Public Health Review Morning Edition

Kristen Rogers, writer for CNN Wellness, explains why synthetic food dyes are being banned by states across the country and how each state is taking action; Felicia Quintana-Zinn, Associate Director of Health Data with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, discusses the value of ASTHO's Executive Leadership Forum and what makes it a unique opportunity; Dr. Dan Edney, ASTHO Board Member and State Health Officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health, was featured on the first episode of the department's new “Health Talk MS” podcast to discuss the state's largest preventable health threats; and ASTHO just released a new episode of Public Health Review on forming strong partnerships across state and local agencies.  CNN News Article: Over half of US states are trying to eliminate food dyes. Here's what you can do now CNN News Article: What eliminating artificial food dyes could mean for the food system ASTHO Facebook Post: ASTHO's 2025 Executive Leadership Forum Health Talk MS Podcast Web Page ASTHO Public Health Review Episode: Partnering to Expand Adolescent Access to School Health Services  

Dr. Allison Arwady, Director at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the CDC, details a recent webinar focused on mental health and overdose prevention; Beth Giambrone, ASTHO Senior Analyst for State Health Policy, explains some of the challenges island jurisdictions face; ASTHO Member Elizabeth Hertel, Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, recently gave a keynote address at the June 2025 Food as Medicine Summit; and on Thursday, July 10th ASTHO will hold the next Inspire Readiness Webinar focused on communicating about data and surveillance during infectious disease emergencies. CDC Web Page: About the Division of Overdose Prevention ASTHO Blog Article: Public Health Legislation in Island Areas Food As Medicine Web Page ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE – Readiness - Communicating About Data and Surveillance During Infectious Disease Emergencies  

Patricia Tilley, Associate Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, details the critical needs the Public Health Infrastructure Grant has helped with. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter  

Dr. Jay Varma, physician and epidemiologist with the Community Healthcare Network, describes the importance of embracing new AI technologies in public health; Dr. Amanda Simanek, associate professor at the Chicago Medical School and Director of the Michael Reese Foundation Center for Health Equity Research at Rosalind Franklin University, discusses what's to come this Thursday, July 10th in ASTHO's INSPIRE: Readiness webinar on effective data communication during public health crises; ASTHO is kicking off its five-part Public Health Nursing Learning Lab Series on Wednesday, July 23rd, with a conversation about the evolving role and impact of public health nurses; and Dr. Steven Stack, ASTHO alum and past president, begins his new role as secretary of Kentucky's Cabinet for Health and Family Services, where he'll work alongside the rest of the cabinet to manage Kentucky's human services.  HealthBeat Web Page: Here's how artificial intelligence could improve public health ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE: Readiness - Communicating About Data and Surveillance During Infectious Disease Emergencies ASTHO Series: Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab The News-Enterprise News Article: A conversation with Dr. Steven Stack, Kentucky's new health cabinet secretary  

This special episode of Public Health Review Morning Edition revisits a popular episode from June 3, 2025. Autumn Watson, Public Health Organizational Development Director for the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department, explains how PHIG is being used at the local level. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter

This special episode of Public Health Review Morning Edition revisits a popular episode from May 13, 2025. Esther Muña, Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation and Territorial Health Official for the Northern Mariana Islands, explains how their Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funds allowed them to improve security and integrate care through a new electronic health record system; Jerry Larkin, Director of the Department of Health of Rhode Island, describes how PHIG has been an asset to his department in preventing illness and enabling advancements; Jacki Tulafono, Division Head for the Department of Health in American Samoa, shares how PHIG dollars support key functions at their agency, allowing them to provide services to those that need it most. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter  

This special episode of Public Health Review Morning Edition revisits a popular episode from April 18, 2025. Dr. Allison Arwady, Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the CDC, tells us about historic progress in the field of overdose prevention; Catherine Murphy, ASTHO Governmetn Affairs Analyst, discusses the advocacy effort from ASTHO's Spring Leadership Forum; and Trust for America's Health will host a Congressional Briefing on April 23rd that is focused on its Ready or Not 2025 report. CDC Web Page: CDC Reports Nearly 24% Decline in U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths ASTHO Blog Article: Strengthening Public Health Advocacy at ASTHO's Spring Leadership Forum Trust for America's Health Web Page: TFAH Congressional Briefing – Ready or Not ASTHO Public Health Review Morning Edition Episode 882: Harris Testifies on Hill; 2025 TFAH Report  

