Public Health Review Morning Edition
Episodes
1143: AI Literacy and the Future of Public Health Work
10 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping public health, but are today’s workforce and tomorrow’s graduates prepared to use it responsibly? Tod...
1142: Why Immunization Information Systems Matter
09 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Immunization Information Systems, or IISs, quietly power much of the nation’s vaccination infrastructure helping clinicians track patient immunizati...
1141: Stopping Outbreaks Before They Spread: CDC’s Global Health Security Mission and World Cup Preparedness
08 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a deadly outbreak is stopped before most people ever hear about it? Dr. Paige Armstrong, director for the Center for Disease Contr...
1140: Inside the Growing Ebola Outbreak in Central Africa
05 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is raising alarm among global health officials. Meredith Allen, ASTHO’s vice ...
1139: How North Dakota Built a Statewide Medical Cache for Emergencies and Everyday Needs
04 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
North Dakota’s statewide preparedness system grew out of lessons learned from disasters, public health emergencies, and the realities of serving rur...
1138: How Mentorship Strengthens the Maternal and Child Health Workforce
03 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mentorship plays a critical role in supporting professionals at every stage of their careers, from early-career employees finding their footing to exp...
1137: Resetting Public Health with Big Ideas for Change
02 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How can public health leaders make meaningful progress when priorities, funding pressures, and public expectations are constantly shifting? Lindsey My...
1136: Building Public Health Workforce Capacity Across Island Jurisdictions
01 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to strengthen the public health workforce in geographically isolated island jurisdictions? Melissa Sever, a senior advisor for publi...
1135: From Sewage Spills to Strategic Partnerships
28 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a massive sewage spill threatens one of the nation’s busiest waterways? ASTHO member Ayanna Bennett, director of the District of...
1134: Breaking Boundaries in Overdose Prevention Leadership
27 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to lead effectively across agencies, jurisdictions, and communities in overdose prevention work? Today, ASTHO’s Alice Schenall, di...
1133: PHIG Impact Report: Inside America’s $4.6 Billion Infrastructure Investment
26 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
1132: Leading Through the Storm: Carolyn Mullen on Public Health Advocacy, Crisis, and Change
22 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After nine years at ASTHO, Carolyn Mullen, senior vice president for government affairs and public relations, reflects on the defining moments, leader...
1131: Tracking Emerging Threats & Global Accessibility Awareness
21 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode explores two rapidly developing global health situations and the critical role public health agencies play in keeping communities informe...
1130: From Recruitment to Retention: Strengthening the Public Health Workforce
20 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today: building and keeping a strong public health workforce through innovative tools and strategies. Brianna Gorman, a senior analyst for workforce...
1129: The Rising Cost of Falling Vaccination Rates
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today: the growing health and economic consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases. Ben Lopman, professor of epidemiology, global health, and envir...
1128: Building the Future of Public Health Through Communication and Classrooms
18 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do you strengthen public health for the future? Start with better communication. Amanda Kwong, director of Public Health Communications Collabor...
1127: AI, Public Health, and the Future of Proactive Care
15 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when artificial intelligence, clinical care, and public health finally start working together? Dr. Umair Shah, chief medical officer at...
1126: Leadership, Trust, and the Future of Rural Health Investment
14 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From leadership shakeups at the federal level to one of the largest investments in rural health in decades, public health is navigating a moment of un...
1125: Colorado’s Upstream Approach to Suicide Prevention
13 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this episode explores how Colorado is rethinking suicide prevention and shifting from crisis response to ups...
1124: PHIG Impact Report: How Tennessee Is Rewiring Public Health from the Ground Up
12 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when public health stops treating patients in isolation and starts addressing the realities of their daily lives? In this episode, lead...
1123: Inside Maine’s Rural Birth Crisis
11 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when more than half of rural hospitals stop delivering babies? Senior Advisor for Public Health at MaineHealth, former state health offic...
1122: Mississippi’s Fight Against Infant Mortality
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mississippi is facing a stark reality: its infant mortality rate has climbed to the highest level in more than a decade, according to the latest 2025 ...
1121: The Power of a Strong Impact Statement
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In a crowded funding environment, telling your story clearly isn’t extra work, it’s essential infrastructure. ASTHO Senior Analyst Elise Moore exp...
1120: How Pacific Islands Are Facing a Growing Health Crisis
06 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For U.S. territories and freely associated states in the Pacific, climate change is a daily reality. Today, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Environmental Hea...
1119: How PopHIVE Is Rewiring Public Health Intelligence
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Much of the data public health leaders need already exists, but it just isn’t accessible as it could be. Today, we’ll hear about a new platform ...
