Public Health Review Morning Edition

Marissa Eyanson, Director of Behavioral Health for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, shares how her department is breaking down silos between its behavioral health and disability service systems to make it easier for Iowans to access care; Dr. Paul Petersen, Director of the Emergency Preparedness Program with the Tennessee Department of Health, explains how his state teamed up with ASTHO to strengthen its Healthcare Resource Tracking System (HRTS) and support emergency preparedness efforts; on September 16th, PHIG Partners Public Health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program will hold the first of two Q&A sessions on Wave 2 applications; and Thursday, September 18th, ASTHO will host its second session in its three-part Succession Planning series to help public health agencies develop a more resilient workforce. Iowa HHS: State of Iowa Launches New Behavioral Health and Disability Services Systems ASTHO Resource: Public Health Preparedness PHIG Partners: Public Health Data Modernization IC Program Wave 2 Q&A (Session 1) ASTHO Webinar: Succession Planning Part 2 of 3: Laying the Groundwork  

Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, discusses the Op-Ed he co-authored in the Chicago Tribune on the progress his state has made in treating HIV; Brandon Kufalk, STI Unit Supervisor for the state of Wisconsin, explains the dramatic increase in Syphilis rates since 2019 and how his state has worked to reduce cases; a new ASTHO brief provides key considerations for STI programs during an emergency response; the next session of ASTHO's Public Health Nursing Learning Lab Series takes place on September 24th; and in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, ASTHO has resources that can help public health leaders protect the communities they serve.  Chicago Tribune: Ending the HIV epidemic is in sight. We can't stop now. Wisconsin Dept of Health Services: New Data Show Congenital Syphilis Increasing in Wisconsin While Other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Decrease ASTHO Brief: Prioritizing Cases and Contacts: Considerations for STI Programs During Emergency Response ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab - A Series ASTHO Web Page: Suicide Prevention Offices and Committees Legal Map  

Dr. Jen Layden, Senior Vice President for Population Health and Innovation at ASTHO, discusses her previous experience in data modernization and what's to come as she takes on her new role; Dr. Rick Neitzel, professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, talks about the University's partnership with Apple to study hearing and the impact of noise pollution; ASTHO invites state agencies to apply to be one of four states chosen for an in-person ethical wastewater surveillance training opportunity; and ASTHO welcomes new member Dr. Meg Sullivan, Deputy Secretary of Public Health Services at the Maryland Department of Health.  University of Michigan: Collaboration with Apple and World Health Organization studies sound exposure impacts on hearing ASTHO Web Page: Ethical Analysis for Infectious Disease Wastewater Surveillance Training Opportunity Meg Sullivan Bio  

Dr. Catherine Brown, State Epidemiologist and State Public Health Veterinarian at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, discusses ASTHO's recent meeting with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) and the importance of the One Health approach; a recent ASTHO blog article details the importance of preparing to ensure animals are accounted for during radiological incidents; Dr. Dave Chokshi, Chair of the Common Health Coalition, explains the changes made to FDA regulations ahead of respiratory vaccination season, and how the coalition can help public health leaders prepare; and ASTHO will hold its next succession planning webinar on September 18th, with a focus on laying the groundwork and incorporating data into planning efforts.  ASTHO Web Page: One Health Webinars ASTHO Blog: Planning for Animal Needs During a Radiological Incident Common Health Coalition ASTHO Webinar: Succession Planning Part 2 of 3: Laying the Groundwork  

Dr. Lindsay Weaver, State Health Commissioner of Indiana, discusses the public health programs that Indiana employed to achieve its lowest infant mortality rate in more than a century; Corinne Gillenwater, Analyst of Chronic Disease and Health Improvement at ASTHO, shares how ASTHO's new e-learning module can equip Community Health Workers (CHWs) with the tools and resources they need to support healthy aging in individuals with Alzheimer's disease; the highlights from ASTHO's recent INSPIRE: Readiness webinar on communicating with data during infectious disease emergencies are now available online; and the PHIG Partners Public Health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program is hosting two Q&A sessions for public health agencies to learn more about applying to Wave 2. Indiana Department of Health: HEALTH DEPARTMENT CELEBRATES HISTORIC DECREASE IN INFANT MORTALITY RATE ASTHO Learning Module: Equipping Community Health Workers to Address Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Their Communities ASTHO Web Page: Highlights from INSPIRE: Readiness - Communicating About Data and Surveillance During Infectious Disease Emergencies PHIG Partners: Public Health Data Modernization IC Program Wave 2 Q&A (Session 1)  

