Public Health On Call on Steno.fm

Public Health On Call

Evidence and experts to help you understand today’s public health news—and what it means for tomorrow.

S11 E883 · Wed, April 16, 2025
883 - How An Advocate is Thinking About Family Planning
About this episode: Innocent Grant is a family planning advocate from Tanzania. In this episode: How Grant’s experiences approaching mis- and disinformation about sexual and reproductive health at home are now helping him to frame this work as the U.S. threatens to cut a portion of its global funding of family planning. He also discusses the threats to major progress in outcomes like maternal mortality and the economic empowerment of young families—and how advocates can find common ground rooted in evidence. Guest: Innocent Grant is a family planning advocate and an MSPH student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: The International Conference on Family Planning Young & Alive Initiative Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use —WHO Transcript information: <p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name= "paragra
S11 Enull · Mon, April 14, 2025
882 - Personnel Cuts at the CDC
About this episode: In the early months of the new administration, several thousand CDC employees were dismissed, were asked to leave, or resigned. In this episode: what we know about these personnel losses, a look at some critical programs that may no longer exist, and concerns about what this means for America’s health. Guest: Dr. David Fleming served as Deputy Director for Science and Public Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2000-2003 and has had a long career in global and public health strategies. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: ‘No guidance and no leadership’: chaos and confusion at CDC after mass firings —The Guardian Fact Sheet: HHS’ Transformation to Make America Healthy Again —The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed
S11 E881 · Wed, April 09, 2025
881 - The Building H Index: Ranking Consumer Products By Their Impacts On Our Health
About this episode: Consumer products from auto makers to housing developers to streaming and food delivery services all have impacts on our health. In this episode: A look at the Building H Index, which calculates a health score for these products and services and makes recommendations to companies about how to make their products healthier. Note: Building H is a program of the nonprofit Public Health Institute and the Index does not receive any funds from the companies that are rated. Guest: Steve Downs is a cofounder of the Building H Index. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Building H Index Public Health Institute Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us <a href= "mail
S11 E880 · Tue, April 08, 2025
880 - “The FDA As We’ve Known It Is Finished”
About this episode: Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services abruptly fired around 10,000 employees, 3,500 of which were within the FDA alone—an organization of around 18,000 total employees as of January 2025. In this episode: A look at the work of the FDA and how it may be hampered by such significant cuts, and how patients may be among those most impacted. Guest: Dr. Robert Califf served as the FDA Commissioner under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Dr. Peter Marks’s Resignation Letter (PDF) —The New York Times Widespread firings start at federal health agencies including many in leadership —NPR Shots The U.S. Food Safety System —Public Health On Call (June 2022) <li d
S11 E879 · Mon, April 07, 2025
879 - The Impacts of Terminating COVID-era Funding for States
About this episode: The Department of Health and Human Services’s abrupt termination of $11 billion in health funding to states has interrupted projects across the country. In this episode, a look at one state—Connecticut—where the state with federal approval had been using the funding to upgrade aging technology and respond to urgent threats like measles. Note: This conversation was recorded prior to a federal judge’s issuing of a temporary restraining order blocking the cuts—for now. Guest: Dr. Manisha Juthani is the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: U.S. Judge blocks $11 billion Trump administration health funding cut for now —Reuters CT has 69 public health contracts canceled after Trump funding cuts, issues stop work orders —CT Insider Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us <a class="css-1rn59kg" title= "mailto:publichealthquestion@Jhu.edu" href= "mailto
S11 E878 · Thu, April 03, 2025
878 - Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in the ER
About this episode: People come to the emergency department seeking all kinds of urgent care. What if they could also get treatment for opioid addiction? In this episode: a look at how one rural hospital started prescribing buprenorphine to ER patients, and how scaling up treatment while reducing stigma at hospitals across the US is now helping thousands of patients every year. Guest: Arianna Campbell is an emergency department and addiction medicine PA at Marshall Medical Center in Placerville, California. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: USACS Physician Assistant, Ariana Campbell, PA-C, Aims to Eliminate the Stigma of Substance Use Through Education and Intervention —The Shift Blog The New Federal Regulations Aimed At Making Methadone More Accessible—And Less Stigmatizing cvb x—Public Health On Call (April 2024) <a href= "https://johnshopkinssph.libsyn.com/584-a-new-type-of-overdose-response" data-prosemirro
S11 E877 · Wed, April 02, 2025
877 - Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
About this episode: For 25 years, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has been a global effort to purchase and distribute lifesaving vaccines to the poorest of countries and help them build up their health systems. Now, it’s the latest chop in a blitz of proposed federal funding cuts to global health. In this episode: an overview of Gavi’s innovative model that buys vaccines for 50% of the world’s children and has prevented around 19 million deaths, and the catastrophic potential if the U.S. withdraws its financial support. Guest: Dr. Seth Berkley is the former CEO of Gavi , the Vaccine Alliance. He is a senior advisor to the Pandemic Center and an adjunct professor of the practice in epidemiology at the Brown University School of Public Health. His new book, Fair Doses , will be released next fall. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has its billion dollar grant cut by Trump administration —NPR Goats and Soda US decision
S11 E876 · Mon, March 31, 2025
876 - Preventing Mpox Transmission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
About this episode: Amidst an ongoing outbreak of a deadly clade of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs has been part of the response team. Working with local partners, CCP has developed community outreach and strategic communications campaigns to help protect people, reduce transmission, and get the outbreak under control. When USAID funding was abruptly canceled, the program was granted a waiver to continue work. But now, as the waiver faces expiration, the program’s future is uncertain which could put the DRC, Africa, and even the world at risk of an mpox epidemic. Guests: Dr. Didier Mbayi Kangudie is the Chief of Party for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He spent 11 years with USAID as a senior health advisor and has more than 25 years of experience blending clinical work, public health and global health programming. Shannon McAfee is team lead for Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs country programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea, which include projects focused on integrated health, the GHSA portfolio, education, Ebola, and the COVID-19 response. She has 25 years of experience designing, leading and implementing health and development projects across 16 countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: <a href= "https://ccp.jhu.edu/2025/03/11/mpox-waiver-usaid-prevention-democratic-republic-of-congo/" data-prosemirror-content-type
S11 E875 · Thu, March 27, 2025
875 - Tradeoffs: Why Many Republicans Think Shrinking Medicaid Will Make It Better
About this episode: As a follow up to our recent episode titled The Potential Impacts of Cuts To Medicaid, we’re partnering with our friends at the Tradeoffs podcast. Guest hosts Dan Gorenstein and Ryan Levi, longtime health reporters, take a deeper look at why many Republicans believe a smaller Medicaid program would be a better Medicaid, what proposed cuts might look like, and the challenges Republicans may face in trying to get cuts passed in Congress. Guests: Dan Gorenstein is the executive producer and host of the Tradeoffs Podcast and an adjunct senior fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. Ryan Levi is a reporter and producer for the Tradeoffs Podcast . Show links and related content: Why Many Republicans Think Shrinking Medicaid Will Make It Better —Tradeoffs The Potential Impacts of Cuts To Medicaid—Public Health On Call (March 2025) <a href= "https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1212321" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name= "l
S11 E874 · Wed, March 26, 2025
874 - The Potential Impacts of Cuts To Medicaid
About this episode: Medicaid helps make health care accessible to millions of adults and children in the U.S. In this episode: a look at the potential impacts of federal budget cuts on states, hospitals, physicians, and the beneficiaries themselves. Guests: Dr. Gerard Anderson is an expert in health policy and a professor in Health Policy and Management and International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Jennifer Wolff is an expert in policy relating to the care of persons with complex health needs and disabilities, the Eugene and Mildred Lipitz Professor in Health Policy and Management , and director of the Roger and Flo Lipitz Center to Advance Policy in Aging and Disability . Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: <p data-prosemi
S11 E873 · Mon, March 24, 2025
873 - Drowning As A Public Health Issue
About this episode: According to the WHO, there are an estimated 300,000 drowning deaths worldwide each year and a quarter of them are children under 5. But because the risk factors are so diverse—from backyard swimming pools to monsoons to the fishing industry—preventing drowning deaths requires viewing the problem through a public health lens and investing in a multitude of approaches, many of which turn out to be beneficial to communities beyond basic water safety. Guest: Caroline Lukaszyk is a technical officer for injury prevention at the World Health Organization. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Troubled Waters: Are day care centers a solution to preventing child drowning deaths in Bangladesh? —Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Preventing Drowning In Bangladesh (video)—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.</p
S11 E872 · Thu, March 20, 2025
872 - Ketamine and Esketamine
About this episode: Ketamine is in the news again. In this episode: a conversation about the differences between ketamine and esketamine—an FDA-approved medicine for treatment-resistant depression—why we’re hearing so much about ketamine right now, and the importance of administering esketamine in a clinical setting as part of a broader comprehensive mental health strategy. Guest: Dr. Paul Kim is a psychiatrist and director of the Johns Hopkins Treatment Resistant Esketamine Antidepressant Targeted (TREAT) Depression Clinic . Dr. Paul Nestadt is a psychiatrist and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Treatment Resistant Esketamine Antidepressant Targeted (TREAT) Depression Clinic . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: What to Know About Ketamine —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health <li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-b
S11 E871 · Wed, March 19, 2025
871 - A Potentially “Game-Changing” Approach to Preventing Ovarian Cancer
About this episode: For some people with a high risk of ovarian cancer, a standard approach has been full removal of the reproductive organs. But new research points to a far less invasive procedure called a salpingectomy, or removal of the fallopian tubes, as a potential “game changer” in ovarian cancer. In this episode: understanding high grade serous carcinoma—the most common type of ovarian cancer—the lack of screening tools, and why fallopian tube removal isn’t yet available to more people. Guest: Dr. Rebecca Stone is an OBGYN, a professor in the Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and the director of The Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service . Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: A Game-Changer for Ovarian Cancer —Johns Hopkins Medicine Salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy reduces ovarian cancer risk —JNCI Cancer Spectrum <p data-prosemirror-content-
S11 E870 · Mon, March 17, 2025
870 - The Origins, Impacts, and Challenges of Misinformation
About this episode: A new report on misinformation and disinformation from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine is helping to define what misinformation is and how it starts and how to combat it. In this episode: a conversation about the findings, and how to get away from misinformation as a name-calling contest. Guest: Vish Viswanath is the Lee Kum Kee Professor of Health Communication at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and chaired the blue ribbon panel examining misinformation about science. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: <a href= "https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalacademies.org%2Fnews%2F2024%2F12%2Fscience-misinformation-its-origins-and-impacts-and-mitigation-strategies-examined-in-new-report-multisector-action-needed-to-increase-visibility-of
S11 E869 · Fri, March 14, 2025
869 - The Evidence on Vaccines and Autism
About this episode: Questions about vaccines and autism have been around for a while despite multiple scientific studies that do not show a connection. In this episode: where the concerns started, the science behind why experts have concluded there is no link, and why these questions still persist. Guest: Dan Salmon is the director of the Johns Hopkins Institute For Vaccine Safety . Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: CDC Wants to Revisit Debunked Theories of Links Between Vaccines And Autism —Forbes Vaccines 101: Vaccine Safety Science —Public Health On Call (February 2025) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: <p
S11 E868 · Thu, March 13, 2025
868 - COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma: From Emergency to Everyday
