Public Health On Call

Public Health On Call

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

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

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

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

About this episode: During the pandemic, CDC recommendations about masking and other issues were the source of controversy. Some have asked whether the agency can better communicate the basis of its recommendations — and even seek public input along the way—to increase public understanding and acceptance.  In today’s episode, Johns Hopkins cardiologist Dr. Joseph Marine and Dr. Peter Lurie of the Center for Science in the Public Interest join the podcast to discuss how the CDC can communicate mo

Feb 21, • 18:00

854 - The Worst Flu Season In A Decade

854 - The Worst Flu Season In A Decade

About this episode: There’s a lot of flu out there right now, but just how bad is it and by what measures is it “bad”? In today’s episode: How this year’s flu season stacks up against years past, some factors that could be driving such high rates and severe disease, and how bird flu is further complicating things. Also: It’s not too late to get a flu shot! Guests: Dr. Erica Prochaska is a pediatric infectious disease physician at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is

Feb 20, • 18:51

853 - The Hazy World of Cannabis Policy

853 - The Hazy World of Cannabis Policy

About this episode: Although cannabis is legal in nearly half of all U.S. states, policy is complicated. There's federal law, which prohibits the sale of THC-containing cannibus but not hemp. There's state law, which is an even more complex patchwork. In this episode: A new report looks at how this hazy landscape is impacting public health policy and equity. Guests: Dr. Yasmin Hurd is a neuroscientist and the director of the Addiction Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in N

Feb 19, • 21:48

852 - The FDA’s Proposed Food Labeling Changes

852 - The FDA’s Proposed Food Labeling Changes

About this episode: The FDA is responsible for labeling on food packaging, such as the ubiquitous black and white nutrition label. But consumers could soon see new labels on foods offering more information about nutrition in key areas like sodium, sugar, and saturated fat. In today’s episode: the FDA’s proposed changes for food labeling and new standards for using the term “healthy” in everything from product names to descriptions and marketing. Guest: Dr. Peter Lurie is the president and execut

Feb 17, • 16:40

851 - Policing With a Public Health Lens in South Dakota

851 - Policing With a Public Health Lens in South Dakota

About this episode: Traditional police work has struggled to meet the needs of cities like Rapid City, South Dakota. Often, police are called to address situations that are related to mental health crises, homelessness, and substance use. In this episode: Rapid City’s Chief of Police, Don Hedrick talks about what it means to police with public health in mind, the success of partnerships and outreach, and how a nontraditional approach helped Rapid City address an influx of violent crime. Guest: D

Feb 14, • 18:56

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

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

About this episode: In 1868, the 14th Amendment established birthright citizenship in the United States. In this episode: a look at the court cases, historical events, and people that shaped one of the Constitution’s human rights provisions. Guest: Martha Jones is a writer, historian and legal scholar, and a professor of history at the SNF Agora Institute. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public H

Feb 12, • 15:54

849 -  Marion Nestle and Food Politics

849 - Marion Nestle and Food Politics

About this episode: Research has linked America’s food system with a host of health problems including obesity and heart disease. Advocate Marion Nestle, a food lover and food advocate, wants to change that. In this episode: how she got interested in the food system, the link between food marketing and diet, her excitement around GLP-1 drugs, and what she’ll be watching if RFK Jr. is confirmed as the head of HHS. Guest: Marion Nestle is a molecular biologist and public health nutritionist known

Feb 10, • 16:47

848 - Vaccines 101: The Vaccines For Children Program

848 - Vaccines 101: The Vaccines For Children Program

About this episode: Today, in another episode in a series of podcasts exploring vaccine basics from the molecular level to global policy and everything in between: The Vaccines For Children Program is a CDC program that provides recommended vaccines without charge to about half of the nation’s children. In this episode: the program’s origins in a terrifying measles outbreak, how the program works, and what the evidence shows about its success. Guest: Claire Hannan is the executive director of t

Feb 7, • 16:35

847 - Vaccines 101: The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

847 - Vaccines 101: The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

About this episode: Today, in another episode in a series of podcasts exploring vaccine basics from the molecular level to global policy and everything in between: how compensation for most vaccine-related injuries works in the U.S. Serious vaccine injuries are rare, but when they do happen, people can bring their claims to a special court. In today’s episode, Judge Gary Golkiewicz, a “special master” of the United States Court of Federal Claims, talks about how the program works, how often it’s

Feb 6, • 23:20

846 - Vaccines 101: Vaccine Safety Science

846 - Vaccines 101: Vaccine Safety Science

About this episode: Today, in the next episode in a series of podcasts exploring vaccine basics: the science of vaccine safety. In this episode, a look at what’s unique about vaccine safety compared to the safety of other medical products, and how experts tell the difference between an adverse effect that is "causal" and one that is "coincidental." Guest: Dan Salmon is the director of the Johns Hopkins Institute For Vaccine Safety. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practi

Feb 5, • 16:21

845 - Tuberculosis in the U.S.

845 - Tuberculosis in the U.S.

About this episode: A tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas City is one of the largest in recent history. Risk to the general public remains low, but the outbreak itself could be a signal of a seriously strained public health system. In today’s episode: an overview of tuberculosis including how it spreads and who is most at risk, and what the Kansas City outbreak means for public health. Also: How the U.S.’s departure from the WHO could impact the fight against the world’s leading infectious disease k

Feb 4, • 18:04

844 - The Changing CDC Website

844 - The Changing CDC Website

About this episode: On Friday, January 31, a number of important datasets and pages housed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website became inaccessible. In this episode: Dr. Nirav Shah, a member of the advisory committee to the director of the CDC and co-chair of the advisory committee’s data and surveillance workgroup talks about the critical work of the CDC and the value of its data sets, and the questions being asked about what’s going on. Note: Dr. Josh Sharfstein, producer

Feb 3, • 20:34

843 -  The Native Biodata Consortium: Data Sovereignty For Good

843 - The Native Biodata Consortium: Data Sovereignty For Good

About this episode: Since the mapping of the human genome in 2003, scientists have sought data from Indigenous and isolated populations. But often that research doesn’t translate into better health care for the groups whose biological specimens informed it. In this episode: all about the Native Biodata Consortium, a research organization that collects, stores, and shares data from indigenous environments and communities. Guest: Joseph Yracheta, Pūrepecha, is a biomedical researcher and the execu

Jan 30, • 14:40

842 - Polio and the Polio Vaccine

842 - Polio and the Polio Vaccine

About this episode: Thanks to vaccines, most people under a certain age have no memory of the devastation and terror caused by the poliovirus. Although widely eliminated, polio still poses a threat in certain countries around the world. Waning vaccination rates in pockets of the U.S. mean some communities are at risk of a resurgence. In this episode: a look back at polio before vaccines, and how technology has evolved—including a discussion about a previous version of the vaccine that did, in ra

Jan 29, • 24:50

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

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

About this episode: President Trump’s executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO could have lasting implications on the health and wellbeing of the world, and on the American people. In today’s episode, the essential roles that the WHO plays both for the U.S. and around the globe, America’s imperfect relationship with the institution, and the potential consequences of a U.S. exit. Guest: Dr. Judd Walson is an infectious disease physician and epidemiologist, and the chair of the department

Jan 28, • 18:02

840 - Vaccines 101: The Basics of Vaccines and Vaccination

840 - Vaccines 101: The Basics of Vaccines and Vaccination

About this episode: The first of a series of podcasts about vaccine basics from the molecular level to global policy and everything in between. What actually are vaccines and how do they work? In this episode: back to basics on vaccines and immunology with Dr. Arturo Casadevall and Dr. Josh Sharfstein, including a discussion on why we still don’t have a vaccine for HIV. Guest: Arturo Casadevall is chair of the department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Pub

Jan 27, • 16:10

839 - The First Week's Executive Orders

839 - The First Week's Executive Orders

About this episode: In the first few days of President Trump’s second term he signed a blitz of executive actions. In today’s episode: a look at some of the actions and memos that take aim at key public health policies including the communications pause for health and science agencies, a pause on NIH study sections, immediate posturing on DEI initiatives, exiting the Paris Agreement and WHO, and more. Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the posi

Jan 24, • 14:22

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

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

About this episode: Throughout history, humans have been engaged in public health work. In a new book, epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers shares lessons from past outbreaks, what’s changed since COVID-19, and how, at a difficult moment for public health, she’s thinking about the future and keeping a watchful eye on mpox, H5N1, and more. Guest: Caitlin Rivers is an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security who specializes in preparedness and response for epidemics and pandemics.

Jan 22, • 14:56

837 - Seeking Common Ground in Public Health

837 - Seeking Common Ground in Public Health

About this episode: As the administration in Washington DC changes, where will public health be able to work across partisan lines to improve the health of all Americans? A conversation with Brian Castrucci, President and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation. Guest: Brian Castrucci is president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, a philanthropy dedicated to supporting state and local public health agencies. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engageme

Jan 20, • 13:16

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

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

About this episode: The FDA’s ban on the use of Red Dye No. 3 raises two questions — why is this color additive leaving the food supply? And what does this mean for other chemicals in the foods we eat?  In this episode: a discussion about how the FDA regulates food additives, and how that might change in the future. A note for listeners: By the end of this episode, you will understand why “GRAS reform” is not about cannabis. Guest: Howard Sklamberg is the former deputy commissioner of the U.S. F

Jan 17, • 20:30

835 -  Fluoride and The Law

835 - Fluoride and The Law

About this episode: Conversations about fluoride in the water supply are revving up but a key factor in the debate is the legal framework. In this episode: a discussion about the relevant law for assessing fluoride added to drinking water known as the Toxic Substances Control Act—a law limited to a focus on risk, not benefit—and what that means for emerging science and policy discussions around fluoridating water. Guest: Dr. Lynn Goldman is a pediatrician, the dean of the Milken Institute School

Jan 15, • 29:49

834 - Bird Flu Is Escalating

834 - Bird Flu Is Escalating

About this episode: The U.S.’s first reported human death from bird flu is another sign that the virus is not going away anytime soon. In this episode: why it’s time to double down on efforts to limit H5N1 transmission among cattle and birds, concerns about cats and other mammals, and how response measures need to scale up quickly and more broadly to try and prevent the virus from gaining a foothold in humans. The experts also discuss why bird flu poses an existential threat to the dairy industr

Jan 14, • 19:19

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

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

About this episode: A new report from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative finds that the U.S. lags behind many other high-income countries in life expectancy. In this report, researchers found that babies born 40 years ago in the U.S. and U.K could expect to live to the same age. Today, however, life expectancy is nearly three years shorter for those on our side of the Atlantic Ocean. In this episode: a look at the four main causes of death driving this gap—all of which are preventable—and

Jan 13, • 15:58

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

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

About this episode: Hearing declines for everyone as we get older, no matter what we do. As it declines, it can cause health problems like cognitive decline and brain atrophy, and is directly linked with Alzheimer’s. But there are ways to understand and reduce these impacts including over-the-counter hearing aids and a new app where people can test their hearing on their smartphone. In this episode: a conversation about a health issue that will impact all of us to some degree, and how technology

Jan 8, • 20:05

831 - Public Health Science Communication With Your Local Epidemiologist

831 - Public Health Science Communication With Your Local Epidemiologist

About this episode: Science communication is a vital skillset for public health practitioners. But what does it really take to cut through the noise? In today’s episode, Katelyn Jetelina, the publisher of Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about the art and science of science communication, and why it’s less about being right and more about a commitment to changing the way people think. Guest: Dr. Katelyn Jetelina is an epidemiologist and scientific communicator. She is the co-founder of Health Tr

Jan 6, • 16:15

830 - Advancing Public Health in Uncertain Political Times

830 - Advancing Public Health in Uncertain Political Times

About this episode: On December 3, the Bloomberg American Health Initiative held its annual summit. This year, the theme really marked the moment: Advancing Public Health in Uncertain Political Times. In today’s episode, you’ll hear three conversations from the Summit about how public health can provide a roadmap for making needed progress. First: how public health data and evidence provide context for judicial decisions. Then, how a public health lens is helping to address the issue of gun viol

Dec 18, 2024 • 26:44

829 - Do Mammograms Save Lives?

829 - Do Mammograms Save Lives?

About this episode: For decades, regular mammograms to detect breast cancer have been recommended for women ages 50-75. In 2024, the age range dropped to include women 40-49 as well. But what do we really know about mammography as a tool to save lives? Are all scans created equal? What is the risk/benefit analysis to upping the number of screenings a woman is recommended to receive in her lifetime? In today’s episode: a deep dive into the evidence around mammography, and a look at the new guidel

Dec 16, 2024 • 20:57

828 - Public Health is a Human Right

828 - Public Health is a Human Right

About this episode: The day after the 2024 presidential election, Joe Amon—the brand new director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health and Human Rights—was set to give a speech for a panel about health discrimination. But the one he’d prepared wasn’t going to cut it for a moment suddenly marked by uncertainty and change. He pivoted to a different message: one that acknowledges that public health doesn’t have everything figured out, and that it works best when it’s viewed as a social mov

Dec 11, 2024 • 15:01

827 -  The Rise in Pediatric Cases of Walking Pneumonia

827 - The Rise in Pediatric Cases of Walking Pneumonia

About this episode: Well into the respiratory illness season, there’s been a rise in cases of walking pneumonia compared to recent years, particularly among children. In this episode: an overview of walking pneumonia; how it’s tested, treated, and prevented; and what parents and caregivers should look out for in children. Guests: Dr. Anna Sick-Samuels is an associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of medicine and a pediatric infectious disease epid

Dec 9, 2024 • 17:37

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

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

About this episode: Ten years ago, Flint, Michigan was in the headlines for its catastrophic water crisis. Now, it’s on the map for a very different public health story: the success of the country’s first unconditional cash program for expecting mothers and babies in their first year of life. The concept is not new, however—it’s rooted in decades of evidence that cash programs help address root causes of poverty and can truly give kids a better start in life. Note: This episode was recorded in l

Dec 4, 2024 • 19:45

825 - The Future of the Environmental Protection Agency Under Trump

825 - The Future of the Environmental Protection Agency Under Trump

About this episode: Lingering environmental policy legacies from Trump’s last administration may be harbingers for what’s to come in 2025. Concerns include widespread deregulation leading to increased use of fossil fuels and a lack of vigilance around protecting drinking water and air quality. But it isn’t just the EPA itself that’s in peril: Major shift towards the politicization of climate change, and the disempowering of scientists and agencies in the court system could create lasting—and eve

Dec 2, 2024 • 14:59

824 - Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update

824 - Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update

About this episode: Outbreaks of H5N1 continue to rise in dairy cattle and poultry, and human cases are also starting to creep up including a Canadian teen who was hospitalized in critical condition. In this episode: the latest on viral sequencing and patterns of spread, the potential for economic impacts and interruptions in the food supply, risks to the general public, and concerns about how an administration change in January may impact public health’s ability to mount a sufficient response.