This special episode of Public Health Review Morning Edition revisits a popular episode from April 1, 2025. Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, gives examples from across the country of success stories that stem from the Public Health Infrastructure Grant. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter  

Kelly Dougherty, Deputy Commissioner at the Vermont Department of Health, shares how drug testing has helped reduce the state's opioid overdose deaths; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO's Senior Director for Government Affairs, breaks down this week's View From Washington D.C. Report on public health news from Capitol Hill; Dr. Ralph Alvarado, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, shares how he works with legislators to improve public health during this week's deskside briefing on the impact of Nutrition on Chronic Disease; and a new ASTHO blog discusses low vaccine uptake among Medicaid members and the barriers to vaccine administration that exist.  Vermont Department of Health: Deaths from Opioid Overdose Declined Significantly in 2024 ASTHO Newscast: View From Washington Episodes ASTHO Blog: Shaping Vaccine Cost and Coverage for Medicaid-Eligible Individuals  

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO President, Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lindsay Weaver of Indiana, Dr. James McDonald of New York, and Dr. Ralph Alvarado of Tennessee, share more from Tuesday's deskside briefing on the impact of Nutrition on Chronic Disease; Kelly Dougherty, Deputy Commissioner at the Vermont Department of Health, explains how the state's public health strategies reduced opioid overdose deaths; and an ASTHO Blog Article shows that states across the country are reassessing vaccine policy and public health powers due to legislative changes that impact public health authority and access to vaccines. Vermont Department of Health: Deaths from Opioid Overdose Declined Significantly in 2024 ASTHO Blog Article: States Reassessing Vaccine Policy and Public Health Powers ASTHO Web Page: STAR Center  

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO President, Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lindsay Weaver of Indiana, Dr. James McDonald of New York, and Dr. Ralph Alvarado of Tennessee, held a deskside briefing on the impact of Nutrition on Chronic Disease; Catherine Jones, Senior Analyst of Government Affairs at ASTHO, shares some of the biggest takeaways from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' recent budget hearings; ASTHO's 2025 Executive Leadership Forum Annual meeting is happening now; and publichealthcareers.org can help public health teams in the hiring process. ASTHO Federal Health Policy Update: HHS Budget Hearings Chart New Direction for Public Health ASTHO Public Health Review Morning Edition Public Health Careers  

Beth Giambrone, Senior Analyst at ASTHO, discusses her role on the State Health Policy team in this installment of the “Get to Know ASTHO” segment; Dr. Rose Molina, Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School, shares public health strategies that can help reduce the rate of pregnancy-related deaths; and ASTHO will host a desk-side media briefing at 10:30 a.m. ET on the Impact of Nutrition on Chronic Disease. ASTHO Web Page: State Health Policy JAMA Network Web Page: Pregnancy-Related Deaths in the US, 2018-2022 ASTHO Web Page: Subscribe to Public Health Weekly  

Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO President and State Health Officer with the Alabama Department of Public Health, discusses takeaways from the most recent ASTHO Board of Directors meeting; Alex Kurutz, dialysis epidemiologist for the Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program at the Tennessee Department of Health, shares how the state created an educational program to help dialysis facilities strengthen infection prevention; Dr. Manisha Juthani, ASTHO's President-Elect, and Anne Zink, ASTHO's Past President, served on a panel at the Yale Innovation Summit to discuss how state and local leaders can advance public health and health innovation in today's political landscape; and stay up to date on all things public health by subscribing to this newscast.  ASTHO Web Page: Board of Directors ASTHO Blog: Tennessee Partners with Dialysis Facilities to Strengthen Infection Prevention Yale School of Public Health: Public health needs to find its way through “the in-between” ASTHO Web Page: Subscribe to Public Health Review Morning Edition  

Dr. Nicole Magnuson, Director of the Live Well Center for Innovation and Leadership, discusses how the academic practice partnership between San Diego County and San Diego State University strengthens their ability to serve the community; Valerie Henderson, Senior Analyst at ASTHO, explains how ASTHO's STRETCH 2.0 Initiative brought state and community health leaders together to create strategies for community-centered work; highlights from ASTHO's INSPIRE: Readiness webinar on AI-Enabled Community-Inclusive Preparedness are now available; and sign up for ASTHO's legislative alerts to receive notifications of any changes to legislation affecting public health.  ASTHO Blog: San Diego Academic Health Partnership Strengthens Service During COVID-19 and Beyond Live Well San Diego Web Page ASTHO Blog Article: STRETCH Events Support Sustainable Partnerships and Community Engagement ASTHO Web Page: Highlights from INSPIRE: Readiness - Navigating AI-Enabled Community-Inclusive Preparedness ASTHO Web Page: Subscribe  