About this episode: In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when there were no vaccines or treatments, convalescent plasma—antibody-containing blood from people who recovered from COVID—saved countless lives through Emergency Use Authorization. In this episode: special guest host Thomas Locke of MMI Monthly: From Bench To Breakthrough discusses the evolution of CCP therapy, from emergency use during the pandemic to now, nearly five years later, crossing the finish line with recent FDA approval as a potential treatment for immunocompromised patients. Guest: David Sullivan is a professor in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute . Host: Thomas Locke is the host of MMI Monthly: From Bench to Breakthrough and Malaria Minute , podcasts from the department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Bloomberg School Researchers Support First Blood Center to Receive Full FDA Approval to Provide Convalescent Plasma for Patients Who Are Immunocompromise d—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
S11 E867 · Wed, March 12, 2025
867 - Everything Is Tuberculosis: A Conversation With John Green
About this episode: John Green is a New York Times bestselling author and YouTuber known for writing books like The Fault In Our Stars . His latest book is about tuberculosis. In this episode: A conversation with John Green about why he chose to write about TB, the current state of public health and its challenges, and how the disease and its prevalance reflects so much back on us in terms of who we are as a society. Guest: John Green is the award-winning, #1 bestselling author of books including Looking for Alaska , The Fault in Our Stars , Turtles All the Way Down , and The Anthropocene Reviewed . With his brother, Hank, John has co-created many online video projects, including Vlogbrothers and the educational channel Crash Course . John serves on the board of trustees for the global health nonprofit Partners In Health and spoke at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on the Fight to End Tuberculosis. John lives with his family in Indianapolis. You can visit him online at http://johngreenbooks.com or join the TB Fighters working to end tuberculosis at http://tbfighters.org . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for <a href= "https://publichealth.jhu.edu/headlines/expert-
S11 E866 · Tue, March 11, 2025
866 - Vaccines 101: Understanding the Vaccines on the Childhood Vaccination Schedule
About this episode: In another episode in our series on vaccines: the different types of vaccines and how they work, and the logic and timing of the childhood vaccination schedule. Also: A conversation about measles vaccinations for children younger than 1 year. Guest: Dr. Bill Moss is the executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Vaccines 101 Series: From Molecular Science to Global Policy —Public Health On Call All About the Recommended Immunization Schedules — http://Healthychildren.org <li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-
S11 E865 · Mon, March 10, 2025
865 - Deep-Sea Mining
About this episode: At the bottom of the world’s oceans lie valuable deposits of cobalt, manganese, and other minerals. In today’s episode: a deep dive on deep-sea mining, the environmental impacts, and how the world might approach regulating mining in areas that technically belong to everyone. Guests: Andrew Thaler is a deep-sea ecologist, conservation technologist, and an ocean educator. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: @‌drandrewthaler —Bluesky Deep-sea Mining: What went down in 2024? —Southern Fried Science Withdrawal Agreement Could Signal Shift in Deep Sea Mining Activity —Forbes Transcript information: <p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" da
S11 E864 · Fri, March 07, 2025
864 - The Measles Outbreak in Texas and Beyond
About this episode: A measles outbreak that started in west Texas has sickened more than 150 people and killed a child. In today’s episode: the scope of the outbreak and how it’s spreading, the challenges of trying to control it, and claims about treatments including vitamin A, steroids, and antibiotics. Guest: Dr. Bill Moss is the executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Measles Outbreak Updates —Texas Department of State Health Services Measles Outbreaks in the U.S. Highlight the Importance of Vaccination —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health <a href= "https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/04/health/texas-measles-ou
S11 E863 · Thu, March 06, 2025
863 - The NIH-Funded Autism Study Hoping to Pinpoint Gene-Environmental Interplay
About this episode: A large-scale, multi-country autism study involving more than 175,000 individuals is hoping to find interplay between genes and the environment that may influence autism diagnosis and symptoms. But proposed NIH funding cuts could imperil the study’s future. In this episode: A look at an NIH-funded study that hopes to improve the quality of life for people with autism and their caregivers, and find better tools for diagnosis and treatment. Guests: Christina Ladd-Acosta is the vice director at the Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities , and associate director for epigenomic analysis at the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes, Data Analysis Center (ECHO-DAC) . Heather Volk is an epidemiologist and professor of mental health at the Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities . Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: <a href= "https://hub.jhu.edu/2025/02/13/nih-funding-makes-large-scale-autism-study-possible/" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mar
S11 E862 · Wed, March 05, 2025
862 - The Misinformation Around Seed Oils
About this episode: Research shows that seed oils, like sunflower and sesame, can contribute to better health. So why are wellness influencers talking about a group called “the hateful eight,” which include non-seed oils like soybean and canola? In this episode: a breakdown of what seed oils are (and aren’t), misconceptions around inflammation and omega 6’s, and how processed foods play into the conversation. Note: This episode mentions Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and was recorded prior to his confirmation as Secretary of HHS. Guests: Christopher Gardner is the director of nutrition studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Are Seed Oils Actually Bad For You? —The New York Times Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: <p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name= "paragrap
S11 E861 · Tue, March 04, 2025
861 - Ending Neglect of Tropical Diseases
About this episode: Neglected diseases like mycetoma, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis impact more than a billion people worldwide every year and kill hundreds of thousands. In this episode: Why these illnesses don’t get widespread attention or the resources needed for prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and how in a shifting global funding landscape, cross-sector collaboration is key to alleviating suffering. Guests: Delali Attipoe is the North America director of the Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi) . Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Chagas: The Most Neglected of Neglected Tropical Diseases —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Neglected Diseases and Public Health —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us <a href= "mailto:publichealthquestion@Jhu.edu" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror
S11 E860 · Mon, March 03, 2025
860 - Why Gender and Gender Identity Matter for Health
About this episode: In today’s episode: defining sex, gender, and gender identity, and why the concepts of gender and gender identity help with the understanding of and response to health challenges. Guests: Sari Reisner is an epidemiologist at the University of Michigan. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Trump says there are ‘two sexes.’ Experts and science say it’s not binary. —The Washington Post The U.S. Transgender Survey Reports Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: <li data-prosemirror-content-t
S11 E859 · Fri, February 28, 2025
859 - What Foreign Aid Means For National Security
About this episode: The abrupt halt of USAID funded programs around the world has caused confusion and chaos, and the consequences are likely to have a long tail. In today’s episode: Joe Amon, an expert in global aid and human rights, discusses some of the direct and indirect impacts of disengaging from this work. Guests: Joe Amon is the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health and Human Rights . Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Public Health is a Human Right —Public Health On Call (December, 2024) What Is USAID and Why Is It At Risk? —The Council on Foreign Relations Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us <a href= "mailto:publichealthquestion@Jhu.edu" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data
S11 E858 · Wed, February 26, 2025
858 - A Safer Gun Buying Process
About this episode: Firearm purchaser licensing laws that have provisions such as enhanced background checks and in-person applications curb homicides and suicides, they’re bipartisan, and a majority of Americans—including gun owners—support them. In today’s episode: A look at a new report with recommendations for building a safer gun-buying process and why now is the time to implement these solutions. Guests: Josh Horwitz is co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center For Gun Violence Solutions . Silvia Villarreal is the director of research translation at the Johns Hopkins Center For Gun Violence Solutions . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Firearm Purchaser Licensing: Research Evidence To Inform State Policy (pdf)—The Center For Gun Violence Solutions <
S11 E853 · Wed, February 26, 2025
853 - The Hazy World of Cannabis Policy
About this episode: Although cannabis is legal in nearly half of all U.S. states, policy is complicated. There's federal law, which prohibits the sale of THC-containing cannabis but not hemp. There's state law, which is an even more complex patchwork. In this episode: A new report looks at how this hazy landscape is impacting public health policy and equity. Guests: Dr. Yasmin Hurd is a neuroscientist and the director of the Addiction Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Douglas Berman is a legal expert and the director of the Drug Enforcement Policy Center at the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Cannabis Policy Impacts Public Health and Health Equity —National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine <p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror
S11 E857 · Tue, February 25, 2025
857 - The Concepts Behind The Language of Equity
About this episode: In today’s episode: A discussion with Dr. Lisa Cooper, the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, about opposition to the terms "diversity," "equity," and "inclusion." Guests: Dr. Lisa Cooper is a public health physician, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins and a winner of a MacArthur genius grant for her work to understand and reduce health disparities. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Why Are Health Disparities Everyone’s Problem? —Public Health On Call (February, 2022) Higher Bar For Health Care —Johns Hopkins Magazine Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: <ul
Mon, February 24, 2025
856 - The Unequal Impacts of Abortion Bans
About this episode: Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, some states have imposed severe restrictions on access to abortion. In this episode: New research on what's happened to infant death and birth rates in these states. Guests: Suzanne Bell is a Johns Hopkins demographer the department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health . Alison Gemmill is a Johns Hopkins demographer and perinatal epidemiologist in the department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: After Abortion Bans, Infant Mortality and Births Increased, Research Finds —The New York Times <a href= "https://publichealth.jhu.edu
S11 E855 · Fri, February 21, 2025
855 - Can The CDC Communicate More Transparently With The Public?
About this episode: During the pandemic, CDC recommendations about masking and other issues were the source of controversy. Some have asked whether the agency can better communicate the basis of its recommendations — and even seek public input along the way—to increase public understanding and acceptance. In today’s episode, Johns Hopkins cardiologist Dr. Joseph Marine and Dr. Peter Lurie of the Center for Science in the Public Interest join the podcast to discuss how the CDC can communicate more transparently to build more public trust. Guests: Dr. Joseph Marine is a cardiologist and a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Peter Lurie is the president and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest , and a former Associate Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Applying Class of Recommendations and Level of Evidence to Clinical Strategies, Interventions, Treatments, or Diagnostic Testing in Patient Care —American Heart Association Building a Better CDC—Public Health On Call (April, 20
S11 E854 · Thu, February 20, 2025
854 - The Worst Flu Season In A Decade
About this episode: There’s a lot of flu out there right now, but just how bad is it and by what measures is it “bad”? In today’s episode: How this year’s flu season stacks up against years past, some factors that could be driving such high rates and severe disease, and how bird flu is further complicating things. Also: It’s not too late to get a flu shot! Guests: Dr. Erica Prochaska is a pediatric infectious disease physician at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: U.S. facing worst flu season since 2009, experts say —Axios The flu has killed 16,000 people this season. These are the states with the worst outbreaks —Fast Company Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or <a href= "https://publichealth.jhu.edu/headlines/public-health-on-call-podcast" data-prosemirror-conten
S11 E852 · Mon, February 17, 2025
852 - The FDA’s Proposed Food Labeling Changes
About this episode: The FDA is responsible for labeling on food packaging, such as the ubiquitous black and white nutrition label. But consumers could soon see new labels on foods offering more information about nutrition in key areas like sodium, sugar, and saturated fat. In today’s episode: the FDA’s proposed changes for food labeling and new standards for using the term “healthy” in everything from product names to descriptions and marketing. Guest: Dr. Peter Lurie is the president and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest , and a former Associate Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: FDA Issues Proposed Rule on Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling —FDA Use of the Term Healthy on Food Labeling —FDA FDA Proposes New Food Labels to Detail Sugar, Fat, and Salt Levels —The New York Times Who can say it’s healthy? The FDA has a new definition for food labels —NPR