Nov 26, 2024 • 18:09

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

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

About this episode: Baltimore’s iconic Inner Harbor is like a highway for massive ships. It’s also been a dumping ground for chemicals and pollutants, and every time it rains, stormwater runoff brings sewage and trash from miles inland. But in 2010, a coalition announced the Healthy Harbor initiative—a plan to make Baltimore’s famous waterfront swimmable and fishable by 2020. In June 2024, the city held its first public swim in the harbor in more than 40 years. It took nearly a decade and a half

Nov 25, 2024 • 37:49

823 - Fluoride In The Water

823 - Fluoride In The Water

About this episode: Water fluoridation is considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th Century. Yet for as long as there has been fluoride in the water, some have raised concerns about its safety. In this episode: the history of water fluoridation, its enormous benefits for preventing tooth decay, and the recent wave of interest in whether fluoridation policies should change. Guest: Dr. Charlotte Lewis is a pediatrician at Seattle Children’s, a professor at UW Medicine,

Nov 22, 2024 • 17:39

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

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

About this episode: For nearly 30 years, Judge David Tatel served on the the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. But his rising legal career corresponded with his declining vision–a fact he tried to hide. Now, Tatel credits his blindness (and his guide dog Vixen) for helping him evolve as a judge and a person. In this episode: a look at Judge Tatel’s astonishing career, his take on how SCOTUS is blurring the lines between judging and policymaking, what science and the legal system have i

Nov 20, 2024 • 20:19

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

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

About this episode: In the wake of the presidential election, many people are feeling big emotions like shock, disbelief, anger, and fear. Psychological first aid is a process that can help “take the sting out of injury” and chart a way forward after disruptive, upsetting events. In this episode: an explanation of the process and how people can use the framework to start to regain control and feel empowered to meet the moment and construct a better future. Note: If you or someone you know is str

Nov 19, 2024 • 21:11

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

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

About this episode: A new documentary, “Shot in the Arm,” looks at the modern anti-vaccine movement from its opposition to the measles vaccine in 2019 through the pandemic and its opposition to COVID vaccination. Filmmaker Scott Kennedy joins the podcast to talk about about the five-year project of creating the film, including details from his hour-long interview with a leading voice in the movement, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Guest: Scott Kennedy is an Academy Award nominated writer, director, prod

Nov 18, 2024 • 19:05

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

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

About this episode: There’s a lot of speculation in the media about what Trump’s second term might mean for health and health policy. In this episode: a look at some of the headlines from this week and what we might see in the next four years around vaccines, the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, contraceptives, the federal workforce, immigration, and global health programs. Guest: Dr. Josh Sharfstein served in a number of political roles in his career including as the Secretary of the Maryland De

Nov 15, 2024 • 15:03

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

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

About this episode: In this episode: an update on the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and pertussis (whooping cough) in the U.S. Globally, a look at the mpox vaccine and exciting news about two brand new vaccines for malaria and TB in the pipeline. Guest: Dr. Bill Moss is the executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call pod

Nov 13, 2024 • 22:13

817 - What’s Behind All The Food Recalls

817 - What’s Behind All The Food Recalls

About this episode: From frozen waffles to deli meat and even fast food burgers, outbreaks of foodborne illnesses seem to be everywhere. But are they happening more often or is our surveillance system just getting better? And how do bacteria like listeria and E. coli survive the manufacturing process, and persist long enough to sicken and even kill consumers? In today’s episode: a look at foodborne pathogens and how they persist, the U.S. food safety system, and how you can take precautions at h

Nov 11, 2024 • 16:18

816 - Book Club: The Promise and Peril of CRISPR

816 - Book Club: The Promise and Peril of CRISPR

About this episode: CRISPR technology can edit genetic codes, making it possible to cure people of terrible diseases, among other uses. But its power is not fully understood—even by the scientists and researchers who use it—and the technology far outpaces conversations about ethics and regulations. In this episode: that we know and don’t know about CRISPR, and why it’s critical for these conversations to happen everywhere from boardrooms to legislative assemblies to film and TV scripts. Guest: D

Nov 6, 2024 • 16:52

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

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

About this episode: Dr. Jirair Ratevosian was a high level global health official in the State Department—a job he left to pursue a Congressional seat in California’s 30th district. In this episode, he details what it takes to run for Congress (including knocking on more than 30,000 doors) and how he talked about public health with voters. Spoiler alert: He didn’t win, but he did learn a lot and is hopeful that Congress can again be a place where people go to solve problems. Guests: Dr. Jirair R

Nov 4, 2024 • 18:01

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

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

About this episode: The rise of misinformation and the appeal of “alternative medicine” is coupled with a decline in trust of the U.S. health care system. In a new book, Dr. Sara Gorman explains how an inaccessible health care system has fed the rise of misinformation and what policymakers and providers need to do to earn back some credibility. Guests: Dr. Sara Gorman is a public health researcher and author of a new book called “The Anatomy of Deception: Conspiracy Theories, Distrust, and Publi

Oct 30, 2024 • 17:51

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

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

About this episode: Since the 2022 Dobbs decision, women’s healthcare in the U.S.—which was already underperforming in everything from access to maternal mortality rates—has faced a new set of challenges. In today's episode: All about a Commonwealth Fund report that updates the status of women’s health care and reproductive health across the nation and why even services not related to reproductive care—like cancer screenings and having a primary care provider—have been disrupted. Guests: Dr. Sar

Oct 28, 2024 • 16:07

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

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

About this episode: Respiratory syncytial virus can be particularly dangerous for older adults and infants and this year, for the first time, there are three approved and readily available products to help prevent severe disease: A vaccine for pregnant women and people over age 65, and an antibody treatment for infants born during RSV season. In this episode: all about these products and the promise they show for dramatically reducing the number of hospitalizations and deaths from RSV this year.

Oct 23, 2024 • 13:40

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

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

About this episode: In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act—the first comprehensive federal legislation to recognize the often-overlooked dangers of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other gender-based violence. In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, researchers Tiara Willie and Michelle Decker join the podcast to talk about the legislation’s initial goals, why gender-based violence is still a neglected issue 30 years later, and how far we still have

Oct 21, 2024 • 16:51

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

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

About this episode: What will the Presidential election mean for immigration—and for immigrants? A look at how each administration might approach one of the most polarizing issues on voters’ minds. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode belong solely to those interviewed. As a nonprofit entity, the Johns Hopkins University cannot take a position for or against any candidate running for elected office. Information is being provided solely for academic or educational purposes and

Oct 16, 2024 • 14:01

Bonus - All About Marburg Virus

Bonus - All About Marburg Virus

About this episode: An outbreak of Marburg virus, one of the deadliest viruses in the world, has been reported in Rwanda. In this episode: an overview of the rare, hemorrhagic fever with an 88% mortality rate and how it's impacting Rwanda, and why we’re seeing more and more instances of zoonotic disease spillovers. Guest: Kari Debbink is a virologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relatio

Oct 15, 2024 • 13:48

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

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

About this episode: The grand opening of a new research hub in Rapid City, South Dakota marks an exciting moment for the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health. The Hub will bring together community members and researchers to advance the Center’s lifesaving work in a central—and meaningful—location. In this episode: a look at some of the Hub’s first projects including lung cancer and diabetes research, and the Center’s approaches through the lenses of scientific rigor and unique cultural str

Oct 14, 2024 • 16:59

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

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

About this episode: A look at the frontlines of the response 13 days after Hurricane Helene hit Tennessee—the state’s most devastating natural disaster in history. County commissioners Dr. Robert Acuff and Danny Deal report from the Elizabethton Municipal Airport which has become a staging area for relief supplies. Note: In the podcast, the commissioners request that supplies such as propane heaters and cylinders, and kerosene heaters, containers, and pumps can be sent to the attention of Commis

Oct 10, 2024 • 13:39

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

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

About this episode: Gun violence is a top-of-mind issue for Americans and there are evidence-based solutions for prevention. In this episode: a focus on the stark differences between potential Trump and Harris presidencies when it comes to addressing gun violence. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode belong solely to those interviewed. As a nonprofit entity, the Johns Hopkins University cannot take a position for or against any candidate running for elected office. Information

Oct 9, 2024 • 18:51

807 - Peacebuilding to Help Mend A Broken World—2023 Re-release

807 - Peacebuilding to Help Mend A Broken World—2023 Re-release

About this episode: One year after the Hamas attacks, the Israel-Hamas war remains among the most intractable and violent situations in the world. Today, an episode from the archives about peacebuilding to help solve violent conflicts and rebuild societies through nonviolent means. Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks with Michael Shipler, vice president of Search for Common Ground, an international peacebuilding non-governmental organization. Guest: Michael Shipler, vice president of Search for Common Gro

Oct 7, 2024 • 19:20

Bonus - A Hurricane In The Mountains: The Aftermath of Helene

Bonus - A Hurricane In The Mountains: The Aftermath of Helene

About this episode: Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic force seemed to catch many by surprise, especially those living in western North Carolina. The focus is now on the response, but it’s clear from the devastation that old playbooks for preparedness and readiness must change to consider new risks in a new reality. In this episode: a conversation about what emergency responders are already learning in the aftermath of Helene and why nowhere is really “safe” from climate change. Guest: Dr. Joseph B

Oct 3, 2024 • 15:29

806 - 2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For American Public Health

806 - 2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For American Public Health

About this episode: Public health is often invisible: when things go well, people don’t die and “nothing happens.” But the lifesaving work of public health relies on a powerful infrastructure that includes the FDA, the CDC, the EPA and other federal agencies. In this episode, a look at how public health necessities like disease prevention, and food that’s safe to eat and water that’s safe to drink could fare under each potential administration. Please note that the opinions expressed in this epi

Oct 2, 2024 • 15:27

805 - 2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For Health Insurance, Medicare/Medicaid, and Drug Pricing

805 - 2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For Health Insurance, Medicare/Medicaid, and Drug Pricing

About this episode: What will the Presidential election mean for health care? A look at the candidates’ priorities and track records for the future of the Affordable Care Act and health care coverage and cost. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode belong solely to those interviewed. As a nonprofit entity, the Johns Hopkins University cannot take a position for or against any candidate running for elected office. Information is being provided solely for academic or educational p

Sep 30, 2024 • 17:52

804 - 2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For Abortion Access

804 - 2024 Election Series: What’s At Stake For Abortion Access

About this episode: Abortion access is on the ballot nationwide this November. In this episode: a look at proposed bans and protections across the state and federal levels, and the long-term implications of judicial decisions. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode belong solely to those interviewed. As a nonprofit entity, the Johns Hopkins University cannot take a position for or against any candidate running for elected office. Information is being provided solely for academic

Sep 25, 2024 • 18:14

803 - 2024 Election Series: What's At Stake For Global Health

803 - 2024 Election Series: What's At Stake For Global Health

About this episode: The 2024 presidential election lands at a critical time in global public health. In this episode: a look at the potential implications for the U.S.’s future relationships with global health institutions like the World Health Organization and funding of initiatives on HIV and other challenges. Also covered: the connection between US domestic policy and US global health engagement. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode/event belong solely to those interviewed.

Sep 23, 2024 • 19:57

802 - Safer Supply: A Novel Approach to Reducing Overdose Deaths

802 - Safer Supply: A Novel Approach to Reducing Overdose Deaths

About this episode: Safer supply is a harm reduction tool that involves making regulated pharmaceuticals available for people who use drugs. In today’s episode: The safer supply model explained, and why some experts are saying it is time to give it a try. Guests: Becky Genberg is an epidemiologist studying the intersection substance use and infectious diseases. Danielle German studies drug use and harm reduction. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcas

Sep 18, 2024 • 22:12

801 - ADHD and Aging

801 - ADHD and Aging

About this episode: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is primarily diagnosed in childhood, but a lack of understanding about this neurodevelopmental disorder means many adults have lived their entire lives with undiagnosed ADHD. As we age, a certain degree of forgetfulness or decreased ability to mentally multitask is expected but then how can you tell what’s normal from what could be cognitive impairment or undiagnosed ADHD? In this episode: How ADHD diagnosis and treatment in later adul

Sep 16, 2024 • 17:07

800 - All About Parvovirus

800 - All About Parvovirus

About this episode: Last month, the CDC issued an alert about an increase in parvovirus, a respiratory disease that is common for children but can be very serious in people with certain medical conditions. In today’s episode: all about parvovirus and why it’s yet another reason to wash your hands regularly. Guest: Dr. Erica Prochaska is a pediatric infectious disease physician at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community e

Sep 11, 2024 • 15:35

799 - How An Online Gaming Community Is Helping To Prevent Veteran Suicides

799 - How An Online Gaming Community Is Helping To Prevent Veteran Suicides

About this episode: Playing video games has long been seen as an isolating activity, but the world of online gaming is anything but. Platforms like Twitch and Discord are home to thriving communities of players who connect over games and strategies. Researchers are also finding that they offer unique opportunities for peer support and mental health programs. In today’s episode: A study looked into how one online gaming community, the Stack Up Overwatch Program, is providing mental health and cri

Sep 9, 2024 • 16:30

798 - When Should I Get My COVID/Flu Shot? And Other Queries To Kick off Respiratory Virus Season

798 - When Should I Get My COVID/Flu Shot? And Other Queries To Kick off Respiratory Virus Season

About this episode: When should you get your COVID/flu shots? How long can a COVID vaccine really protect you from infection? Why do we have summer waves of COVID but not flu or RSV? Will we ever see a flu/COVID combo shot? A virologist answers questions as we gear up for respiratory virus season. Guest: Andy Pekosz is a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with appointments in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Environmental Health and Engineering. Host: Ste

Sep 4, 2024 • 17:31

797 - A Fall Look-Ahead With School Nurses: More Than Just Band-Aids and Ice Packs

797 - A Fall Look-Ahead With School Nurses: More Than Just Band-Aids and Ice Packs

About this episode: School nurses are charged with helping to maintain the health and well-being of every student in their care which goes way beyond providing basic first aid. Today, the podcast goes back to school at KIPP Baltimore, an open enrollment charter school serving pre-K to 8th grade students. Nurse Erica and Nurse Lily talk about their work providing health care to nearly 1,000 students, and what they’re thinking about for the year ahead for everything from infectious diseases to eye

Aug 30, 2024 • 15:10

796 - An Update on PEPFAR And The Reality of Ending HIV

796 - An Update on PEPFAR And The Reality of Ending HIV

About this episode: Now in its 21st year, PEPFAR—the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief which launched in 2003 under President George W. Bush—still has ending the HIV epidemic in its sights. It’s now at a critical juncture with an expanding toolbox of exciting treatments and, simultaneously, eroding bipartisan support from Congress. Guest: Dr. Mike Reid is the Chief Science Officer in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstei

Aug 28, 2024 • 15:56

795 - The Discovery of a New Clade of Candida Auris—A “Critical Pathogen”

795 - The Discovery of a New Clade of Candida Auris—A “Critical Pathogen”

About this episode: The discovery of a new clade of C. auris—a fungus the WHO has declared a “critical pathogen”—has ignited new fears about the fungi’s ability to evolve beyond infection control measures. C. auris already poses significant—and lethal—risks to hospitals and patients worldwide and, with global warming, medicine should expect more emerging fungal infections that are resistant to existing treatments. In today’s episode: C. auris’s evolution, the climate change factor, and what’s ne

Aug 26, 2024 • 16:07

794 - Does A Really Cause B? How a Biostatistician Thinks About Causality

794 - Does A Really Cause B? How a Biostatistician Thinks About Causality

About this episode: When evaluating programs, policies, and interventions, how do you know if they’re working? In today’s episode: The science (and art!) of biostatistics, and an exploration of the question: How can we design studies to find out if there really is a relationship between A and B? Guest: Elizabeth Stuart is the chair of the department of Biostatistics at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and com

Aug 23, 2024 • 18:37

793 - What It’s Like To Be America’s Chief Health Diplomat

793 - What It’s Like To Be America’s Chief Health Diplomat

About this episode: Health diplomacy is how countries work together to advance global health. What does health diplomacy look like in 2024—a post-pandemic time marked by multiple violent crises and zoonotic disease outbreaks? Loyce Pace is America's top health diplomat within the Department of Health and Human Services. In today’s episode: a conversation about the agenda for US and global health. Guest: Loyce Pace is the Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and

Aug 21, 2024 • 18:14

792 - World Mosquito Day: Gene Drives and CRISPR Technology

792 - World Mosquito Day: Gene Drives and CRISPR Technology

About this episode: World Mosquito Day, observed annually on August 20th, commemorates British doctor Sir Ronald Ross's discovery in 1897 that female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans. More than a century later, major advancements like genetically modifying mosquitoes—AKA gene drives—have the potential to reduce malaria cases and deaths dramatically, but not without hurdles. This special episode is an extended version of Malaria Minute, a podcast from the Johns Hopkins Malaria Rese

Aug 19, 2024 • 13:01

791 - Tradeoffs —The Fifth Branch: Transforming The Way Communities Respond to People in Crisis

791 - Tradeoffs —The Fifth Branch: Transforming The Way Communities Respond to People in Crisis

About this episode: Since 2015, 1,939 individuals experiencing mental health crises have been killed during encounters with police in America, accounting for 20% of all police killings. The first episode of “The Fifth Branch”— a three-part special series by Tradeoffs and The Marshall Project— examines what it looks like when one community dramatically changes how it responds to people in crisis. Episodes 2 and 3 can be found on the Tradeoffs website. Host: Dan Gorenstein is the founder and execu

Aug 16, 2024 • 24:38

790 - How Violence Reduction Councils Can Prevent Homicides and Shootings

790 - How Violence Reduction Councils Can Prevent Homicides and Shootings

About this episode: Violence Reduction Councils review huge quantities of data to pinpoint how homicides and shootings can be prevented. They include diverse stakeholders from a city or community including first responders, community-based organizations, and elected officials—all of whom come together to review cases and identify policies or interventions to prevent future violence. A new toolkit supported by the Bloomberg American Health Initiative can help groups get started, sort and store da

Aug 14, 2024 • 18:40

789 - Why The Mpox Crisis Spreading Across Africa Is A Global Concern

789 - Why The Mpox Crisis Spreading Across Africa Is A Global Concern

About this episode: A concerning and deadly outbreak of mpox is spreading across central Africa and the world’s response has been lackluster. In this episode: an overview of the virus and a brief history of mpox outbreaks, a breakdown of the different clades, and why this particular epidemic is so concerning—not just for the regions impacted but for the rest of the world. Guest: Dr. Chris Beyrer is the director of the Duke Global Health Institute and an epidemiologist who has worked on the front