Dr. Dan Edney, ASTHO Member and State Health Officer of the Mississippi State Department of Health, and Dr. Susan Kansagra, Chief Medical Officer at ASTHO, discuss the Rural Health Transformation Program and the recent ASTHO panels that covered what states can expect and how some agencies are preparing; Tim Rosselet, Manager of Digital Learning and Design at ASTHO, shares more about Thursday's upcoming Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate webinar session on emotional intelligence skills in the public health workplace; ASTHO is looking for state agencies to apply to participate in ethical wastewater surveillance trainings, which will take place in-person in four selected states; and ASTHO's evidence-based technical packages can help departments improve community health interventions with tactical tools and strategies.  ASTHO Blog: Understanding and Applying for the Rural Health Transformation Program ASTHO Webinar: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 3, Session 1: Building Emotional Intelligence Skills ASTHO Web Page: Ethical Analysis for Infectious Disease Wastewater Surveillance Training Opportunity ASTHO Resource: Evidence-Based Public Health  

Dr. Arti Barnes, Chief Medical Officer at the Illinois Department of Public Health, describes how her agency is working collaboratively with other state departments to enhance access to pediatric vaccinations; Jeffrey Ekoma, Senior Director of Government Affairs at ASTHO, discusses changes to the CDC, this month's federal funding deadline, and more news from Capitol Hill in this week's View From Washington, D.C. report; a full-length recording of ASTHO's webinar on Navigating Ethical Issues in Wastewater Surveillance for Infectious Diseases is now available online; and ASTHO congratulates new member Dr. John Dunn on his appointment as Interim Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Health.  ASTHO Newscast: 925: KFF Tracking Poll, Youth Vaccines ASTHO Legislative Alert: Summary of FY26 House LHHS Appropriations Bill ASTHO Web Page: INSPIRE: Readiness - Navigating Ethical Issues in Wastewater Surveillance for Infectious Diseases John Dunn Bio  

Former ASTHO President Dr. Anne Zink, Senior Clinical Fellow at Yale University and practicing emergency medicine physician, shares how PopHIVE, a database of de-identified, population-level health data, draws data from various sources, allowing public health providers to find patterns and make informed decisions; Nicholas Porter, Director for Environmental Health at ASTHO, discusses the public health threats that exist during floods and hurricanes, and what some states are doing to protect communities; ASTHO's Wildfire and Wildfire Smoke Guidance and Resources can help jurisdictions strengthen their emergency preparedness; and ASTHOs latest legislative alert  PopHIVE Web Page ASTHO Blog: Responding to Environmental Health Threats Following Hurricanes ASTHO Web Page: Wildfire and Wildfire Smoke Guidance and Resources  

Former ASTHO President Dr. Anne Zink, Senior Clinical Fellow at Yale University and practicing emergency medicine physician, shares how PopHIVE, an interactive database of de-identified, population-level health data, can help public health providers navigate health trends in their respective jurisdictions; Joy Ermie, Health Commissioner of Henry County Health Department, discusses ASTHO's upcoming webinar series on succession planning explains how it can help address various public health challenges; Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, gave the closing keynote last week at the National Conference on Tobacco or Health in Chicago; and ASTHO's State and Territorial Administrative Readiness (STAR) Center offers resources, tools, and best practices to help your agency build infrastructure and address critical population health needs. PopHIVE Web Page ASTHO Webinar: Succession Planning Part 1 of 3: Building the Case for Succession Planning National Conference on Tobacco or Health (2025) ASTHO Resource: State and Territorial Administrative Readiness (STAR) Center  

Sara Patterson, Acting Director of CDC's Public Health Infrastructure Center, details her view of the Public Health Infrastructure Grant. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter  

Madison Hluchan, ASTHO Assistant Director of Medicaid Health Systems Partnerships, details how a new ASTHO resource can help your team with the Rural Health Transformation Program; and JoAnne Deehr, ASTHO Senior Analyst for State Health Policy, shares prevention and response policies to reduce overdoses involving synthetic opioids. ASTHO Blog Article: Understanding and Applying for the Rural Health Transformation Program ASTHO Blog Article: Prevention and Response Policies to Reduce Overdoses Involving Synthetic Opioids ASTHO Web Page: Legislative Alerts  

