Podcasts about astho

Helen Linda, Public Health Workforce Development Coordinator at the Vermont Department of Health, explains the value of Academic Health Departments and shares how she worked with the Public Health Foundation to assess the current state of her agency's experiential learning environment; Emman Parian, Immunization Program Manager for the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation of the Northern Mariana Islands, discusses his recent ASTHO article about how relationships are at the heart of public health; on October 30th, ASTHO will host an Insight & Inspiration webinar on how to find the clarity to lead with intent; and stay current on Public Health Infrastructure Grant deadlines, events, opportunities and more by subscribing to the PHIG National Partners Connections newsletter.  ASTHO Webinar: Strengthening Academic Health Department Partnerships for Student Success in Vermont ASTHO Blog: For Emman Parian, Strong Partnerships Are at the Heart of Public Health ASTHO Webinar: Insight & Inspiration: Finding the Clarity to Lead with Intent ASTHO Web Page: Subscribe to PHIG Connections Newsletter

Francesca Provenzano, Public Health Section Chief of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, discusses themes and insights from her term as Chair of ASTHO's Director of Public Health Preparedness Peer Network; Dr. Sara Collins, Senior Scholar for Expanding Coverage and Access and Tracking Health System Performance at The Commonwealth Fund, walks through some of the trends found in the 2025 Scorecard on State Health System Performance; ASTHO President Dr. Scott Harris, State Health Officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, was recently quoted in a story for CNN about the record-breaking number of measles cases across the country; and on Wednesday, October 22nd, ASTHO will host session four of the Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab series with a focus on leveraging partnerships.   ASTHO Web Page: Peer Networks The Commonwealth Fund: 2025 Scorecard on State Health System Performance CNN: Measles outbreaks across the US continue to add to record case count ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab - A Series  

Amelia Poulin, Assistant Director of Emerging Infectious Disease at ASTHO, discusses how she was recently recognized as an honoree of de Beaumont Foundation's 40 under 40 in Public Health award; Christina Severin, Director of Public Health Law at ASTHO, breaks down her recent Health Policy Update, which covers key case decisions from the Supreme Court's last term; ASTHO and the Public Health Foundation will host a webinar on academic health department partnerships on Monday, October 27th; and ASTHO is looking for health agency leaders and program staff that have strengthened their capacity to prevent mental health-related harms to apply to participate in discussions that will shape future strategies and drive impact.  de Beaumont Foundation: 40 Under 40 in Public Health  ASTHO Health Policy Update: Public Health Litigation Round-Up ASTHO + PHF Webinar: Strengthening Academic Health Department Partnerships for Student Success in Vermont ASTHO Web Page: Success Stories: Advancing Health Agency Capacity to Address ACEs, Suicide, Overdose, and Mental Health-Related Harms Request for Information  

Rachel Lehman, Acting Director of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)'s Technical Resources Assistance Center and Information Exchange (TRACIE), celebrates 10 years of the center's existence and discusses how it provides states and territories with timely information and technical assistance; Peter Orton, Director of Media Design at the Institute for Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, explains the importance of storytelling in public health, and shares how an ASTHO blog on the subject can help guide understanding and practice; ASTHO is now accepting applications for a new Community of Practice focused on Maternal Health Access; and subscribe to Public Health Review Morning Edition to make sure you never miss an important update.        HHS.gov: WELCOME TO ASPR TRACIE ASTHO Blog: The Art (and Science) of Storytelling in Public Health ASTHO Web Page: Bridging Barriers in Maternal Health Access Community of Practice ASTHO Newscast: Subscribe to Public Health Review Morning Edition  