Aug 12, 2024 • 20:17

788 - SCOTUS—Not The EPA—Is Now Regulating Environmental Protection

788 - SCOTUS—Not The EPA—Is Now Regulating Environmental Protection

About this episode: Environmental protection has a long history of entanglement with the court system. But the supermajority conservative Supreme Court could now become the primary influence in how water, air, and chemicals are regulated, displacing evidence and recommendations from scientists. From the Good Neighbor Rule to the Chevron case, SCOTUS is disempowering environmental protection at a time when the U.S. desperately needs better and more informed regulation for things like air quality,

Aug 9, 2024 • 18:51

787 - Open Air Care Connections: Mental Health Care in Brooklyn's Iconic Prospect Park

787 - Open Air Care Connections: Mental Health Care in Brooklyn's Iconic Prospect Park

About this episode: Open Air Care Connections is a pilot project between Prospect Park Alliance, various community organizations, and the New York City Health Department. Born from the COVID-19 pandemic and built with basic public health principles like equity, access, and dignity, the program connects Brooklynites with much-needed services like mental health care, housing, and food access—all through casual conversations in Brooklyn’s iconic Prospect Park. Guests: Jared Grant is a community hea

Aug 7, 2024 • 21:09

786 - Mental Health Monday: A Psychologist’s Review of The Film “Inside Out 2”

786 - Mental Health Monday: A Psychologist’s Review of The Film “Inside Out 2”

About this episode: This “Inside Out 2” has quickly become the highest-grossing animated film of all time with parents and their kids alike praising the movie for its wit, storyline, and—for some—very realistic depictions of complex themes like puberty, anxiety, and emotional intelligence. But how accurate are these depictions and how helpful are they in helping parents and teens relate to a time of incredible, and often chaotic, change? Note: You do not have to have seen the film to enjoy this

Aug 5, 2024 • 14:45

785 - Tradeoffs—Hope, Hype or Harm? What We Know About New Cancer-Screening Tools

785 - Tradeoffs—Hope, Hype or Harm? What We Know About New Cancer-Screening Tools

About this episode: New screening tools like full-body MRI scans and blood tests claiming to detect over 50 kinds of cancer are generating excitement with their potential to catch diseases early. But is more knowledge about our bodies always beneficial? Host: Dan Gorenstein is the founder and executive editor of the Tradeoffs podcast. Show links and related content: Hope, Hype or Harm? What We Know About New Cancer-Screening Tools—Podcast Does Cancer Screening Save Lives?—Podcast Bringin

Aug 2, 2024 • 21:31

784 - The Inside Story of the 1964 Surgeon General’s Report That Changed How Americans Viewed Smoking

784 - The Inside Story of the 1964 Surgeon General’s Report That Changed How Americans Viewed Smoking

About this episode: In 1964, an advisory committee to the Surgeon General issued a report on smoking and disease that was so damning, it had to be released with cloak-and-dagger preparations on a Saturday so as not to disrupt the stock market. 60 years later, the report remains one of the most important scientific documents of the 20th century. Today: the inside history of a committee and a report that changed the trajectory of tobacco use in America—a report that almost didn’t happen. Guest: D

Jul 31, 2024 • 28:17

783 - Diaper Insecurity And Why It Matters For Child Health and Well-Being

783 - Diaper Insecurity And Why It Matters For Child Health and Well-Being

About this episode: Diapers are expensive. For low-income families, diaper insecurity refers to the financial, health, and economic tradeoffs they may face in trying to afford them. Evidence is mounting that giving families cash for diapers can not only help to substantially alleviate these burdens, but it could help keep kids out of the child welfare system. Guest: Mike Shaver is the president and CEO of Brightpoint, a Chicago-based nonprofit whose mission is to advance the well-being of childr

Jul 29, 2024 • 14:35

782 - Everything You Need to Know About Sunscreen

782 - Everything You Need to Know About Sunscreen

About this episode: Choosing the right sunscreen for you can be overwhelming with so many options on the market. This episode debunks common myths and uncovers essential facts about sunscreen, explaining the differences between UVA and UVB coverage, mineral vs. chemical sunscreens, and why European sunscreens are often considered superior to American-made ones. We address concerns about sunscreen safety and discuss the importance of sun protection for all skin tones all year round. Host: Stephan

Jul 26, 2024 • 13:53

781 - Preparing For The 2024 Paris Olympics

781 - Preparing For The 2024 Paris Olympics

About this episode: Every four years, the Olympics brings athletes and spectators together from all over the world in one of the largest mass gathering events. Planning begins years in advance, and public health security is a major consideration. Experts are brought in to map out possible threats and think through preparedness for everything from terrorist attacks to addressing rumors to responding to infectious disease outbreaks. Today: Considerations for Paris 2024 and lessons learned from the

Jul 24, 2024 • 21:52

780 - The Mental Health of Migrant Children

780 - The Mental Health of Migrant Children

About this episode: Maryland receives the greatest number of unaccompanied migrant children of all U.S. states. Many have experienced significant trauma, underscoring the need for enhanced mental health services and improved language access in healthcare for this group. Guests: Sarah Polk is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her areas of clinical expertise include general pediatrics and adolescent medicine, with a particular focus on adolesc

Jul 22, 2024 • 14:56

779 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Takes A Step On Climate

779 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Takes A Step On Climate

About this episode: The CMS Innovation Center at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid is tasked with research and development to improve health care costs and delivery. It’s also grappling with a challenging reality: The health care sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions which, in turn, are changing the climate in ways that impact our health. This is especially true of Medicaid/Medicare recipients such as children, older adults, and low income communities who bear the brunt of

Jul 19, 2024 • 14:51

778 - The White House’s New Rules Around Gain-of-function Research

778 - The White House’s New Rules Around Gain-of-function Research

About this episode: Gain-of-function research involves altering a virus to make it more transmissible or deadly in order to develop vaccines, therapies, and perform other research. But the practice has long raised concerns about safety. In May, the White House released new policies around gain-of-function research hoping to shore up both safety measures and trust in this field of research. In this episode: a breakdown of the new policies and their general reception among scientists and the publi

Jul 17, 2024 • 14:50

777 - Meteorology and Climate Change

777 - Meteorology and Climate Change

About this episode: Meteorologists look at data and history to help make sense of weather patterns and make predictions. This work, in turn, helps inform individuals and policymakers to prepare for and respond to weather events. But with climate records being shattered at every turn, and extreme weather like flooding, violent storms, and heat domes becoming more common, patterns and precedent start to fall away. So how are meteorologists making sense of all these changes and what could we expect

Jul 15, 2024 • 14:58

Special Series: Racial Bias and Pulse Oximeters Part 1–A Problem Hiding in Plain Sight

Special Series: Racial Bias and Pulse Oximeters Part 1–A Problem Hiding in Plain Sight

About this episode: Pulse oximeters—devices used to read blood oxygen levels in hospitals and at home—are far less reliable for people with darker skin tones... Falsely normal readings create the potential for clinical staff to miss life-threatening conditions. In this three-episode special series, we explore a longstanding issue that only caught the nation’s attention in recent years. In episode 1: How COVID-19 shined a light on an issue that was known, but largely ignored. Listen to Part 2: W

Jul 8, 2024 • 31:53

Special Series: Racial Bias and Pulse Oximeters Part 2—What Went Wrong?

Special Series: Racial Bias and Pulse Oximeters Part 2—What Went Wrong?

About this episode: Pulse oximeters—devices used to read blood oxygen levels in hospitals and at home—are far less reliable for people with darker skin tones. Falsely normal readings have the potential for clinical staff to miss life-threatening conditions. In this three-episode special series, we explore a longstanding issue that only caught the nation’s attention in recent years. In episode 2: What went wrong, including inaction from manufacturers and regulators, market forces, and racism in m

Jul 8, 2024 • 31:56

Special Series: Racial Bias and Pulse Oximeters Part 3—Fixing Pulse Oximeters

Special Series: Racial Bias and Pulse Oximeters Part 3—Fixing Pulse Oximeters

About this episode: Pulse oximeters—devices used to read blood oxygen levels in hospitals and at home—are far less reliable for people with darker skin tones. Falsely normal readings create the potential for clinical staff to miss life-threatening conditions. In this three-episode special series, we explore a longstanding issue that only caught the nation’s attention in recent years. In episode 3: How engineers are working to improve the design of pulse oximeters, and how advocates from across t

Jul 8, 2024 • 23:39

Bonus Episode - Mifepristone and EMTALA SCOTUS Rulings: A Holding Pattern

Bonus Episode - Mifepristone and EMTALA SCOTUS Rulings: A Holding Pattern

About this episode: The Supreme Court has issued decisions in the two major abortion cases on its docket this year. For the time being, the drug mifepristone remains on the market and a federal law requiring that emergency rooms provide life-saving abortions even in states banning the procedure is upheld. But the court’s decisions—both upholding the status quo—all but guarantee both cases will be back, putting mifepristone and EMTALA once again under fire. Guests: Joanne Rosen is an expert in pu

Jul 3, 2024 • 19:50

776 - The Invisible Shield—Public Health

776 - The Invisible Shield—Public Health

About this episode: Public health saved your life today and you didn’t even know it. But while public health makes modern life possible, efforts are frequently underfunded, undervalued, and misunderstood. Today we bring you a special episode from Follow the Data, a podcast by the Bloomberg Philanthropies, that discusses "The Invisible Shield," a four-part documentary series on PBS. The series delves into the often unseen public health infrastructure that supports our daily lives and highlights t

Jul 3, 2024 • 32:09

775 - How to Make Cities More Mental Health Friendly for Adolescents and Young Adults

775 - How to Make Cities More Mental Health Friendly for Adolescents and Young Adults

About this episode: Our mental health and well-being are shaped by our environment: access to green space can be beneficial, while cities with high population density can affect the risk for mood, anxiety, or even substance use disorders. A recent study explores how cities can be more mental health-friendly for adolescents and emphasizes the importance of life skills, open-minded interpersonal relationships, safe public spaces, secure employment, and youth-inclusive policy-making. Guest: Dr. Pam

Jul 1, 2024 • 16:27

774 - Why We Desperately Need—And Still Don’t Have—A Global Pandemic Treaty

774 - Why We Desperately Need—And Still Don’t Have—A Global Pandemic Treaty

About this episode: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, world health officials agreed that many more lives could have been saved had there been better global coordination. In 2021, countries came together to draft a pandemic treaty committing to better future responses and pledging to sign it within two years. But deadlines have come and gone, the draft revised many times over. In a race to secure an agreement before the next pandemic, countries must reckon with historic inequities, vaccine ac

Jun 28, 2024 • 19:41

773 - More Consequences of Abortion Restrictions: Increases in Infant Deaths in Texas

773 - More Consequences of Abortion Restrictions: Increases in Infant Deaths in Texas

About this episode: In 2021, Texas passed the extremely restrictive Senate Bill 8 which bans most abortions with very few exceptions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected—as early as five or six weeks of pregnancy. 2022 data suggested a noticeable uptick in infant mortality in Texas. A new study looked into the connection between the two and is among the first to show evidence evaluating the impacts of abortion bans and how other places with severely restrictive laws could also see more infant

Jun 26, 2024 • 12:09

772 - Why Are So Many Adults Being Diagnosed With ADHD?

772 - Why Are So Many Adults Being Diagnosed With ADHD?

About this episode: What’s behind the significant increases in adult diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder—historically thought to be a neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood? A new understanding of symptoms, better diagnoses, and some of the best treatments in psychiatric medicine mean more and more people are benefiting from the evolving science behind ADHD. Guest: Dr. David Goodman is a Johns Hopkins psychiatrist and the director of the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Cent

Jun 24, 2024 • 17:18

771 - More Cases of Measles in the United States

771 - More Cases of Measles in the United States

Overview: An uptick of measles cases in the U.S. is raising concerns, especially heading into summer when travelers may bring back more cases from Europe. This most infectious human virus can cause severe and even fatal complications, especially for unvaccinated children—sometimes years after what seemed to be a mild case. Pandemic disruptions and rampant mis- and disinformation online have contributed to declining rates of vaccination that leave some communities especially vulnerable to measles

Jun 21, 2024 • 15:35

BONUS - Allegations of War Crimes By Leaders of Hamas and Israeli Officials before the International Criminal Court

BONUS - Allegations of War Crimes By Leaders of Hamas and Israeli Officials before the International Criminal Court

Overview: The International Criminal Court, a justice system inspired by the Nuremburg tribunals after World War II, holds individuals responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.  In May 2024, the Court's chief prosecutor requested arrest warrants for three leaders of Hamas and, separately, for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged crimes on October 7, 2023 and in the war in Gaza that followed. Len Rubenstein is Distinguished Profess

Jun 18, 2024 • 17:29

770 - Juneteenth in 2024

770 - Juneteenth in 2024

Overview: Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021 amidst a national reckoning with race. Four years later, the observation finds us at a time of continued polarization and attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Reflecting on the historical significance of Juneteenth can help us think about how to celebrate and observe the day, and how to recommit to healing and social justice work as individuals, communities, and society. Guest: Joel Bolling is the assistant dean for In

Jun 17, 2024 • 18:13

769 - A Conversation With A Coast Guard Flight Surgeon

769 - A Conversation With A Coast Guard Flight Surgeon

About this episode: The U.S. Coast Guard is charged with safeguarding Americans through missions including maritime law enforcement, antiterrorism operations, and search and rescue. Members of the Coast Guard carry out these missions at sea and in the air in all sorts of extreme conditions requiring specialized medical care to ensure their health and safety. In this episode, we hear from a flight surgeon who talks about his work caring for military aviators, as well as some of the most challengi

Jun 14, 2024 • 14:52

768 - The Food Industry and the #Antidiet Movement

768 - The Food Industry and the #Antidiet Movement

About this episode: What is the relationship between food industry giants like General Mills and a social media movement aimed at pushing back on diet culture and unrealistic body images? An investigation by health journalists at The Examination found that food companies and dieticians appear to be co-opting the hashtag “antidiet” to promote their products. Guest: Sasha Chavkin is a senior reporter with The Examination Host: Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and commun

Jun 12, 2024 • 11:30

767 - A Much More Effective—But Complicated—CPR Could Save Many More Lives

767 - A Much More Effective—But Complicated—CPR Could Save Many More Lives

About the episode: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, has been the gold standard for buying time in a medical emergency. But it’s not very effective, especially for the majority of cardiac arrest cases. What is much more effective: employing advanced machinery like ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, that can keep people alive for hours or even days and weeks while physicians address the medical emergency and the body heals. But can emergency medicine shift to get more patients on ECM

Jun 10, 2024 • 19:31

766 - The Legacy of Dr. Levi Watkins: Heart Surgeon and Activist

766 - The Legacy of Dr. Levi Watkins: Heart Surgeon and Activist

About this episode: June 8 would mark the 80th birthday of Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr., a cardiothoracic surgeon at Johns Hopkins known for being part of the first team to implant an automatic defibrillator in a human patient. But Dr. Watkins was so much more: a civil rights and political activist, a champion of Black and other people who are underrepresented in medicine, and a snappy dresser with a great sense of humor. Today, two people who knew and worked with Dr. Watkins share their memories as we

Jun 7, 2024 • 19:34

765 - The Rise of Colorectal Cancers Among Younger People

765 - The Rise of Colorectal Cancers Among Younger People

About the episode: Colorectal cancers are rising among people under age 50. There are a number of theories as to why and also promising data around early detection. In today’s episode: A deep dive into the epidemiology of colorectal cancers including who is most at risk, a look at the screening tools currently available, and why blood tests may be even more valuable than costly and invasive colonoscopies. Guest: Dr. Otis Brawley is a globally-recognized expert in cancer prevention and control wh

Jun 5, 2024 • 18:31

EP 764 - Am I Taking Too Many Medications? Polypharmacy, Interactions, and Drug Cascades

EP 764 - Am I Taking Too Many Medications? Polypharmacy, Interactions, and Drug Cascades

About this episode: One in five U.S. adults is taking five or more prescription drugs at a time, often for years without reassessment of need, dosage, or possible interactions. Today, a look at polypharmacy and why it’s important for physicians to periodically check in with patients about all the prescription—and nonprescription—drugs they’re taking. The guests also discuss the importance of considering non-pharmaceutical treatments like physical or talk therapy, and empowering patients and thei

Jun 3, 2024 • 15:31

763 - How To Avoid Getting Sick On A Cruise Ship

763 - How To Avoid Getting Sick On A Cruise Ship

Cruise ships are congregate settings where infectious diseases can quickly spread. But, there’s a lot that the industry and individuals can do to stay healthy and avoid, shall we say, explosive outbreaks. In today’s episode, learn about the most common culprits—including norovirus, food-borne illness, and COVID-19—and how people can think about safety from initial booking to final disembarkment and all the ports of call in between. Guest: Dr. Tara Palmore is an infectious disease physician at th

May 24, 2024 • 17:38

762 - Interview With a Graduate: A New Doctor of Epidemiology Connects Physical Activity to Cognitive Health

762 - Interview With a Graduate: A New Doctor of Epidemiology Connects Physical Activity to Cognitive Health

It’s graduation time at the Bloomberg School! Doctoral candidate Francesca Marino joins the podcast to talk about how her interest in neuroscience led her to pursue a degree in epidemiology, and about her research looking into whether and how daily patterns of physical activity tracked through a wearable device could indicate cognitive health or decline. Guest: Dr. Francesca Marino is a recent graduate of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health whose research focuses on the epidemiol

May 22, 2024 • 13:56

761 - The Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

761 - The Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

Armed internal conflict  in Sudan has created a humanitarian crisis with millions of people displaced both internally and to neighboring countries. Dr. Salim Mohamednour, a medical epidemiologist with expertise in emergency response and the national health coordinator at the WHO country office in Sudan, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the unfolding catastrophe and what needs to be done. Special thanks to Aseel Salih, Hassan Salih, and Laila Zomorodian, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Publ

May 20, 2024 • 17:18

760 - Planetary Health in the ER: The Role of Medicine In The Earth Crisis

760 - Planetary Health in the ER: The Role of Medicine In The Earth Crisis

The planetary health crisis can’t be ignored in hospitals where patients are sick from climate-driven things like asthma from air quality emergencies, COVID-19 from a zoonotic spillover event, and cardiovascular complications from heat waves. Chris Lemon, an ER doctor and Bloomberg Health Initiative fellow who focuses on the intersection of climate change and health, talks with Stephanie Desmon about his work bringing planetary health dialogue to hospital staff while also looking at ways health

May 17, 2024 • 15:11

759 - Book Club: What If Fungi Win?