Lillian Colasurdo, ASTHO's Director of Public Health Law and Data Sharing, is featured in ASTHO's Get To Know You Segment; Lesley Wolf, Director of Programming with Envision, discusses how their new CHW Financial Sustainability Toolkit can help public health programs fund the work of Community Health Workers; and ASTHO is hosting an INSPIRE Readiness Webinar on Thursday, July 10th, about communicating with data during infectious disease emergencies. ASTHO Web Page: State Health Policy ASTHO Web Page: 2025 Legislative Prospectus Series Envision CHW Financial Sustainability Toolkit ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE Readiness: Communicating About Data and Surveillance During Infectious Disease Emergencies  ASTHO LinkedIn Profile ASTHO X Profile ASTHO Facebook Profile  

Dr. James McDonald, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, explains how the Public Health Infrastructure Grant strengthens the state's public health workforce. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter  

Truc Taylor, Director of Health Data Analytics at Guidehouse, a founding member of ASTHO's Innovation Advisory Council, which is a new multisector collaborative of private sector partners to help ASTHO's membership and leadership stay informed and nimble on emerging topics affecting public health, walks public health leaders through best approaches to AI. Guidehouse: The State of GenAI Report 2024 ASTHO Web Page: Innovation Advisory Council  

Dr. Anna-Michelle McSorley, Assistant Professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut, details the findings of her recent study on quality of life indicators in three U.S. territories and explains the importance of data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Christina Severin, Director of Public Health Law at ASTHO, discusses her role on the State Health Policy team in this installment of the Get to Know You segment; ASTHO welcomes new member Dr. John Langefeld, Medical Director for the Kentucky Department for Public Health; the Vermont Department of Health Laboratory received the Excellence in Public Health Response award for a significant contribution to the CDC; and registration is open for the second installment in ASTHO's Essentials of Leadership and Management Series, with the first workshop on strategic communications taking place July 9th.   Study: Health-Related Quality of Life in the US Territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands ASTHO State Health Policy ASTHO's Public Health Legal Mapping Center PHIG Partners: PHIG Infrastructure Grant John Langefeld, MD  Vermont Department of Health Public Health Laboratory CDC Laboratory Response Network for Chemical Threats   ASTHO Workshop: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 2, Session 1: Navigating Difficult Conversations

Dr. Jim McDonald, commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, discusses the State's Heat Risk and Illness Dashboard and how it can reduce heat related injury; Dr. Tara Kirk Sell, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, previews public health communications topics that will be covered in ASTHO's INSPIRE Readiness webinar today, Thursday, June 12 at 2 p.m. ET; the Texas Department of State Health Services is leading an initiative to strengthen collaboration between public health and academic health departments; and ASTHO member Dr. Ralph Alvarado, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, was a panelist at the Age-Friendly Ecosystem Summit, where he discussed the importance of effective public health messaging.  New York State Department of Health Heat Risk and Illness Dashboard News Release: New York State Department of Health Launches Interactive Heat Risk and Illness Dashboard ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE: Readiness - Tackling Public Health Communication Conundrums: Rumors and Public Trust  ASTHO Blog: Public Health and Academic Leaders Unite Through Texas Consortium Trust for America's Health and John A. Harford Foundation: The Age-Friendly Ecosystem Summit  

Liz Hamel, Vice President and Director of Public Opinion and Survey Research at KFF, discusses KFF's latest KFF Tracking Poll on Information and Trust; Tina Tan, State Epidemiologist at the New Jersey Department of Health, tells us about the Protect Me With 3+ program that aims to educate adolescents about the importance of vaccinations; and an ASTHO webinar on Thursday, June 12 at 2 p.m. ET will be a vital conversation on protecting public health and building trust. KFF Web Page: KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust – The Public's Views on Measles Outbreaks and Misinformation Protect Me With 3+ Program Web Page Protect Me With 3+ Program Web Page: NJ Students Recognized for Excellence in 13th Annual Vaccine Awareness Contest ASTHO Webinar Web Page: INSPIRE – Readiness - Tackling Public Health Communication Conundrums: Rumors and Public Trust ATSHO Web Page: Subscribe  