1118: Bridging the Rural Health Gap: Building Capacity, Workforce, and Connection
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rural communities face some of the most complex and often overlooked public health challenges. Today, Melanie Ramsey, deputy director of CDC’s Offic...
1117: Cybersecurity and Public Health Preparedness
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Cyberattacks aren’t just an IT problem, they’re a potential public health emergency. ASTHO Senior Analyst for Preparedness, Maggie Nilz, explains ...
1116: How “Tabletop in a Box” Helps Communities Respond to Overdose Spikes
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When overdose cases suddenly spike, every second counts. In this episode, Jessica Pough, director of overdose preparedness and response at ASTHO, talk...
1115: How Mentorship and Training Are Transforming Public Health Leadership
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Strong leaders don’t just appear, they’re developed. In this episode, Joshua Allen, leadership training Director for the South Carolina Department...
1114: PHIG Impact Report: Inside Multnomah County’s Workforce Resilience Strategy
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to build and sustain a strong public health workforce in uncertain times? In this episode Kirsten Aird, public health director for O...
1113: Data Modernization Is a Long Game: Progress, Partnerships, and Policy
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Public health data modernization isn’t a quick fix, it’s a multi-decade transformation. In this episode, ASTHO Senior Vice President for Populatio...
1112: Inside Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do public health officials detect emerging viruses before they spread widely across the U.S.? Heather Reese, Genomic Epidemiology and Preparedness...
1111: How Flexible Funding Is Reshaping Public Health
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Public health challenges don’t exist in neat categories, so why does funding? In this episode, Corinne Gillenwater, ASTHO senior analyst for Chron...
1110: Building Better Food Systems: Inside Rhode Island’s Food Policy Council
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to build a stronger, more resilient food system? In this episode we speak with Nessa Richman, executive director of the Rhode Island...
1109: Modernizing Grants Management
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Grants management doesn’t always get the spotlight, but it’s critical to how public health departments operate and deliver services. In this episo...
1108: How Louisiana Transformed Performance Management
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to turn a struggling performance management system into a national standout? Anna Bryant, Performance Manager at the Louisiana Depar...
1107: Public Health Leaders Push for Funding, Flexibility, and Rural Transformation
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
At this year’s Spring Leadership Forum, momentum was unmistakable. With more than 40 health officials convening for a week of strategy, training, an...
1106: PHIG Impact Report: Reimagining the Public Health Workforce in Denver
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if public health recruitment started with a summer camp? In this PHIG impact report, Veronika Hanna and Mondi Mason from the Denver Department of...
1105: Healthy Smiles, Stronger Systems: Bringing Oral Health into the Public Health Conversation, with Lessons from RMI
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today: bringing oral health into the public health conversation with Flora Nathan, assistant secretary for the Bureau of Oral Health in the Republic o...
1104: View from Washington, D.C.: Breaking Down the FY27 Budget Proposal
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The FY27 federal budget proposal is officially out, and while it’s just the opening move, there’s already a lot to unpack. In this episode, ASTHO’...
1103: National Public Health Week Day 4: You Partner with Public Health
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Public health doesn’t stop at hospitals or health departments, it lives in barbershops, grocery stores, schools, and small businesses. In this episo...
1102: National Public Health Week Day 3: Community Leadership
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this National Public Health Week conversation about community leadership and tobacco control, Josh Berry, Director, Chronic Disease Risk Factors at...
1101: National Public Health Week Day 2 Scientific Advancements
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Scientific advancement has always been at the heart of public health, but as new technologies emerge, the opportunities and challenges are evolving. ...
2000: National Public Health Week Day 1: Government Partners
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As National Public Health Week kicks off, this episode spotlights a theme that often goes unnoticed but is essential to keeping communities safe: gove...
1099: View from Washington, D.C.: Budget Gridlock and the Shutdown
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As the federal budget process stalls, uncertainty continues to ripple through Washington. ASTHO’s senior director of Government Affairs, Jeffrey Eko...
1098: Puerto Rico’s Healthcare Crossroads
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when an entire health system is pushed to the brink of a funding cliff? In this episode, Dr. Victor Ramos, Secretary of Health for Puer...
1097: Communicating in a Crisis
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 Ski...
1096: How the CDC Is Forecasting the Next Outbreak
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
1095: Inside New York’s Next-Gen Wadsworth Lab
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
1094: Long COVID Isn’t Over: Inside Washington State’s Push to Track, Treat, and Destigmatize a Hidden Crisis
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
1093: How Palau Is Rethinking Care Beyond the Hospital
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
At this year’s ASTHO Spring Leadership Forum, Gaafar Uherbelau, Advisor to the President of Palau and former Minister of Health and Human Services, ...
1092: Building Smarter Suicide Prevention: Policy, Data, and the Role of AI
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Suicide remains one of the most urgent and complex public health challenges in the United States, with more than 49,000 lives lost in 2023 alone. In t...