Christy Roby, Local Public Health Performance Section Supervisor with Iowa Health and Human Services, explains how her agency developed a new technical assistance infrastructure referral system; Chelsea Cipriano, Managing Director of the Common Health Coalition, celebrates National Community Health Worker Awareness Week by sharing how her organization is working to build partnerships between public health and healthcare programs; ASTHO has a web page dedicated to CHW's; and ASTHO's evidence-based technical packages can provide health agencies with accessible strategies to enhance community health interventions.  ASTHO Blog: Iowa Promotes Public Health Infrastructure by Supporting Local Health Departments ASTHO Resource: Tools That Support Community Health Worker Programs in Island Jurisdictions ASTHO Web Page: Community Health Workers ASTHO Web Page: Evidence-Based Public Health  

Dr. Joseph Kanter, CEO of ASTHO, joined us from the Public Health Infrastructure Grant Annual Recipient Convening to discuss the importance of public health leaders coming together to learn from one another; Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, explains how his department works to improve access to care in rural communities across the state; ASTHO will host the first webinar session of the Activate series in the Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate leadership workshop on Thursday, September 11th; and the PHIG National Partners Connections newsletter helps keep public health leaders up to date on deadlines, project updates, resources, and more.  Illinois Department of Public Health: Rural & Underserved Populations ASTHO Webinar: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 3, Session 1: Building Emotional Intelligence Skills ASTHO Web Page: PHIG Connections Newsletter  

Dr. Kayla Anderson, Senior Advisor for Mental Health and Adverse Childhood Experiences in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, shares how the CDC's new mental health data channel streamlines access to essential data and resources that often become siloed by different sources; Dr. Scott Rivkees, Dean of Education at the School of Public Health at Brown University, talks about his goals for public health students, current challenges in the field, and the importance of communities like ASTHO; ASTHO will hold a webinar with PHIG National Partners today, Tuesday, August 26th, about Wave 2 of the Public Health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program; and ASTHO welcomes new ASTHO member Ashley Newmyer, Interim Director for the Division of Public Health at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. CDC: Mental Health Data Channel ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program Ashley Newmyer Bio  

Key James, Reproductive Health Unit Manager with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, shares her takeaways as a recent graduate of ASTHO's Developing Executive Leadership in Public Health program; Suleima Salgado, CEO of the Global Partnership for Telehealth and Principal Investigator for the Southeastern Telehealth Resource Center, discusses emerging trends in telehealth and its important role in expanding access to care; a new study published in the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice explores AI's potential in expediting the content analysis of public health documents to facilitate continuous program improvement; and Dr. John Langefeld, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, will provide a keynote at the 10th Annual Kentucky Rural Telehealth Summit on September 25th in Frankfort, Kentucky. ASTHO Web Page: Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health Global Partnership for TeleHealth Journal of Public Health Management & Practice: Content Analysis of Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans Using Artificial Intelligence: A Use Case for Public Health Practitioners University of Kentucky: Registration open for the 10th annual Kentucky Rural Telehealth Summit  

Dr. Gillian Schauer, Director of the Cannabis Regulators Association, discusses the recent Cannabis Regulators Association external stakeholders meeting; Amelia Poulin, ASTHO Assistant Director of Emerging Infectious Disease, tells us about ASTHO's new INSPIRE Readiness web page focused on infectious disease preparedness; an upcoming 3 part ASTHO webinar series will focus on succession planning; and join the PHIG National Partners for an informational webinar introducing Wave 2 of the Public Health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program on August 26. CANNRA Web Page ASTHO Web Page: Innovative Solutions to Mitigate Infectious Disease Outbreaks ASTHO Webinar: Succession Planning Part 1 of 3 – Building the Case for Succession Planning ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program  

Dr. Dan Edney, State Health Officer with the Mississippi Department of Health, explains what the state is doing to meet the public health needs of rural communities across the state; Shirley Orr, Executive Director for the Association of Public Health Nurses and lead speaker of ASTHO's new Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab series, discusses what may motivate nurses to choose the public health field; on Thursday, September 11th, ASTHO will hold the first session of the Activate series, the third installment of its Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate workshop, on building emotional intelligence skills; and ASTHO welcomes new member Dr. Lawrence Greenblatt, State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.  Mississippi State Department of Health: Rural Health and Population Studies ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab ASTHO Webinar: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 3, Session 1: Building Emotional Intelligence Skills Lawrence Greenblatt Bio  