Andy Baker-White, ASTHO Senior Director for State Health Policy, is the first member of ASTHO's State Health Policy team to be featured in ASTHO's Get To Know You Segment; Ken Harrison, Workforce Development Director with the Alabama Department of Public Health, explains the Friendly Face Fridays initiative and how it is helping their workforce; an ASTHO blog article focuses on how Hillsborough County, the Florida Department of Health, and the University of South Florida came together to focus on workforce development; and ASTHO's STAR Center offers resources and tools to help state and territorial health agencies modernize and strengthen administrative and organizational capacities. ASTHO Web Page: State Health Policy ASTHO Blog Article: Academic Health Partnership Prioritizes Workforce Development in Florida ASTHO Web Page: State and Territorial Administrative Readiness (STAR) Center  

Claire Hannan, Executive Director of the Association of Immunization Managers, details AIM's 2024 Annual Report as they celebrate 25 years in existence; Sara Bell, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Public Health Systems and Planning, tells us how a new ASTHO resource can help your team with internal communications; an ASTHO webinar on Thursday, July 10 at 2 p.m. ET will aim to teach you how to clearly and effectively communicate public health data; and ASTHO has a crisis communcations hub with trainings, videos, and additional resources. Association of Immunization Managers Web Page: AIM 2024 Annual Report ASTHO Blog Article: Field-Tested-Strategies for Effective Communication in Public Health ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE – Readiness - Communicating About Data and Surveillance During Infectious Disease Emergencies ASTHO Web Page: Public Health & Crisis Communications Resource Hub  

Nate Weed, Chief of Resiliency and Health Security at the Washington State Department of Health, discusses a conversation at the 2025 Preparedness Summit between Directors of Public Health Preparedness, the CDC, and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response facilitated by ASTHO; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, tells us about all the public health happenings from Washington D.C.; on Wednesday, July 9 at 2 p.m. ET the second installment in ASTHO's Essentials of Leadership and Management series will happen; and ASTHO has a free e-learning opportunity to allow your organization to better utilize the STRETCH framework. 2025 Preparedness Summit Web Page ASTHO Web Page: Legislative Alerts ASTHO Legislative Alert: White House Releases Additional FY26 Budget Materials ASTHO Webinar: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 2, Session 1: Navigating Difficult Conversations ASTHO Web Page: Tools to Operationalize Equity Utilizing the STRETCH Framework  

Melissa Magstadt, Secretary of Health for South Dakota and an ASTHO Member, explains the state's first-in-the-nation anonymous naloxone kit distribution program; Colton Anderson, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Public Health Infrastructure and Improvement, tells us about ASTHO's Quality Advisory Group; an ASTHO webinar scheduled for June 12 aims to help public health practitioners tell the story of public health; and Dr. Broke Cunningham, an ASTHO Member and the Commissioner of Health for the Minnesota Department of Health, will speak at the 2025 Minnesota Rural Health Conference. Emily's Hope News Release: Emily's Hope and South Dakota agencies team up to make lifesaving naloxone widely available ASTHO Blog Article: Quality Advisory Group Supports Performance Improvement in Health Agencies ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE – Readiness - Tackling Public Health Communication Conundrums: Rumors and Public Trust Minnesota Rural Health Conference Web Page  

Elizabeth Gunsalus, K-12 Education and Outreach Project Manager at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, explains how the department's Mobile Lab Experience has been beneficial; Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, spoke at a recent Trust for America's Health media briefing focused on the most recent Pain in the Nation Report; the Connecticut Tumor Registry marks its 90th anniversary; and Elizabeth Hertel, ASTHO Member and the Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, recently gave the commencement address for the Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine graduation ceremony. Kansas Department of Health and Environment Web Page: Mobile Lab Experience Trust for America's Health Web Page: Pain in the Nation 2025 – The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths NAACCR 2025 Annual Conference Web Page Michigan State University Class of 2025 Commencement Web Page  

Autumn Watson, Public Health Organizational Development Director for the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department, explains how PHIG is being used at the local level. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter  