1091: Leading Through Conflict: Building Stronger Public Health Teams
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Leadership in public health has never been more complex, and navigating conflict is a critical skill for today’s leaders. In this episode, Dawn Morr...
1090: The View from Washington, D.C.: Inside FY27 on Capitol Hill
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode: what happens after Hill Day wraps, and what’s next for public health funding. We talk with ASTHO Senior Director for Government A...
1089: Telehealth Across the Islands: Expanding Care in the Northern Marianas
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do you deliver specialty health care across a 14-island chain spread across the Pacific? In this episode we talk with Eleanor Cabrera, Chief Str...
1088: Keeping Public Health Nurses: Strategies to Reduce Burnout and Strengthen Retention
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Public health nurses are on the front lines of community health but many are facing stress, burnout, and limited opportunities for advancement. In thi...
1087: PHIG Impact Report: AI, Accountability, and Academia
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funding moves into its later years, how can health departments maximize its impact? Ron Bialek, President...
1086: Strengthening Policy Skills for STI Prevention: Inside ASTHO’s Policy Institute
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Public health programs don’t operate in a vacuum; they’re shaped by policies that influence funding, access to care, reporting requirements, and m...
1085: How the U.S. Virgin Islands Is Using Data and Prevention to Fight the Opioid Crisis
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
At the ASTHO Leadership Forum, Justa Encarnacion, ASTHO member and Commissioner of Health for the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health, shared how...
1084: Building Resilient Food Systems: Why States Must Plan for the Next Disruption
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really mean for a food system to be resilient, and why does it matter for public health? In this episode, we hear from Elsie Moore, Postd...
1083: A Growing Threat: Preparing for the New World Screwworm
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A parasitic pest once eradicated from the United States is moving closer to the border and public health officials are paying close attention. In this...
1082: Inside ASTHO’s Spring Leadership Forum Part II and ACIP Updates
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
At the ASTHO Spring Leadership Forum in Arlington, public health leaders met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss the issues shaping health polic...
1081: Partnerships, AI, and Advocacy: Inside ASTHO’s Spring Leadership Forum
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Joseph Kanter, shares key insights from this year’s Spring Leadership Forum, an in-person opportunity to exchange le...
1080: From Core Competencies to Capitol Hill: Strengthening Public Health from the Inside Out
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 Yor...
1079: How Missouri’s Pathways Internship Program Is Creating the Next Generation of Leaders with Help from PHIG
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Public health agencies across the country face a growing workforce shortage—but Missouri is tackling the challenge head-on. In this episode, we expl...
1078: Inside the Public Health Data Consortium
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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. Je...
1077: Hypertension, Hill Day, and the Future of Public Health Policy
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today, two conversations highlight how policy shapes public health, both in communities and on Capitol Hill. First, Beth Giambrone, Senior Analyst f...
1076: Measles, Misinformation, and Modern Supplements: Public Health on the Front Lines
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A major measles outbreak is testing public health systems, community trust, and the power of vaccination. In this episode, Dr. Brannon Traxler, ASTHO ...
1075: From Pipeline to Public Trust: Strengthening the Next Generation of Public Health
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
1074: From Wastewater to Radiological Readiness: Detecting and Responding to Public Health Threats
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How can public health detect invisible threats before they become crises? In this episode, we explore two powerful approaches shaping the future of pr...
1073: Coverage, Consequences, and the Leaders Shaping Public Health’s Future
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when health coverage becomes unaffordable, and who’s stepping up to lead in moments like this? This episode connects two powerful pub...
1072: From Rural Dollars to Dinner Plates: Turning Big Federal Policy Into Real Health Gains
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Major federal investments and national guidance can shape the future of public health, but only if states can turn policy into practice. This episode ...
1071: Culture, Coordination, and Care: From Dialysis Safety to Disaster Response
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What do infection prevention in dialysis clinics and hurricane response in the Caribbean have in common? More than you might think. This episode explo...
1070: Rebuilding Smarter: How the U.S. Virgin Islands Is Modernizing Public Health After Disaster with PHIG Funding
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does public health modernization look like when you’re serving four islands, a geographically isolated population, and a community still shaped...
1069: Data, People, and the Future of Public Health Response
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Behind every public health response are two make-or-break factors: the people doing the work and the systems that help them work together. First, Sh...
1068: Health Beyond Healthcare: How States Are Advancing Smart Policies in Tough Times
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What do school meals, housing, paid leave, and pre-K have to do with public health? According to Trust for America’s Health: everything. In this e...
1067: A Nation at Risk: What a D+ in Birth Outcomes Means for Public Health
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If the United States brought home a report card on maternal and infant health, it would need a serious parent–teacher conference. In this episode,...