Scott Murakami, PHIG Workforce Director and Principal Investigator with the State of Hawaii, shares how his department is utilizing Public Health Infrastructure Grant funds to support the state's public health workforce; jurisdictions looking to stay current on PHIG deadlines, project updates, resources and more can subscribe to the PHIG National Partners Connections newsletter; Melissa Touma, Director of the Public Health Infrastructure Program at ASTHO, discusses why procurement timelines are so critical and how PHIG recipients are using the grant to accelerate them; and Melissa Magstadt, ASTHO member and Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Health, was recently honored with the State Official Award by the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations.  ASTHO Web Page: Public Health Infrastructure Grant ASTHO Web Page: Subscribe: PHIG Connections Newsletter ASTHO Blog: PHIG Recipients Accelerating Procurement Processes South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations: SDAHO recognizes 9 individuals with Distinguished Service Awards during 2025 Annual Convention  

Dr. Susan Kansagra, Chief Medical Officer at ASTHO, discusses some of the downstream implications of CDC's adoption of recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices earlier this week; Dr. Holly Wilcox, founder and Director of the Center for Suicide Prevention and professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, shares findings from their recent suicide prevention studies focused on early intervention and child access prevention laws; ASTHO is looking for leaders from up to six jurisdictions that have been successful in preventing mental health-related harms to apply to join discussions and help shape strategies for the future; and a new ASTHO blog article describes how the U.S. Virgin Islands worked with ASTHO and the Department of the Interior to improve their grant and financial management systems.  ASTHO Blog: Downstream Effects of CDC Adopting ACIP Recommendations for COVID-19 and MMRV Vaccines Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Center for Suicide Prevention ASTHO Web Page: Success Stories: Advancing Health Agency Capacity to Address ACEs, Suicide, Overdose, and Mental Health-Related Harms Request for Information ASTHO Blog: Improving Grants Management in the U.S. Virgin Islands: Q&A with Tatia Monell-Hewitt  

Dr. Dan Edney, State Health Officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health and ASTHO member, shares how his state declared infant mortality a public health emergency to offer services across the state more rapidly; Bonny Mayes, epidemiologist with the Texas Department of State Health Services, discusses the article she co-authored to argue that Chagas disease should be considered endemic; PHIG Partners developed a practical resources guide to help public health agencies improve their procurement and hiring processes; and Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO President and Alabama State Health Officer was recently the inaugural speaker for the Dean's Seminar Series at Samford University's School of Public Health. Mississippi State Dept of Health: MSDH Declares Public Health Emergency on Infant Mortality CNN: ‘Kissing bug' disease is here to stay in the US, experts say. Here's why it's spreading PHIG Partners: Practical Resources for Improving Procurement and Hiring in Public Health Samford University: School of Public Health Launches Dean's Seminar Series featuring Alabama State Health Officer Scott Harris  

Doctor Gen Meredith, Associate Professor with the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health at Cornell University, Associate Director of the Master of Public Health Program, and Director of Cornell's Health Impact Score, explains how their new Public Health Strategic Skills Guide can help professionals in public health navigate changes to their roles and build upon their existing skillsets; Nick Jakubowski, Chief Operating Officer at the Connecticut Department of Public Health, shares how his agency used PHIG funding to upgrade their procurement and grant management systems and deliver monies to the community more efficiently; on Wednesday, October 29th, ASTHO will hold art one of a two part series on The Importance of Environmental Health Preparedness and Response; and subscribe to Public Health Review Morning Edition to start each weekday morning with a daily dose of insight from public health leaders across the country.  ASTHO Blog: Tennessee and Connecticut Are Transforming Procurement and Grant Management Systems Cornell University: Enhancing Public Health Strategic Skills Guide ASTHO Webinar: Weathering the Storm: The Importance of Environmental Health Preparedness and Response Part I ASTHO Newscast: Public Health Review Morning Edition  