Laura Harrington, Professor in the Department of Entomology at Cornell University and Director of the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, explains how public health can combat tick-borne diseases; Beth Giambrone, ASTHO Senior Analyst for State Health Policy, discusses public health legislation in states around the country; the first-ever national certification for disease intervention professionals is coming this year; and the Boundary Spanning Leadership Training focused on Alzheimer's and dementia care will take place June 16th and 17th. Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases Web Page ASTHO Blog Article: Update on State Legislative Sessions 2025 Certified Disease Intervention Certification Program Web Page ASTHO Web Page: Boundary Spanning Leadership Training Interest Form  

Brian King, Executive Vice President for U.S. Programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, explains how state and local programs are the lifeblood of tobacco prevention; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO's Senior Director for Government Affairs, updates us on a busy few weeks in Washington D.C. that have a direct impact on public health; an article in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice discusses the role of State and Territorial Health Agencies when it comes to supporting healthy aging; and Dr. Puthiery Va, the Director of the Maine CDC and an ASTHO Member, was a guest speaker for the Maine Health Care Association's “Remember Me” ceremony. World Health Organization Web Page: World No Tobacco Day Tobacco Control Newswork Web Page: The Future of Tobacco Control Relies on OSH Funding ASTHO Blog Article: Tobacco Policy Roundup: Smoking Rates Down but Youth E-Cigarette Use Rising Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids News Release: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Names Brian King as Executive Vice President for U.S. Programs Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Web Page: Supporting Healthy Aging and Older Adult Health – The Role of State and Territorial Health Agencies Maine Health Care Association Web Page: Remember ME 2025 – Celebrating Lifetime Achievements!  

Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, offers details on the Make America Health Again report; Lexie Giragosian, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Maternal and Child Health, tells us about an ASTHO brief that zeroes in on adolescent health; an ASTHO webinar today, May 29th at 3 p.m. E.T. focuses on how defined levels of maternal care can reduce maternal mortality and improve health outcomes; an ASTHO blog highlights the effectiveness of academic health partnerships; and ASTHO's Carolyn Mullen and Lisa Petersen represented ASTHO at the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new HHS portable biocontainment unit. ASTHO Web Page: Supporting Adolescent Health Through School-Based Health Programs ASTHO Webinar: Defining Care, Saving Lives: The Role of Levels of Maternal Care in Mortality Reduction ASTHO Blog Article: Academic Health Partnership Prioritizes Workforce Development in Florida Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response News Release: HHS launches new Portable Biocontainment Unit, Only domestic capability of transporting and treating patients with high-consequence infectious disease  

Danny Staley, ASTHO Senior Vice President for Public Health Programs and Practice, details the recent Healthy Brain Initiative Summit where he presented a keynote presentation; Catherine Murphy, ASTHO Government Affairs Analyst, explains the importance of the Prevention and Public Health Fund; an ASTHO webinar today, May 28th at 1 p.m. ET will focus on administrative preparedness for public health emergencies; and the CDC has launched a new Mental Health Data Channel. ASTHO Web Page: Healthy Aging and Brain Health ASTHO Blog Article: An Ounce of Prevention (and Public Health Fund) Is Worth a Pound of Cure ASTHO Webinar: Strengthening Administrative Preparedness in Public Health Agencies CDC Web Page: Mental Health Data Channel  

Moses Pretrick, Assistant Secretary for the Department of Health & Social Affairs with the Federated States of Micronesia, explains how the Public Health Infrastructure Grant has worked for his team. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter  

Dr. Anne Zink, Former ASTHO President and a Senior Clinical Fellow at the Yale School of Public Health, describes the 100 Miles in May challenge; Anna Bradley, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Public Health Infrastructure and Performance Improvement, discusses how to better gather community engagement metrics; an ASTHO webinar on Wednesday, May 28th at 1 p.m. ET will focus on administrative preparedness for public health emergencies; and your next great hire could be found at publichealthcareers.org. 100 Miles In May Web Page ASTHO Blog Article: Meaningful Measures for Community Engagement in Public Health ASTHO Webinar: Strengthening Administrative Preparedness in Public Health Agencies PublicHealthCareers.org  

