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).
89episodes
Episodes
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1158: Staying Safe During Tick Season, and Leading with Purpose
3d ago00:16:03Tap to summarizeSummer brings an increased risk of tick bites, and this year that risk may be arriving earlier than expected. Alison Hinckley, lead of Epidemiology and Surveillance in CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, explains what the latest surveillance data show, why emergency department visits for tick bites are rising sooner than usual, and the simple prevention steps health agencies can promote to help reduce tick-borne diseases. Then, Latoya Sahadeo, ASTHO’s director of the Developing Executives Leading in Public Health (DELPH) Program, discusses how leadership development goes beyond preparing for the next promotion. She shares how DELPH helps public health professionals strengthen their leadership identity, build resilience through coaching and peer networks, and gain the confidence to lead.DELPH Open HouseApplications | ASTHO
Transcribe →1157: How Wastewater Data Protects Public Health
4d ago00:17:49Tap to summarizeWastewater surveillance has emerged as one of public health's most innovative tools, offering early warning signs of disease outbreaks and filling critical gaps left by traditional surveillance systems. Breanna McArdle, epidemiologist and program manager for Washington state's wastewater-based epidemiology program, explains how public health agencies decide which pathogens to monitor, why wastewater data must be interpreted alongside other surveillance sources, and how the field is evolving beyond its origins in the COVID-19 pandemic. McArdle also explores the ethical and privacy considerations of wastewater surveillance, the challenges of communicating findings to communities and policymakers, and the importance of partnerships with local health departments, treatment plant operators, laboratories, and academic researchers. She discusses how investments in data infrastructure, laboratory science, and cross-sector collaboration are helping transform wastewater surveillance into a versatile tool for tracking a wide range of public health threats.Wastewater Testing for Arboviruses: Arizona’s Surveillance Approach | ASTHOStrengthening Public Health Response to Infectious Diseases Through Wastewater Surveillance | ASTHOFood and Water Safety | ASTHOShared Strategies that Promote Well-Being and Resilience
Transcribe →1156: PHIG Impact Report: AI in Public Health
5d ago00:22:04Tap to summarizeArtificial intelligence is already finding its way into public health agencies, from drafting communications and translating materials to analyzing data and identifying emerging health threats. The challenge for leaders is no longer whether to use AI, but how to implement it responsibly. In this PHIG Impact Report, we hear from Tatiana Lin and Shelby Rowell of the Kansas Health Institute. Tatiana is director of Business Strategy and Innovation; Shelby is director of the Region Seven Public Health Innovation Hub. They’ll discuss how health departments are using AI to improve efficiency, support community engagement, and expand workforce capacity while addressing concerns about privacy, bias, transparency, and governance.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 →1155: Maternal Health Solutions from South Dakota
6d ago00:20:56Tap to summarizeImproving maternal and infant health outcomes requires more than quality clinical care, it takes strong partnerships, community engagement, and a commitment to addressing barriers that extend far beyond the exam room. Today, Denise Hanisch, chief medical officer for the South Dakota Department of Health, discusses the state's maternal and infant health priorities, including postpartum care, safe sleep initiatives, fatherhood engagement, and efforts to reduce disparities affecting American Indian families. She also explains how South Dakota is using data, workforce development, and rural health investments to strengthen care for mothers and babies across the state. Later, Sanaa Akbarali, senior director of maternal and child health at ASTHO, highlights lessons from the Region 7 Maternal Health ECHO Summit. She explores how public health agencies, healthcare providers, community organizations, and families are working together to address workforce shortages, expand access through telehealth, support community-based care models, and ensure that lived experience helps shape maternal health policies and programs.Women, Infant, and Family Health | ASTHOThe Mutual Advantage: How Graduate Assistants Elevate Academic Health Department Partnerships
Transcribe →1154: Public Health Leadership and Innovation in the Islands
1w ago00:16:10Tap to summarizeASTHO CEO Dr. Joseph Kanter reflects on key themes emerging from the Executive Leadership Forum, where public health leaders from across the country are navigating funding uncertainty, workforce challenges, and an increasingly complex operating environment. He also shares a powerful example of disease detection and collaboration that prevented infant illness and demonstrated the everyday impact of public health work. Later, ASTHO Senior Director for State Health Policy, Andy Baker-White, discusses how U.S. Island jurisdictions are advancing public health through legislative action. States Are Using Policy to Strengthen Preparedness and Supply Chain Resilience | ASTHOIsland Areas Pursue Policies That Advance Health Outcomes | ASTHOPolicy Institute for STI and Infectious Disease Prevention | ASTHOASTHO Policy Institute Lunch & Learn: Preserving Institutional Knowledge for STI & ID ProgramsShared Strategies that Promote Well-Being and Resilience