Mickal Lewis, Associate Director of the Center of Excellence on Dementia Risk Reduction with the Alzheimer's Association, shares how Community Health Workers play an essential role supporting a continuum of care for community members with dementia, and how public health leaders can help advance progress; Jeffrey Ekoma, Senior Director of Government Affairs at ASTHO, provides an update on the current government shutdown and explains how federal health agencies are impacted in this week's View from Washington, D.C. report; a new ASTHO report provides key resources that can help state and territorial health departments break down silos and collaborate with their partners in Medicaid agencies to improve health outcomes in their communities; and Dr. Susan Kansagra, Chief Medical Officer at ASTHO, was recently quoted in a story for STAT Health about low-income children's lack of access to the Covid-19 vaccine.  Frontiers in Public Health Research Article: Community health workers: developing roles in public health dementia efforts in the United States ASTHO Legislative Alert: Federal Government Shutdown Update: Contingency Plans Released ASTHO Report: Leveraging Public Health Assets in Medicaid Managed Care STAT Health: Low-income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay  

Dr. Edward Simmer, Interim Director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health, celebrates the department's one-year anniversary with a recap of their achievements, including the highest health ranking in the state's history; Dr. Bryant Thomas Karras, the Washington State Department of Health's Chief Medical Informatics Officer, discusses the Fast Healthcare Interoperable Resource (FHIR) pilot program that his department participated in; on Thursday, October 9th, ASTHO will host the final session of the Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate workshop on applying emotional intelligence strategies to enhance leadership; and subscribe to the newscast to make sure you never miss the opportunities, initiatives, and insights from public health leaders across the country.  South Carolina Dept of Public Health: South Carolina Health Compass Dashboards ASTHO Report: Accelerating Data Exchange in Public Health: Insights from Public Health FHIR Pilots ASTHO Webinar: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 3, Session 3: Applying Emotional Intelligence Strategies ASTHO Newscast: Public Health Review Morning Edition  

Alfredo Ramirez, Director of the Operation Analysis Office at the Tennessee Department of Public Health, explains how his department expanded its contract tracking system to enhance efficiency and manage grants across their life cycle; Kellie Waugh, Analyst of Health Improvement and Healthy Aging at ASTHO, shares how a new report can help state health agencies to support communities impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias by highlighting recent legislative activity and examples of promising strategies; tomorrow, Thursday October 2nd, ASTHO will host the final installment of its Succession Planning webinar series about putting the plan into action; and sign up for ASTHO's legislative alerts to make sure you don't miss any updates on the current federal government shutdown.  ASTHO Blog: Tennessee and Connecticut Are Transforming Procurement and Grant Management Systems ASTHO Report: From Policy to Practice: Supporting Brain Health and Caregiving at the State Level ASTHO Webinar: Succession Planning Part 3 of 3: Putting the Plan into Action ASTHO Web Page: Legislative Alerts  

Catherine Jones, Senior Analyst of Government Affairs at ASTHO, breaks down what states need to know about the application for the Rural Health Transformation Program, and discusses ASTHO's recent partnership with Cornerstone Government Affairs to host two expert panels on the subject; Dr. Lena Heilmann, Director of the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, shares the strategies her state employed to achieve the lowest youth suicide rate in Colorado since 2007; on October 7th, PHIG Partners will hold an informational Q&A session for agencies interested in applying to Wave 2 of the Public Health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program; and take a trip through the show's past in celebration of today's 1000th episode.  ASTHO Blog: Federal, State, and Stakeholder Perspectives on the Rural Health Transformation Fund Colorado Dept of Public Health and Environment: Youth Suicide Rate in Colorado Drops to Lowest Level since 2007, CDPHE Committed to Ensuring Trend Continues ASTHO Blog: Public Health Approaches to Preventing Suicide and Promoting Mental Well-Being ASTHO Report: Public Health's Role in Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention ASTHO Legal Mapping Center: Suicide Prevention Offices and Committees Legal Map PHIG Partners: Public Health Data Modernization IC Program Wave 2 Q&A (Session 2)  

