About this episode:  Kratom is an imported leaf containing opioid-like psychoactive compounds that can be found at your local convenience store or online. Recently linked to the deaths of two college students, the product sits at the intersection of burgeoning research, drug policy limitations, and harm reduction, leaving the potentially dangerous compounds found in kratom unregulated. In this episode: Drug safety expert Caleb Alexander and host Lindsay Smith Rogers discuss what kratom is and where regulation of the drug stands. Guest:  Dr. G. Caleb Alexander, MS, is an internal medicine physician and co-director of the Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness. He holds joint appointments in Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Host:  Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor for Expert Insights, and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  Show links and related content:  Temporary Control of 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and Other Kratom-Related Substances Under the Controlled Substances Act—Congressional Research Service Legal Sidebar The rise of novel, semi-synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine products—Addiction Kratom: Summary of State Laws—Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association Kratom found at locations where two Ole Miss students were discovered dead—NBC News Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript. AI disclosure (as of September 2026): The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu.  Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(667) 217-6214‬ for the chance to hear your voice on the podcast. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

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About

Evidence and experts to help you understand today's public health news—and what it means for tomorrow.

Information

  • Creator
    The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright of this audio content is owned by The Johns Hopkins University.
  • Show Website
    Public Health On Call

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