S11 E851 · Fri, February 14, 2025
851 - Policing With a Public Health Lens in South Dakota
About this episode: Traditional police work has struggled to meet the needs of cities like Rapid City, South Dakota. Often, police are called to address situations that are related to mental health crises, homelessness, and substance use. In this episode: Rapid City’s Chief of Police, Don Hedrick talks about what it means to police with public health in mind, the success of partnerships and outreach, and how a nontraditional approach helped Rapid City address an influx of violent crime. Guest: Don Hedrick is the Chief of Police of Rapid City, South Dakota and a Bloomberg Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Law Enforcement With A Public Health Lens —Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS fee
S11 E850 · Wed, February 12, 2025
850 - The History of Birthright Citizenship in the U.S.
About this episode: In 1868, the 14th Amendment established birthright citizenship in the United States. In this episode: a look at the court cases, historical events, and people that shaped one of the Constitution’s human rights provisions. Guest: Martha Jones is a writer, historian and legal scholar, and a professor of history at the SNF Agora Institute. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Dred Scott v. Sandford —National Archives Opinion of the Maryland Court of Appeals, Hughes v. Jackson (1858) —National Constitution Center United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) —National Constitution Center The Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S11 E849 · Mon, February 10, 2025
849 - Marion Nestle and Food Politics
About this episode: Research has linked America’s food system with a host of health problems including obesity and heart disease. Advocate Marion Nestle, a food lover and food advocate, wants to change that. In this episode: how she got interested in the food system, the link between food marketing and diet, her excitement around GLP-1 drugs, and what she’ll be watching if RFK Jr. is confirmed as the head of HHS. Guest: Marion Nestle is a molecular biologist and public health nutritionist known for her advocacy around a better food system for better health in America. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: The Effects of Food Advertisements on Food Intake and Neural Activity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Recent Experimental Studies —Advances in Nutrition Food Marketing and Labeling —Johns Hopkins Center For a Livable Future First randomized, controlled study finds ultraprocessed diet leads to weight gain —NIH Clinical Center GLP-1 drug use cuts grocery spending by 6%, study finds —Fooddive Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook <a href=
S11 E848 · Fri, February 07, 2025
848 - Vaccines 101: The Vaccines For Children Program
About this episode: Today, in another episode in a series of podcasts exploring vaccine basics from the molecular level to global policy and everything in between: The Vaccines For Children Program is a CDC program that provides recommended vaccines without charge to about half of the nation’s children. In this episode: the program’s origins in a terrifying measles outbreak, how the program works, and what the evidence shows about its success. Guest: Claire Hannan is the executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers , a nonprofit organization that helps state public health agencies operate immunization programs. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: The Vaccines For Children Program —CDC Website The $8 Billion Children’s Vaccine Fund Kennedy Would Oversee —The New York Times Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S11 E847 · Thu, February 06, 2025
847 - Vaccines 101: The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
About this episode: Today, in another episode in a series of podcasts exploring vaccine basics from the molecular level to global policy and everything in between: how compensation for most vaccine-related injuries works in the U.S. Serious vaccine injuries are rare, but when they do happen, people can bring their claims to a special court. In today’s episode, Judge Gary Golkiewicz, a “special master” of the United States Court of Federal Claims, talks about how the program works, how often it’s utilized, and what’s needed to help the program improve. Guest: Gary Golkiewicz is a litigator and the former Chief Special Master for the United States Court of Federal Claims . Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Vaccines 101: The Basics of Vaccines and Vaccination —Public Health On Call (January, 2025) Vaccines 101: Vaccine Safety Science—Public Health On Call (January, 2025) The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program —Health Resources & Services Administration Vaccine Injury Table (pdf) —Health Resources & Services Administration Vaccine Claims/Office of Special Masters —United States Court of Federal Claims Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our R
S11 E846 · Wed, February 05, 2025
846 - Vaccines 101: Vaccine Safety Science
About this episode: Today, in the next episode in a series of podcasts exploring vaccine basics: the science of vaccine safety. In this episode, a look at what’s unique about vaccine safety compared to the safety of other medical products, and how experts tell the difference between an adverse effect that is "causal" and one that is "coincidental." Guest: Dan Salmon is the director of the Johns Hopkins Institute For Vaccine Safety . Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Vaccines 101: The Basics of Vaccines and Vaccination —Public Health On Call (January, 2025) What VAERS Is (And Isn’t) —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Let’s Talk Shots —The Institute for Vaccine Safety Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S11 E845 · Tue, February 04, 2025
845 - Tuberculosis in the U.S.
About this episode: A tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas City is one of the largest in recent history. Risk to the general public remains low, but the outbreak itself could be a signal of a seriously strained public health system. In today’s episode: an overview of tuberculosis including how it spreads and who is most at risk, and what the Kansas City outbreak means for public health. Also: How the U.S.’s departure from the WHO could impact the fight against the world’s leading infectious disease killer. Guest: Dr. David Dowdy is an infectious disease epidemiologist, a tuberculosis researcher, and the executive vice dean for academic affairs at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Major tuberculosis outbreak hits Kansas City —Reuters The Promise of TB Vaccines —International Vaccine Access Center Why Tuberculosis, An Ancient Disease, Remains a Public Health Threat —Public Health On Call (December, 2023) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or <a href= "https://publichealth.jhu.edu/headlines/public-health-on-call-podca
S11 E844 · Mon, February 03, 2025
844 - The Changing CDC Website
About this episode: On Friday, January 31, a number of important datasets and pages housed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website became inaccessible. In this episode: Dr. Nirav Shah, a member of the advisory committee to the director of the CDC and co-chair of the advisory committee’s data and surveillance workgroup talks about the critical work of the CDC and the value of its data sets, and the questions being asked about what’s going on. Note: Dr. Josh Sharfstein, producer and regular podcast host, is also a member of the advisory committee and a co-signer of the letter mentioned in this episode. As always, these podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University. Guest: Dr. Nirav R. Shah is a senior scholar at Stanford University’s Clinical Excellence Research Center. He serves as a member of the advisory committee for the Director of the CDC and co-chair of the advisory committee’s data and surveillance workgroup. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: CDC’s Advisers Demand Agency Provide Answers On Removal Of ‘Critical’ Health Data —HuffPost CDC advisers push agency to explain data removal, say when info will be restored —STAT Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S11 E843 · Thu, January 30, 2025
843 - The Native Biodata Consortium: Data Sovereignty For Good
About this episode: Since the mapping of the human genome in 2003, scientists have sought data from Indigenous and isolated populations. But often that research doesn’t translate into better health care for the groups whose biological specimens informed it. In this episode: all about the Native Biodata Consortium, a research organization that collects, stores, and shares data from indigenous environments and communities. Guest: Joseph Yracheta, Pūrepecha , is a biomedical researcher and the executive director of the Native Biodata Consortium . Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) —The National Institutes of Health Native Americans Graves Protection and Repatriation Act —National Park Service Tribal Data Repository —Data for Indigenous Innovations, Interventions and Implementations Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S11 E842 · Wed, January 29, 2025
842 - Polio and the Polio Vaccine
About this episode: Thanks to vaccines, most people under a certain age have no memory of the devastation and terror caused by the poliovirus. Although widely eliminated, polio still poses a threat in certain countries around the world. Waning vaccination rates in pockets of the U.S. mean some communities are at risk of a resurgence. In this episode: a look back at polio before vaccines, and how technology has evolved—including a discussion about a previous version of the vaccine that did, in rare instances, actually cause paralytic polio. Guest: Dr. Bill Moss is the executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: How Lagging Vaccination Could Lead to a Polio Resurgence —The New York Times The Polio Outbreak and What Needs to be Done to Eradicate the Virus Globally —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S11 E841 · Tue, January 28, 2025
841 - The U.S. & The World Health Organization
About this episode: President Trump’s executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO could have lasting implications on the health and wellbeing of the world, and on the American people. In today’s episode, the essential roles that the WHO plays both for the U.S. and around the globe, America’s imperfect relationship with the institution, and the potential consequences of a U.S. exit. Guest: Dr. Judd Walson is an infectious disease physician and epidemiologist, and the chair of the department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Reflecting on the US Withdrawal from the World Health Organization —Infection Control Today What Leaving the WHO Means For the U.S. and the World —Time Magazine Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S11 E840 · Mon, January 27, 2025
840 - Vaccines 101: The Basics of Vaccines and Vaccination
About this episode: The first of a series of podcasts about vaccine basics from the molecular level to global policy and everything in between. What actually are vaccines and how do they work? In this episode: back to basics on vaccines and immunology with Dr. Arturo Casadevall and Dr. Josh Sharfstein, including a discussion on why we still don’t have a vaccine for HIV. Guest: Arturo Casadevall is chair of the department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an infectious disease physician with more than 30 years of experience studying vaccines. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: How do we know that vaccines work? –HHS Understanding the Impact and Importance of Childhood Vaccinations —Yale School of Public Health Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S11 E839 · Fri, January 24, 2025
839 - The First Week's Executive Orders
About this episode: In the first few days of President Trump’s second term he signed a blitz of executive actions. In today’s episode: a look at some of the actions and memos that take aim at key public health policies including the communications pause for health and science agencies, a pause on NIH study sections, immediate posturing on DEI initiatives, exiting the Paris Agreement and WHO, and more. Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University. Guest: Dr. Josh Sharfstein served in a number of political roles in his career including as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, the Principal Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as Commissioner of Health for Baltimore City, and as a Congressional health policy advisor. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Memo: Immediate Pause on Issuing Documents and Public Communications (pdf) —Department of Health & Human Services Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing —White House Executive Order Putting America First In International Environmental Agreements —White House Executive Order Withdrawing the United States From the World Health Organization —White House Executive Order Federal health agencies told to halt all external communications —NPR <a href= "https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fpo
S11 E838 · Wed, January 22, 2025
838 - Book Club—Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks
About this episode: Throughout history, humans have been engaged in public health work. In a new book, epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers shares lessons from past outbreaks, what’s changed since COVID-19, and how, at a difficult moment for public health, she’s thinking about the future and keeping a watchful eye on mpox, H5N1, and more. Guest: Caitlin Rivers is an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security who specializes in preparedness and response for epidemics and pandemics. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Dr. Caitlin Rivers’ New Book ‘Crisis Averted’ Explores Public Health Lessons and Provides Insights for Future Pandemic Preparedness —The Center for Health Security Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S11 E837 · Mon, January 20, 2025
837 - Seeking Common Ground in Public Health
