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).
103episodes
Episodes
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1172: View from Washington D.C.: Congress Races Toward Recess
1w ago00:06:54Tap to summarizeWith Congress approaching its August recess, several key public health priorities are entering a critical stretch. In this View from Washington D.C., ASTHO vice president for Government Affairs Jeffrey Ekoma breaks down the latest developments in FY 2027 appropriations, the status of Senate consideration of CDC Director and ASPR nominees, and the political factors shaping the legislative calendar. He also previews what public health leaders should watch in the coming weeks, including a potential reconciliation package, the administration's supplemental funding request, and how these federal decisions could affect state and territorial health agencies.Utilizing Flexible Funding Strategies in Public Health | ASTHOStrengthening Partnerships to Prevent Overdose: Key Actions in a Multi-State Learning Collaborative | ASTHOLessons in Advancing Policy to Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences | ASTHO
Transcribe →1171: Leveraging the Rural Health Transformation Grant to Strengthen Maternal Health Systems
1w ago00:21:27Tap to summarizeImproving maternal health outcomes requires coordinated systems that ensure every patient receives the right level of care at the right time. In this bonus, long-form episode, Daniel Edney, ASTHOpresident-elect and state health officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health, explains how Mississippi is using Rural Health Transformation Program grant funding to build a statewide obstetrical system of care, establish new neonatal intensive care units, strengthen EMS coordination, and close critical gaps in care for rural communities. He also discusses how data, innovation, and broad partnerships are driving the state's effort to reduce maternal and infant mortality. Later, Ramya Flores, director of Maternal and Infant Health at ASTHO, puts Mississippi's work into a national context, highlighting how states are adopting levels of maternal care to improve access to risk-appropriate services. She outlines the partnerships, investments, and implementation strategies that support successful maternal care systems and previews ASTHO's latest resources to help states advance this work.
Transcribe →1170: Making Data Modernization Matter: Communicating Change in Public Health
1w ago00:10:49Tap to summarizeSuccessful data modernization depends on more than new technology, it requires people to understand, trust, and support the change. In this episode, Sarah Shaw, senior informatics analyst at the Public Health Informatics Institute, discusses a new Data Modernization Communications Toolkit designed to help public health professionals explain complex initiatives in ways that resonate with colleagues, leaders, and communities. Shaw explains how the toolkit is built around three core communication strategies: active listening, storytelling, and audience-centered messaging. She also shares practical examples from health departments across the country that demonstrate how effective communication can turn technical concepts into meaningful improvements for public health, helping agencies strengthen data systems and ultimately make better decisions for the communities they serve.Data Modernization Communications Toolkit - PHIIApplications | ASTHOValley Health's Dr. Matthew Christiansen Elected To National Epic FQHC Advisory Board - Valley Health
Transcribe →1169: PHIG Impact Report: Building a Stronger Public Health Workforce in New Mexico
1w ago00:10:14Tap to summarizeA resilient public health system starts with investing in the people who make it work. In this PHIG Impact Report, director for the Office of Training and Development at the New Mexico Department of Health, Shadee Lauer, discusses how Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funding is helping the state recruit, retain, and develop its workforce through data-driven strategies and innovative professional development programs. Lauer shares how New Mexico used employee survey data to shape initiatives including paid internships, tuition reimbursement, leadership academies, recruitment and retention toolkits, and a train-the-trainer model that strengthens both the workforce and the communities it serves. She also explains how these investments are creating long-term organizational capacity while helping public health professionals build rewarding careers that benefit New Mexicans for years to come. 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
Transcribe →1168: Strengthening Pennsylvania's Emergency Response System
2w ago00:11:25Tap to summarizeReliable emergency medical services require sustained investments in equipment, workforce development, and preparedness. In this episode, ASTHO member and Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen discusses how the state's latest $6.6 million investment in EMS is improving patient care, supporting first responders, and strengthening emergency response across Pennsylvania. Dr. Bogen explains how regional EMS agencies are using new funding to purchase advanced equipment like video laryngoscopes and lift-assist devices, expand training opportunities, and recruit and retain the next generation of EMTs and paramedics. She also highlights how Pennsylvania uses EMS performance data to measure outcomes, improve quality, and identify areas for additional support.Leading Change October 2026DELPH Power of Leadership Micro-Conference
