Public Health Review Morning Edition

ASTHO
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Your daily public health briefing with the latest news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).

  1. 19h ago

    1137: Resetting Public Health with Big Ideas for Change

    How can public health leaders make meaningful progress when priorities, funding pressures, and public expectations are constantly shifting? Lindsey Myers, ASTHO vice president for public health workforce and infrastructure, talks about a new installment of the Insight and Inspiration webinar series featuring New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath. Myers shares why Heath’s work, including his books Made to Stick, Upstream, and Reset, could resonate so strongly with public health professionals navigating today’s complex environment. The conversation explores ideas like “ruthless prioritization,” finding leverage points for change, and why building alignment may matter more than seeking “buy-in.” Developing a Policy Action Plan to Improve Access to STI Medications WebinarLeading Change Workshop - July 2026

    11 min

  2. 1d ago

    1136: Building Public Health Workforce Capacity Across Island Jurisdictions

    What does it take to strengthen the public health workforce in geographically isolated island jurisdictions? Melissa Sever, a senior advisor for public health systems and services at the Public Health Accreditation Board, tells us about the Strengthening Public Health Workforce Capacity in Island Jurisdictions Project, a collaborative effort supporting Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  Melissa discusses the unique workforce challenges facing island jurisdictions and explains how the project evolved from a structured planning initiative into a highly tailored coaching experience. She also highlights the role of Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) data, the importance of relationship-building across jurisdictions, and how flexible funding through the Public Health Infrastructure Grant made this long-term engagement possible. Strengthening Public Health Workforce Capacity in Island Jurisdictions | ASTHO ASTHO Policy Institute Lunch & Learn Series: Improving and Strengthening Prenatal Care EngagementApplications | ASTHO

    14 min

  3. 5d ago

    1135: From Sewage Spills to Strategic Partnerships

    What happens when a massive sewage spill threatens one of the nation’s busiest waterways?  ASTHO member Ayanna Bennett, director of the District of Columbia Department of Health, joins the show to discuss the massive Potomac River sewage spill that unfolded during a brutal winter storm, the public health risks it created, and the extraordinary coordination required between local, state, and federal agencies to protect drinking water, recreation, and food safety. She reflects on the lessons learned from managing a multi-jurisdictional emergency under intense public and media scrutiny.  Later, ASTHO’s Senior Vice President for Population and Innovation, Jen Layden returns to talk about why partnerships are central to ASTHO’s 2026–2029 strategic plan.  About Us | ASTHO Developing a Policy Action Plan to Improve Access to STI Medications WebinarFunding & Collaboration Opportunities | ASTHO

    23 min

  4. 6d ago

    1134: Breaking Boundaries in Overdose Prevention Leadership

    What does it take to lead effectively across agencies, jurisdictions, and communities in overdose prevention work? Today, ASTHO’s Alice Schenall, director of cross-sector leadership and facilitation, and Alyssa Merski, a senior analyst for social and behavioral health, talk about the role of boundary-spanning leadership in strengthening Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) efforts. They’ll unpack the five common types of organizational boundaries — vertical, horizontal, stakeholder, demographic, and geographic — and explain how recognizing these challenges can help leaders build stronger collaboration and improve outcomes. Applying Boundary Spanning Leadership Principles to Overdose Data to Action Efforts | ASTHO ASTHO Policy Institute Lunch & Learn Series: Improving and Strengthening Prenatal Care Engagement

    16 min

  5. May 26

    1133: PHIG Impact Report: Inside America’s $4.6 Billion Infrastructure Investment

    What does it take to rebuild the foundation of public health in the United States, and why did it take 30 years to get here? Director of the Division of Jurisdictional Support, CDC's Public Health Infrastructure Center, Stacey Mattison Jenkins breaks down the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG), a $4.6 billion investment reaching more than 100 health departments nationwide. Designed to strengthen the core of the system, not just respond to crises, PHIG is funding workforce expansion, modern data systems, and the everyday capabilities that keep communities safe. Jenkins explains how a nationwide shortage of 80,000 public health workers pushed the system to the brink, and how targeted investments are already putting thousands of professionals back into the field. From improving food safety inspections in Texas to doubling clinic capacity in Oklahoma and modernizing disease tracking in Nebraska, the results are tangible, local, and often invisible when they’re working well. This work is supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, through OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government. Public Health Infrastructure Grant: Resources & Impact - PHIG

    9 min

  6. May 22

    1132: Leading Through the Storm: Carolyn Mullen on Public Health Advocacy, Crisis, and Change

    After nine years at ASTHO, Carolyn Mullen, senior vice president for government affairs and public relations, reflects on the defining moments, leadership lessons, and policy battles that shaped her tenure in public health advocacy. Mullen discusses navigating crises ranging from the opioid epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic and major federal funding challenges and shares how advocacy strategies have evolved. She also offers blunt advice for the next generation of communicators and advocates: retire outdated talking points, embrace innovation, and meet communities where they are. How States Can Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences Through Stability, Safety, and Support | ASTHO Legislative Snapshot: Suicide Prevention Infrastructure and AI Chatbots | ASTHO Addressing Overdose Through Collaboration and Opioid Settlement Funds | ASTHO Public Health Approaches to Preventing Suicide and Promoting Mental Well-Being | ASTHO

    12 min

  7. May 21

    1131: Tracking Emerging Threats & Global Accessibility Awareness

    This episode explores two rapidly developing global health situations and the critical role public health agencies play in keeping communities informed and protected. ASTHO Vice President of Health Security, Meredith Allen, tells us about the ongoing monitoring response tied to an outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. Meredith explains why health officials say the risk to the public remains low, how quarantine and monitoring efforts are working, and why this situation is very different from the early days of COVID-19.  Later, Emily Lapayowker, assistant director of web content at ASTHO talks about Global Accessibility Awareness Day and why digital accessibility is a core public health issue.  CHALLENGE: Accessibility know-how needs to go mainstream with developers. NOW. | MySQLTalk.comAdvanced Accessibility Training | ASTHO Accessibility Pillars in Web and Design | ASTHO Home - GAAD Funding & Collaboration Opportunities | ASTHO Leveraging PHIG to Advance Policy Infrastructure at Austin Public Health | ASTHO

    16 min

  8. May 20

    1130: From Recruitment to Retention: Strengthening the Public Health Workforce

    Today: building and keeping a strong public health workforce through innovative tools and strategies.  Brianna Gorman, a senior analyst for workforce at ASTHO, discusses ASTHO’s new Workforce Employee Experience Implementation Tool, an interactive resource built to help agencies address workforce challenges across the employee lifecycle: from recruitment and onboarding to retention, succession planning, and offboarding. Later, LaShonda Freeman, workforce development director at the Bureau of Organizational Development, Workforce Development Section South Carolina Department of Public Health, shares how South Carolina’s Supplemental Tuition Assistance Policy Program (STAP) is helping employees pursue advanced education while strengthening the agency’s long-term workforce pipeline.  Home | Public Health Careers.org ASTHO Learning Opportunity: ACEs Strategic Communications TrainingDeveloping a Policy Action Plan to Improve Access to STI Medications Webinar

    13 min
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Your daily public health briefing with the latest news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).

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