About this episode: As the administration in Washington DC changes, where will public health be able to work across partisan lines to improve the health of all Americans? A conversation with Brian Castrucci, President and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation. Guest: Brian Castrucci is president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation , a philanthropy dedicated to supporting state and local public health agencies. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Health Action Alliance What the Senate Needs to hear from RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz —US News and World Report Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S11 E836 · Fri, January 17, 2025
836 - The FDA Says Goodbye to Red Dye No. 3
About this episode: The FDA’s ban on the use of Red Dye No. 3 raises two questions — why is this color additive leaving the food supply? And what does this mean for other chemicals in the foods we eat? In this episode: a discussion about how the FDA regulates food additives, and how that might change in the future. A note for listeners: By the end of this episode, you will understand why “GRAS reform” is not about cannabis. Guest: Howard Sklamberg is the former deputy commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a legal expert in FDA compliance and enforcement. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: What to Know About the Ban on Red Dye No. 3 in Food —The New York Times Red #3’s Swan Song: The Science Behind the FDA’s Latest Decision —Unbiased Science A New Law To Enhance the Safety of Cosmetics —Public Health On Call (February 2023) The U.S. Food Safety System —Public Health On Call Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S11 E835 · Wed, January 15, 2025
835 - Fluoride and The Law
About this episode: Conversations about fluoride in the water supply are revving up but a key factor in the debate is the legal framework. In this episode: a discussion about the relevant law for assessing fluoride added to drinking water known as the Toxic Substances Control Act—a law limited to a focus on risk, not benefit—and what that means for emerging science and policy discussions around fluoridating water. Guest: Dr. Lynn Goldman is a pediatrician, the dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University, and an expert in environmental health. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: EPA ‘in a really tough spot’ after landmark fluoride ruling —E&E News, Politico The Benefits and Risks of Fluoride, Explained —New York Times Fluoride’s PR Nightmare —Unbiased Science Fluoride Face-Off: Court Ruling Challenges, But Science Stands Firm —Unbiased Science Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S11 E834 · Tue, January 14, 2025
834 - Bird Flu Is Escalating
About this episode: The U.S.’s first reported human death from bird flu is another sign that the virus is not going away anytime soon. In this episode: why it’s time to double down on efforts to limit H5N1 transmission among cattle and birds, concerns about cats and other mammals, and how response measures need to scale up quickly and more broadly to try and prevent the virus from gaining a foothold in humans. The experts also discuss why bird flu poses an existential threat to the dairy industry. Guests: Dr. Meghan Davis is a veterinarian and public health researcher at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a joint appointment at the School of Medicine . Dr. Andy Pekosz is a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with appointments in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Environmental Health and Engineering . Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Bird flu H5N1 claims first human life in U.S.: “We remain vigilant” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza —USDA Defend The Flock: Biosecurity Practices —USDA Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTub
S11 E833 · Mon, January 13, 2025
833 - Why Are Americans Dying So Much Earlier Than Some Of Their Counterparts?
About this episode: A new report from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative finds that the U.S. lags behind many other high-income countries in life expectancy. In this report, researchers found that babies born 40 years ago in the U.S. and U.K could expect to live to the same age. Today, however, life expectancy is nearly three years shorter for those on our side of the Atlantic Ocean. In this episode: a look at the four main causes of death driving this gap—all of which are preventable—and how one of the world’s richest countries that spends the most on healthcare is continually failing to improve the health of its people. Guest: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: A Tale of Two Countries: The Life Expectancy Gap Between the United States and the United Kingdom —The Bloomberg American Health Initiative Americans Die Younger Than U.K. Counterparts Due to Four Preventable Causes —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Expanding Access to Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Carceral Settings —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our <a href="https://feeds.libsyn.c
S11 E832 · Wed, January 08, 2025
832 - The Importance of Knowing and Optimizing Your Hearing Health…At ANY Age
About this episode: Hearing declines for everyone as we get older, no matter what we do. As it declines, it can cause health problems like cognitive decline and brain atrophy, and is directly linked with Alzheimer’s. But there are ways to understand and reduce these impacts including over-the-counter hearing aids and a new app where people can test their hearing on their smartphone. In this episode: a conversation about a health issue that will impact all of us to some degree, and how technology is helping to address impacts early and upend the stigma of hearing loss. Guest: Dr. Frank Lin is the director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health and a professor of otolaryngology, medicine, mental health, and epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine and Public Health. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Episode transcript How and Why to Learn Your Hearing Numbers Download the Hearing Number app for iOS (App Store) or Android (Google Play) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our <a href="https:
S11 E831 · Mon, January 06, 2025
831 - Public Health Science Communication With Your Local Epidemiologist
About this episode: Science communication is a vital skillset for public health practitioners. But what does it really take to cut through the noise? In today’s episode, Katelyn Jetelina, the publisher of Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about the art and science of science communication, and why it’s less about being right and more about a commitment to changing the way people think. Guest: Dr. Katelyn Jetelina is an epidemiologist and scientific communicator. She is the co-founder of Health Trust Initiative, an adjunct professor at Yale School of Public Health, and a Senior Scientific Advisor to several government and non-profit agencies, including the CDC. In addition, Dr. Jetelina is the publisher of Your Local Epidemiologist. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Your Local Epidemiologist Public Health Professionals Must Engage The Public. Communications Training Is Key. —Forbes
S10 E830 · Wed, December 18, 2024
830 - Advancing Public Health in Uncertain Political Times
About this episode: On December 3, the Bloomberg American Health Initiative held its annual summit. This year, the theme really marked the moment: Advancing Public Health in Uncertain Political Times. In today’s episode, you’ll hear three conversations from the Summit about how public health can provide a roadmap for making needed progress. First: how public health data and evidence provide context for judicial decisions. Then, how a public health lens is helping to address the issue of gun violence. And finally, how to find common ground on mental health and addiction. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: 2024 Bloomberg American Health Summit —YouTube Public Health At Work in Uncertain Times: A Recap of the 2024 Bloomberg American Health Summit Hopkins Judicial Health Notes What The White House Office of Gun Violence Has Accomplished In Its First Year —Everytown For Gun Safety Bipartisan Mental Health In Schools Excellence Act Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E829 · Mon, December 16, 2024
829 - Do Mammograms Save Lives?
About this episode: For decades, regular mammograms to detect breast cancer have been recommended for women ages 50-75. In 2024, the age range dropped to include women 40-49 as well. But what do we really know about mammography as a tool to save lives? Are all scans created equal? What is the risk/benefit analysis to upping the number of screenings a woman is recommended to receive in her lifetime? In today’s episode: a deep dive into the evidence around mammography, and a look at the new guidelines—including the controversy around them. Guest: Dr. Otis Brawley is a globally-recognized expert in cancer prevention and control whose work focuses on developing cancer screening strategies and ensuring their effectiveness. He is a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor and faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in epidemiology with a joint appointment in oncology at Johns Hopkins Medicine. He was the former Chief Medical Officer of the American Cancer Society. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Final Recommendation Statement: Breast Cancer Screening —U.S. Preventive Services Task Force The Rise of Colorectal Cancer Among Younger People —Public Health On Call (June 2024) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E828 · Wed, December 11, 2024
828 - Public Health is a Human Right
About this episode: The day after the 2024 presidential election, Joe Amon—the brand new director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health and Human Rights—was set to give a speech for a panel about health discrimination. But the one he’d prepared wasn’t going to cut it for a moment suddenly marked by uncertainty and change. He pivoted to a different message: one that acknowledges that public health doesn’t have everything figured out, and that it works best when it’s viewed as a social movement. In this episode: a moment of reflection for the field, considerations of some of the challenges that lay ahead, and the critical importance of thinking about public health as a human right. Note: You can read an adaptation of the speech in the link below. Guest: Joe Amon is the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health and Human Rights . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Post-Election Public Health Needs to Keep On Keeping On —Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E827 · Mon, December 09, 2024
827 - The Rise in Pediatric Cases of Walking Pneumonia
About this episode: Well into the respiratory illness season, there’s been a rise in cases of walking pneumonia compared to recent years, particularly among children. In this episode: an overview of walking pneumonia; how it’s tested, treated, and prevented; and what parents and caregivers should look out for in children. Guests: Dr. Anna Sick-Samuels is an associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of medicine and a pediatric infectious disease epidemiologist for Johns Hopkins Hospital. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infections Have Been Increasing —CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Walking pneunomia cases are rising among kids. Here’s what to know. —The Washington Post All About Parvovirus —Public Health On Call (September, 2024) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E826 · Wed, December 04, 2024
826 - The Success of Rx Kids, Flint’s Infant Cash Prescription Program
About this episode: Ten years ago, Flint, Michigan was in the headlines for its catastrophic water crisis. Now, it’s on the map for a very different public health story: the success of the country’s first unconditional cash program for expecting mothers and babies in their first year of life. The concept is not new, however—it’s rooted in decades of evidence that cash programs help address root causes of poverty and can truly give kids a better start in life. Note: This episode was recorded in late October, prior to the 2024 presidential election. Note: Donations to Rx Kids can be made via GiveDirectly . Guest: Dr. Mona Hanna is a pediatrician, the associate dean for public health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, and the director of Rx Kids. Dr. Miriam Laker-Oketta is the global director of research for GiveDirectly—the program that administers Rx Kids. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Rx Kids—Flint, Michigan’s Cash Allowances for New Parents —Public Health On Call (September, 2023) Results from the Rx Kids Participant Survey & Maternal Wellbeing Research Study (pdf) Every new mom in this U.S. city is now getting cash aid for a year —NPR A New Kind of Disaster Aid: Pay People Cash, Before Disaster Strikes —NY Times Protecting the health of children with universal child cash benefits —ScienceDirect As federal aid shrinks, communities try new ways to tackle child poverty on their own —NPR Contact us: Have a question about something you heard
S10 E825 · Mon, December 02, 2024
825 - The Future of the Environmental Protection Agency Under Trump
About this episode: Lingering environmental policy legacies from Trump’s last administration may be harbingers for what’s to come in 2025. Concerns include widespread deregulation leading to increased use of fossil fuels and a lack of vigilance around protecting drinking water and air quality. But it isn’t just the EPA itself that’s in peril: Major shift towards the politicization of climate change, and the disempowering of scientists and agencies in the court system could create lasting—and even irreversible—impacts to human health. In this episode: a look at what Trump’s second term may mean for environmental health, and why it will be crucial for policymakers and scientists to galvanize around innovation and local action. Guests: Dr. Tom Burke is an emeritus professor at Johns Hopkins and a former top official with the Environmental Protection Agency in the Obama administration. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: New poll indicates that voters support the EPA —NM Political Report SCOTUS—Not The EPA—Is Now Regulating Environmental Protection —Public Health On Call (August, 2024) Why The Supreme Court Ruling on The EPA Isn’t The End of Fighting Climate Change (2022) —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E824 · Tue, November 26, 2024
824 - Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update