759 - Book Club: What If Fungi Win?

From mushrooms to microscopic organisms, fungi represent a serious—and still relatively unexplored—threat to human health. Dr. Arturo Casadevall returns to the podcast to talk about his new book, What If Fungi Win? which looks at why certain fungal infections take off, why they’re so hard to treat, and why we will most certainly see more of them with climate change and treatment-resistant strains. Learn more: https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53673/what-if-fungi-win

May 15, 2024 • 14:15

758 - Homelessness and SCOTUS: What Happens When People Experiencing Homelessness Are Forced To Move?

758 - Homelessness and SCOTUS: What Happens When People Experiencing Homelessness Are Forced To Move?

Johnson v. Grants Pass, a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, raises the question of whether homelessness can be criminalized. Ashley Meehan, a doctoral student at Johns Hopkins, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the public health dimensions of this issue. They discuss her research looking into what happens to people after encampment sweeps and what policies would benefit not only people experiencing homelessness but their communities and cities as well. Listen to our previous episode on this

May 13, 2024 • 10:31

757 - How to Prevent Dengue or “Break-Bone Fever”

757 - How to Prevent Dengue or “Break-Bone Fever”

Dengue, or “break-bone fever”—a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can cause serious fever, rash, muscle and joint pain and even problems with bleeding and shock—is surging around the world and popping up in new places like the U.S. Vaccine expert Anna Durbin returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about these trends and the general status of vaccines, treatments, and prevention. Learn more: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/what-is-dengue-fever

May 10, 2024 • 16:15

756 - Electronic Cigarettes Part 2: How Serious are the Health Risks Associated with E-cigs?

756 - Electronic Cigarettes Part 2: How Serious are the Health Risks Associated with E-cigs?

More than a decade after electronic cigarettes became broadly available in the United States, their merits are still being debated. Do these products help people quit smoking? How serious are the health risks associated with these products? In a two-part series, we hear from two researchers in tobacco control about their views. In part two, Stan Glantz, the Truth Initiative Distinguished Professor of Tobacco Control at the University of California San Francisco talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein abo

May 8, 2024 • 28:07

755 - Electronic Cigarettes Part 1: Do E-cigs Help People Quit Smoking?

755 - Electronic Cigarettes Part 1: Do E-cigs Help People Quit Smoking?

More than a decade after electronic cigarettes became broadly available in the United States, their merits are still being debated. Do these products help people quit smoking? How serious are the health risks associated with these products? In a two-part series, we hear from two researchers in tobacco control about their views. In part one, Dr. Nancy Rigotti, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. Read h

May 6, 2024 • 16:44

BONUS - An Update on Bird Flu in the U.S.

BONUS - An Update on Bird Flu in the U.S.

Virologist Dr. Andy Pekosz and public health veterinary expert Dr. Meghan Davis return to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about what we’ve learned so far from viral sequencing of H5N1, its presence in milk, what we know about infections in humans, the status of the overall response to a major pathogen of concern on the heels of COVID-19, and more. Read Dr. Davis’s recent New York Times essay on protecting the dairy workforce here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/01/opinion/bird-flu-dai

May 6, 2024 • 18:59

754 - A Public Health Emergency: Syphilis Surges in the Great Plains Region

754 - A Public Health Emergency: Syphilis Surges in the Great Plains Region

An alarming and dangerous syphilis surge across the Great Plains Region, an area spanning North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa, has prompted tribal officials to urge HHS Secretary to declare a public health emergency. Dr. Meghan Curry O’Connell, chief public health officer at the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board and a member of the Cherokee Nation, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about the outbreak and why public health officials are struggling to respond. Learn more: https://w

May 3, 2024 • 17:58

753 - The Health Care Crisis At the U.S.-Mexico Border Part 2: Border Walls and Traumatic Brain and Spinal Injuries

753 - The Health Care Crisis At the U.S.-Mexico Border Part 2: Border Walls and Traumatic Brain and Spinal Injuries

In part two of a two-part series about the crisis of health care for immigrants and refugees at the U.S.-Mexico border, Dr. Alexander Tenorio, a neurosurgical resident at the University of California, San Diego, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the influx of traumatic brain and spinal injuries his team has seen from people attempting to climb the border wall. They discuss the scope of the problem and the policies behind it, and why it often takes hours for victims to get critical care. They

May 1, 2024 • 19:35

752 - The Health Care Crisis At the U.S.-Mexico Border Part 1: Children and Families

752 - The Health Care Crisis At the U.S.-Mexico Border Part 1: Children and Families

In part one of a two-part series about the crisis of health care for immigrants and refugees at the U.S.-Mexico border, Dr. Janine Young, a pediatrician at the University of California, San Diego, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the tenuous situation for children and families. More and more people are showing up at the border in poor health—dehydrated, malnourished, some severely injured and many traumatized—without any adequate care to meet them. They talk about the immigration policies that

Apr 29, 2024 • 13:50

751 - The New Federal Regulations Aimed Making Methadone More Accessible—And Less Stigmatizing

751 - The New Federal Regulations Aimed Making Methadone More Accessible—And Less Stigmatizing

Methadone is a highly effective treatment for substance use disorder but strict regulations like daily clinic visits have led to its nickname, “liquid handcuffs.” Dr. Yngvild Olsen, director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services administration, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about new federal regulations that expand access to this life saving medication.  They talk about how the COVID era showed that changes can make methadone much easier

Apr 26, 2024 • 17:11

750 - World Malaria Day: From Lab to Legislature—Meet the Scientists Taking on Capitol Hill in the Fight Against Malaria

750 - World Malaria Day: From Lab to Legislature—Meet the Scientists Taking on Capitol Hill in the Fight Against Malaria

World Malaria Day is April 25. Today, guest host Thomas Locke takes us to Capitol Hill where we meet malaria scientists who have joined an advocacy group to lobby members of Congress to fund critical interventions against malaria. They talk about their work and what scientific messages they bring to DC to impart on policy makers who play a major role in efforts to combat this preventable and deadly disease. This special episode is an extended version of Malaria Minute, a podcast from the Johns H

Apr 24, 2024 • 14:18

749 - Planetary Health: Thinking About The Earth Crisis As A Humanitarian Crisis

749 - Planetary Health: Thinking About The Earth Crisis As A Humanitarian Crisis

Humans are transforming, degrading, and altering Earth’s natural life support systems so profoundly that our actions have created an existential crisis. For Earth Day, Sam Myers, founding director of the Planetary Health Alliance and director of the brand new Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the concept of planetary health, an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how the state of the earth affects the health of us all. Learn more: http://P

Apr 22, 2024 • 18:09

748 - Studying Sewage to Fight Infectious Diseases: An Update From The Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at the CDC

748 - Studying Sewage to Fight Infectious Diseases: An Update From The Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at the CDC

The presence of infectious diseases can be picked up through wastewater surveillance but how can this data be useful in predicting future outbreaks? Dr. Dylan George, director of the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at the CDC, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how the Center’s forecast for the 2023-2024 respiratory virus season performed and the role of wastewater surveillance as part of a multifaceted approach to aggregating data. Resources from this episode: https://johnshopk

Apr 19, 2024 • 22:51

747 - The Lack of Research Around Type 1 Diabetes

747 - The Lack of Research Around Type 1 Diabetes

There’s a lot of research around Type 2 diabetes that has informed patient care when it comes to diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle management. But much less is known about Type 1, long mislabeled “childhood diabetes.” Johns Hopkins epidemiologists Elizabeth Selvin and Michael Fang talk with Stephanie Desmon about new research debunking a lot of previously held assumptions about Type 1 diabetes, the prevalence of adult onset and correlation with obesity, and why different approaches to diagnosi

Apr 17, 2024 • 17:12

746 - Why Cigarettes Are So Bad for the Environment

746 - Why Cigarettes Are So Bad for the Environment

Cigarette butts are the most littered object in the world. With their plastic filters and toxic substances, they are a significant source of contamination for soil and water. Grazi Grilo, a researcher at the Global Institute for Tobacco Control, talks with Stephanie Desmon about her work quantifying the scope of the problem, and why some of the very things that make cigarettes so environmentally hazardous also provide enormous benefits for the tobacco industry.Read more about her work here: http

Apr 15, 2024 • 15:17

745 - A Conversation With Dr. Antonia Novello, Former Surgeon General

745 - A Conversation With Dr. Antonia Novello, Former Surgeon General

Dr. Antonia Novella served as the 14th Surgeon General under President George H.W. Bush from 1989 - 1993. She is the first female and first Hispanic Surgeon General in U.S. history. Dr. Novella talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about her life and career, from being born with a rare condition called Hirschsprung’s disease to her childhood in Puerto Rico and her notable career in medicine and public health. She also discusses facing prejudice, staring down Big Tobacco, and even buying support hose fo

Apr 12, 2024 • 26:01

744 - The Power of Positive Childhood Experiences

744 - The Power of Positive Childhood Experiences

Much research has been dedicated to the long-lasting negative impacts of adverse childhood experiences—far less has focused on the powerful effects of positive experiences. Dr. Melissa Walls, co-director of the Center for Indigenous Health and a member of the Bois Forte and Couchiching First Nation bands, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about her research with benevolent childhood experiences among Indigenous communities. They discuss the importance of researching the positive, not only for publ

Apr 10, 2024 • 13:01

BONUS - Coping With The Psychological Aftermath of The Collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore

BONUS - Coping With The Psychological Aftermath of The Collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore

On March 26, Baltimore’s iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge was hit by a cargo ship and collapsed, killing six people. Since then, many have found themselves watching endless loops of the video and ongoing coverage, and some are feeling symptoms of anxiety or even intense fear. Dr. George Everly, a Johns Hopkins psychologist, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the phenomenon of “psychological contagion” and how something so rare but so spectacular can suddenly make us question our sense of safety. T

Apr 9, 2024 • 15:23

743 - What You Need to Know About H5N1, The Bird Flu Spilling Over Into Mammals

743 - What You Need to Know About H5N1, The Bird Flu Spilling Over Into Mammals

Recent reports of spillover of avian virus H5N1 into cows, cats, and even one human are concerning to the scientific community for a number of reasons. But what does the public need to know? Virologist Dr. Andy Pekosz and public health veterinary expert Dr. Meghan Davis return to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about these spillovers events and what they mean for biosecurity and our safety.

Apr 8, 2024 • 16:08

742 - What You Need To Know About PFAS, Or “Forever Chemicals

742 - What You Need To Know About PFAS, Or “Forever Chemicals

Per- and polyfluorinated substances are in all kinds of products from waterproof makeup to fire retardants. Dr. Ned Calonge, co-author of a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, talks with Stephanie Desmon about these “forever chemicals” and what is known about their impact on health, who is most at risk, and what people should do if they have high levels of exposure. Read the report here: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26156/guidance-on-pfas-ex

Apr 5, 2024 • 16:21

741 - Xolair: The First Drug For Severe Food Allergies

741 - Xolair: The First Drug For Severe Food Allergies

Xolair is the first FDA-approved therapy to prevent severe and potentially life-threatening reactions in adults and children who are allergic to dairy, eggs, wheat, nuts and other foods. Dr. Robert Wood, the director of pediatric allergy and immunology at Johns Hopkins, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about this drug that has the potential to make life a little easier for patients and parents of children with severe allergies.

Apr 3, 2024 • 10:52

740 - The Forgotten Youths Who Are Caregivers For Their Families

740 - The Forgotten Youths Who Are Caregivers For Their Families

A hidden population of children serve as caregivers for family members who are chronically ill, elderly, disabled or injured. Left out of the systems that support adult caregivers, these youths often sacrifice their education, health, well-being, and childhoods. Connie Siskowski, founder and president of the American Association of Caregiving Youth, and Dr. Julie Belkowitz, a pediatrician at the University of Miami School of Medicine talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about these young people and the

Apr 1, 2024 • 14:21

739 - How an 1882 Play, The Enemy of the People, is Helping Communities Heal from the Trauma of COVID-19

739 - How an 1882 Play, The Enemy of the People, is Helping Communities Heal from the Trauma of COVID-19

How can a play about rural Norway in 1882 help us process the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic? That's the question posed by Theater of War Productions, which is hosting readings of The Enemy of the People, by Henrik Ibsen—and then is leading intense community conversations immediately following the productions. Bryan Doerries, artistic director of Theater of War Productions, speaks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how this old Norwegian play speaks to the trauma experienced by the public health fiel

Mar 29, 2024 • 20:51

738 - Why Syphilis Is On the Rise

738 - Why Syphilis Is On the Rise

Despite a national plan to eliminate syphilis by 2010, the sexually transmitted infection has reached the highest rates since the 1950s. Dr. Khalil Ghanem, a researcher of sexually transmitted infections at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, talks with Stephanie Desmon about syphilis infections and the disease course, and why rates are so high not just in the US but around the world. Learn more: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/why-is-syphilis-spiking-in-the-us

Mar 27, 2024 • 21:21

737 - Secretary Xavier Becerra on the 14th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

737 - Secretary Xavier Becerra on the 14th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

The 2010 passage of the Affordable Care Act marked a major change in health insurance coverage and care for millions of Americans. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra talks with Stephanie Desmon about the remarkable changes “Obamacare” has brought about, why it’s important for all Americans not to take these for granted, and the next set of challenges in mending a health care system that’s still too focused on treatment of complications, not prevention.

Mar 25, 2024 • 15:41

736 - World Water Day: How Water Can Be a Powerful Force to Bring People Together

736 - World Water Day: How Water Can Be a Powerful Force to Bring People Together

More than 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and more than 3 billion are living without safe sanitation systems. For World Water Day, Ken Conca, a professor of international relations at the School of International Service at American University, joins the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the state of the world’s water. They discuss how some of the biggest challenges to water access and quality are political and legal, rather than technical, in nature. They also d

Mar 22, 2024 • 20:03

735 - De-medicalizing Menopause

735 - De-medicalizing Menopause

Menopause: inevitable, stigmatized, mysterious, and bringing a broad range of symptoms and experiences. Dr. Martha Hickey, a menopause researcher at the University of Melbourne, talks with Stephanie Desmon about a new Lancet series on menopause. They discuss how ageism and sexism come into play, the vast array of experiences women may have, and how individual circumstances can impact symptoms. They also talk about why it’s time to stop referring to menopause as a medical disorder and think more

Mar 20, 2024 • 15:21

734 - How Hospital Infection Control Has Changed Since COVID

734 - How Hospital Infection Control Has Changed Since COVID

Four years after the early days of the pandemic, how are hospitals thinking about infection control, how much has changed, and to what degree have things returned to “normal”? Dr. Lisa Maragakis, the head of infection control at Johns Hopkins Hospital, returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about this “post-pandemic phase” and why health care has not fully recovered from pandemic disruptions.

Mar 18, 2024 • 16:10

733 - Projections of Excess Deaths in Gaza Over the Next Six Months

733 - Projections of Excess Deaths in Gaza Over the Next Six Months

A new report models projections of the human costs of conflict in Gaza over the next six months across several scenarios. Paul Spiegel, director of the Center for Humanitarian Health, and Tak Igusa, professor of Civil and Systems Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the project they developed with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. See the full report here: https://gaza-projections.org/

Mar 15, 2024 • 13:56

BONUS - How "Illiberal" Is Public Health?

BONUS - How "Illiberal" Is Public Health?

