Public Health Review Morning Edition

ASTHO
  • 4.9 (48)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED DAILY

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

  1. 3D AGO

    1081: Partnerships, AI, and Advocacy: Inside ASTHO’s Spring Leadership Forum

    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 collaboration is essential, how federal initiatives live or die at the state and territorial level, and how effective partnerships make all the difference. Four Ways Public Health Agencies Are Strengthening Grants Management | ASTHO Workforce Planning, Incorporating Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals ASTHO (@ASTHO) on X⁠ ⁠Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (@asthonews.bsky.social)⁠ ⁠Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (@asthonews) • Instagram profile⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-state-and-territorial-health-officials/⁠ ⁠ASTHO (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials)

    7 min

  2. 4D AGO

    1080: From Core Competencies to Capitol Hill: Strengthening Public Health from the Inside Out

    What does it take to build a resilient public health system? Keshana Owens-Cody, Director of the Office of Public Health Infrastructure at the New York State Department of Health, talks about incorporating core competencies into public health agencies and why fostering a true culture of learning is essential in an era of constant change. Owens-Cody explains how competency-based frameworks can help agencies move beyond “survival mode” and toward a more intentional, organized approach to workforce development, performance evaluations, accreditation, and long-term infrastructure building.  Later, Catherine Murphy, Senior Analyst of Government Affairs at ASTHO, discusses the status of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). Originally passed in 2006, the sweeping preparedness law underpins key programs supporting medical countermeasures, hospital readiness, and emergency response nationwide.  Meeting Home Page ASTHO’s 14 Most Popular Resources of 2025 | ASTHO The Future of PAHPA and National Public Health Preparedness | ASTHO Subscribe | ASTHO Meeting Home Page

    14 min

  3. 5D AGO

    1079: How Missouri’s Pathways Internship Program Is Creating the Next Generation of Leaders with Help from PHIG

    Public health agencies across the country face a growing workforce shortage—but Missouri is tackling the challenge head-on. In this episode, 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 real-world experience in areas like accreditation, emergency preparedness, food safety, and wastewater policy while delivering immediate value to rural communities. We’re also joined by Brenna Davidson, an Operational Excellence Leader with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, who explains how strategic investments through the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funding helped launch and scale the program. She highlights the importance of removing barriers with paid internships, broadening recruitment beyond traditional public health fields, and strengthening leadership development through innovative initiatives like the Leadership Challenge.

    12 min

  4. 6D AGO

    1078: Inside the Public Health Data Consortium

    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 hands of state and territorial health agencies. She discusses why mortality data is a critical starting point, how emerging technologies like APIs and advanced analytics can help close long-standing data gaps, and what new insights could come from linking public health data with sources like pharmacy, claims, and real-world data. Leadership Power Hour: Your Launchpad for Impact | ASTHO

    11 min

  5. FEB 26

    1077: Hypertension, Hill Day, and the Future of Public Health Policy

    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 what’s top of mind in Washington in preparing for ASTHO’s upcoming Hill Day, from FY26 and FY27 appropriations to protecting public health infrastructure funding, navigating grant terminations. Jeffrey outlines key advocacy priorities, including sustained federal investment, workforce stability, and emerging issues such as vaccines, preparedness, and federal leadership transitions. Preventing Hypertension Through State Policy Efforts | ASTHO Leadership Power Hour: Your Launchpad for Impact | ASTHO Cameron Webb Bio Four Ways Public Health Agencies Are Strengthening Grants Management | ASTHO

    15 min

  6. FEB 25

    1076: Measles, Misinformation, and Modern Supplements: Public Health on the Front Lines

    A major measles outbreak is testing public health systems, community trust, and the power of vaccination. In this episode, Dr. Brannon Traxler, ASTHO member and Deputy Director of Health Promotion and Services & Chief Medical Officer, South Carolina Department of Public Health, shares the latest update on the state’s response, with nearly 1,000 confirmed cases since October 2025. She explains why vaccination remains the cornerstone of outbreak control, how rapid case identification and contact tracing are helping to slow transmission, and what health officials are learning about spread within large, close-knit households.  Then, Heather Tomlinson, Senior Analyst of Environmental Health at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, breaks down the growing presence of kratom in U.S. markets. She explains its traditional use in Southeast Asia, how modern products differ from natural leaf preparations, and why highly concentrated or synthetic compounds are raising new health concerns. With federal guidance still evolving, states are developing a patchwork of policies—offering lessons for how public health can respond to emerging psychoactive substances. youtube.com/watch?v=cNt_Wgu8LqE Kratom 101: What You Need to Know | ASTHO ASTHO (@ASTHO) on X Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (@asthonews.bsky.social) Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (@asthonews) • Instagram profile https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-state-and-territorial-health-officials/ ASTHO (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials)

    15 min

  7. FEB 24

    1075: From Pipeline to Public Trust: Strengthening the Next Generation of Public Health

    Public health is everywhere, but too often, people don’t see it. In this episode, we explore how the field can build a stronger future by investing in the next generation of professionals and improving how it communicates its value to the public. Dr. Kimberly Wyche Etheridge, Senior Vice President of Health Initiatives at ASTHO discusses why workforce pathway programs, mentorship, and hands-on partnerships between universities and health departments are critical as experienced leaders retire and workforce gaps grow. She shares why more students are choosing public health, how practical experience helps bridge the gap between theory and real-world practice, and why retaining early-career professionals requires rethinking workplace culture. From creative funding strategies to proactive pipeline development, she makes the case that investing in people today is essential for protecting community health tomorrow. Then, Brian Castrucci, President and CEO of the  de Beaumont Foundation explains why, in a recent article, he argued public health must do a better job communicating its impact. He explores how partnerships across sectors, from business and education to faith communities, can strengthen support, and why consistency, speed, and alignment in messaging are more important than ever. We also discuss how digital creators and influencers are reshaping trust, why public health should meet audiences where they already are, and what it will take to build a clear, unified value proposition for the field. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Subscribe | ASTHO

    19 min

  8. FEB 23

    1074: From Wastewater to Radiological Readiness: Detecting and Responding to Public Health Threats

    How can public health detect invisible threats before they become crises? In this episode, we explore two powerful approaches shaping the future of preparedness: wastewater surveillance and radiological emergency response.  First, Allison Wheeler, Manager, Wastewater Surveillance Unit 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 and act quickly. She explains how wastewater surveillance is evolving beyond COVID-19 to monitor emerging and re-emerging diseases, track antimicrobial resistance, and strengthen early warning systems across communities.  Then, Dr. Ziad Kazzi, Professor of Emergency Medicine at Emory University and President of the American College of Medical Toxicology breaks down what a radiological incident really looks like, from accidental exposures to nuclear incidents, and why these events may be more manageable than many people assume. He discusses how mass gatherings, like global sporting events, prepare for rare but high-impact scenarios, the importance of detection and decontamination, and how health systems and emergency responders work together to protect both patients and communities. Subscribe | ASTHO Meeting Home Page Meeting Home Page

    27 min
See All (1.1K)

4.9
out of 5
48 Ratings

About

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

Information

You Might Also Like