Halina Palacios, Chief Operations Officer for Population Health at the Commonwealth Health Care Corporation in the territory of the Northern Mariana Islands, discusses a recent population health summit specifically for pacific public health teams; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, breaks down how the potential government shutdown could impact access to public health funds in this week's View From Washington, D.C. report; a new ASTHO Health Policy Update focused on Primary Care Offices explores new strategies for data-sharing; and a new Learning Series on the United States Territories and Freely Associated States is now open for enrollment on ASTHO's website.  ASTHO Blog Article: Population Health Summit Strengthens Pacific Partnership ASTHO Health Policy Update: Data-Sharing Strategies to Support Access to Care Interventions ASTHO Learning Series: A Learning Series on the United States Territories and Freely Associated States ASTHO Health Policy Update: Data-Sharing Strategies to Support Access to Care Interventions ASTHO Learning Series: A Learning Series on the United States Territories and Freely Associated States  

Kim Martin, Director of Infectious Diseases at ASTHO, recaps the recent ACIP meeting that took place and discusses the conversation's potential impacts on public health; Veronica Bryant, Emergency Preparedness and Outbreak Coordinator for the Environmental Health section of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, shares how her state strengthened its extreme weather emergency preparedness following a series of hurricanes; on October 29th, ASTHO will host Part I of its new webinar series on how to enhance an environmental health response during extreme weather events; and ASTHO welcomes new member Dr. Mark McDaniel, State Health Officer for West Virginia.  ASTHO Webinar: Weathering the Storm: The Importance of Environmental Health Preparedness and Response Part I CDC: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Mark McDaniel Bio  

Maria Courogen, Executive Director for the Center for Access to Whole Person Care at the Washington State Department of Health, explains how her state worked to enable the continued support of Community Health Workers (CHWs) by developing a sustainable funding model; Dr. Heather Krasna, Associate Dean of Career and Professional Development at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, breaks down the nuances of applying to governmental public health roles and discusses ASTHO's checklist resource, which walks applicants through the process; today is the third session of ASTHO's Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab series focused on public health nursing residency programs and leadership pathways; and ASTHO President-Elect Manisha Juthani, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and ASTHO alum Dr. Umair Shah, will participate on a panel at Health Systems Implementing Climate Action, a Climate Week NYC 2025 event.  ASTHO Web Page: Community Health Workers ASTHO Resource: Your Guide to Navigating the Governmental Public Health Job Search Process ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab - A Series Climate Week NYC 2025: Health Systems Implementing Climate Action  

Andy Baker-White, ASTHO's Senior Director for State Health Policy, provides an update on the legislative actions states are taking across the country to ensure continued vaccination access within their jurisdictions; Captain Artensie Flowers, Director of the Division of Regional Operations with the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), discusses the in-person workshop that ASPR hosted in partnership with ASTHO to help ASPR's regional teams and state and territorial public health leaders enhance preparedness during public health emergencies; ASTHO welcomes new member Sherry Adams, North Dakota's recently appointed State Health Officer; and sign up for ASTHO's legislative alerts to stay informed about any legislative or policy movements that affect public health.  ASTHO Web Page: State Health Policy ASTHO Web Page: Public Health Preparedness Sherry Adams Bio ASTHO Web Page: Legislative Alerts  

Dr. Joseph Kanter, CEO of ASTHO, joined Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, President and CEO of Trust for America's Health (TFAH), Rhea Faberman, Director of Strategic Communications and Policy at TFAH, and Lori Freeman, CEO of NACCHO, during a recent briefing about TFAH's report that details the impact of CDC funding on public health; Madelyn Maxwell, Healthy Aging and Falls Prevention Project Coordinator for the Oklahoma State Department of Health Injury Prevention Service, shares how her state is working to engage communities in prevention efforts during Falls Prevention Awareness Week; the final session of ASTHO's Succession Planning webinar series with a focus on putting plans into action takes place October 2nd; the highlights from last month's Public Health Infrastructure Grant Annual Recipient Convening are available online now; and CDC has issued a Health Alert Network Health Advisory about a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  TFAH Report: Public Health Infrastructure in Crisis: HHS Workforce Cuts, Reorganizations, and Funding Reductions: Impacts and Solutions National Council on Aging: The 2025 National Falls Prevention Action Plan ASTHO Report: Expanding Falls Prevention Through Surveillance, Community-Clinical Linkages, and Strategic Planning and Evaluation ASTHO Blog: Strengthening Policies to Prevent Older Adult Falls ASTHO Webinar: Succession Planning Part 3 of 3: Putting the Plan into Action PHIG Partners: 2025 PHIG Convening Builds Stronger Connections, Inspires Action, and Advances Data Modernization CDC Health Alert Network: Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo  