In his new book Within Reason: A Liberal Public Health for an Illiberal Time, Dean Sandro Galea of the Boston University School of Public Health challenges closed-mindedness and invective in public health.  In this special, extended bonus episode, Dr. Galea and his friend and colleague Dr. Josh Sharfstein discuss—and debate—the fairness of his critique.

Mar 14, 2024 • 31:39

732 - Bringing Back Condoms to Prevent HIV

732 - Bringing Back Condoms to Prevent HIV

Condoms were once an essential part of the public health toolkit to fight HIV and STIs. But over the last decade, and coinciding with the rise of medication that prevents HIV infection, condom use among men who have sex with men has declined. Steve Goodreau, an expert in mathematical modeling and HIV and STIs at the University of Washington, talks with Stephanie Desmon about his research on declining condom use and why public health should be doing more to tout the advantages of what was once on

Mar 13, 2024 • 13:41

731 - A Playbook for Addressing Health Misinformation

731 - A Playbook for Addressing Health Misinformation

Health misinformation is rampant—online and through rumors—but there are steps people can take to help stamp them out. Aishwarya Nagar and Tara Kirk Sell from the Center for Health Security are co-authors of a new playbook aimed at helping public health practitioners, medical professionals, and health communicators recognize and respond to health-related rumors and misinformation. They talk through some specific tactics with Lindsay Smith Rogers and also discuss how we can all help improve our o

Mar 11, 2024 • 15:29

730 - Women’s History Month: A Conversation With Sue Baker, the “Mother of Injury Prevention”

730 - Women’s History Month: A Conversation With Sue Baker, the “Mother of Injury Prevention”

When Sue Baker started her research career in the 1960s, there was no field devoted to injury prevention despite accidents being a leading cause of death in the US. In honor of Women’s History Month, Stephanie Desmon talks with injury prevention pioneer Baker about her half century of research looking at everything from aviation safety to hot dog choking deaths, and her hands-on approach to research which included getting her pilot’s license, working in a medical examiner’s office, and driving a

Mar 8, 2024 • 17:21

BONUS - COVID-19 Updated: The CDC’s New Isolation Guidelines, Vaccines For People Over 65, and New Variants

BONUS - COVID-19 Updated: The CDC’s New Isolation Guidelines, Vaccines For People Over 65, and New Variants

The CDC announced new isolation guidelines last week that bring COVID-19 in line with recommendations for other viral respiratory diseases. Virologist Dr. Andy Pekosz returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about what this means in the contexts of vaccines, variants, and protecting the most vulnerable.

Mar 6, 2024 • 16:29

729 - Hidden Food Insecurity: The Adolescents Who Aren’t Getting Enough to Eat

729 - Hidden Food Insecurity: The Adolescents Who Aren’t Getting Enough to Eat

Food insecurity uniquely impacts youth ages 14-18 but it’s largely a hidden problem. Kristen Mmari, an adolescent health researcher at Johns Hopkins, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about the long-term impacts being hungry can have on young people and why most programs aimed at relieving food insecurity don’t help this age group. They also discuss false claims that nutrition assistance programs contribute to childhood obesity. Learn more: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2

Mar 6, 2024 • 16:22

728 - Methadone Access for Incarcerated Pregnant People

728 - Methadone Access for Incarcerated Pregnant People

Opioid use disorder is a major contributor to maternal mortality in the US. The gold standard of care is medication like methadone, but for incarcerated pregnant people, treatment can be difficult to access and highly stigmatized. Johns Hopkins obgyn and reproductive health researcher Dr. Carolyn Sufrin and Bloomberg Fellow Camille Kramer talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers about their new study that shows not only just how difficult OUD medication is to access behind bars for anyone, let alone pregn

Mar 4, 2024 • 15:21

727 - What The Conviction of a Parent of a High School Shooter Could Mean

727 - What The Conviction of a Parent of a High School Shooter Could Mean

The manslaughter conviction of Jennifer Crumbley, whose son shot and killed four students at his school, is unprecedented. But will it be a watershed moment for gun violence in schools? Tim Carey, law and policy advisor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the unique facts of this case, larger implications, and why Child Access Prevention laws are an important part of the conversation. Please note that since this podcast was recorded, a man in

Mar 1, 2024 • 17:01

726 - Substandard and Fake Drugs

726 - Substandard and Fake Drugs

Imagine going to the pharmacy to buy a needed medicine and then finding out you purchased a falsified product that was, at best, ineffective, but at worst contained something toxic or deadly? This is the unfortunate reality in many places worldwide. Dr. Murray Lumpkin, who leads global regulatory systems for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about the substantial problem of substandard and falsified drugs, and what the world’s watchdog systems are trying to do

Feb 28, 2024 • 21:25

BONUS: The Alabama Supreme Court’s Ruling on Frozen Embryos

BONUS: The Alabama Supreme Court’s Ruling on Frozen Embryos

The Alabama Supreme Court issued an extraordinary ruling on February 16 that embryos that are the result of in vitro fertilization are “children.” Public health law expert Joanne Rosen returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the case and its implications for IVF, how it connects to the larger context of post-Roe litigation, and what’s at stake as anti-abortion sentiment crashes up against medical technology designed to facilitate pregnancies.

Feb 27, 2024 • 18:49

725 - “An Unforgiving Virus” Measles Hits the U.S.

725 - “An Unforgiving Virus” Measles Hits the U.S.

Measles outbreaks can quickly spread like wildfire. Vaccination expert Dr. Saad Omer returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the threat posed by this highly contagious and potentially lethal virus – especially when communities let their guard down. They discuss the situation in Florida, misinformation spreading on social media, and what's needed to minimize the threat.

Feb 26, 2024 • 16:27

724 - Social Media and Adolescent Health

724 - Social Media and Adolescent Health

What's the state of the evidence on the impact of social media on the mental health of adolescents? Dr. Ceren Budak, a computational social scientist at the University of Michigan, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about a new report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. The report finds a gaping need for more evidence – and for participation by social media companies in supporting research. They discuss recommendations for caregivers, Congress, and social media compani

Feb 23, 2024 • 22:37

723 - The White House’s Initiative to Eliminate Hepatitis C

723 - The White House’s Initiative to Eliminate Hepatitis C

Deadly hepatitis C is curable, but 2.5 million Americans remain infected without treatment. Dr. Francis Collins, longtime director of the National Institutes of Health, is now serving as a special advisor to Present Biden for an effort to eliminate hepatitis C in the US. He speaks with Stephanie Desmon about why hepatitis C has been so tricky to diagnose and treat and what it will take to launch a coordinated effort to cure every American living with the disease.

Feb 21, 2024 • 15:12

722 - Healing City Baltimore: How A City Is Responding to A Mental Health Crisis

722 - Healing City Baltimore: How A City Is Responding to A Mental Health Crisis

From a 2019 school shooting in West Baltimore, Healing City Baltimore was born. The program aims to help city agencies train their employees, reform stigmatizing policies, and build new response programs—all with a goal of helping to improve mental health and well-being. Councilman Zeke Cohen and executive director Reverend Kim Lagree talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about this initiative, which recently won the Culture of Health prize from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and is now a model for

Feb 19, 2024 • 20:53

721 - Preventing Alcohol Misuse, Use Disorders, and Deaths

721 - Preventing Alcohol Misuse, Use Disorders, and Deaths

Alcohol use is the fourth leading cause of death in the US, but there are evidence-based approaches to preventing alcohol misuse and deaths and treating use disorders. Dr. Cara Poland, an addiction medicine specialist at Michigan State University, talks with Stephanie Desmon about excise taxes, evidence of the harms of alcohol, and her personal connection to the topic. They also discuss the differences between misuse and disorders and challenging false notions around alcohol’s health protective

Feb 16, 2024 • 16:31

720 - Medical Diagnostic Errors Are a Public Health Emergency

720 - Medical Diagnostic Errors Are a Public Health Emergency

Missed diagnoses account for 800,000 deaths or permanent disabilities among Americans every year. Johns Hopkins neurologist Dr. David Newman-Toker talks with Stephanie Desmon about the consequences of missed opportunities and diagnoses, especially for vascular events, infections, and cancers. They also discuss why solutions are complex and will require major efforts in terms of research and resources.

Feb 14, 2024 • 17:03

719 - The Two Major Abortion Cases Coming to the Supreme Court

719 - The Two Major Abortion Cases Coming to the Supreme Court

In the Dobbs decision, the SCOTUS majority hoped to return legal issues around abortion back to the states. But since overturning Roe v. Wade, a flurry of litigation has now put two consequential cases before the Supreme Court. Public health law expert Joanne Rosen talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about these two cases and the wide-ranging impacts they could have. They also discuss why abortion health care, largely an issue governed by individual states, keeps finding its way back into conversatio

Feb 12, 2024 • 19:56

718 - Why So Many Babies Didn’t Get RSV Vaccines This Winter

718 - Why So Many Babies Didn’t Get RSV Vaccines This Winter

When the FDA approved an RSV vaccine for infants in July of 2023, parents and pediatricians rejoiced. But product shortages and a patchwork of insurance coverage throttled the rollout, leaving many babies still unprotected this winter. Pediatrician and Internist Dr. Wendie Grader-Beck talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about her frustrations around implementation, and what needs to be done before the next RSV season for this lifesaving technology to fulfill its promise.

Feb 9, 2024 • 20:11

717 - An Update on Efforts to Prevent Tobacco-Related Causes of Death

717 - An Update on Efforts to Prevent Tobacco-Related Causes of Death

Thanks to policies like tobacco taxes, clean indoor air acts, and legislation to ban flavor additives, tobacco use is declining around the globe. But there’s still an enormous burden of death and disease from smoking, and rates of use are still particularly concerning among key groups like youths and Black Americans. Joanna Cohen, director of the Institute for Global Tobacco Control, talks with Stephanie Desmon about where the US stands on major policies like banning menthol, how New Zealand’s e

Feb 7, 2024 • 12:51

716 - The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

716 - The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

Tuesday, February 6 is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. Dr. Michele Decker, founding director of Johns Hopkins Center for Global Women’s Health and Gender Equity, and Dr. Nicole Warren, a nurse and an expert on the harmful practice of female genital cutting talk with Stephanie Desmon about the practice and its cultural roots, challenging long-standing cultural norms, and why this year’s Day of Zero Tolerance puts an emphasis on how collective action

Feb 5, 2024 • 18:17

715 - An Update on COVID Research with Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist

715 - An Update on COVID Research with Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist

How are updated COVID vaccines performing against severe and long COVID? What have we learned about COVID transmission that could help people calculate their risk in certain situations? Do we know more about when people might be most infectious? What’s the latest evidence on seasonality? And do we have any new answers about long COVID? Katelyn Jetalina, aka Your Local Epidemiologist, returns to the podcast to talk about what’s new in COVID research. Learn more here: https://yourlocalepidemiologi

Feb 2, 2024 • 18:01

BONUS - Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War

BONUS - Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War

Professor Nancy Glass of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing studies violence against women and girls in humanitarian settings and conflicts around the world. She speaks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about key themes from this difficult work and how they apply to reports of the rape, mutilation, and murder of Israeli women and girls during the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. They also discuss what comes next for survivors. *Please note: This podcast was recorded several weeks ago. Earlier this week

Feb 1, 2024 • 17:12

714 - The Risks of Psychotic Symptoms With Cannabis Use in Younger People

714 - The Risks of Psychotic Symptoms With Cannabis Use in Younger People

With more widespread use of cannabis has come an uptick of reports of related psychotic symptoms, especially among youths and young adults. Dr. David Wolinsky, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins, talks with Stephanie Desmon about cannabis and the risk of psychosis and what is known (and not known) about how cannabinoids interact with our bodies. They also discuss who might be most at risk and some takeaways people can consider about cannabis use when the field of research is still so lacking about

Jan 31, 2024 • 16:15

713 - The Disappointment of COP28

713 - The Disappointment of COP28

More than 85,000 participants attended the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai, better known COP28, which ended in December. The big news: a call to governments to speed the transition away from fossil fuels. Susan Joy Hassol, author and climate change communicator, tells Stephanie Desmon that the final agreement is a hollow disappointment misaligned with the urgency of the climate crisis. They discuss the “minefield” of the growing climate em

Jan 29, 2024 • 15:26

712 - All About Ketamine

712 - All About Ketamine

Ketamine prescriptions for chronic pain and mental health are increasing, but what is known about the safety and effectiveness for off-label use? And how are doctors prescribing a drug approved as an anesthetic in clinical settings for outpatient use? Dr. Caleb Alexander returns to the podcast to talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers all about ketamine.

Jan 26, 2024 • 19:42

711 - The State of Rural Health

711 - The State of Rural Health

Rural communities have unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to health. Cara James, president and CEO of Grantmakers in Health, a philanthropic organization that supports rural health foundations, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about some of the unique facets of small communities including economic disparities and struggling health care systems. They also discuss addressing misinformation and the role that foundations can play in connecting people with much-needed services.

Jan 24, 2024 • 16:23

710 - Tradeoffs—Can the U.S. Put an End to Surprise Ambulance Bills?

710 - Tradeoffs—Can the U.S. Put an End to Surprise Ambulance Bills?

Congress banned most surprise medical bills back in 2020, with one major exception: ambulance rides. Can lawmakers find a fix? Guest host Dan Gorenstein of the Tradeoffs podcast investigates. Learn more: https://tradeoffs.org/2023/11/09/surprise-ambulance-bills/

Jan 22, 2024 • 33:46

709 - Discrimination Against Patients With Substance Use Disorder in Health Care Settings

709 - Discrimination Against Patients With Substance Use Disorder in Health Care Settings

Substance use disorder is recognized as a disability and therefore protected under antidiscrimination laws. But stigma persists, even in health care settings where people who use substances may be denied necessary care. Rebekah Joab, senior staff attorney at the Legal Action Center, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about LAC’s litigation and advocacy efforts to combat SUD-based discrimination and the details of a major lawsuit against a hospital that allegedly denied critical care to a patient. L

Jan 19, 2024 • 15:41

708 - Invasive Anopheles stephensi Could Redefine the Epidemiology of Malaria in Africa

708 - Invasive Anopheles stephensi Could Redefine the Epidemiology of Malaria in Africa

Anopheles stephensi, a species of mosquito native to Southeast Asia, is finding its way to Africa. Unlike Anopheles gambiae, the species native to Africa, Anopheles stephensi can breed in tiny amounts of water year-round and has made a comfortable home in urban areas. It’s also a remarkably adept spreader of malaria in places and to extents not normally seen in places across the continent. In an extended episode of Malaria Minute, a podcast from the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, gues

Jan 17, 2024 • 14:19

707 - ‘playing god?’ - A Bioethics Podcast

707 - ‘playing god?’ - A Bioethics Podcast

Just because we can do something medically, should we? A new podcast from the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics explores some unintended consequences of advancing technology and medicine. Bioethicist and playing god? producer Jeff Kahn talks with Stephanie Desmon about the podcast and some of the topics they cover, including ethics around buying and selling organs, fertility, and more. Learn more: https://bioethics.jhu.edu/research-and-outreach/the-dracopoulos-bloomberg-bioethics-ideas

Jan 12, 2024 • 17:49

706 - What Happens To Our Skin in Winter?

706 - What Happens To Our Skin in Winter?

Are you one of the millions of people who experience dry skin and itchiness when the weather becomes colder? Dermatologist Dr. Shafat Hassan talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what happens to our skin in the wintertime and how we can take care to reduce redness, chapping, and other dermatological issues. Spoiler alert: It's also important to apply sunscreen, even on blustery, cold days.

Jan 10, 2024 • 17:46

705 - Psychological Autopsies To Prevent Suicides

705 - Psychological Autopsies To Prevent Suicides

Known risk factors for suicide, such as gender and race, are too general to pinpoint who might be in imminent danger. Johns Hopkins psychiatrist Dr. Paul Nestadt talks with Stephanie Desmon about “psychological autopsies,” or investigations of suicides to better understand who is at risk—and where there might be opportunities for interventions. Learn more: https://magazine.jhsph.edu/2023/looking-for-why Please note that this podcast contains mentions of self-harm and suicide. If you or someone y

Jan 8, 2024 • 16:51

704 - Preventing Armed Insurrection: Gun Policies to Protect Public Health, Safety, and Democracy

704 - Preventing Armed Insurrection: Gun Policies to Protect Public Health, Safety, and Democracy

An increased prevalence of firearms and a lack of public denouncement of violence are escalating the risks of violence in places critical to political participation. Tim Carey,  law and policy advisor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, talks with Stephanie Desmon about a new report from the Center that lays out gun policy and communication recommendations to ensure that the places in which democracy plays out—legislatures, election offices, public demonstrations and more—rem

Jan 5, 2024 • 16:23

BONUS - The Humanitarian Response in Gaza

BONUS - The Humanitarian Response in Gaza

Dr. Paul Spiegel, a physician, epidemiologist and the director of the Center for Humanitarian Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has worked in humanitarian emergencies for the last 30 years. In a bonus episode, Dr. Spiegel talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about his recent deployment to Cairo, Egypt as a strategic advisor to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the health response in Gaza.