About this episode: Outbreaks of H5N1 continue to rise in dairy cattle and poultry, and human cases are also starting to creep up including a Canadian teen who was hospitalized in critical condition. In this episode: the latest on viral sequencing and patterns of spread, the potential for economic impacts and interruptions in the food supply, risks to the general public, and concerns about how an administration change in January may impact public health’s ability to mount a sufficient response. Guest: Dr. Meghan Davis is a veterinarian and public health researcher at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a joint appointment at the School of Medicine . Dr. Andy Pekosz is a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with appointments in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Environmental Health and Engineering . Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Why a teenager’s bird flu infection is ringing alarm bells for scientists —Nature ‘We are not testing enough’: new US bird flu cases stoke fears over poor response —The Guardian Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E823 · Mon, November 25, 2024
823 - Special Episode—The Fight For A Swimmable Harbor in Baltimore
About this episode: Baltimore’s iconic Inner Harbor is like a highway for massive ships. It’s also been a dumping ground for chemicals and pollutants, and every time it rains, stormwater runoff brings sewage and trash from miles inland. But in 2010, a coalition announced the Healthy Harbor initiative—a plan to make Baltimore’s famous waterfront swimmable and fishable by 2020. In June 2024, the city held its first public swim in the harbor in more than 40 years. It took nearly a decade and a half to pull it off—and some say, it’s only the beginning. In this special episode of Public Health On Call, we look at four ways Baltimore activists, coalitions, agencies, scientists, and residents came together to fight for a swimmable and fishable harbor: getting people’s attention, collecting data, mitigating sewage, and battling against trash. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: The Fight For A Swimmable Harbor in Baltimore City —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Episode transcript Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E823 · Fri, November 22, 2024
823 - Fluoride In The Water
About this episode: Water fluoridation is considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th Century. Yet for as long as there has been fluoride in the water, some have raised concerns about its safety. In this episode: the history of water fluoridation, its enormous benefits for preventing tooth decay, and the recent wave of interest in whether fluoridation policies should change. Guest: Dr. Charlotte Lewis is a pediatrician at Seattle Children’s, a professor at UW Medicine, and an expert on infant and child nutrition and oral health. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Skeletal Fluorosis Due to Excessive Tea Drinking —The New England Journal of Medicine Fluoride Exposure: Neurodevelopment and Cognition —National Toxicology Program AAP stands by recommendations for low fluoride levels to prevent caries —American Academy of Pediatrics Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E822 · Wed, November 20, 2024
822 - Book Club: “Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice”
About this episode: For nearly 30 years, Judge David Tatel served on the the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. But his rising legal career corresponded with his declining vision–a fact he tried to hide. Now, Tatel credits his blindness (and his guide dog Vixen) for helping him evolve as a judge and a person. In this episode: a look at Judge Tatel’s astonishing career, his take on how SCOTUS is blurring the lines between judging and policymaking, what science and the legal system have in common, and his experience learning to live with blindness. Guest: Judge David Tatel served nearly 30 years as a Clinton appointee in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. His recent book is “ Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice .” Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: A Supreme Court Case That’s a “Big Deal” For Public Health —Public Health On Call (January, 2023) This Judge Is Blind. He Wishes Our Justice System Were, Too —The New York Times Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E821 · Tue, November 19, 2024
821 - Psychological First Aid: Processing Big Post-Election Emotions
About this episode: In the wake of the presidential election, many people are feeling big emotions like shock, disbelief, anger, and fear. Psychological first aid is a process that can help “take the sting out of injury” and chart a way forward after disruptive, upsetting events. In this episode: an explanation of the process and how people can use the framework to start to regain control and feel empowered to meet the moment and construct a better future. Note: If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call 988 for immediate emotional support. Guest: Dr. George Everly is a world-renowned expert in disaster mental health, crisis intervention, and psychological first aid. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Psychological First Aid —Coursera (free course) The Power of Psychological First Aid —Hopkins Medicine Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E820 · Mon, November 18, 2024
820 - The Anti-Vaccine Movement Gets Its Close-Up
About this episode: A new documentary, “Shot in the Arm,” looks at the modern anti-vaccine movement from its opposition to the measles vaccine in 2019 through the pandemic and its opposition to COVID vaccination. Filmmaker Scott Kennedy joins the podcast to talk about about the five-year project of creating the film, including details from his hour-long interview with a leading voice in the movement, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Guest: Scott Kennedy is an Academy Award nominated writer, director, producer, and documentarian. He is known for films such as The Garden and Our Town . Shot in the Arm is his most recent film. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Shot in the Arm —PBS Deadly measles outbreak hits children in Samoa after anti-vaccine fears —Washington Post Once struggling, antivaccine groups have enjoyed a pandemic windfall —NBC News 7 things about vaccines and autism that the movie ‘Vaxxed’ won’t tell you —Washington Post Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E819 · Fri, November 15, 2024
819 - A Second Trump Term: A Look At The Headlines
About this episode: There’s a lot of speculation in the media about what Trump’s second term might mean for health and health policy. In this episode: a look at some of the headlines from this week and what we might see in the next four years around vaccines, the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, contraceptives, the federal workforce, immigration, and global health programs. Guest: Dr. Josh Sharfstein served in a number of political roles in his career including as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, the Principal Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as Commissioner of Health for Baltimore City, and as a Congressional health policy advisor. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: After Trump win, RFK Jr. says he won’t ‘take away anybody’s vaccines’ —NBC News With ACA subsidies set to expire in 2023, millions of Americans stand to lose health insurance —CBS News Trump’s win could accelerate the privatization of Medicare —NPR What Trump has said about birth control, and what he could do as president —ABC News How Trump Could Upend DC’s federal workforce —Axios A Trump second term could bring another family separation crisis —Vox What a Trump presidency means for global health —The Conversation The 2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For Immigrants and Immigration —Public Health On Call (October, 2024) The Mental Health of Migrant Child
S10 E818 · Wed, November 13, 2024
818 - An Update On Measles, Pertussis, Mpox, and Other Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
About this episode: In this episode: an update on the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and pertussis (whooping cough) in the U.S. Globally, a look at the mpox vaccine and exciting news about two brand new vaccines for malaria and TB in the pipeline. Guest: Dr. Bill Moss is the executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: With Cases Rising, What You Need To Know About Whooping Cough —U.S. News & World Report Measles cases are up and childhood vaccinations are down —NPR Mpox cases in Congo may be stabilizing. Experts say more vaccines are needed to stamp out virus. —AP News Candidate malaria vaccine provides lasting protection in NIH-sponsored trials —NIH Every year, tuberculosis kil Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E817 · Mon, November 11, 2024
817 - What’s Behind All The Food Recalls
About this episode: From frozen waffles to deli meat and even fast food burgers, outbreaks of foodborne illnesses seem to be everywhere. But are they happening more often or is our surveillance system just getting better? And how do bacteria like listeria and E. coli survive the manufacturing process, and persist long enough to sicken and even kill consumers? In today’s episode: a look at foodborne pathogens and how they persist, the U.S. food safety system, and how you can take precautions at home and when you go out to eat. Guests: Dr. Meghan Davis is a veterinarian and public health researcher at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a joint appointment at the School of Medicine . Dr. D’Ann Williams is a former food safety official and an assistant scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future . Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Active Investigations of Multistate Foodborne Outbreaks —CDC Food recalls in the U.S. spike due to Listeria, Salmonella, and allergens —Food Safety News Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E816 · Wed, November 06, 2024
816 - Book Club: The Promise and Peril of CRISPR
About this episode: CRISPR technology can edit genetic codes, making it possible to cure people of terrible diseases, among other uses. But its power is not fully understood—even by the scientists and researchers who use it—and the technology far outpaces conversations about ethics and regulations. In this episode: that we know and don’t know about CRISPR, and why it’s critical for these conversations to happen everywhere from boardrooms to legislative assemblies to film and TV scripts. Guest: Dr. Neil Baer is a lecturer in global health and social medicine at Harvard Medical School, an award-winning television writer and producer , and editor of a new book: The Promise and Peril of CRISPR . Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: ‘Who are we to say they shouldn’t exist?’: Dr. Neal Baer on the threat of CRISPR-driven eugenics —Live Science His baby gene editing shocked ethicists. Now he’s in the lab again —NPR Seven diseases CRISPR technology could cure —Labiotech Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E815 · Mon, November 04, 2024
815 - How To Run For Congress As A Public Health Official (Even If You Lose)
About this episode: Dr. Jirair Ratevosian was a high level global health official in the State Department—a job he left to pursue a Congressional seat in California’s 30th district. In this episode, he details what it takes to run for Congress (including knocking on more than 30,000 doors) and how he talked about public health with voters. Spoiler alert: He didn’t win, but he did learn a lot and is hopeful that Congress can again be a place where people go to solve problems. Guests: Dr. Jirair Ratevosian is an associate research scientist at Yale, an infectious disease fellow at Duke, and a graduate of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: What Running For Congress As An HIV Activist Has Taught Me —The Body Congressional Hopeful Jirair Ratevosian on Armenia, LGBTQ+ Rights, and the American Dream —Advocate Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E814 · Wed, October 30, 2024
814 - Book Club—The Anatomy of Deception: Conspiracy Theories, Distrust, and Public Health in America
About this episode: The rise of misinformation and the appeal of “alternative medicine” is coupled with a decline in trust of the U.S. health care system. In a new book, Dr. Sara Gorman explains how an inaccessible health care system has fed the rise of misinformation and what policymakers and providers need to do to earn back some credibility. Guests: Dr. Sara Gorman is a public health researcher and author of a new book called “ The Anatomy of Deception: Conspiracy Theories, Distrust, and Public Health in America .” Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Who is most vulnerable to misinformation? —Psychology Today The burden of medical debt in the United States —Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker A Playbook For Addressing Health Misinformation —Public Health On Call (March, 2024) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E813 · Mon, October 28, 2024
813 - The Perilous State of Women’s Health Care, Post-Roe
About this episode: Since the 2022 Dobbs decision, women’s healthcare in the U.S.—which was already underperforming in everything from access to maternal mortality rates—has faced a new set of challenges. In today's episode: All about a Commonwealth Fund report that updates the status of women’s health care and reproductive health across the nation and why even services not related to reproductive care—like cancer screenings and having a primary care provider—have been disrupted. Guests: Dr. Sara Collins is senior scholar and vice president for health care coverage and access and tracking health system performance at The Commonwealth Fund . Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: 2024 State Scorecard on Women’s Health and Reproductive Care —The Commonwealth Fund These are the states that rank highest and lowest for women’s health in new report —CNN How Does Your State Rank on Women’s Health and Reproductive Care? —Ms. Magazine OB-GYN Training and Practice in Dobbs’ Shadow —Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E812 · Wed, October 23, 2024
812 - The Potentially “Game-changing” RSV Products Available This Season
About this episode: Respiratory syncytial virus can be particularly dangerous for older adults and infants and this year, for the first time, there are three approved and readily available products to help prevent severe disease: A vaccine for pregnant women and people over age 65, and an antibody treatment for infants born during RSV season. In this episode: all about these products and the promise they show for dramatically reducing the number of hospitalizations and deaths from RSV this year. Guests: Dr. Georgina Peacock is the director of the Immunization Services Division in the National Center on Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Surveillance of RSV —CDC Why So Many Babies Didn’t Get RSV Vaccines This Winter —Public Health On Call (February, 2024) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E811 · Mon, October 21, 2024