JW Randolph, Deputy Commissioner at the Tennessee Department of Health, shares how his state's new Office for Healthy Aging has been successful in coordinating statewide efforts to care for Tennessee's aging communities; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO's Senior Director for Government Affairs, provides an update on funding for the federal government in this week's View From Washington, D.C. report; part three of the Public Health Nursing Learning Lab Series takes place next week on September 24th, at 3:00 p.m. ET, which will focus on residency programs and leadership pathways; a recent ASTHO blog article details  the North Dakota Lead Prevention Program and how the state strengthened its coordination with tribal health officials; and congratulations to ASTHO alum Doctor John Armstrong, former Surgeon General and Secretary of Health for the state of Florida, for his reelection as Vice Speaker of the American Medical Association House of Delegates. ASTHO Web Page: Healthy Aging and Brain Health Tennessee Dept of Health: Office of Healthy Aging ASTHO Legislative Alert: Summary of FY26 Continuing Resolution ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab - A Series ASTHO Blog: North Dakota Lead Exposure Outreach Program Bio: John H. Armstrong, MD  

Shalini Nair, Senior Analyst of Infectious Disease at ASTHO, tells public health professionals everything they need to know about New World Screwworm (NWS), and what to do if their state experiences a case; Maggie Nilz, Senior Analyst of Preparedness at ASTHO, shares information from a new Health Policy Update on public health preparedness for extreme weather events; up to four states have the opportunity to host a two-day, in-person wastewater surveillance training opportunity, and the deadline to apply is September 19th; the latest edition of the DELPH Magazine is out, providing health officials with new information about the Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health program; and next Thursday, September 25th at 2:00 p.m. ET is the second session of the Activate series in the Ignite, Accelerate and Activate workshop, which will focus on improving emotional intelligence.   ASTHO Blog: New World Screwworm Insights and Action Steps ASTHO Health Policy Update: State Policy Advances in Extreme Weather Preparedness ASTHO Web Page: Ethical Analysis for Infectious Disease Wastewater Surveillance Training Opportunity ASTHO Web Page: DELPH Magazine  ASTHO Webinar: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 3, Session 2: Improving Emotional Intelligence  

Dr. Susan Kansagra, Chief Medical Officer at ASTHO, discusses updates to federal health initiatives that continue to impact public health agencies, including the latest report from the Make America Health Again Commission and recent activity regarding vaccines; Tiffany Day, Public Health Specialist with the Henry County Health Department in Ohio, previews what she'll discuss as a speaker during ASTHO's Succession Planning webinar session tomorrow, and highlights how succession planning can enhance the existing public health workforce; it's Telehealth Awareness Week and ASTHO's resource page has everything your department needs to expand its telehealth initiatives; and applications are now open for the second cohort of the Leadership Exchange for Adolescent Health Promotion Plus Community of Practice, which can help health agencies advance health education.  U.S. Dept of HHS: MAHA Commission Unveils Sweeping Strategy to Make Our Children Healthy Again U.S. Dept of HHS: CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to Meet September 18-19 ASTHO Blog: Levers for Preventing Chronic Disease That Intersect with Key MAHA Report Themes ASTHO Web Page: Telehealth ASTHO Webinar: Succession Planning Part 2 of 3: Laying the Groundwork ASTHO Web Page: Leadership Exchange for Adolescent Health Promotion Plus (LEAHP+) Community of Practice Cohort 2  

In today's installment of the PHIG Impact Report, Dr. Edward Simmer, ASTHO member and the Interim Director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health, discusses how his department is using the Public Health Infrastructure Grant. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter  

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  

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. 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. 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