Darcy Pickens, Program Coordinator for the Office of Suicide Prevention at the California Department of Public Health, explains how the state's “Never a Bother” youth suicide prevention campaign collaborated with youth to develop a campaign tailored to their needs; Courtney Dezendorf, Director for the Office of Practice and Learning at the Texas Department of State Health Services, shares the statewide strategy her department developed to expand partnerships between Texas' local health departments and academic institutions; an ASTHO resource provides public health leaders with the information they need to learn more about effective infectious disease response; and a new ASTHO blog article describes the art of storytelling and why it's so essential to the public health field.  California Department of Public Health: California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign ASTHO Blog: Public Health and Academic Leaders Unite Through Texas Consortium ASTHO Web Page: Infectious Disease Response Resources ASTHO Blog: The Art (and Science) of Storytelling in Public Health  

Dr. Lindsay Weaver, ASTHO Member and the State Health Commissioner of Indiana, discusses how her state is using the Public Health Infrastructure Grant. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter  

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, and Kate McEvoy, Executive Director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, discuss a new partnership between the two organizations; Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO President and State Health Officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, Dr. Ayanna Bennett, Director of the District of Columbia Department of Health, and Dr. Manisha Juthani, ASTHO President-Elect and Commissioner for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, held a deskside briefing discussing ACIP recommendations amid preparations for the upcoming respiratory virus season; a new ASTHO report analyzes recent Medicaid data to determine causes of commercial tobacco use in Washington State; and ASTHO will host a webinar with the PHIG National Partners to introduce Wave 2 of the Public Health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program on August 26. NAMD Web Page: National Committee for Sustainable Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships ASTHO YouTube: ASTHO Respiratory Virus Season Deskside Media Briefing ASTHO Report: Tobacco Use in King County Washington: A Medicaid Data Analysis Report ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program  

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO President and State Health Officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, Dr. Ayanna Bennett, Director of the District of Columbia Department of Health, and Dr. Manisha Juthani, ASTHO President-Elect and Commissioner for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, held a deskside briefing on the preparations for the upcoming respiratory virus season; Ericka McGowan, Senior Director of Emerging Infectious Disease at ASTHO, explains the importance of case investigation and contact tracing, and how ASTHO's Foundations in CICT course can help prepare public health providers; a new ASTHO brief breaks down succession planning to help public health departments develop strategies to address workforce challenges; and ASTHO will hold the first webinar of a three-part series on Thursday, September 4th, to explore building a future-ready public health workforce through succession planning.  ASTHO Blog: Strengthening Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Skills: Q&A with Ericka McGowan ASTHO Brief: Demystifying Succession Planning ASTHO Webinar: Succession Planning Part 1 of 3: Building the Case for Succession Planning  

Dawn Shanafelt, Director of the Division of Maternal and Infant Health and Title V Maternal Child Health Director for the State of Michigan, shares the policies and program that helped the state record its lowest infant mortality rate on record; Dulce Mendoza, Senior Analyst of Island Support at ASTHO, explains how a new learning series can help prepare public health professionals to engage with U.S. territories and freely associated states; applications are now open for ASTHO's Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health program, a ten-month intensive leadership development full of workshops, coaching, and networking opportunities; and a new ASTHO resource breaks down document management systems to help public health departments determine the best fit.  State of Michigan: Michigan records lowest rate of infant mortality in its history; continues focus on resources to keep moms, babies healthy ASTHO Learning Series: LMS Module: Exploring Key Insights of U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States ASTHO Webpage: Leadership Development  ASTHO Web Page: Document Management System  

Dr. Michelle Morse, Acting Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer for the New York City Health Department, explains how the city's new video series aims to help educate communities about the impact of Long COVID; Dr. Nirav Shah, ASTHO Alum and former Principal Deputy Director at the CDC, discusses the focus of this year's Executive Leadership Forum, and what he hopes to teach future public health professionals in his new role as a professor at Colby College; Emman Parian, Immunization Program Manager at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation of the Northern Mariana Islands, shares what he learned from the Building Capacity to Advance Health certificate program; ASTHO will host the third webinar session of the Accelerate series on Thursday, August 14th, about accountability, performance, and feedback; and a new ASTHO resource helps public health teams communicate effectively about infectious disease preparedness.  New York City Health Department: Facts vs Fiction: What is Long COVID? A discussion with Dr. Michelle Morse and Matt McGorry New York City Health Department: Living with Long COVID: Matt McGorry's story New York City Health Department: The risks and realities of Long COVID: A discussion with Dr. Michelle Morse and Matt McGorry  ASTHO Web Page: Building Capacity to Advance Health Certificate Program Emman Parian LinkedIn ASTHO Webinar: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 2, Session 3: Accountability, Performance, Feedback ASTHO Web Page: Communicating About Infectious Disease Preparedness  