1066: Smarter Data Infrastructure for Public Health
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
New technologies, from telehealth to wearables to AI, are transforming how health data is created, shared, and used. But for public health agencies, k...
1065: Steady Hands: Leading Public Health Teams Through Chaos Without Losing Your Cool
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does calm leadership actually look like when everything feels urgent, political, and on fire? In this episode, John Auerbach, Senior Vice Presi...
1064: From Formula Recall to Federal Grants: How Public Health Responds Under Pressure
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Two very different challenges, and one shared public health reality: systems have to work when it matters most. In this episode, we speak with Dr. E...
1063: How Public Health Prepares for Wildfire Season
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Wildfire smoke is no longer a rare emergency, it’s a predictable, climate-driven public health threat. In this episode, Gabriella Goldfarb, Environm...
1062: Meeting Youth Where They Are: Expanding Mental Health Access and Youth Voice with PHIG
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do public health agencies expand access to mental health support while genuinely engaging the next generation? In this episode, we speak with Heid...
1061: Addressing Opioid Risk and Stigma Among Adults 45+
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fatal overdoses are rising among adults 45 and older and stigma often keeps this age group out of the conversation. In this episode, Dr. Philip Chan, ...
1060: What States Can Learn from Massachusetts and Medicaid Leaders
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take for states to expand access to substance use disorder treatment and build stronger, more sustainable partnerships between Medicaid a...
1059: Charting the Next Four Years: Inside ASTHO’s 2026–2029 Strategic Plan
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ASTHO is entering a pivotal moment for public health, and it has a new strategic plan to meet it. In this episode, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Joseph Kanter unpack...
1058: From AI to Outbreaks: Tools, Trust, and the Future of Public Health
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does the future of public health look like when cutting-edge technology collides with persistent, preventable disease threats? Senior Vice Pres...
1057: STI Trends: Progress, Prevention, and the Urgent Rise in Congenital Syphilis
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
New CDC surveillance data show encouraging declines in several sexually transmitted infections—but a troubling increase in syphilis among newborns. ...
1056: Keeping the Public Health Workforce Strong: What Data, Leadership, and Flexibility Tell Us
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does the public health workforce need to stay engaged, supported, and committed, and how can leaders act on those insights? Heather Krasna, Asso...
1055: Healthy Choices, Healthy Places: State Strategies for Population Health
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do states turn public health messaging into real behavior change and how do the places we live shape our health every day? In this episode, Dr. St...
1054: Building Public Health for the Long Term: Inside the Public Health Infrastructure Grant
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to strengthen public health systems nationwide and why does flexible funding matter? In this PHIG Impact Report, we’re joined by S...
1053: Preventing Diabetes and Improving Access: Food, Insulin, and Public Health Policy
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Diabetes remains one of the most serious and costly chronic diseases facing communities today. In this episode, ASTHO Vice President of Community Heal...
1052: Strengthening Access to Care: Community Health Workers, Medicaid, and Rural Health
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Community health workers (CHWs) play a critical role in bridging the gap between health systems and the communities they serve, especially in rural an...
1051: Meeting People Where They Are: Mobile Crisis Response and Expanding Access to Naloxone
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As behavioral health and overdose crises continue to strain health systems, states are rethinking how and where care is delivered. In this episode, Dr...
1050: Leading Through Uncertainty: State Strategies for a Changing Public Health Funding Landscape
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when the federal government steps back and states are asked to lead? Continuing our Legislative Prospectus Series, which examines the p...
1049: Vaccines and Screening: Need-to-Know for State Preparedness
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we continue our legislative prospectus series examining public health trends in policy going into 2026 with Meredith Allen, Vice Pres...
1048: Flu on the Rise: Vaccine Uptake, New Variants, and Protecting the Most Vulnerable
07 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As flu cases climb across the country and pediatric deaths rise, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, ASTHO member and Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, joins...
1047: PHIG IMPACT REPORT: How Wisconsin Is Reducing Administrative Burden in Public Health
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode and as part of our PHIG Impact series, Amy Perkins of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services talks about how the state is rethink...
1046: What State Policymakers Need to Know About Emerging Public Health Priorities in the New Year
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As part of our State Health Policy portfolio, ASTHO releases an annual legislative prospectus: a series of policy briefs summarizing state and territo...
1045: Bringing Island Voices Into the Data: Inside the First PHWINS Territories Survey
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For the first time, all eight U.S. territories and freely associated states have been included in PHWINS, or the Public Health Workforce Interests and...
1044: The Jobs Public Health Needs Now: Rethinking Workforce for the Data Age
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As health departments modernize their data systems, an unexpected challenge has emerged: traditional public health job classifications no longer match...