Podcast
Public Health Review Morning Edition
Hosted by ASTHO · EN
Your daily public health briefing with the latest news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).
74episodes
Episodes
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1143: AI Literacy and the Future of Public Health Work
Yesterday00:12:43Tap to summarizeArtificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping public health, but are today’s workforce and tomorrow’s graduates prepared to use it responsibly? Today, Ari Whiteman, a senior advisor for public health data and informatics workforce at ASTHO, talks about the growing importance of AI literacy across the public health field. He’ll explain why AI literacy goes beyond simply knowing how to use new tools and why public health professionals need practical, real-world training to safely integrate AI into their work. 2026 Annual Conference - Society for Public Health Education - SOPHEFull ScheduleStrengthening Academic Health Department Partnerships: Workforce Pathways in CaliforniaThe Mutual Advantage: How Graduate Assistants Elevate Academic Health Department Partnerships
Transcribe →1142: Why Immunization Information Systems Matter
2d ago00:11:04Tap to summarizeImmunization Information Systems, or IISs, quietly power much of the nation’s vaccination infrastructure helping clinicians track patient immunizations, supporting outbreak response, and guiding public health decision-making. But policies governing these systems vary widely across states, shaping how complete and effective the data can be. ASTHO’s Senior Director of State Health Policy, Andy Baker-White, tells why IISs are essential to modern public health, how opt-in versus opt-out policies affect vaccine data completeness, and what lawmakers, providers, and the public should understand as policy debates continue. Immunization Information Systems: Policy Trends and Opportunities | ASTHOBridging Systems: How Guam is Improving Infectious Disease Response Through Collaboration | ASTHOPrepared Together: Public Health Collaboration in Response to a Botulism Outbreak
Transcribe →1141: Stopping Outbreaks Before They Spread: CDC’s Global Health Security Mission and World Cup Preparedness
3d ago00:24:55Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a deadly outbreak is stopped before most people ever hear about it? Dr. Paige Armstrong, director for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Global Health Center, explains how the CDC works with partners around the world to detect and contain emerging health threats before they reach U.S. communities. From Ebola in Uganda to Marburg in Tanzania, Dr. Armstrong shares real-world examples of how surveillance systems, laboratory networks, trained public health workers, and trusted international partnerships help stop outbreaks at their source. Also, Dr. Marcus Plescia, former ASTHO Chief Medical Officer and District Health Director for the Fulton Health District, District 3-2 in Atlanta, Georgia discusses the massive public health preparations underway for the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. We’ll hear about the complex planning required to protect millions of visitors during one of the world’s largest sporting events.Outbreaks You Never Heard About: Because CDC Was There | Global Health Protection | CDCDeveloping a Policy Action Plan to Improve Access to STI Medications WebinarBridging Systems: How Kentucky is Improving Response to Emerging Health Threats | ASTHO
Transcribe →1140: Inside the Growing Ebola Outbreak in Central Africa
6d ago00:07:51Tap to summarizeA rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is raising alarm among global health officials. Meredith Allen, ASTHO’s vice president of health security, returns to break down what makes this outbreak especially concerning, including the identification of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a type with no approved vaccine or treatment currently available. She explains why delayed detection, remote healthcare conditions, and limited medical countermeasures have contributed to the outbreak’s rapid growth.Prepared Together: Public Health Collaboration in Response to a Botulism OutbreakEbola Outbreak: Current Situation | Ebola | CDCSubscribe | ASTHO
Transcribe →1139: How North Dakota Built a Statewide Medical Cache for Emergencies and Everyday Needs
1w ago00:18:12Tap to summarizeNorth Dakota’s statewide preparedness system grew out of lessons learned from disasters, public health emergencies, and the realities of serving rural and frontier communities. Tim Wiedrich, director of health response and licensure for the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, tells us about how the state developed a unified public-private partnership that supports hospitals, public health agencies, EMS providers, and long-term care facilities across North Dakota. Tim explains how the events of September 11 and the anthrax attacks reshaped preparedness planning, leading to the creation of a centralized statewide medical cache stocked with critical medical equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals, generators, and infrastructure support resources. Bridging Systems: Health Care and Public Health Collaborate on Emergency Preparedness in North Dakota | ASTHOPrioritizing Emerging Infectious Disease Cases and Contacts for Follow-Up | ASTHOSubscribe | ASTHO
Transcribe →1138: How Mentorship Strengthens the Maternal and Child Health Workforce
1w ago00:07:53Tap to summarizeMentorship plays a critical role in supporting professionals at every stage of their careers, from early-career employees finding their footing to experienced leaders thinking about succession planning and long-term impact. Candice Simon, program manager of workforce development and capacity building for the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, tells us about the Maternal Health Innovation Leaders Mentorship Program and the value of meaningful professional guidance in public health. Candice explains how the program connects professionals in maternal and child health with experienced mentors, outlines what makes an effective mentoring relationship, and discusses how mentorship can help address burnout, isolation, and career uncertainty. She also highlights the importance of peer networks, honest feedback, and creating supportive spaces for professional growth.Strengthening Academic Health Department Partnerships: Workforce Pathways in CaliforniaPublic Health Infrastructure Grant: Resources & Impact - PHIG
Transcribe →1137: Resetting Public Health with Big Ideas for Change
1w ago00:11:18Tap to summarizeHow 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
Transcribe →1136: Building Public Health Workforce Capacity Across Island Jurisdictions
1w ago00:13:54Tap to summarizeWhat 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 | ASTHOASTHO Policy Institute Lunch & Learn Series: Improving and Strengthening Prenatal Care EngagementApplications | ASTHO
Transcribe →1135: From Sewage Spills to Strategic Partnerships
2w ago00:22:54Tap to summarizeWhat 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 | ASTHODeveloping a Policy Action Plan to Improve Access to STI Medications WebinarFunding & Collaboration Opportunities | ASTHO
Transcribe →1134: Breaking Boundaries in Overdose Prevention Leadership
2w ago00:15:53Tap to summarizeWhat 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 | ASTHOASTHO Policy Institute Lunch & Learn Series: Improving and Strengthening Prenatal Care Engagement
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