811 - The 30th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act
About this episode: In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act—the first comprehensive federal legislation to recognize the often-overlooked dangers of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other gender-based violence. In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, researchers Tiara Willie and Michelle Decker join the podcast to talk about the legislation’s initial goals, why gender-based violence is still a neglected issue 30 years later, and how far we still have to go in truly protecting all women from violence. Guests: Tiara Willie is a Bloomberg Assistant Professor of American Health in mental health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a researcher in gender-based violence, mental health, and sexual health. Michele Decker is a Bloomberg Professor of American Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is the founder and director of the Center for Global Women’s Health and Gender Equity at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Proclamation on the 30th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act —The White House Briefing Room Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls —Public Health On Call (September, 2023) The first office for missing and murdered Black women and girls set for Minnesota –NPR The Internation
S10 E810 · Wed, October 16, 2024
810 - 2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For Immigrants and Immigration
About this episode: What will the Presidential election mean for immigration—and for immigrants? A look at how each administration might approach one of the most polarizing issues on voters’ minds. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode belong solely to those interviewed. As a nonprofit entity, the Johns Hopkins University cannot take a position for or against any candidate running for elected office. Information is being provided solely for academic or educational purposes and is not an endorsement of any individual candidate. Guests: Kiara Álvarez is an immigration and behavioral health equity researcher at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Sarah Polk is a pediatrician at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the co-director of pediatrics at CentroSOL . Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: The Health Care Crisis at the U.S.-Mexico Border Part 1: Children and Families –Public Health On Call (April, 2024) The Health Care Crisis at the U.S.-Mexico Border Part 2: Border Walls and Traumatic Brain and Spinal Injuries –Public Health On Call (May, 2024) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
Bonus · Tue, October 15, 2024
Bonus - All About Marburg Virus
About this episode: An outbreak of Marburg virus, one of the deadliest viruses in the world, has been reported in Rwanda. In this episode: an overview of the rare, hemorrhagic fever with an 88% mortality rate and how it's impacting Rwanda, and why we’re seeing more and more instances of zoonotic disease spillovers. Guest: Kari Debbink is a virologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Marburg Outbreak in Rwanda Situation Summary —CDC WHO: cases at border and capital among Marburg concerns in Rwanda —CIDRAP Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E809 · Mon, October 14, 2024
809 - The Grand Opening of the Great Plains Hub for the Center for Indigenous Health
About this episode: The grand opening of a new research hub in Rapid City, South Dakota marks an exciting moment for the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health. The Hub will bring together community members and researchers to advance the Center’s lifesaving work in a central—and meaningful—location. In this episode: a look at some of the Hub’s first projects including lung cancer and diabetes research, and the Center’s approaches through the lenses of scientific rigor and unique cultural strengths. Guest: Dr. Donald Warne is co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health and a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Grand opening of Great Plains Hub for Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health —Native Sun News Johns Hopkins indigenous health hub comes to Rapid City —SDPB Radio The Power of Positive Childhood Experiences —Public Health on Call (April, 2024) Why the Health of Indigenous People Impacts Us All —Public Health on Call (October, 2022) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
Bonus · Thu, October 10, 2024
Bonus - A Report from the Frontlines of Hurricane Helene Devastation in Tennessee
About this episode: A look at the frontlines of the response 13 days after Hurricane Helene hit Tennessee—the state’s most devastating natural disaster in history. County commissioners Dr. Robert Acuff and Danny Deal report from the Elizabethton Municipal Airport which has become a staging area for relief supplies. Note: In the podcast, the commissioners request that supplies such as propane heaters and cylinders, and kerosene heaters, containers, and pumps can be sent to the attention of Commissioner Danny Deal at 415 Highway 91, Elizabethton, TN 37643. For updated information and a list of urgent needs, please check the links in the show notes. Guest: Dr. Robert Acuff and Danny Deal are both commissioners of Carter County in Elizabethton, TN, on the border with North Carolina. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Northeast Tennessee Disaster Relief Center Urgent Needs List —Facebook TEMA’s Hurricane Helene disaster updates Hurricane Helene Updates —Knoxville News Sentinel Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E808 · Wed, October 09, 2024
808 -2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For Gun Violence Prevention
About this episode: Gun violence is a top-of-mind issue for Americans and there are evidence-based solutions for prevention. In this episode: a focus on the stark differences between potential Trump and Harris presidencies when it comes to addressing gun violence. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode belong solely to those interviewed. As a nonprofit entity, the Johns Hopkins University cannot take a position for or against any candidate running for elected office. Information is being provided solely for academic or educational purposes and is not an endorsement of any individual candidate. Guests: Cass Crifasi is co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center For Gun Violence Solutions . Josh Horwitz is co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center For Gun Violence Solutions . JosHost: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: President Biden and Vice President Harris Announce Additional Actions to Reduce Gun Violence and Save Lives —White House Briefing Room Statement, September, 2024 2023 Results: National Survey of Gun Policy —Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions The National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Resource Center Oregon’s Measure 114: Reducing Gun Violence By State Referendum —Public Health On Call Podcast (November, 2022) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us:
S10 E807 · Mon, October 07, 2024
807 - Peacebuilding to Help Mend A Broken World—2023 Re-release
About this episode: One year after the Hamas attacks, the Israel-Hamas war remains among the most intractable and violent situations in the world. Today, an episode from the archives about peacebuilding to help solve violent conflicts and rebuild societies through nonviolent means. Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks with Michael Shipler, vice president of Search for Common Ground, an international peacebuilding non-governmental organization. Guest: Michael Shipler , vice president of Search for Common Ground , an international peacebuilding NGO. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
Bonus · Thu, October 03, 2024
Bonus - A Hurricane In The Mountains: The Aftermath of Helene
About this episode: Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic force seemed to catch many by surprise, especially those living in western North Carolina. The focus is now on the response, but it’s clear from the devastation that old playbooks for preparedness and readiness must change to consider new risks in a new reality. In this episode: a conversation about what emergency responders are already learning in the aftermath of Helene and why nowhere is really “safe” from climate change. Guest: Dr. Joseph Barbera is the co-director of the George Washington University Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management . Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Why Helene’s floods caught North Carolina off-guard —Washington Post Meteorology and Climate Change —Public Health On Call Podcast (July, 2024) Coping With The Psychological Aftermath of The Collapse of The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore —Public Health On Call Podcast (April, 2024) Disaster Planning For Extreme Weather —Public Health On Call Podcast (September, 2023) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E806 · Wed, October 02, 2024
806 - 2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For American Public Health
About this episode: Public health is often invisible: when things go well, people don’t die and “nothing happens.” But the lifesaving work of public health relies on a powerful infrastructure that includes the FDA, the CDC, the EPA and other federal agencies. In this episode, a look at how public health necessities like disease prevention, and food that’s safe to eat and water that’s safe to drink could fare under each potential administration. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode belong solely to those interviewed. As a nonprofit entity, the Johns Hopkins University cannot take a position for or against any candidate running for elected office. Information is being provided solely for academic or educational purposes and is not an endorsement of any individual candidate. Guest: Dr. Georges Benjamin is the executive director of the American Public Health Administration and a former secretary of Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: SCOTUS—Not the EPA—Is Now Regulating Environmental Protection —Public Health On Call Podcast (August, 2024) Georges Benjamin on Mending the Broken Public Health System Post-COVID 19 —Public Health On Call Podcast (April, 2021) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E805 · Mon, September 30, 2024
805 - 2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For Health Insurance, Medicare/Medicaid, and Drug Pricing
About this episode: What will the Presidential election mean for health care? A look at the candidates’ priorities and track records for the future of the Affordable Care Act and health care coverage and cost. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode belong solely to those interviewed. As a nonprofit entity, the Johns Hopkins University cannot take a position for or against any candidate running for elected office. Information is being provided solely for academic or educational purposes and is not an endorsement of any individual candidate. Guest: Gerard Anderson, PhD , is an expert in health policy and a professor in Health Policy and Management and International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: What the Inflation Reduction Act Means for Medicare and Drug Pricing —Public Health On Call Podcast (September, 2022) Prescription Drug Costs Driven By Manufacturer Price Hikes, Not Innovation —NPR Shots The Johns Hopkins Drug Access and Affordability Initiative Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E804 · Wed, September 25, 2024
804 - 2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For Abortion Access
About this episode: Abortion access is on the ballot nationwide this November. In this episode: a look at proposed bans and protections across the state and federal levels, and the long-term implications of judicial decisions. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode belong solely to those interviewed. As a nonprofit entity, the Johns Hopkins University cannot take a position for or against any candidate running for elected office. Information is being provided solely for academic or educational purposes and is not an endorsement of any individual candidate. Guest: Joanne Rosen is an expert in public health law and a co-director of the Center for Law and the Public’s Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Mifepristone and EMTALA SCOTUS Rulings: A Holding Pattern —Public Health On Call Podcast (July, 2024) Abortion Restrictions and the Threat to Women’s Health —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E803 · Mon, September 23, 2024
803 - 2024 Election Series: What's At Stake For Global Health
About this episode: The 2024 presidential election lands at a critical time in global public health. In this episode: a look at the potential implications for the U.S.’s future relationships with global health institutions like the World Health Organization and funding of initiatives on HIV and other challenges. Also covered: the connection between US domestic policy and US global health engagement. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode/event belong solely to those interviewed. As a nonprofit entity, the Johns Hopkins University cannot take a position for or against any candidate running for elected office. Information is being provided solely for academic or educational purposes and is not an endorsement of any individual candidate. Guest: Thomas Bollyky is an expert in health policy law and the inaugural Bloomberg Chair in Global Health at the Council on Foreign Relations . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Trump Threatens to Shut Down Pandemic Preparedness Office Launched by Biden —Time Why The World’s Most Lifesaving AIDS Program is in Danger —Public Health On Call Podcast (December, 2023) Global Cooperation and the COVID-19 Vaccine —Public Health On Call Podcast (August, 2020) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E802 · Wed, September 18, 2024
802 - Safer Supply: A Novel Approach to Reducing Overdose Deaths
