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. 19H AGO

    1101: National Public Health Week Day 2 Scientific Advancements

    Scientific advancement has always been at the heart of public health, but as new technologies emerge, the opportunities and challenges are evolving.  In this National Public Health Week conversation, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Susan Kansagra explores how public health can better integrate innovation into everyday practice, from leveraging continuous improvement frameworks like Plan-Do-Study-Act to building stronger partnerships with academic and research institutions. It’s about turning questions from the field into actionable research and using that knowledge to improve real-world outcomes.  National Public Health Week Public Health Infrastructure Grant: Resources & Impact - PHIG Driving Impact with Flexible Funding

    11 min

  2. 1D AGO

    1100: National Public Health Week Day 1: Government Partners

    As National Public Health Week kicks off, this episode spotlights a theme that often goes unnoticed but is essential to keeping communities safe: government partners. ASTHO CEO Dr. Joseph Kanter reflects on the “invisible wins” of public health, from behind-the-scenes planning for massive events like Mardi Gras and the World Cup to the work that quietly prevents crises before they start. It’s a reminder that when public health works, most people never see it, but lives are improved and saved every day.  And Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO senior vice president for government affairs and public relations, joins the conversation to explore how state and federal agencies collaborate in a complex and often polarized environment. She shares how public health leaders find common ground across political divides, build trust with policymakers, and tailor their messaging to drive real impact, from food safety to maternal health. Key Topics National Public Health WeekStorytelling in Public Health: Lessons from STI Prevention & Care PH-HERO | ASTHO

    13 min

  3. 4D AGO

    1099: View from Washington, D.C.: Budget Gridlock and the Shutdown

    As the federal budget process stalls, uncertainty continues to ripple through Washington. ASTHO’s senior director of Government Affairs, Jeffrey Ekoma joins us to break down the latest on the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which is the longest on record, and what it means for the broader FY26 budget timeline.  He’ll unpack how congressional gridlock is delaying progress on FY27 appropriations, what to expect from the president’s upcoming budget request, and why growing talk of a reconciliation bill could have major implications for public health funding. While current delays may not directly hit public health programs, the indirect effects could shape funding priorities and advocacy efforts in the months ahead. Subscribe | ASTHO

    6 min

  4. 5D AGO

    1098: Puerto Rico’s Health Care Crossroads

    What happens when an entire health system is pushed to the brink of a funding cliff?  In this episode, Dr. Victor Ramos Otero, Secretary of Health for Puerto Rico, joins the show to discuss the urgent challenges facing the island’s health care system. At the center of the conversation is the looming expiration of enhanced Medicaid funding in 2027, a shift that could strip away a third of Puerto Rico’s health care resources and force difficult decisions about services, staffing, and access to care.  Dr. Ramos Otero outlines the structural inequities that set Puerto Rico apart from U.S. states, including capped Medicaid funding, lower Medicare Advantage rates, and gaps in critical programs like long-term care and low-income subsidies. These disparities, he explains, are driving both health care professionals and patients to leave the island in search of more stable support. Past, Present, and Future: Reflections from a Radiation Readiness Professional

    10 min

  5. 6D AGO

    1097: Communicating in a Crisis

    What does it take to communicate clearly when the stakes are high and the science is complex?  In this episode, Jessica Wieder, President of Teal Skies Consulting and former leader in external affairs at FEMA and EPA, shares how a career that started with a satellite crash simulation turned into two decades at the forefront of radiological preparedness and risk communication.  Jessica breaks down the evolution of crisis messaging in the digital age, from early “message mapping” techniques to today’s multi-channel, narrative-driven strategies. She explains why people can only absorb a few key messages under stress, how authenticity can make or break public trust, and why validating emotions is just as important as delivering facts. Past, Present, and Future: Reflections from a Radiation Readiness Professional Storytelling in Public Health: Lessons from STI Prevention & Care Driving Impact with Flexible Funding

    17 min

  6. MAR 31

    1096: How the CDC Is Forecasting the Next Outbreak

    What if public health could predict outbreaks the way we predict the weather? In this episode, Jason Asher, Director of the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at the CDC, joins us to explain how a new generation of data tools is transforming how we detect and respond to infectious diseases.  For decades, public health has relied on lagging data telling us what already happened. Asher and his team are working to change that, building systems that turn real-time data streams into actionable forecasts, simulations, and decision-making tools for health departments across the country.  We dive into how these tools are already being used, from measles outbreak modeling in South Carolina to national “nowcasting” systems that fill in data gaps in real time.  Behind the Model: How Scenario Modeling Can Inform Public Health Decision-Making | CFA: Behind the Model | CDC Connect with CFA | CFA | CDC Modeling Handbook | CFA: Modeling and Forecasting | CDC Learning Resources | CFA | CDC epiENGAGE Measles Outbreak Simulator v-2.6.0 Current Epidemic Trends (Based on Rt) for States | CFA: Modeling and Forecasting | CDC Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET) | RESP-NET | CDC Measles Outbreak Simulator | CFA: Modeling and Forecasting | CDC Scenario assessment: 2025-2026 Measles Outbreak in South Carolina | CFA: Qualitative Assessments | CDC 2025-2026 Respiratory Disease Season Outlook - December Update | CFA: Qualitative Assessments | CDC Past, Present, and Future: Reflections from a Radiation Readiness Professional Subscribe | ASTHO

    14 min

  7. MAR 30

    1095: Inside New York’s Next-Gen Wadsworth Lab

    What does the future of public health look like and what does it cost to build it? In this episode, ASTHO member Dr. James McDonald, Commissioner of Health for New York State, returns to the show to unpack the state’s $1.7 billion investment in a new, state-of-the-art Wadsworth Center Laboratory.  Set to consolidate five aging facilities into one 655,000-square-foot, LEED Gold-certified campus in Albany, the new lab is designed to transform how New York detects, tracks, and responds to public health threats—from infectious diseases and wastewater surveillance to antimicrobial resistance and emerging pathogens. Dr. McDonald explains why co-locating more than 800 scientists alongside academic partners will accelerate research and innovation, how lessons from COVID-19 are shaping flexible, future-proof lab design, and why investments like this are critical to national health security. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Living With Long COVID: Stories, Science, and Public Health

    12 min

  8. MAR 26

    1094: Long COVID Isn’t Over: Inside Washington State’s Push to Track, Treat, and Destigmatize a Hidden Crisis

    Long COVID didn’t end with the pandemic and in some ways, the challenges are just beginning. In this episode, Heather Drummond, Deputy Director of the Center for Access to Whole Person Care for the Washington State Department of Health joins us to discuss the myths, realities, and urgent gaps surrounding Long COVID today.  With an estimated 6.2% of Washington adults affected and over $1.5 billion in associated medical costs, Long COVID remains a complex and often misunderstood condition. Drummond explains why it’s so difficult to diagnose, how symptoms can vary widely across individuals, and why stigma and low awareness continue to prevent patients from getting the care they need.  We also explore Washington State’s innovative response, from building a multi-source surveillance system to expanding provider training, launching public awareness campaigns, and developing clinical decision tools in partnership with the University of Washington. Living With Long COVID: Stories, Science, and Public Health Past, Present, and Future: Reflections from a Radiation Readiness Professional Now, Next, and Beyond: Understanding the Rural Health Transformation Program | EY - US

    11 min
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4.9
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48 Ratings

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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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