Transcribe →1153: Building Change Leadership and Implementation Capacity in Public Health
1w ago00:19:26Tap to summarizeStrategic plans are only as effective as an organization’s ability to put them into action. In this episode, ASTHO's Sara Bell, a senior analyst for public health systems and planning, and Alice Schenall, a senior advisor for cross-sector leadership and change management, discuss two critical challenges facing public health agencies: turning plans into measurable progress and leading teams through uncertainty. Sara Bell explains why implementation often stalls after the planning process ends and shares practical strategies for operationalizing priorities, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and creating sustainable structures that help teams move from vision to action. And Alice Schenall explores how public health leaders can navigate organizational change, build trust during uncertain times, and address resistance while keeping teams focused on their mission. From Plan to Action: Tools to Support Public Health Implementation | ASTHOLeading Change Workshops | ASTHOExercise Excellence: Michigan Reflects on a National Level Exercise | ASTHOImelda Garcia Bio
Transcribe →1152: Building a Strong Public Health Workforce Through Onboarding
2w ago00:10:31Tap to summarizeA new employee’s first days can shape their entire experience with an organization. For public health agencies facing workforce challenges, effective onboarding is an important investment in long-term success. Mary Ramirez, interim director of onboarding and acclimation at the Bureau of Organizational Development in the South Carolina Department of Public Health, discusses the agency’s innovative onboarding program for new hires. Designed to create a consistent experience across the state, the program introduces employees to the agency’s mission, values, leadership structure, and programs while emphasizing real-world application and engagement.Home | Public Health Careers.orgPublic Health Workforce | ASTHODELPH Open House
Transcribe →1151: How States Are Strengthening Supply Chains and Stockpiles
2w ago00:11:07Tap to summarizeEmergency preparedness is about far more than response plans and trained personnel. In this episode, Senior Analyst for Preparedness at ASTHO Maggie Nilz discusses how states are rethinking preparedness in the wake of COVID-19 and adapting to a changing emergency management landscape. Nilz explains how pandemic-era shortages exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains, resource distribution, and stockpile management, prompting states to take a more active role in assessing risks, securing critical supplies, and building long-term preparedness infrastructure. She also explores how new approaches to funding, procurement, and resource management are helping states respond more quickly while maintaining transparency and accountability.Bridging Systems: How Kentucky is Improving Response to Emerging Health Threats | ASTHOSubscribe | ASTHO
Transcribe →1150: Building a Community-Driven State Health Improvement Plan in Oregon
2w ago00:14:42Tap to summarizeOregon’s latest State Health Improvement Plan is designed to do more than identify public health priorities, it aims to align partners, resources, and communities around measurable goals for a healthier future. ASTHO member Naomi Adeline-Biggs, director of the Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division, talks about the development of Oregon’s five-year State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP). She explains how extensive community engagement, including input from tribal nations, local health departments, and culturally specific organizations, helped shape the plan’s four core priorities: healthy environments, community well-being, disease prevention, and emergency preparedness.Creating Successful Collaboration Structures in Public Health Initiatives | ASTHOLeading Collaboratively for Lasting Public Health Impact | ASTHO
Transcribe →1149: Mid-Session Check-In: The Public Health Trends Shaping State Legislatures
2w ago00:12:18Tap to summarizeWhat public health issues are capturing the attention of state lawmakers in 2026? Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst for state health policy, returns to discuss ASTHO’s mid-session update, an annual review of the major public health trends emerging in state legislatures across the country. From expanding access to healthcare and strengthening rural health systems to addressing nutrition, mental health, and vaccine policy, Beth breaks down the legislative developments that are shaping public health at the state level. 2026 State Legislative Session Update | ASTHOApplications | ASTHODELPH Open House
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