About this episode: Safer supply is a harm reduction tool that involves making regulated pharmaceuticals available for people who use drugs. In today’s episode: The safer supply model explained, and why some experts are saying it is time to give it a try. Guests: Becky Genberg is an epidemiologist studying the intersection substance use and infectious diseases. Danielle German studies drug use and harm reduction. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: It’s not just opioids. New drugs make it harder to fight Baltimore’s overdose crisis —The Baltimore Banner The New Federal Regulations Aimed At Making Methadone More Accessible—And Less Stigmatizing —Public Health On Call (April, 2024) In Rural Maryland Counties, Communities Fight Back Against the Opioid Crisis —Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine (2018)
S10 E801 · Mon, September 16, 2024
801 - ADHD and Aging
About this episode: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is primarily diagnosed in childhood, but a lack of understanding about this neurodevelopmental disorder means many adults have lived their entire lives with undiagnosed ADHD. As we age, a certain degree of forgetfulness or decreased ability to mentally multitask is expected but then how can you tell what’s normal from what could be cognitive impairment or undiagnosed ADHD? In this episode: How ADHD diagnosis and treatment in later adulthood can change lives and potentially stave off further cognitive decline. Guest: Dr. David Goodman is a Johns Hopkins psychiatrist and the director of the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Center of Maryland . Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Why Are So Many Adults Being Diagnosed With ADHD? —Public Health On Call (June, 2024) Evidence-Based Education on ADHD in Adults —ADHD in Adults A Critical Need Ignored: Inadequate Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD After Age 60 —ADDitude Magazine Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E800 · Wed, September 11, 2024
800 - All About Parvovirus
About this episode: Last month, the CDC issued an alert about an increase in parvovirus, a respiratory disease that is common for children but can be very serious in people with certain medical conditions. In today’s episode: all about parvovirus and why it’s yet another reason to wash your hands regularly. Guest: Dr. Erica Prochaska is a pediatric infectious disease physician at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Increase in Human Parvovirus B19 Activity in the United States —CDC What to know about the ‘slapped cheek’ virus uptick in the U.S. —NPR Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E799 · Mon, September 09, 2024
799 - How An Online Gaming Community Is Helping To Prevent Veteran Suicides
About this episode: Playing video games has long been seen as an isolating activity, but the world of online gaming is anything but. Platforms like Twitch and Discord are home to thriving communities of players who connect over games and strategies. Researchers are also finding that they offer unique opportunities for peer support and mental health programs. In today’s episode: A study looked into how one online gaming community, the Stack Up Overwatch Program, is providing mental health and crisis support—including suicide prevention—for military members and veterans. Guest: Michelle Colder Carras is a digital mental health researcher at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She specializes in video games, online communities and digital wellbeing, as well as research leadership by community members. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Online Peer Support and Crisis Prevention: Evaluating the Stack Up Overwatch Program’s Impact —Psychiatric Services, American Psychiatric Association Mind Games: Hitting Restart on the Public Health Conversation Around Gaming —Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine (2017) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E798 · Wed, September 04, 2024
798 - When Should I Get My COVID/Flu Shot? And Other Queries To Kick off Respiratory Virus Season
About this episode: When should you get your COVID/flu shots? How long can a COVID vaccine really protect you from infection? Why do we have summer waves of COVID but not flu or RSV? Will we ever see a flu/COVID combo shot? A virologist answers questions as we gear up for respiratory virus season. Guest: Andy Pekosz is a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with appointments in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Environmental Health and Engineering . Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: What to Know About the Updated COVID Vaccine for Fall, Winter 2024-25 —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Why COVID Surges in the Summer —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E797 · Fri, August 30, 2024
797 - A Fall Look-Ahead With School Nurses: More Than Just Band-Aids and Ice Packs
About this episode: School nurses are charged with helping to maintain the health and well-being of every student in their care which goes way beyond providing basic first aid. Today, the podcast goes back to school at KIPP Baltimore, an open enrollment charter school serving pre-K to 8th grade students. Nurse Erica and Nurse Lily talk about their work providing health care to nearly 1,000 students, and what they’re thinking about for the year ahead for everything from infectious diseases to eye screenings. Guest: Erica Johnson and Lily Mendelson are school nurses at KIPP Baltimore . Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: What School Nurses Want Parents to Know —The New York Times More Cases of Measles in the United States —Public Health On Call (June, 2024) Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E796 · Wed, August 28, 2024
796 - An Update on PEPFAR And The Reality of Ending HIV
About this episode: Now in its 21st year, PEPFAR—the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief which launched in 2003 under President George W. Bush—still has ending the HIV epidemic in its sights. It’s now at a critical juncture with an expanding toolbox of exciting treatments and, simultaneously, eroding bipartisan support from Congress. Guest: Dr. Mike Reid is the Chief Science Officer in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir or Daily F/TAF for HIV Prevention in Cisgender Women —The New England Journal of Medicine Why The World’s Most Lifesaving AIDS Program is in Danger —Public Health On Call podcast (December, 2023) A Conversation With The Experts on Ending The HIV Epidemic —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S8 E795 · Mon, August 26, 2024
795 - The Discovery of a New Clade of Candida Auris—A “Critical Pathogen”
About this episode: The discovery of a new clade of C. auris—a fungus the WHO has declared a “critical pathogen”—has ignited new fears about the fungi’s ability to evolve beyond infection control measures. C. auris already poses significant—and lethal—risks to hospitals and patients worldwide and, with global warming, medicine should expect more emerging fungal infections that are resistant to existing treatments. In today’s episode: C. auris’s evolution, the climate change factor, and what’s needed to prevent infections before treatment options fail. Guest: Arturo Casadevall is chair of the department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a global expert in host defense mechanisms, fungi, and antibody-based therapies. He is also co-author of the book What If Fungi Win? with Stephanie Desmon. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is also co-author of the book What If Fungi Win? with Dr. Casadevall. Show links and related content: Worsening Spread of Candida auris in the United States, 2019-2021 —Annals of Internal Medicine What If Fungi Win? (book) —Johns Hopkins Press Candida auris: A Yeast to Fear —Public Health On Call Podcast (archive) The Rise of Invasive Fungi —Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Why Fungal Diseases Are An Increasing Threat –Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine On the Emergence of Candida auris: Climate Change, Azoles, Swamps, and Birds —mBio Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram <a href="https:/
S10 E794 · Fri, August 23, 2024
794 - Does A Really Cause B? How a Biostatistician Thinks About Causality
About this episode: When evaluating programs, policies, and interventions, how do you know if they’re working? In today’s episode: The science (and art!) of biostatistics, and an exploration of the question: How can we design studies to find out if there really is a relationship between A and B? Guest: Elizabeth Stuart is the chair of the department of Biostatistics at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Better Debates, Better Decisions: Causality Assessment in Population Health —The Milbank Quarterly Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S9 E793 · Wed, August 21, 2024
793 - What It’s Like To Be America’s Chief Health Diplomat
About this episode: Health diplomacy is how countries work together to advance global health. What does health diplomacy look like in 2024—a post-pandemic time marked by multiple violent crises and zoonotic disease outbreaks? Loyce Pace is America's top health diplomat within the Department of Health and Human Services. In today’s episode: a conversation about the agenda for US and global health. Guest: Loyce Pace is the Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Pace is an alum of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: Loyce Pace: U.S. Priorities at the 77th World Health Assembly —Global Health NOW Assistant Secretary Loyce Pace on X Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E792 · Mon, August 19, 2024
792 - World Mosquito Day: Gene Drives and CRISPR Technology
About this episode: World Mosquito Day, observed annually on August 20th, commemorates British doctor Sir Ronald Ross's discovery in 1897 that female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans. More than a century later, major advancements like genetically modifying mosquitoes—AKA gene drives—have the potential to reduce malaria cases and deaths dramatically, but not without hurdles. This special episode is an extended version of Malaria Minute, a podcast from the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute. Host: Thomas Locke is the host of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute’s podcast, Malaria Minute . Show links and related content: The Malaria Research Institute Editing Out Malaria, One Mosquito at a Time Gene Knockout Using New CRISPR Tool Makes Mosquitoes Highly Resistant to Malaria Parasite The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute Podcast Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S10 E791 · Fri, August 16, 2024
791 - Tradeoffs —The Fifth Branch: Transforming The Way Communities Respond to People in Crisis
About this episode: Since 2015, 1,939 individuals experiencing mental health crises have been killed during encounters with police in America, accounting for 20% of all police killings. The first episode of “The Fifth Branch”— a three-part special series by Tradeoffs and The Marshall Project— examines what it looks like when one community dramatically changes how it responds to people in crisis. Episodes 2 and 3 can be found on the Tradeoffs website . Host: Dan Gorenstein is the founder and executive editor of the Tradeoffs podcast. Show links and related content: Introducing HEART, Durham’s crisis response program About HEART Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S8 E790 · Wed, August 14, 2024
790 - How Violence Reduction Councils Can Prevent Homicides and Shootings
About this episode: Violence Reduction Councils review huge quantities of data to pinpoint how homicides and shootings can be prevented. They include diverse stakeholders from a city or community including first responders, community-based organizations, and elected officials—all of whom come together to review cases and identify policies or interventions to prevent future violence. A new toolkit supported by the Bloomberg American Health Initiative can help groups get started, sort and store data, form cross-divisional partnerships, and more. Guest: Mallory O’Brien is an associate scientist with the Center For Gun Violence Solutions . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA , is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Violence Reduction Councils Toolkit —Bloomberg American Health Initiative Violence Reduction Councils Can Help Communities Identify and Implement Long-Term Solutions —Bloomberg American Health Initiative Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S8 E789 · Mon, August 12, 2024
789 - Why The Mpox Crisis Spreading Across Africa Is A Global Concern
About this episode: A concerning and deadly outbreak of mpox is spreading across central Africa and the world’s response has been lackluster. In this episode: an overview of the virus and a brief history of mpox outbreaks, a breakdown of the different clades, and why this particular epidemic is so concerning—not just for the regions impacted but for the rest of the world. Guest: Dr. Chris Beyrer is the director of the Duke Global Health Institute and an epidemiologist who has worked on the front lines of infectious diseases like HIV and human rights issues across Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe for more than 30 years. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: How the hard lessons of the AIDS crisis are reshaping the response to the monkeypox outbreak —STAT News Bonus Episode: A Conversation With an Mpox Patient —Public Health On Call Archive Ep 500: How Did Mpox Become a Public Health Crisis? —Public Health On Call Archive Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed
S8 E788 · Fri, August 09, 2024
788 - SCOTUS—Not The EPA—Is Now Regulating Environmental Protection
About this episode: Environmental protection has a long history of entanglement with the court system. But the supermajority conservative Supreme Court could now become the primary influence in how water, air, and chemicals are regulated, displacing evidence and recommendations from scientists. From the Good Neighbor Rule to the Chevron case, SCOTUS is disempowering environmental protection at a time when the U.S. desperately needs better and more informed regulation for things like air quality, forever chemicals, and major impacts on climate change. Guests: Dr. Tom Burke is an emeritus professor at Johns Hopkins and a former top official with the Environmental Protection Agency in the Obama administration. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Ohio v. Environmental Protection Agency (pdf)—Supreme Court of the United States Why The Supreme Court Ruling on The EPA Isn’t The End of Fighting Climate Change (2022) —Public Health On Call archives Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website . Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on X @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Interested in learning more about the Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellowship mentioned in this episode’s promo? Learn more <a href="https://america