Jan 4, 2024 • 27:09

703 - Living Healthier and Longer in New York City

703 - Living Healthier and Longer in New York City

Since 2020, New Yorkers have lost around 4.6 years of overall life expectancy—and up to 5.5 years for Black and 6 for Latino residents. NYC’s Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about Healthy NYC, an initiative building on the momentum of the pandemic to claw back these losses and improve the overall health of the population. They discuss the goals of the initiative, how success is measured, and specific tactics to address some of the greatest threats to health and li

Jan 3, 2024 • 17:51

702 - Backstage at Public Health On Call: 2023 Year in Review with Dr. Josh Sharfstein, Stephanie Desmon, and Lindsay Smith Rogers

702 - Backstage at Public Health On Call: 2023 Year in Review with Dr. Josh Sharfstein, Stephanie Desmon, and Lindsay Smith Rogers

In the last episode of 2023, Lindsay Smith Rogers talks with co-hosts Dr. Josh Sharfstein and Stephanie Desmon about 2023. This year saw a rise in non-COVID topics, including Supreme Court cases, malaria, RSV, antitrans health legislation, climate emergencies, artificial intelligence, and more. They also talk about what topics they’re thinking about for 2024. Learn more about another one of our projects, the Expert Insights newsletter: http://publichealth.jhu.edu/subscribe

Dec 20, 2023 • 17:29

701 - An Outbreak of a Microscopic Parasite in Baltimore's Water Supply

701 - An Outbreak of a Microscopic Parasite in Baltimore's Water Supply

In September of this year, routine testing turned up the presence of a microscopic parasite called cryptosporidium in Baltimore’s water supply. Johns Hopkins environmental health scientist Natalie Exum returns to the podcast to speak with Lindsay Smith Rogers about what the parasite’s presence means for the larger water system, and why it’s critical to repair and replace aging infrastructure throughout the US. Note: This podcast was recorded in November. Since then, President Biden has proposed

Dec 18, 2023 • 16:49

BONUS - Human Rights and Health Care in the Middle East Crisis

BONUS - Human Rights and Health Care in the Middle East Crisis

The Geneva Convention sets out specific protections of health care in war dating back to the 1860s. Len Rubenstein, interim director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health and Human Rights and author of the book Perilous Medicine: The Struggle to Protect Health Care from the Violence of War talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the core elements of these laws and how they apply in the current conflict.

Dec 15, 2023 • 20:49

700 - The Pros, Cons, and Unknowns of Ozempic

700 - The Pros, Cons, and Unknowns of Ozempic

Medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro show lots of promise for treating obesity but scientists still don’t understand exactly how they work. There’s also a lack of data to show whether these medications are safe to take long term. Dr. Sameer Khan, a Johns Hopkins fellow in gasteroenterology, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what these medicines are and what they can do, the questions that remain, and why it’s a challenge for clinicians to prescribe them and for patients to actually

Dec 15, 2023 • 19:02

699 - An Update on the CDC’s New Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics

699 - An Update on the CDC’s New Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics

The CDC’s newest center, a “national weather service for public health threats,” is up and running! Dylan George, director of the center, returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the center’s mission, what they’re working on, and how this year’s viral respiratory season might stack up against last year’s tripledemic.

Dec 13, 2023 • 12:30

698 - Why Tuberculosis, an Ancient Disease, Remains a Public Health Threat

698 - Why Tuberculosis, an Ancient Disease, Remains a Public Health Threat

Tuberculosis is one of the oldest diseases on earth—taking more than 1 billion lives throughout history. Dr. Richard Chaisson, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Tuberculosis Research, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how TB continues to be a significant threat to global public health, what progress is being made in treatment and prevention, and why research will be needed until the day the last case is treated.

Dec 11, 2023 • 16:06

697 - The 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

697 - The 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

After two World Wars and the Holocaust, the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 was a milestone for humanity. But 75 years later, the document remains both an inspiration and a measure of failure. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the origins of the document, its role in "stating the obvious," and why the world has fallen woefully behind in upholding it. Learn more: https://research.un.org/en/udhr75

Dec 8, 2023 • 30:34

696 - Peacebuilding to Help Mend A Broken World

696 - Peacebuilding to Help Mend A Broken World

Peacebuilders work to help solve violent conflicts and rebuild societies through nonviolent means. Michael Shipler, vice president of Search for Common Ground, an international peacebuilding NGO, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the remarkable work the organization has done amidst some of the most intractable conflicts around the world. They discuss what factors drive violent conflict, the goals and processes of peacebuilding as a practice, and how everyone can adopt a peacebuilding mindset.

Dec 6, 2023 • 19:12

BONUS: What We Know—And Don’t Know—About Atypical Canine Respiratory Disease

BONUS: What We Know—And Don’t Know—About Atypical Canine Respiratory Disease

A mysterious respiratory disease is affecting dogs across the country, in some cases causing serious illness and even death. Veterinarian Dr. Meghan Davis returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about what we know and don’t know about these cases so far, and how data collection and surveillance will be key to learning more. They also discuss One Health, a public health approach bridging human, animal, and environmental health for surveillance against novel threats.

Dec 5, 2023 • 15:43

695 - The Shortage of Stimulant Medications for Kids with ADHD

695 - The Shortage of Stimulant Medications for Kids with ADHD

Stimulant medications can significantly increase the quality of life for kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Johns Hopkins psychiatrist Dr. Rheanna Platt talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how a shortage of these meds is impacting patients and their families. They discuss what’s behind the shortages and address questions about whether overuse of these drugs among adults is a contributor.

Dec 4, 2023 • 11:46

694 - World AIDS Day: Why The World’s Most Lifesaving AIDS Program is in Danger

694 - World AIDS Day: Why The World’s Most Lifesaving AIDS Program is in Danger

PEPFAR, or the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, was initiated by President Bush in 2003 is credited with saving 25 million lives over the past 20 years and remains the largest commitment to a single disease in history. But the global bipartisan program is now at the mercy of American politics. Dr. Chris Beyrer, director of the Duke Global Health Institute and a member of the scientific advisory board for PEPFAR, returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about why PEPFAR’s r

Dec 1, 2023 • 19:32

693 - DoxyPEP: A “Morning-After Pill” for STIs

693 - DoxyPEP: A “Morning-After Pill” for STIs

An alarming rise in sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, gonnorhea, and syphilis in the US calls for new prevention and treatment tactics. Dr. Matthew Hamill, a Johns Hopkins clinical researcher specializing in HIV and STIs, talks with Stephanie Desmon about DoxyPEP, or the use of antibiotic doxycycline after sexual contact. They discuss its effectiveness and availability, use in the context of antibiotic resistance, and why DoxyPEP isn’t a silver bullet in the prevention of STIs.

Nov 29, 2023 • 15:38

692 - How Migration Affects Human Health

692 - How Migration Affects Human Health

Our individual health is shaped by the environments we live in. So what does that mean for the more than 280 million people worldwide who have moved across country borders from the place of their birth? Johns Hopkins Health Policy and Management assistant professor Catherine Ettman, who recently edited the book Migration and Health, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the many factors that impact the health of migrants, including whether they’ve moved by choice or to escape conflict or natural di

Nov 27, 2023 • 15:52

691 - Maryland’s Public Defender Works to Keep Young People Out of Trouble

691 - Maryland’s Public Defender Works to Keep Young People Out of Trouble

As Maryland’s Public Defender, Natasha Dartigue’s office sees 90% of criminal cases in the state. In addition to the mission of representing individuals with criminal charges, there are new efforts underway to keep young people from getting into trouble in the first place. She speaks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the office’s new outreach and collaborations to close critical gaps for families and help young people thrive.

Nov 22, 2023 • 12:01

690 - A Conversation With Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams

690 - A Conversation With Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams

Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams talks about his new book, “Crisis and Chaos, Lessons From the Front Lines in the War Against COVID-19" with Dr. Josh Sharfstein. On the topic list: his compelling personal story, the “emotionally jarring” experience of leading during a highly politicized pandemic, and his efforts to advocate for health as a bipartisan priority.

Nov 20, 2023 • 27:53

689 - Do Overdose Prevention Sites Make Their Communities Less Safe?

689 - Do Overdose Prevention Sites Make Their Communities Less Safe?

Overdose prevention sites—places where people can use illicit drugs under supervision—are extremely controversial and many cities are opposed to them because of the belief that they’ll invite disorder and crime to the communities where they’re operating. Dr. Brandon del Pozo, assistant professor of medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about a new study that put this question to the test and what they observed in the areas around two OPCs in New Yo

Nov 17, 2023 • 10:27

688 - Red Flag Laws, Maine’s “Yellow Flag” Law, and Preventing Gun Violence Through Policy

688 - Red Flag Laws, Maine’s “Yellow Flag” Law, and Preventing Gun Violence Through Policy

In the wake of last month’s Lewiston shootings in Maine, the state’s “yellow flag” law has come under scrutiny. Josh Horwitz of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions talks with Stephanie Desmon about red flag laws, or Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and why Maine’s hybrid approach is so ineffective. They also discuss the constitutionality of red flag laws and a number of other effective policies that can help prevent all kinds of gun violence.

Nov 15, 2023 • 15:31

687 - Two New RSV Products to Protect Infants

687 - Two New RSV Products to Protect Infants

RSV—respiratory syncytial virus—is a common infection that causes cold-like symptoms but can become very severe in young children and is the leading cause of hospitalization for babies under 1. Dr. Ruth Karron, director of the Johns Hopkins Vaccine Initiative, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about two new products, a vaccine for pregnant people and an antibody treatment for babies, that could substantially lower the rates of severe infections among children. However, the rollout has been slow and

Nov 13, 2023 • 16:27

686 - Some Practical Tips For Coping With Grief During the Holidays

686 - Some Practical Tips For Coping With Grief During the Holidays

The holiday season can be intense for anyone, but especially those who are living with grief—whether it’s recent or decades old. Eleanor Haley, who has a master’s in counseling psychology, and Leetsa Wiliams, a clinical social worker, are co-founders of What’s Your Grief, an online community for grieving people and grief support professionals. They talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers about ways to approach celebrations or rituals, the importance of communication with loved ones, and the need to make

Nov 10, 2023 • 23:40

685 - Still in Court: COVID Vaccine Mandates

685 - Still in Court: COVID Vaccine Mandates

Many lawsuits against employers for requiring COVID-19 vaccines remain in U.S. courts. Dawn Solowey, a partner in the labor and employment practice of Seyfarth Shaw, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about these court cases, the rise in public discourse around religious and medical exemptions, and implications for other workplace issues like diversity training and protections for LGBTQ individuals.

Nov 8, 2023 • 15:44

684 - From Contraception to COVID to Climate Action, The Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs Has Inspired Healthy Behaviors Worldwide for 35 Years

684 - From Contraception to COVID to Climate Action, The Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs Has Inspired Healthy Behaviors Worldwide for 35 Years

The Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs was established to develop and research creative ways to boost the use of modern family planning around the world. Today, as the center marks its 35th birthday, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein speaks to CCP’s new executive director Debora Freitas Lopez about the program’s continued mission to inspire and enable people around the world to make healthy choices about everything from contraception to COVID-19 to climate action.

Nov 6, 2023 • 18:55

683 - In the West Wing With Dr. Ashish Jha, Former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator

683 - In the West Wing With Dr. Ashish Jha, Former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator

Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator under President Biden, helped the country move out of the acute phase of the pandemic—and learned a lot in the process. Dr. Jha talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what surprised and disappointed him during his federal experience, what it was like to feel responsible for the health of 300+ million people, and why he’s concerned about respiratory virus season this year, and every year. Plus: listen to the end to hear a little histo

Nov 3, 2023 • 18:35

682 - The Surprising Benefits of Narrower Traffic Lanes

682 - The Surprising Benefits of Narrower Traffic Lanes

The U.S. is home to some of the widest streets and driving lanes in the world—and that's not something to brag about. Shima Hamidi, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Climate-Smart Transportation, talks with Stephanie Desmon about a new report from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative that challenges the notion that wider lanes are safer. They also discuss how altering roads could not only help with safety, but our physical health and climate change adaptations. Learn more here: http:/

Nov 1, 2023 • 14:01

681 - All About Ringworm

681 - All About Ringworm

Ringworm, athletes foot, and jock itch are all names for a fungal infection of our skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologist Dr. Avrom Caplan talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about tinea, the actual name of the infection, and how people can get it, how it’s treated, and why there are global concerns about new strains that may be much harder to treat.

Oct 30, 2023 • 14:01

680 - How Genomics is Helping Scientists to Understand Why There Is Local Malaria Transmission in the U.S.

680 - How Genomics is Helping Scientists to Understand Why There Is Local Malaria Transmission in the U.S.

For the first time in 20 years, locally transmitted cases of malaria have been reported across three US states. Scientists are trying to piece together why and how malaria is appearing in places where it’s no longer endemic. Guest host Thomas Locke talks with Jane Carlton, the new director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, about her work decoding the genomes of the parasites that have infected individuals in Maryland to determine their lineage. They also discuss the role of climat

Oct 27, 2023 • 15:12

679 - October 28 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

679 - October 28 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is coming up, and Dr. Caleb Alexander joins the podcast to help you clean our your medicine cabinet in preparation. Dr. Alexander talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about the history behind the day and its roots in response to the opioid epidemic, what kinds of drugs and  equipment require safe disposal, where you can find a Take Back drop-off in your community on the 28th, and how to safely get rid of unused prescription drugs year round. Learn more: https:

Oct 25, 2023 • 13:09

678 - The Urgent Need to Conserve Groundwater

678 - The Urgent Need to Conserve Groundwater

Humans are using up groundwater—or water stored in naturally occurring aquifers underground—at a dangerous pace. Kellogg Schwab, the Abel Wolman professor in water and public health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about why groundwater is being depleted so quickly, what needs to happen to ensure the world doesn’t run out of this precious resource, and how water conservation could bring people together across state and country borders.

Oct 23, 2023 • 12:47

677 - Fighting For The Right to Contraception Access

677 - Fighting For The Right to Contraception Access

Opill, the over-the-counter birth control pill recently approved by the FDA, marked a major win for access to contraceptives. But, in the wake of SCOTUS’s Dobbs decision, some have called for codifying the right to contraceptive access in federal law. Dana Singiser, cofounder of the nonprofit Contraceptive Access Initiative and senior advisor to Americans For Contraception, talks with Stephanie Desmon about Opill, the overwhelming bipartisan voter support for contraception, and her work advocati

Oct 20, 2023 • 13:53

676 - Could We Genetically Modify Mosquitos to Die From the Diseases They Carry?

676 - Could We Genetically Modify Mosquitos to Die From the Diseases They Carry?

The Aedes aegypti mosquito transmits deadly viruses like Zika, chikungunya, and dengue, but doesn’t actually get sick from the diseases it carries. George Dimopoulos of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute talks with Stephanie Desmon about a new discovery of a protein, Argonaute 2, that plays a key role in the mosquito’s immune system, and how genetically modifying mosquitos could make them vulnerable to the viruses they carry. They also discuss how much of an impact killing off large nu

Oct 18, 2023 • 15:41

675 - How Phone Calls Can Help Combat Loneliness

675 - How Phone Calls Can Help Combat Loneliness

The Surgeon General issued an advisory about the epidemic of loneliness and isolation in the U.S., saying there are serious physical and mental health impacts of loneliness. Dr. Maulik Joshi, president and CEO of Meritus Health, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about Care Callers, an innovative volunteer program aimed to combat loneliness among Meritus patients. They discuss the incredible impacts these phone calls can make, and Dr. Joshi’s own experience as a Care Caller himself.

Oct 16, 2023 • 12:14

674 - An Update on Ukraine

674 - An Update on Ukraine

Just back from a trip to Kyiv, Human rights expert Len Rubenstein talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what things are like on the day to day right now. He recounts meetings with officials and health care workers, and their stories ranging from some degree of normalcy and routine health care delivery to brutal attacks on facilities and workers. They also discuss the status of war crime prosecution, the critical need for sustained international support, and the presence of an unwavering sense of

Oct 13, 2023 • 18:00

673 - Dietitian Influencers On Social Media Are Being Paid By the Food Industry to Promote Products and Messages

673 - Dietitian Influencers On Social Media Are Being Paid By the Food Industry to Promote Products and Messages

Registered dietitians with huge social media followings are getting paid to promote sugar, supplements, and other products and messages that clash with evidence-based recommendations—at times without proper disclosure. Sasha Chavkin, a reporter with The Examination, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the food industry’s stealthy tactic to exploit the power that influencers can have on social media, and how this raises questions for the ethics of professional dietitians. Read The Examination’s

Oct 11, 2023 • 18:01

672 - What Studying The Nipah Virus Can Tell Us About Investigating Spillover Events

672 - What Studying The Nipah Virus Can Tell Us About Investigating Spillover Events

Nipah virus is a lethal zoonotic disease that passes from bats to humans in what are called "spillover events." But it’s still not known for sure how outbreaks happen, which makes prevention difficult. Epidemiologist Emily Gurley, who has studied Nipah outbreaks in Bangladesh for nearly 20 years, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about her work tracking the virus’s transmission and the enormous amount of multi-disciplinary resources and complexity required to investigate spillover events.