Dr. James Lewis, Health Officer for the Snohomish County Health Department in Washington State, explains how data can help quicken healthcare-assosciated infection response; Lyla Hunt, Deputy Director of Public Health and Education at the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, tells us about the recent Cannabis Regulator Association stakeholder meeting; a new ASTHO resource can help your department reprioritize Black maternal health; and ASTHO's INSPIRE hub also has resources for Wastewater Surveillance. CORHA Web Page Shonomish County Health Department Web Page Cannabis Regulators Association Web Page ASTHO Blog Article: Reprioritizing Black Maternal Health ASTHO Web Page: INSPIRE ASTHO Web Page: Advancing Wastewater Surveillance for Public Health Impact  

Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, shares more of her story in this installment of Get To Know ASTHO; Juliane Walker, Public Health Program Specialist at the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute, discusses the Public Health Employee Well-Being Assessment Guide; an article published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice takes a deeper look at using AI to expedite content analysis of real-world public health documents; and Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, helped author a blog article that provides insights from several executive leadership coaching events. ASTHO Web Page: Federal Government Affairs Kansas Health Institute Web Page: Public Health Employee Well-Being Assessment Guide Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Web Page: Content Analysis of Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans Using Artificial Intelligence – A Use Case for Public Health Practitioners ASTHO Blog Article: Insights from Executive Leadership Coaching for Public Health and Community Leaders  

Sam Jarvis, Community Health Division Manager at Johnson County Public Health in Iowa, explains how his DELPH experience helps him prepare others to be leaders in emergencies; applications for ASTHO's DELPH program are now open; Heather Tomlinson, ASTHO Senior Analyst of the Environmental Health Team, updates us on federal and state activity focused on PFAS chemicals; and August 14 at 2 p.m. ET is ASTHO's next Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate webinar series. ASTHO Blog Article: How Public Health Can Better Manage Uncertainty ASTHO Web Page: Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health ASTHO Blog Article: States Continue to Address PFAS in U.S. Food and Water Supply ASTHO Webinar: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 2, Session 3: Accountability, Performance, Feedback  

Dr. Susan Kansagra, Chief Medical Officer for ASTHO, discusses the recent Make America Healthy Again report, and the work done by state and territorial health departments that intersects with the report's themes; Ryan Daly, Deputy Director of Finance and Operations for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, explains how the department's new standardized process for subrecipient monitoring has helped improve operations; ASTHO's framework for addressing ethical considerations in public health wastewater surveillance was recently published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Direct; a new ASTHO blog article describes the public health insights that can come from interjurisdictional immunization information systems; and ASTHO welcomes new member Dennis Worsham, Secretary of Health for the Washington State Department of Health.  ASTHO Blog: Levers for Preventing Chronic Disease That Intersect with Key MAHA Report Themes ASTHO Blog: Nebraska Paves the Way for Improved Grant Subrecipient Monitoring JPHMP Direct: Demystifying Applied Public Health Ethics: New Framework Highlights Ethical Considerations in Wastewater Surveillance and Tools for Deliberating Them ASTHO Blog: Immunization Information Systems: One Foundational Data Source, Endless Health Insights Dennis Worsham Bio  

Erin Penniston, Chief of Staff of Public Health Services at the Maryland Department of Health, describes how ASTHO's Peer Assessment Program helped her state's health department strengthen its administrative infrastructure; Kelsey Tillema, Senior Analyst at ASTHO, shares key takeaways from ASTHO's Strengthening Administrative Preparedness in Public Health Agencies webinar; the highlights from ASTHO's recent INSPIRE: Readiness webinar on regional data ecosystems are available online now; and a study published in the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice revealed new opportunities for aligning State Health Improvement, Aging, and Dementia Plans.  ASTHO STAR Center: Peer Assessment Program ASTHO Blog: Four Strategies to Advance Administrative Preparedness in Public Health ASTHO Web Page: Highlights from INSPIRE: Readiness - Building a Data-Ready Ecosystem for Public Health Response Journal of Public Health Management & Practice: Bridging Silos: Aligning State Health Improvement, Aging, and Dementia Plans  

Dr. Brooke Cunningham, ASTHO Member and the Commissioner of Health for the Minnesota Department of Health, discusses how her department is using the Public Health Infrastructure Grant. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter  

Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, outlines the recent recall of Bicillin; Marie Stratton, Overdose Data to Action Program Manager at the Maryland Department of Health, explains how ASTHO's technical assistance helped with the department's OD2A funds; applications are now open for ASTHO's Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health program; and an ASTHO Brief explains how you can sustain community engagement infrastructure through state public health programming. ASTHO Web Page: Syphilis ASTHO Web Page: Health Equity in Overdose Data to Action ASTHO Web Page: Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health ASTHO Brief: Sustaining Community Engagement Infrastructure Through State Public Health Programming  

Kathy Jorgensen, member of the Board of Directors for the National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs, explains why it's essential to account for animals in all emergency planning; Jeffrey Ekoma, Senior Director of Government Affairs at ASTHO, discusses HHS nominations, recissions, and more news from Capitol Hill in this week's View From Washington D.C. report; a new ASTHO report assesses capacity gaps in the radiation readiness workforce; and Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, was a guest speaker this month for the Michigan State Medical Society, where she updated physician leaders on health priorities.   National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs ASTHO Report: Assessing Capacity Gaps in the Radiation Readiness Workforce MSMS and MDHHS Join Forces to Keep Physicians Informed: Natasha Bagdasarian, MD, on Key Health Priorities

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, ASTHO member and Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan, explains how Michigan's multifaceted approach has reduced overdose deaths across the state; Heidi Westermann, Director of Public Health, Data Modernization and Informatics at ASTHO, shares how ASTHO's new Data Modernization Primer and Tactical Guides can help public health departments improve data modernization efforts by giving them a place to start; Dr. Jewel Mullen, ASTHO alum and Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, earned the W. Neal Kocurek Health Advocacy Award from the People's Community Clinic for outstanding leadership and dedication to health equity; Dr. Ngozi Ezike, ASTHO alum and President and CEO of Sinai Chicago, will be a speaker at the upcoming 2025 TEDxArlington Heights “Under the Surface” Conference; and ASTHO will host the third session of the Accelerate series in the Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate workshop on August 14th, discussing accountability and feedback.      Bagdasarian Op-Ed: We must work to keep overdose deaths down in Michigan ASTHO Resource: Data Modernization Primer and Tactical Guides People's Community Clinic: 2025 There's No Such Thing as a Free Lunch - Honoring Dr. Jewel Mullen TEDxArlington Heights  ASTHO Webinar: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 2, Session 3: Accountability, Performance, Feedback  

Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, epidemiologist and CEO of Your Local Epidemiologist, addresses the intersection between health and politics and provides words of encouragement to her fellow colleagues in public health; Grace Lee, Senior Analyst at ASTHO, describes a recent ASTHO blog article that dives into how strategic public health messaging can make it more approachable for communities; and a new ASTHO brief dives into how to cultivate a culture of community and belonging in the workplace.  Your Local Epidemiologist ASTHO Blog: Strategic Public Health Messaging Drives Change ASTHO Brief: Cultivating a Culture of Community and Belonging in the Workplace  

Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, epidemiologist and CEO of Your Local Epidemiologist, shares how her public health newsletter helps to educate readers about the policies and science impacting public health today; Tracy Gruber, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, explains how the state's new behavioral health commission works to connect its fragmented mental health infrastructure; ASTHO will host a webinar on Wednesday, July 30th, to teach participants how to navigate the new suicide prevention infrastructure legal maps; and a new ASTHO resource can help jurisdictions promote public health and avoid adverse childhood experiences by prioritizing economic support policies.  Your Local Epidemiologist Utah Behavioral Health Master Plan ASTHO Webinar: State and Territorial Infrastructure for Suicide Prevention: Exploring New Legal Maps ASTHO Web Page: Prioritizing Economic Support Policies to Prevent ACEs and Promote Public Health  

Ali Maffey, Vice President of Social and Behavioral Health at ASTHO, explains how ASTHO's new legal map assists with suicide prevention infrastructure; Noell Stone, Practicum and Capstone Director at the University of New Mexico's College of Population Health, shares why two of New Mexico's universities developed a unified framework for applied public health training; ASTHO is now accepting applications for its DELPH program; ASTHO member Dr. Brooke Cunningham of Minnesota and ASTHO alumni Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman of Maryland and Paula Nickelson of Missouri were announced as new board members of the Public Health Accreditation Board; and a new ASTHO blog article describes a recent assessment of public health data aimed at better understanding the health needs of people with disabilities.  ASTHO Web Page: New ASTHO Legal Map Illuminates State and Territorial Suicide Prevention Infrastructure ASTHO Webinar: State and Territorial Infrastructure for Suicide Prevention: Exploring New Legal Maps University of New Mexico: New Mexico Universities Join Forces to Bolster Public Health Training ASTHO Leadership Development Public Health Accreditation Board: PHAB Announces 2025-26 Board of Directors ASTHO Blog: Designing With, Not For: Stakeholder-Centered Approaches to Disability Health Data  