Dr. Sarah Nosal, President-Elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians, discusses the importance of family physicians in regard to mental health; Amelia Poulin, ASTHO Assistant Director of Emerging Infectious Disease at ASTHO, explains why a Disease Intervention Specialist is so important; an ASTHO webinar today, May 22nd at 2 p.m. ET, explores how regional data ecosystems can power smarter public health decisions; and an ASTHO resource walks you through the best ways to integrate sustainability into your implementation of the Healthy Brain Initiative. National Alliance on Mental Illness Web Page: Mental Health Awareness Month American Academy of Family Physicians Web Page ASTHO Web Page: Prioritizing Cases and Contacts: Considerations for STI Programs During Emergency Response ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE – Readiness - Building a Data-Ready Ecosystem for Public Health Response ASTHO Web Page: Integrating Sustainability Into Healthy Brain Initiative Implementation  

Julia McIlroy, Procurement Content Manager for the National Association of State Procurement Officials, discusses administrative preparedness for public health emergencies; Lillian Colasurdo, ASTHO Director of Public Health Law and Data Sharing, tells us about legislative trends regarding mosquito control; an ASTHO webinar on Thursday, May 29th will focus on how defined levels of maternal care can reduce maternal mortality and improve outcomes; and Dr. Manisha Juthani, ASTHO President-Elect and the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, recently delivered a commencement address. ASTHO Webinar: Strengthening Administrative Preparedness in Public Health Agencies ASTHO Blog Article: Legislative Trends for Mosquito Control in the United States ASTHO Webinar: Defining Care, Saving Lives – The Role of Levels of Maternal Care in Mortality Reduction  

Kimberly Shoaf, Professor of Public Health and the Director of the Rocky Mountains and High Plains Center for Emergency Public Health, discusses how a data-ready ecosystem for public health response can be beneficial; Ashley Cram, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Population Health, tells us about ASTHO's new web page dedicated to the support of Community Health Workers in island jurisdictions; and the Be Ready for Measles toolkit from CDC is online now. ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE – Readiness - Building a Data-Ready Ecosystem for Public Health Response ASTHO Web Page: Tools That Support Community Health Worker Programs in Island Jurisdictions CDC Web Page: Be Ready for Measles Toolkit ASTHO Public Health Review Podcast Episode: Why We Serve – An Inside Look at Public Health AmeriCorps  

Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, provides updates on Measles and the Avian Flu; Dr. Ralph Alvarado, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, explains how Tennessee is building a better healthcare system for older Americans; on May 22nd, ASTHO's next INSPIRE: Readiness webinar focused on data-ready ecosystems will take place; and Dr. Puthiery Va, ASTHO Member and the Maine CDC Director, recently spoke about youth mental health at an event. Older Americans Month Web Page Tennessee Web Page: Department of Disability and Aging Tennessee Department of Health Web Page: Office of Healthy Aging ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE – Readiness – Building a Data-Ready Ecosystem for Public Health Response  

Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health and an ASTHO Member, tells us why his department wanted to create a dashboard focused on measles; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO Senior Director of Government Affairs, recaps a busy few weeks on Capitol Hill in this week's View From Washington D.C. Report; and Dr. Ralph Alvarado, ASTHO Member and Tennessee Commissioner of Health, and ASTHO Alum Dr. Georges Benjamin, will give commencement speeches at the Meharry Medical College. Illinois Department of Public Health News Release: IDPH Rolls Out New Measles Simulator Dashboard to Empower School Officials to Protect Students and Staff from Outbreaks Meharry Medical College Web Page: Commencement Speakers ASTHO Web Page: Subscribe  

Alex Karydi, State and Territory Initiatives Director at the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, details a recent assessment from SPRC that looked at the ability of states and territories to prevent suicide successfully; Emily Lapayowker, ASTHO's Assistant Director of Web, uses Global Accessibility Awareness Day to explain why digital access and inclusion are so important; publichealthcareers.org might be where you find your next great hire; and ASTHO Alum, Dr. Umair Shah, received an award from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Suicide Prevention Resource Center Web Page: State and Territorial Suicide Prevention Needs Assessment Homepage Suicide Prevention Resource Center Web Page: State Suicide Prevention Infrastructure Recommendations Global Accessibility Awareness Day Web Page ASTHO Brief: Website Accessibility – Enhancing Access to COVID-19 Vaccine Registration and Beyond PublicHealthCareers.org  

Brittany Giles-Cantrell, Program Director at the de Beaumont Foundation, tells us why de Beaumont's 40 Under 40 in Public Health program is so valuable; Catherine Jones, ASTHO Government Affairs Senior Analyst, tells us her journey to ASTHO in this week's “Get to Know ASTHO” segment; an interactive ASTHO tool compiles data to help your health agency in identifying measures for your suicide prevention programs; and ASTHO's “Strengthening Administrative Preparedness” webinar will dive into everything you need to know for public health agency preparedness. de Beaumont Foundation Web Page: 40 Under 40 in Public Health – Nominations ASTHO Web Page: Suicide Indicator Tool ASTHO Webinar: Strengthening Administrative Preparedness in Public Health Agencies  