Public Health On Call

883 - How An Advocate is Thinking About Family Planning

882 - Personnel Cuts at the CDC

881 - The Building H Index: Ranking Consumer Products By Their Impacts On Our Health

880 - “The FDA As We’ve Known It Is Finished”

879 - The Impacts of Terminating COVID-era Funding for States

878 - Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in the ER

877 - Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

876 - Preventing Mpox Transmission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

875 - Tradeoffs: Why Many Republicans Think Shrinking Medicaid Will Make It Better

874 - The Potential Impacts of Cuts To Medicaid

873 - Drowning As A Public Health Issue

872 - Ketamine and Esketamine

871 - A Potentially “Game-Changing” Approach to Preventing Ovarian Cancer

870 - The Origins, Impacts, and Challenges of Misinformation

869 - The Evidence on Vaccines and Autism

868 - COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma: From Emergency to Everyday

867 - Everything Is Tuberculosis: A Conversation With John Green

866 - Vaccines 101: Understanding the Vaccines on the Childhood Vaccination Schedule

865 - Deep-Sea Mining

864 - The Measles Outbreak in Texas and Beyond

863 - The NIH-Funded Autism Study Hoping to Pinpoint Gene-Environmental Interplay

862 - The Misinformation Around Seed Oils

861 - Ending Neglect of Tropical Diseases

860 - Why Gender and Gender Identity Matter for Health

859 - What Foreign Aid Means For National Security

858 - A Safer Gun Buying Process

853 - The Hazy World of Cannabis Policy

857 - The Concepts Behind The Language of Equity

856 - The Unequal Impacts of Abortion Bans

855 - Can The CDC Communicate More Transparently With The Public?

854 - The Worst Flu Season In A Decade

852 - The FDA’s Proposed Food Labeling Changes

851 - Policing With a Public Health Lens in South Dakota

850 - The History of Birthright Citizenship in the U.S.

849 - Marion Nestle and Food Politics

848 - Vaccines 101: The Vaccines For Children Program

847 - Vaccines 101: The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

846 - Vaccines 101: Vaccine Safety Science

845 - Tuberculosis in the U.S.

844 - The Changing CDC Website

843 - The Native Biodata Consortium: Data Sovereignty For Good

842 - Polio and the Polio Vaccine

841 - The U.S. & The World Health Organization

840 - Vaccines 101: The Basics of Vaccines and Vaccination

839 - The First Week's Executive Orders

838 - Book Club—Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks

837 - Seeking Common Ground in Public Health

836 - The FDA Says Goodbye to Red Dye No. 3

835 - Fluoride and The Law

834 - Bird Flu Is Escalating

833 - Why Are Americans Dying So Much Earlier Than Some Of Their Counterparts?

832 - The Importance of Knowing and Optimizing Your Hearing Health…At ANY Age

831 - Public Health Science Communication With Your Local Epidemiologist

830 - Advancing Public Health in Uncertain Political Times

829 - Do Mammograms Save Lives?

828 - Public Health is a Human Right

827 - The Rise in Pediatric Cases of Walking Pneumonia

826 - The Success of Rx Kids, Flint’s Infant Cash Prescription Program

825 - The Future of the Environmental Protection Agency Under Trump

824 - Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update

823 - Special Episode—The Fight For A Swimmable Harbor in Baltimore

823 - Fluoride In The Water

822 - Book Club: “Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice”

821 - Psychological First Aid: Processing Big Post-Election Emotions

820 - The Anti-Vaccine Movement Gets Its Close-Up

819 - A Second Trump Term: A Look At The Headlines

818 - An Update On Measles, Pertussis, Mpox, and Other Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

817 - What’s Behind All The Food Recalls

816 - Book Club: The Promise and Peril of CRISPR

815 - How To Run For Congress As A Public Health Official (Even If You Lose)

814 - Book Club—The Anatomy of Deception: Conspiracy Theories, Distrust, and Public Health in America

813 - The Perilous State of Women’s Health Care, Post-Roe

812 - The Potentially “Game-changing” RSV Products Available This Season

811 - The 30th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act

810 - 2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For Immigrants and Immigration

Bonus - All About Marburg Virus

809 - The Grand Opening of the Great Plains Hub for the Center for Indigenous Health

Bonus - A Report from the Frontlines of Hurricane Helene Devastation in Tennessee

808 -2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For Gun Violence Prevention