Dr. Kris Mork, Chief Data Officer for Leidos' Health & Civil Sector, explains how Leidos is modernizing Medicaid. Leidos Web Page: Leidos awarded Medicaid Enterprise Systems Integrator contract Leidos Web Page: Modernizing CDC's information technology to meet growing public health needs ASTHO Web Page: Innovation Advisory Council  

Catherine Murphy, Analyst of Government Affairs at ASTHO, describes the impact of potential cuts to federally funded public health preparedness programs in a new ASTHO Federal Health Policy Update; Monique Farmer, President of Avant Solutions, shares what she'll be discussing in today's ASTHO webinar on public health communication strategies; the highlights from ASTHO's recent INSPIRE: Readiness webinar on rumors and public trust are available online now; and Sheila Sjolander, Interim Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, is welcomed as ASTHO's newest member.  ASTHO Federal Health Policy Update: Federal Preparedness Programs Support Health Departments ASTHO Webinar: Enhancing Public Health Communication: Tools for Engagement & Visibility ASTHO Web Page: Highlights from INSPIRE: Readiness - Tackling Public Health Communication Conundrums: Rumors and Public Trust Sheila Sjolander Bio  

Amy Ciarlo, Senior Analyst for Chronic Disease Risk Factors at ASTHO, describes ASTHO's new Health Policy Update on recent legislation focused on limiting the risk of older adult falls; Rebecca Ruvane, Senior Program Analyst at the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, discusses their joint webinar with ASTHO taking place tomorrow, July 24th, at 11 a.m. ET on data collection methods that are used to analyze people with disabilities; ASTHO is hosting a webinar tomorrow, July 24th, at 2 p.m. ET on tools for communication in public health; and John Auerbach, ASTHO past president and Senior Vice President for ICF, will participate in a Public Health Institute webinar next Wednesday, July 30th, to talk about how AI in public health can help meet community needs.  ASTHO Health Policy Update: Strengthening Policies to Prevent Older Adult Falls CSTE + ASTHO Webinar: Building an Infrastructure for Disability Health Surveillance ASTHO Blog: Creating Inclusive Disability Data Systems ASTHO Blog: Designing With, Not For: Stakeholder-Centered Approaches to Disability Health Data ASTHO Webinar: Enhancing Public Health Communication: Tools for Engagement & Visibility Public Health Institute Webinar: AI in Public Health: Amplifying Our Ability to Meet the Needs in Our Communities  

Dr. Robert Goldstein, ASTHO Member and the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, takes us through how his department is using the Public Health Infrastructure Grant. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter  

Dr. Vanessa Coffman, Director of the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, shares how the organization's new Food Safety Culture Toolkit can help public health officials strengthen food safety efforts; Dr. Michelle Morse, Acting Commissioner for the New York City Health Department, explains how their new series, “Living with Long Covid,” is helping to educate New Yorkers about the illness; ASTHO will host a webinar on Thursday, July 24th, about effective communication strategies to enhance public health messaging; ASTHO has developed resources to help jurisdictions implement upstream policies that prevent adverse childhood experiences; and next Wednesday, July 23rd, the second session of the Accelerate series in ASTHO's Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate online workshop will take place to discuss conflict and collaboration.  Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness Web Page: Food Safety Culture Toolkit New York City Department of Health Web Page: The risks and realities of Long COVID: A discussion with Dr. Michelle Morse and Matt McGorry New York City Department of Health Web Page: Living with Long COVID - Matt McGorry's story New York City Department of Health Web Page: Facts vs Fiction - What is Long COVID? A discussion with Dr. Michelle Morse and Matt McGorry ASTHO Webinar: Enhancing Public Health Communication: Tools for Engagement & Visibility ASTHO Web Page: Upstream Policies to Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences ASTHO Workshop: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 2, Session 2: Conflict & Collaboration  

Aileen Benavente-Pangelinan, Environmental Health Program Manager at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, describes how the new food code adopted by the Northern Mariana Islands will improve public health safety; Jessica Hulsey, Founder and CEO of the Addiction Policy Forum, explains how new CDC provisional overdose data indicates that public health measures are working, and how to sustain success; ASTHO is kicking off its Public Health Nursing Learning Lab Series next Wednesday, July 23rd; and ASTHO's PHIG National Partners Connections newsletter keeps members up to date on all Public Health Infrastructure Grant news.  CNMI Law: Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation Food Code  CDC: Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab ASTHO Subscribe: PHIG Connections Newsletter