Oct 9, 2023 • 14:10

671 - Treating Substance Use Disorders in Pregnancy—How Improper Policies Are Resulting in Child Removal

671 - Treating Substance Use Disorders in Pregnancy—How Improper Policies Are Resulting in Child Removal

Treatment for substance use disorders during pregnancy is effective, and recommended by experts in many cases. But outdated, and often misinformed, policies have led to babies being taken by child welfare agencies because their parents was on anti-addiction medication. Two Johns Hopkins experts in opioid policy, Sachini Bandara and Alex McCourt, talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers about these laws impacting pregnant people and their families, the role of child removal in the opioid epidemic, and what

Oct 6, 2023 • 16:26

670 - When Health Care Providers Don’t Listen to Their Patients

670 - When Health Care Providers Don’t Listen to Their Patients

When patients don’t feel heard by their doctors, there’s an erosion of trust that can lead to serious health consequences—even if clinicians have their patients’ best interests in mind. Dr. Mary Catherine Beach, who studies patient-provider communications, talks with Stephanie Desmon about what can happen when patients don’t feel heard, interventions to teach providers better listening skills, and how bias comes into play.

Oct 4, 2023 • 13:14

669 - How We Talk About Disability

669 - How We Talk About Disability

How we talk about disability frames the way we view the importance of access. The Accessible Stall podcast co-hosts Emily Ladau and Kyle Kachadurian talk about disability a lot in episodes covering everything from pre-peeled fruit and lingerie to health care and ableism. Today, they join the podcast to talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers about why authentic representation of disability is so critical to designing policies and spaces that serve everyone. To explore the resources recommended in this ep

Oct 2, 2023 • 0:00

668 - Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls

668 - Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls

An estimated 97,000 Black women and girls have gone missing or been murdered in the US in the last year—which represents about 40% of all missing persons. These women and girls are often viewed as criminals or runaways and not victims or survivors, which can hamstring efforts to find and support them. Dr. Tiara Willie, gender-based violence researcher, and Dr. Kamila Alexander, a nurse and trauma researcher, talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the first organized effort to focus long overdue att

Sep 29, 2023 • 20:07

667 - RxKids—Flint, Michigan’s Cash Allowances For New Parents

667 - RxKids—Flint, Michigan’s Cash Allowances For New Parents

Starting in January, 2024, every family with a new baby in Flint, Michigan will be eligible to receive cash payments for the first year of life. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician who exposed the Flint water crisis in 2014, and Luke Shaefer, Michigan public policy professor, talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how this effort came together and what it hopes to accomplish. Professor Schaefer’s new book is The Injustice of Place. Learn more at flintrxkids.com

Sep 27, 2023 • 23:57

666 - The Institute for Global Tobacco Control Turns 25

666 - The Institute for Global Tobacco Control Turns 25

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Institute for Global Tobacco Control was founded in 1998, and since then it has become a global leader in the efforts to end the tobacco epidemic. To highlight the Institute’s 25th anniversary, Joanna Cohen, director of IGTC, and founding director Jonathan Samet, talk to Stephanie Desmon about the past, present and future fight against tobacco.

Sep 25, 2023 • 27:27

665 - Bankruptcy and Purdue Pharma

665 - Bankruptcy and Purdue Pharma

A major bankruptcy case of Purdue Pharma—the makers of Oxycontin—now sits with the Supreme Court. How did it get there, and what’s at stake? Andy Dietderich, an expert in bankruptcy law and co-head of finance and restructuring at New York law firm Sullivan and Cromwell, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the case, the Sackler family’s involvement, and what a SCOTUS decision could mean for future settlements.

Sep 22, 2023 • 20:44

664 - Disaster Planning For Extreme Weather

664 - Disaster Planning For Extreme Weather

Extreme heat, wildfires, hurricanes, and more are driving huge changes for emergency managers like Chas Eby, the deputy executive director of the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. Eby talks with Stephanie Desmon about an “all-hazards” approach for emergency management agencies, and their work to be better problem solvers when it comes to what climate change is expected to bring in the future. They also discuss how to increase the capabilities of communities to make them more resilient

Sep 20, 2023 • 17:37

663 - The Impact of Health Care on Climate

663 - The Impact of Health Care on Climate

Daily health care operations in the US account for 8.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Shanda Demorest is a cardiac nurse and Associate Director of Climate Engagement and Education at Health Care Without Harm. She takes Dr. Josh Sharfstein on a virtual tour of a hypothetical hospital, pointing out opportunities for sustainability. They discuss how, despite a lack of regulation, health care systems are making pledges to reduce emissions—and how individual clinicians and patients can help the ca

Sep 18, 2023 • 15:13

662 - National Food Safety Education Month: What a Health Department Does to Keep Our Food Safe

662 - National Food Safety Education Month: What a Health Department Does to Keep Our Food Safe

There’s a bit of detective work that has to go into investigating outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, and your local health department plays a key role. Cari Sledzik, an epidemiologist in the Office of Acute Communicable Diseases at the Baltimore City Health Department, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what goes into piecing together a potential outbreak and what happens once the source is found. To round out this Food Safety Education Month episode, she also shares some tips for how people ca

Sep 15, 2023 • 15:33

661 - Why is Methadone So Hard to Get?

661 - Why is Methadone So Hard to Get?

Methadone is a gold star treatment for opioid use disorder but it’s heavily regulated at the federal level, making it hard for patients to get and even harder for doctors to prescribe. Dr. Brian Hurley, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about the process of getting methadone, how its regulatory roots in legislation from the 1970s contribute to its stigma, and what’s being done and what more could be done to streamline prescribing so that the

Sep 13, 2023 • 16:01

660 - The CDC’s 9.11 World Trade Center Health Program

660 - The CDC’s 9.11 World Trade Center Health Program

Hundreds of thousands of people were exposed to dust, debris, carcinogens, and trauma at the three sites of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the immediate aftermath and then the years following. In 2011, Congress created The World Trade Center Health Program to provide health care monitoring and treatment for certified health conditions at no cost to people directly affected. Dr. John Howard, director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at the CDC which oversees the program

Sep 11, 2023 • 16:55

659 - What You Need To Know About the Juvenile Justice System

659 - What You Need To Know About the Juvenile Justice System

Many of us only hear about the juvenile justice system from the news in 30-second snippets. But Sam Abed, acting director of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services in Washington DC, has more to say. Abed talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about his work with juvenile justice and what he most wants people to know about the system and the young people who come through it.

Sep 8, 2023 • 17:27

658 - What Happened to the Doctors Spreading Misinformation During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

658 - What Happened to the Doctors Spreading Misinformation During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Throughout the pandemic, a few medical professionals spread false and misleading information about COVID-19 and even touted potentially harmful “treatments” to their patients. But did they face consequences? Journalist Lena Sun talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about her Washington Post report looking at how medical professional boards handled—or dismissed—complaints about these doctors.

Sep 6, 2023 • 12:16

657 - The Consequences of Abortion Restrictions Part 2: Denials of Medical Care

657 - The Consequences of Abortion Restrictions Part 2: Denials of Medical Care

Part two of this series features Dr. Daniel Grossman, an obstretrician and gynecologist, and Dr. Katrina Kimport, a sociologist in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California at San Francisco. They talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about their research documenting cases where patients were denied proper medical care because of abortion restrictions—even when the care was unrelated to a pregnancy. They discuss how being forced to deny proper medical care can caus

Sep 1, 2023 • 16:42

656 - The Consequences of Abortion Restrictions Part 1: Spotlight on Texas

656 - The Consequences of Abortion Restrictions Part 1: Spotlight on Texas

In part one of a two part series, Johns Hopkins demographic researcher Suzanne Bell talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about a new report quantifying the impacts of Texas’s SB8, an extremely restrictive abortion bill that passed in 2021. They discuss how empirical evidence can help to illuminate the consequences of major legislation. Read more: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/analysis-suggests-2021-texas-abortion-ban-resulted-in-nearly-9800-extra-live-births-in-state-in-year-after-law-went-into-e

Aug 30, 2023 • 17:15

655 - Are We At A Tipping Point For Climate Change?

655 - Are We At A Tipping Point For Climate Change?

Massive deadly fires, bleached coral reefs, extreme heat, ocean temps topping 100 degrees….have we reached a tipping point in climate change? Johns Hopkins planetary scientist Dr. Ben Zaitchik returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about recent headline-grabbing climate events and whether or not they signal a critical threshold for the health of the planet. They discuss how we can collectively approach mitigation and planning for climate change and why it can be short-sighted to se

Aug 28, 2023 • 17:53

654 - The Evidence—and Lack Thereof—About Cannabis

654 - The Evidence—and Lack Thereof—About Cannabis

Legalizing medical cannabis may have paved the way for recreational use in many states, but what is actually known about cannabis as a medical treatment? Dr. Johannes Thrul, a Johns Hopkins substance use researcher, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about why there are huge gaps in research of the risks and benefits of cannabis, and how legalization might create new opportunities to finally get some answers.

Aug 25, 2023 • 16:32

653 - Back to School: How One K-8 School Is Getting Ready for the Fall

653 - Back to School: How One K-8 School Is Getting Ready for the Fall

Principal Matt Hornbeck of Hampstead Hill Academy, an award-winning public K-8 school in Baltimore City, returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about gearing up for school. They discuss how students fared academically last year—and how the school is preparing to address chronic absenteeism and mental health challenges this fall.

Aug 23, 2023 • 15:43

652 - How to Extend Life Expectancy: Pay for Health, Not Just Health Care

652 - How to Extend Life Expectancy: Pay for Health, Not Just Health Care

As life expectancy slips in the US, what can we do differently to improve overall well-being and health? For one thing: start paying for health care differently. Dr. Mai Pham, physician and president and CEO of the Institute for Exceptional Care, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about a new report from the National Academy of Medicine on the opportunity of innovation in payment: What if health insurance covered social needs? What if primary care clinicians were paid for extra time to help those pa

Aug 21, 2023 • 15:45

651 - The Indoor Air Quality Act: Mandating Clean Air in Public Spaces

651 - The Indoor Air Quality Act: Mandating Clean Air in Public Spaces

Outdoor air quality is a major concern but what about the safety of the air we breathe indoors in public spaces like schools and offices? Dr. Gigi Gronvall of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about the threats of poor indoor air quality including spreading infectious diseases and particulate matter, and a new framework for states to consider how to mandate clean, filtered air in public spaces to keep people safe.

Aug 18, 2023 • 12:31

650 - How to Make Sure Food is Available in a Crisis

650 - How to Make Sure Food is Available in a Crisis

During the pandemic, it became clear that America’s vast and complex food system has weak spots and needs help from farm to table to be more resilient to shocks and stressors. Elsie Moore, a Johns Hopkins PhD candidate and researcher at the Center for a Livable Future talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about this “resiliency concept” and how some jurisdictions are thinking through their capacity to make sure food is available during emergencies from extreme weather and global unrest. Learn more abou

Aug 16, 2023 • 15:44

649 - Tradeoffs—988 Turns 1: Progress and Pain Points in National Crisis Line's First Year

649 - Tradeoffs—988 Turns 1: Progress and Pain Points in National Crisis Line's First Year

Last summer, Lifeline transitioned away from a 10-digit national suicide prevention number to the three-digit 988 line in hopes of making it easier for people experiencing a mental health crisis to call and text. One year after its launch, guest host Dan Gorenstein of the Tradeoffs podcast talks about the crisis line’s successes and where it's fallen short.

Aug 14, 2023 • 26:59

648 - Pandemic Learning Loss Will Take Years To Reverse

648 - Pandemic Learning Loss Will Take Years To Reverse

More than three years after COVID first shuttered schools, researchers are taking stock of how children are doing academically. Hopkins biostatistician Elizabeth Stuart speaks with Stephanie Desmon about their research about learning gaps and why it’s so important to invest in regaining lost ground while still letting kids be kids. She also explains how this data can help inform difficult policy decisions like school closures in the event of another public health emergency.

Aug 11, 2023 • 14:53

647 - The Zombie Episode: Pandemics in Science Fiction

647 - The Zombie Episode: Pandemics in Science Fiction

What can we learn from depictions of pandemics in films and series like The Last of Us, I Am Legend, and Contagion? Dylan George, director of the new Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at the CDC, recently participated in a panel at Awesome Con to discuss these and other depictions of dystopian realities in media. Dr. George talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what these iconic pieces got right, where they took some creative liberties, and what they reveal about gaps in our own publi

Aug 9, 2023 • 18:13

646 - ChatGPT and Public Health

646 - ChatGPT and Public Health

ChatGPT has lots of potential for use in public health, but how well does it actually perform? Public Health On Call intern Caroline Wang and Lindsay Smith Rogers discuss three potential uses—seeking personal medical advice, public health research for students, and as a practical resource for practitioners. They go over some specific prompts and analyze what the chatbot does well and where it’s limited. Caroline is a Masters of Health Science student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Publ

Aug 7, 2023 • 17:41

645 - Taplines Podcast: Who Killed Four Loko?

645 - Taplines Podcast: Who Killed Four Loko?

If a product is available for sale, it’s probably safe. Right? Not so fast. Taplines podcast host Dave Infante talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about Four Loko, the popular caffeinated alcoholic drink from a decade ago, and his role as Deputy Commissioner of the FDA during the agency’s analysis of the safety of the beverage. This podcast was originally released by VinePair and the full video can be seen here: https://vinepair.com/taplines-podcast/four-loko/

Aug 4, 2023 • 50:20

EP 644 - From the Archives: What Do Diet Sodas Have to Do With Our Microbiome?

EP 644 - From the Archives: What Do Diet Sodas Have to Do With Our Microbiome?

Earlier this month, a WHO group declared that aspartame, a synthetic sweetener found in everything from breath mints to diet sodas, is a possible carcinogenic. While more data is needed to confirm the link, there is research showing that artificial sweeteners are not, as we thought, “metabolically inert” and do actually impact our gut health which can impact our overall health. In this episode from the archives, Hopkins microbiologist Dr. Jotham Suez talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the comp

Aug 2, 2023 • 13:22

643 - A Look Ahead at COVID, Flu, and RSV Vaccines for Fall with Dr. Andy Pekosz

643 - A Look Ahead at COVID, Flu, and RSV Vaccines for Fall with Dr. Andy Pekosz

Virologist Dr. Andy Pekosz returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about shots, shots, shots! Updated COVID vaccines, how the flu vaccine might perform this year, and a new RSV vaccine are all in the mix. They discuss when each of these vaccines may roll out and how there’s potential to head off another “tripledemic” winter.

Jul 31, 2023 • 15:11

642 - Last Year Was A Big Respiratory Viral Mess. Will We See The Same Again This Year?

642 - Last Year Was A Big Respiratory Viral Mess. Will We See The Same Again This Year?

After last year’s “tripledemic” of flu, COVID, and RSV, we’re all wary of what this coming year might bring. Infectious disease epidemiologist Dr. David Dowdy returns to the podcast to talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers lessons learned, what can be expected as of right now, and potential impacts from new vaccines and treatments, like the game-changing antibody that protects kids from RSV, are entering the mix. Tl;dr: Get vaccinated for everything as soon as you’re able to and we might be in better s

Jul 28, 2023 • 13:27

641 - What Can We Learn About Medicine from What Iconic Sci-Fi Movies Get Wrong?

641 - What Can We Learn About Medicine from What Iconic Sci-Fi Movies Get Wrong?

There’s a paradox in sci-fi movies: Even in the most futuristic, technologically advanced societies depicted in film, main characters often die because of a lack of basic medical care. Two movie fans, Johns Hopkins ICU physician Dr. Jack Iwashyna and his son, Sage, talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about some scenes in the Star Wars and Aliens franchises and how they can be used to appreciate the gaps that remain in health care today.