Esther Muña, Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation and Territorial Health Official for the Northern Mariana Islands, explains how their Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funds allowed them to improve security and integrate care through a new electronic health record system; Jerry Larkin, Director of the Department of Health of Rhode Island, describes how PHIG has been an asset to his department in preventing illness and enabling advancements; Jacki Tulafono, Division Head for the Department of Health in American Samoa, shares how PHIG dollars support key functions at their agency, allowing them to provide services to those that need it most. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter

Rita Condon, Program Manager for obesity, nutrition, and physical activity with the Department of Health in New Mexico, discusses the agency's annual child obesity update and the new initiatives in place to promote healthy eating; Andy Baker-White, Senior Director for State Health Policy at ASTHO, reports a new legislative trend of banning certain food dyes and additives in states across the country; ASTHO's INSPIRE Readiness webinar on the importance of regional data in decision-making takes place May 22nd; Dr. Anne Zink, ASTHO past president and former Alaska State Health Officer, was appointed to the Steering Committee for the Vaccine Integrity Project. New Mexico Childhood Obesity 2024 Report ASTHO: States Moving to Prohibit Additives and Dyes in Food ASTHO: INSPIRE: Readiness - Building a Data-Ready Ecosystem for Public Health Response Vaccine Integrity Project

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment's new Health and Environment Laboratories improve the state's ability to respond to disease outbreaks and health threats; Get to know Catherine Murphy; the impact of the Public Health AmeriCorps program at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services; the Pennsylvania Department of Health celebrates 120 years; and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation of the Northern Mariana Islands has been awarded a 2025 Network of Practice Grant from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative.   New Kansas Health & Environment Laboratories AmeriCorps in Action: Strengthening Public Health in Iowa PA Department of Health Celebrates 120 Years of Service The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation of the Northern Mariana Islands awarded a 2025 Network of Practice Grant

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive for the state of Michigan, explains the state's Public Health Data Dashboard, which visualizes public health trends by district and helps to shape awareness of public health's role in the community; David Stone, Accreditation Analyst at ASTHO, discusses the importance of accreditation and ASTHO's guide to sustaining efforts across health departments; Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO President and State Health Officer for Alabama, appeared on a recent Public Health on Call podcast; Dr. Nirav Shah, former ASTHO President and former Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, will give the commencement address at the University of Maine in Farmington; ASTHO will host an event being an effective crisis communicator Thursday, May 8th. Michigan's Public Health Data Dashboard  ASTHO: A Guide for Sustainable Public Health Accreditation Podcast: A Conversation with Alabama's State Health Officer ASTHO: Don't Panic: A Panel on How to be an Effective Crisis Communicator UMF Announces Dr. Nirav Shah as Commencement Speaker  

Dr. Alex Walley, professor of medicine at the Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, addresses the opioid overdose crisis and community engagement, topics at the Rhode Island's Community Overdose Engagement (CODE) Summit; Sean Graham, Deputy Director of Emergency Preparedness for the State of Georgia Department of Public Health, discusses the importance of radiological preparedness; ASTHO resources for Mental Health Awareness Month; Dr. Victor Ramos Otero, Secretary of Health for the Puerto Rico Department of Health, honored at the 11th Preventive Health and Immunization Congress for his leadership and accomplishments. Rhode Island's Community Overdose Engagement (CODE) Initiative and Summit National Alliance for Radiation Readiness ASTHO: Public Health's Role in Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention Victor Ramos Otero, MD, Puerto Rico Department of Health  

Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO Senior Director for Government Affairs, explains how he came to ASTHO and how his team provides value for members; Vish Viswanath, Professor of Health Communication and Population Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, explains how an upcoming ASTHO webinar will prepare you to be a better crisis communicator; the Association of Immunization Managers, is celebrating its 25-year anniversary; and Jeff Brown, Acting Commissioner of Health for the State of New Jersey, is ASTHO's newest member. ASTHO Webinar: Don't Panic! A Panel on How to be an Effective Crisis Communicator Association of Immunization Managers Web Page: AIM 2024 Annual Report ASTHO Web Page: New Jersey | Jeff Brown  