Laura Knights, CEO and founder of Knights Consulting, shares what the second installment of ASTHO's Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate series has to offer public health leadership; Dr. Anil Mangla, Director for Disease Surveillance and Control at the South Nevada Health District, highlights the benefits and ethical concerns of wastewater surveillance; ASTHO is launching its Public Health Nursing Learning Lab Series next Wednesday, July 23rd; and ASTHO warmly welcomes new member Dena Schmidt, Administrator of the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, to the ASTHO community.  ASTHO Workshop: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 2, Session 2: Conflict & Collaboration ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE: Readiness - Navigating Ethical Issues in Wastewater Surveillance for Infectious Diseases  ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab Dena Schmidt Bio  

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, shares how ASTHO will use the Public Health Workforce Interest and Needs Survey (PH WINS) to guide national public health priorities; Emma Pliskin, research scientist at Child Trends, shares what their new study reveals about trends in STI testing and why many patients are missing key testing opportunities; ASTHO is holding an INSPIRE: Readiness webinar tomorrow, Tuesday July 17th, at 2 p.m. EST on the role of wastewater surveillance in preventing infectious diseases and navigating the ethical concerns that come with it; and a summary of the Tobacco Control Network's Office Hour on Federal Policy and Funding Updates is now available online.  PH WINS Dashboard Child Trends Study: Missed Opportunities for STI Testing in Contraceptive Care ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE: Readiness - Navigating Ethical Issues in Wastewater Surveillance for Infectious Diseases Tobacco Control Network Summary: TCN Office Hour on Federal Policy and Funding Updates

Dr. Brian Castrucci, President and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, shares how the 2024 PH WINS survey can help state and local health departments develop more strategic workforce development plans; Dr. David Spach, Editor-in-Chief for the National STD Curriculum and Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle, explains how the university's online STI curriculum is providing reliable education to healthcare professionals across the globe; ASTHO alum Dr. Tomás Aragón has been appointed to be an Impact Fellow at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, where he will launch projects and share expertise with the school's students and scholars; ASTHO is holding a webinar next Thursday, July 24th, about effective communication strategies for public health messaging; and a new ASTHO toolkit is available for states to strengthen immunization infrastructure through partnerships with Community Action Agencies.  PH WINS Dashboard National STD Curriculum Web Page National STD Curriculum Podcast National HIV Curriculum Web Page UC Berkeley Public Health: UC Berkeley School of Public Health welcomes second cohort of impact fellows ASTHO Webinar: Enhancing Public Health Communication: Tools for Engagement & Visibility ASTHO Toolkit: Strengthening State Immunization Infrastructure Through Public Health-Community Action Partnerships  

Kristin Raab, Director of the Minnesota Climate and Health Program at the Minnesota Department of Health, shares how the state's “Stay Cool Minnesota” campaign is working to protect Minnesotans against the negative health effects of extreme heat; ASTHO Alum, Dr. Matthew Christiansen, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Health Affairs at Valley Health Systems, discusses ASTHO's recent Executive Leadership Forum and the value of public health; ASTHO's new data dashboard to help states use data to guide health improvement; and an ASTHO training on legal maps will take place on July 30th.  Minnesota Department of Health News Release: Health officials launch campaign to encourage Minnesotans to ‘Stay Cool' during extreme heat ASTHO Brief: How States Can Leverage Data to Guide Health Improvement ASTHO Webinar: State and Territorial Infrastructure for Suicide Prevention: Exploring New Legal Maps  

Maggie Nilz, Senior Analyst of Preparedness at ASTHO, explains how states can help support public health preparedness workforce resilience and capacity; Carolyn Mullen, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Relations at ASTHO, shares what Congress has been busy with in this week's View from Washington, D.C. report; a new ASTHO resource helps prevent adverse childhood experiences by providing various economic support program options; and Dr. Anne Zink, ASTHO Past President, was named co-leader of a new population health data initiative at the Yale School of Public Health.  ASTHO Health Policy Update: States Stay Prepared by Supporting the Public Health Workforce ASTHO Legislative Alert: One Big Beautiful Bill Law Summary ASTHO Web Page: Prioritizing Economic Support Policies to Prevent ACEs and Promote Public Health Yale School of Public Health unveils PopHIVE  

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