Transcribe →1167: PFAS, Public Trust, and the Power of Partnership
2w ago00:12:09Tap to summarizeEmerging contaminants such as PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances) present a difficult challenge for public health agencies: the science is evolving, exposure pathways are complex, and communities want clear answers even when uncertainty remains. Christen Linke Young, cabinet secretary for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, talks about Delaware’s cross-agency approach to addressing PFAS contamination and other environmental health concerns. By bringing together experts from public health, environmental protection, and agriculture, the state has built a collaborative model that relies on scientific expertise and long-standing relationships rather than top-down coordination. The conversation explores how uncertainty surrounding PFAS can complicate public communication while also creating opportunities to rebuild trust in public health institutions. Linke Young discusses Delaware’s efforts to communicate transparently about what is known, what remains uncertain, and how residents can participate in the decision-making process.About Environmental Public Health | ASTHOSubscribe | ASTHO
Transcribe →1166: Building Better Trainers in Public Health
2w ago00:12:41Tap to summarizeGreat public health professionals are often called upon to teach others, but expertise in a subject area does not always translate into effective instruction. Kaylin Clonch, workforce essential learning director at the South Carolina Department of Public Health, tells us about the agency’s approach to strengthening its training culture. Drawing on her experience as a classroom teacher, Clonch explains how adult learning principles, instructional strategies, and learner engagement can transform workplace training from “death by PowerPoint” into meaningful educational experiences.Home | Public Health Careers.orgPH-HERO Workforce Resource Center | ASTHO12 Things Health Agencies Need to Know About Enterprise AI | ASTHO
Transcribe →1165: Colorado's Healthy Kids Survey Reveals Encouraging Trends for Youth Well-Being
2w ago00:13:51Tap to summarizeStrong prevention efforts and supportive environments are making a measurable difference in the lives of Colorado's young people. Emily Fine, school and youth survey manager in the Prevention Services Division at the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, discusses findings from the 2025 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, highlighting record-low rates of persistent sadness, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts among youth. Fine also explains why protective factors such as trusted adults, family support, and a sense of belonging at school are critical to improving health outcomes, where challenges remain for LGBTQ+ youth, and how Colorado's youth-centered approach to data collection is helping communities make smarter, more responsive public health decisions.Applications | ASTHOLeveraging PHIG to Advance Policy Infrastructure at Austin Public Health | ASTHO
Transcribe →1164: Why States Are Watching the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
3w ago00:08:13Tap to summarizeMillions of Americans receive preventive health services such as cancer screenings, diabetes tests, and other essential care without out-of-pocket costs. But recent federal actions involving the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force have raised new questions about how those coverage decisions are made and whether they could change. ASTHO’s Andy Baker-White, senior director for state health policy, tells us about his recent Health Policy Update that focuses on the role the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force plays in shaping preventive care recommendations and why those recommendations have become foundational to insurance coverage across the country. The discussion explores the implications of recent legal and administrative developments, including changes to the task force’s leadership and new questions about federal authority over its recommendations.Building Public Health Fellowships and Pathways to Employment in California | ASTHOPolicy Institute for STI and Infectious Disease Prevention | ASTHOASTHO Policy Institute Lunch & Learn: Preserving Institutional Knowledge for STI & ID Programs
Transcribe →1163: New Faces, New Direction at HHS: June 2026
3w ago00:07:21Tap to summarizeIn this Federal Health Policy Update, Senior Analyst for Government Affairs at ASTHO, Catherine Murphy, breaks down the latest leadership changes across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She explains the nominations for CDC director and surgeon general, recent transitions at the FDA, and other key appointments shaping the federal public health landscape. Murphy also discusses why stable leadership is essential for public health agencies, what these changes could mean for collaboration with state and local health departments, and what to watch as Senate confirmation hearings move forward.(More) Recent Shifts in HHS Leadership: June 2026 | ASTHO
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