Brian Weaver, Lead Policy Advisor at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, tells us about an emergency rule to strengthen standards that protect children from lead exposure; Annie Evans, ASTHO's Director of Preparedness, discusses a recent project that aimed to create an official definition of disability for the National Syndromic Surveillance Program; a new ASTHO Legislative alert details President Trump's FY-26 discretionary budget proposal; and ASTHO's “Don't Panic!” webinar on how to be an effective crisis communicator is on May 8th at 1 p.m. Wisconsin Department of Health Services News Release: As Previewed in 2025 State of the State Address, Gov. Evers Approves DHS Emergency Rule to Strengthen Standards to Prevent Further Hazardous Lead Exposure to Wisconsin Kids Medscape Web Page: Data Routinely Captured in ED EMRs Can Support People With Disabilities During Public Health Emergencies ASTHO Legislative Alert: President Trump Releases FY26 Budget Proposal ASTHO Web Page: Subscribe ASTHO Webinar: Don't Panic! A Panel on How to be an Effective Crisis Communicator  

Kelly Crosbie, Director of the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services, tells us about the community crisis center initiative in her state; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, discusses Congress' to-do list as they return from a break; an ASTHO webinar later this month will dive into administrative preparedness for public health emergencies; and two members have been elected as ASTHO Board of Directors Regional Representatives. NCDHHS News Release: NCDHHS and Trillium Health Resources Announce New Crisis Centers ASTHO Webinar: Strengthening Administrative Preparedness in Public Health Agencies  

Dr. Kaitlan Baston, ASTHO Alum and the former New Jersey Commissioner of Health, reflects on her time in the role as she steps down; Dr. Hang Lu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Media at the University of Michigan, discusses an article about the use of Generative AI for vaccine misbelief correction state and territory leaders, ASTHO staff, and more are attending Prep Summit 2025 this week; and ASTHO would like to welcome Dr. Meena Seshamani, the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, as its newest member. New Jersey Department of Health News Release: ICYMI: Governor Murphy Announces Jeff Brown to Serve as Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health ScienceDirect Article: Generative AI for vaccine misbelief correction – Insights from targeting extraversion and pseudoscientific beliefs Preparedness Summit Web Page ASTHO Web Page: Maryland | Meena Seshamani, MD, PhD  

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, begins the new “Get To Know ASTHO” series, which will highlight different experts at ASTHO; Madison Yerges, Section Supervisor for the Student Education Section at the Center for Foundational Health under the umbrella of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, tells us about an initiative to integrate public health content into classrooms across the state; and you can join ASTHO for a webinar on how to be an effective crisis communicator. Integrating Public Health Content Into The Classroom Web Page ASTHO Webinar: Don't Panic! A Panel on How to be an Effective Crisis Communicator PublicHealthCareers.org  

Dr. Kaitlan Baston, former Commissioner of Health for the New Jersey Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, outlines what New Jersey has been doing to address opioids; Kate Murray, Program Supervisor for Long COVID and Post-COVID Conditions at the Minnesota Department of Health, discusses her program and how the work is going; an ASTHO webinar on May 1 focuses on Academic Health Departmetn Partnerships; and ASTHO Member and the New York Commissioner of Health, Dr. James McDonald, will speak at Blooming Day 2025 on May 2. New Jersey Department of Health News Release: NJ Health Department Announces Waiver to Improve Access to Opioid Treatment Services New Jersey Department of Health News Release: ICYMI – Governor Murphy Announces Jeff Brown to Serve as Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health Minnesota Department of Health Web Page: Long COVID Resources and Support ASTHO Webinar: Pathways to Academic Health Department Partnerships: Successes and Best Practices Blooming Day 2025 Web Page  

Emi Chutaro, Executive Director of the Pacific Island Health Officers Association, explains what she hopes others gain from Pacific Islander Heritage Month; Paul Bonta, Director of Government Relations for the Safe States Alliance, tells us about his organization's most recent advocacy day; and a new ASTHO blog article highlights recent Congressional hearings focused on key challenges facing older adults. PIHOA Web Page National Archives Web Page: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Safe States Alliance Web Page ASTHO Blog Article: Hearings Spotlight Inflation, Opioids, and Other Challenges Facing Older Adults ASTHO Web Page: State and Territorial Administrative Readiness (STAR) Center