Jul 26, 2023 • 18:01

638 - This Ability Clinic's Dr. Stephanie Van on Disability Advocacy, Accessibility, and Appreciation

638 - This Ability Clinic's Dr. Stephanie Van on Disability Advocacy, Accessibility, and Appreciation

For Disability Pride Month, Dr. Stephanie Van, a Johns Hopkins rehabilitation physician and founder of YouTube’s @‌ThisAbilityClinic, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about her work as a pain management specialist and disability advocate. They discuss how she helps patients with newly acquired disabilities and what she’s learned about the disability community in the process, as well as what needs to change from the individuals to industries to make the world a little more inclusive. This episode

Jul 24, 2023 • 16:01

640 - Inside the Humanitarian Response to the Destruction of Ukraine’s Kakhovka Dam

640 - Inside the Humanitarian Response to the Destruction of Ukraine’s Kakhovka Dam

In early June, a major Ukranian hydroelectric dam was destroyed. The situation is incredibly complex with widespread fallout and the potential for long-term public health risks. WHO incident manager Dr. Heather Papowitz talks with Stephanie Desmon about why the situation is so precarious, what the major concerns are, and how humanitarian efforts are coordinated and prioritized.

Jul 24, 2023 • 15:17

639 - Why Hearing Aids Could Help Slow Cognitive Decline in People at Risk of Dementia

639 - Why Hearing Aids Could Help Slow Cognitive Decline in People at Risk of Dementia

Over the last decade, research has established strong connections between hearing loss and cognitive decline in older people. Now, a new study presents compelling evidence that hearing aids could actually help slow that decline, especially for people at risk of dementia. Dr. Frank Lin, director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing & Public Health at Johns Hopkins, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the newest research and why the evidence bolsters the case for making sure older adults can (and shou

Jul 21, 2023 • 17:14

637 - Why Are So Many Pedestrians Getting Struck and Killed By Cars, and Why Aren’t We Doing More To Stop It?

637 - Why Are So Many Pedestrians Getting Struck and Killed By Cars, and Why Aren’t We Doing More To Stop It?

In the last decade, a record number of pedestrians were killed by cars. The problem is complex and lacking a singular cause or solution. Jeff Michael, now a researcher at the Johns Hopkin Center for Injury Research and Policy, spent 30 years with the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration. He talks with Stephanie Desmon about the rise in pedestrian deaths and some of the possible causes, looking to Sweden as a model for rethinking our roads, and why despite hundreds of deaths a day, preve

Jul 17, 2023 • 12:35

636 - RAP Club: A Mental Health Program that Brings Coping Skills and Mindfulness to Schools

636 - RAP Club: A Mental Health Program that Brings Coping Skills and Mindfulness to Schools

Many lifetime mental health issues emerge during adolescence, but equipping youths with strategies and skills to work through trauma, anxiety, and depression can be key to preventing problems from snowballing. Johns Hopkins Center for Adolescent Health director Dr. Tamar Mendelson talks with Stephanie Desmon about working with Baltimore City schools to develop a successful program called RAP Club (Relax, Aware, Personal rating) to teach youths mindfulness and other strategies to combat the impac

Jul 14, 2023 • 14:30

635 - Dr. Meena Seshamani is on a Quest to Make Medicare Personal

635 - Dr. Meena Seshamani is on a Quest to Make Medicare Personal

With 64 million people enrolled, billions of dollars in payouts, and millions of clinicians and health systems in the mix, it’s hard to see how Medicare policies translate to the doctor’s office or the bedside. But Medicare director Dr. Meena Seshamani, an ear, nose, and throat surgeon and a health economist, is working to change that. Dr. Seshamani talked with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about improving Medicare on a large scale while making it more accessible and helping individual patients live bette

Jul 13, 2023 • 19:13

634 - Vital Talks: What if Public Health Fueled Social Reform Movements

634 - Vital Talks: What if Public Health Fueled Social Reform Movements

Public health has a long history of activism in social movements and new overlaps took hold in the last few years with COVID-19 and social unrest. In Vital Talks, a podcast from Vital Strategies, Shelley Hearne returns to the podcast along with former Bloomberg School deans Al Sommer and Mike Klag and colleagues to consider the challenges of the current moment and talk about how the field of public health can work differently towards a healthier world. Learn more about Vital Strategies here: htt

Jul 10, 2023 • 55:08

633 - The Far-Reaching Impacts of Drug Shortages Affecting Cancer Treatments

633 - The Far-Reaching Impacts of Drug Shortages Affecting Cancer Treatments

Shortages of lifesaving drugs—the result of failures at every step of complex supply chains—have far-reaching impacts on patients, providers, and the broader field of medicine. Hopkins oncologist Dr. Amanda Nickles Fader and policy researcher Dr. Mariana Socal talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the broader systems problem resulting in the shortages of a vast range of drugs and how it’s changing treatment protocols and the patient experience.

Jul 7, 2023 • 16:01

632 - Investigating the Why of Suicide: Maryland’s New Suicide Fatality Review Committee

632 - Investigating the Why of Suicide: Maryland’s New Suicide Fatality Review Committee

A new committee in Maryland is charged with a big undertaking: investigating deaths by suicide to help inform prevention efforts. Mental health expert and committee member Dr. Holly Wilcox talks with Stephanie Desmon about how they’ll gather data, which includes psychological autopsies, digital health care records, social service agency data and more, and gives some examples of how similar committees in other states have used data in innovative ways to inform interventions. Learn more: https://

Jul 5, 2023 • 13:59

631 - Vital Talks: How Donor Dynamics are Shaping Public Health

631 - Vital Talks: How Donor Dynamics are Shaping Public Health

Philanthropy is a critical part of global public health but funding cycles, donor preferences, and other systems can fundamentally impact organizations and cause mission creep. Vital Talks, a podcast from Vital Strategies, digs into current funding trends and features conversations with leaders from the Lwala Community Alliance and the Center for Effective Philanthrophy about hopes for a better funding landscape and new financing models to ensure organizations can deliver on their missions. Lear

Jun 30, 2023 • 52:47

630 - Why Are Some Humans’ Scent More Preferable to Mosquitoes?

630 - Why Are Some Humans’ Scent More Preferable to Mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are excellent hunters. Anopheles gambiae—the mosquito in sub-Saharan Africa that spreads malaria—in particular loves to feast on humans and, it turns out, relies heavily on peoples’ scent to track them. Hopkins researcher Conor McMeniman talks with Stephanie Desmon about his team’s new study looking at the molecular components of human scent that are most attractive to mosquitoes, and how learning more about these alluring scent signatures could help in the fight against malaria.

Jun 28, 2023 • 19:37

629 - Alcohol Use as a Risk Factor for Gun Violence

629 - Alcohol Use as a Risk Factor for Gun Violence

Alcohol plays an outsize role in gun deaths and a new study finds that alcohol misuse can be a better predictor of future violence than any other risk factors. Josh Horwitz and Silvia Villarreal of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers about this connection and a set of new recommendations that include limiting access to guns for people with alcohol-related convictions and in places where alcohol is consumed. Read more about the report here: https://p

Jun 26, 2023 • 16:58

628 - Scientists in Exile: When Researchers and Clinicians are Forced to Flee

628 - Scientists in Exile: When Researchers and Clinicians are Forced to Flee

Dr. Phyu Phyu Thin Zaw was a research scientist at Myanmar’s ministry of health before she emigrated to teach global health at Hong Kong University. After the military coup in 2021, she and many of her friends and colleagues felt unsafe returning to Myanmar and some even had their passports blacklisted. Thin Saw talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about her experience, what happens when doctors and researchers are forced to flee in conflict situations, and what the scientific community can do to help

Jun 23, 2023 • 17:08

627 - Workplace Mental Health and Well-being

627 - Workplace Mental Health and Well-being

Workplace wellness goes beyond safe offices to consider how employees can live healthy and productive lives at home while being focused on work at work. Hopkins health and productivity management expert Ron Goetzel talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about this unique aspect of public health where the business community and public health collaborate on the psychosocial, organizational, and environmental facets of health at work—and how ensuring that people get to live healthy and joyful lives outsid

Jun 21, 2023 • 16:05

EP 626 - Katelyn Jetelina, “Your Local Epidemiologist,” on The Benefits and Harms of Active Assailant Drills and the Widespread Impacts of Mass Shootings

EP 626 - Katelyn Jetelina, “Your Local Epidemiologist,” on The Benefits and Harms of Active Assailant Drills and the Widespread Impacts of Mass Shootings

Active shooter and lockdown drills are part of a broader spectrum of emergency preparedness but there are differing levels of effectiveness and risks. Katelyn Jetelina, aka “Your Local Epidemiologist,” talks with Stephanie Desmon about the benefits and real harms of these activities and why she does have hope that we will make progress with gun violence solutions, though at a “snail’s pace.” They also discuss the wide-ranging ripple effects of violence beyond the victims such as community-level

Jun 16, 2023 • 15:38

625 - Tackling Housing Injustice—and Improving Childhood Asthma

625 - Tackling Housing Injustice—and Improving Childhood Asthma

Redlining and other discriminatory practices represent structural racism in housing. Efforts to counter the legacy of this injustice include voucher programs that help people move out of areas of poverty into “opportunity neighborhoods.” Hopkins researcher Craig Pollack talks with Stephanie Desmon about evidence that these programs improve childhood asthma. They discuss opportunities to help people both through relocation and by improving conditions where they are. Read the study here:https://ja

Jun 14, 2023 • 13:17

624 - The “Youngest Science:” Debates over Evidence During the Pandemic Within Medicine

624 - The “Youngest Science:” Debates over Evidence During the Pandemic Within Medicine

In the frenzy of research for COVID-19 prevention and treatment, there were many disagreements about what really did—or didn’t—work. The nature of the debates reveals a broader problem in how data are interpreted in medicine. Dr. Arturo Casadevall and Dr. Josh Sharfstein discuss the nature of evidence and Dr. Casadevall’s new paper, Misinterpretation of Clinical Research Findings and COVID-19 Mortality. You can read the paper here: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/full/10.7326/M23-0737?af=R

Jun 12, 2023 • 20:56

623 - How to Talk About the Climate Crisis With Kids

623 - How to Talk About the Climate Crisis With Kids

Having honest conversations with kids about the climate crisis doesn’t have to be distressing. Climate scientist Heather Price talks with Stephanie Desmon about her work with www.talkclimate.org, an organization that collects age- and developmentally appropriate resources for talking about climate change with people of all ages, from birth to adult.

Jun 9, 2023 • 14:24

BONUS - Another Air Quality Emergency in the US—2020 Wildfire Episode Re-release

BONUS - Another Air Quality Emergency in the US—2020 Wildfire Episode Re-release

With huge parts of the eastern seaboard covered in a thick hazy smoke from Canadian wildfires, we’re re-releasing an episode from September 2020 with air pollution expert Dr. Kirsten Koehler.  In this episode, Dr. Koehler and Dr. Josh Sharfstein discussed how the massive West Coast forest fires raging at the time were affecting people’s health. Their conversation about particulate matter and its impacts on respiratory health, and how to protect yourself, is just as relevant today in yet another

Jun 8, 2023 • 12:26

622 - The State of Emergency Preparedness in the US

622 - The State of Emergency Preparedness in the US

With the expiration of the COVID-19 emergency, how prepared are states for another crisis? Dr. Nadine Gracia, president and CEO of Trust for America’s Health, returns to the podcast to discuss a 2023 report assessing states’ performance in key areas related to emergency preparedness—including infectious disease, natural and artificial disasters, and bioterrorism. You can find individual state reports at www.tfah.org.

Jun 7, 2023 • 13:39

621 - The Health Consequences of Displacing People Experiencing Homelessness

621 - The Health Consequences of Displacing People Experiencing Homelessness

What happens when homeless encampments are swept away? Dr. Joshua Barocas, an infectious disease physician at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about a new study that simulates the true cost of “move along” orders and encampment “clean ups"—including infectious disease outbreaks, hospitalizations and deaths. They then discuss the short-term and long-term implications of these findings.

Jun 5, 2023 • 18:49

620 - How The Opioid Settlement Tracker Is Monitoring $50 Billion

620 - How The Opioid Settlement Tracker Is Monitoring $50 Billion

Who is making decisions about how to spend more than $50 billion in proceeds from opioid-related litigation? Christine Minhee, lawyer and founder of opioidsettlementtracker.com, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about tracking the complex cashflow state by state, and her hopes that the website will challenge more jurisdictions to share just how they’re spending dollars intended for tackling the opioid epidemic. http://publichealth.jhu.edu/subscribe

Jun 2, 2023 • 18:01

619 - A Conversation with Barkha Dutt

619 - A Conversation with Barkha Dutt

Renowned journalist Barkha Dutt, dubbed the “Indian Anderson Cooper,” has spent her career reporting from conflict zones about gender equity and violence against women. In the last few years, she expanded her beat and traveled around India during COVID talking with people about their pandemic experiences. Dhutt recently sat down in the studio with Lindsay Smith Rogers for an expansive conversation about her career and what’s next. You can watch the video of the conversation on YouTube.

May 30, 2023 • 24:49

618 - Two Newly-Minted Public Health Graduates Share Their Mental Health Research

618 - Two Newly-Minted Public Health Graduates Share Their Mental Health Research

In a special episode, two brand-new graduates of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about their dissertation research involving mental health. Jaimie Shaff, DrPH, talks about her work examining the mental health of people who are multiethnic and multiracial, and who are routinely left out of data sets or lumped in with “other.” Bianca Smith, PhD, discusses her research using geospatial analysis to examine the relationship between housing discriminat

May 26, 2023 • 20:21

617 - Convocation Speaker Dr. Raj Panjabi on Facing Public Health’s Unprecedented Challenges

617 - Convocation Speaker Dr. Raj Panjabi on Facing Public Health’s Unprecedented Challenges

Dr. Raj Panjabi, one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2016, is a physician, professor, epidemiologist, entrepreneur, and public servant currently serving on the White House National Security Council. Dr. Panjabi speaks with Stephanie Desmon about growing up in Liberia and his experience working in West Africa during the first Ebola crisis, preparing for the next pandemic, and his advice for this next generation of public health graduates. Get even more public health news fro

May 24, 2023 • 18:39

616 - Lessons from the COVID War: 9-11 Commission Leader Philip Zelikow on Another National Disaster

616 - Lessons from the COVID War: 9-11 Commission Leader Philip Zelikow on Another National Disaster

From origin to Warp Speed, COVID-19 proved to be a national disaster the likes of which hadn’t been seen since 9-11. Lead writer of “Lessons from the COVID War” and former 9-11 Commission leader Philip Zelikow talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about why COVID was a much more complicated issue, competing explanations of what went wrong, where innovation and success actually occurred, and what needs to be done to prevent another disaster like this from happening again. Get even more public health new

May 22, 2023 • 26:38

615 - How a Unique Mental Health Model Developed After 9/11 is Helping Ukrainians Find Some Peace of Mind

615 - How a Unique Mental Health Model Developed After 9/11 is Helping Ukrainians Find Some Peace of Mind

After 9/11, mental health workers in New York City found themselves overwhelmed with requests to provide treatment to kids and their families. In response, clinical psychologist Laura Murray and her colleagues developed the Common Elements Treatment Approach, or CETA, which helps providers address multiple problems and symptoms using a customized plan of evidence-based therapies. Dr. Murray talks with Stephanie Desmon about the program’s applications in conflict zones like Ukraine, and its promi

May 19, 2023 • 18:08

614 - The Clinical Research Into Psilocybin as a Tool for Mental Health Treatment

614 - The Clinical Research Into Psilocybin as a Tool for Mental Health Treatment

Psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, have been used throughout human history. But it’s only in the last few decades that researchers have been examining them as a potential tool for treating an array of mental health issues. Albert Garcia-Romeu, a Johns Hopkins behavioral pharmacology researcher, talks with Stephanie Desmon about his research with psilocybin, the promising outcomes, and how approval and proper regulation could lead to a whole class of psychedelic drugs used res

May 17, 2023 • 18:12

613 - COVID Update: Variants, Vaccines, and No More “Boosters”

613 - COVID Update: Variants, Vaccines, and No More “Boosters”

The pandemic phase of COVID-19 is officially over, but there’s still work to be done. Virologist and podcast regular Dr. Andy Pekosz talks with Stephanie Desmon about transitioning to annual COVID vaccines (no longer referred to as boosters!); “Arcturus,” or variant XBB.1.16; and the importance of investing in the development of antivirals and other treatments.

May 15, 2023 • 14:14

612 - The Xylazine Crisis

612 - The Xylazine Crisis

Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer that is showing up in illicit opioid supplies. In addition to contributing to the risk of overdose, xylazine causes horrific, necrotizing wounds when injected, smoked, or snorted. Lindsay Smith Rogers talks to two clinicians on the front lines of the overdose epidemic about their experiences with xylazine and their views on what this latest development means for the future: Rachel McFadden, a Bloomberg Fellow at the School of Public Health and a wound care nurs

May 12, 2023 • 23:30

611 - Public Health in the Field: The Grassroots Revolution in Maternal Health

611 - Public Health in the Field: The Grassroots Revolution in Maternal Health

Concluding our 3-part series dedicated to addressing the Black maternal health crisis in the United States, co-hosts Dr. Rachel Bervell and Annalies Winny will explore the revolution in maternal health that’s happening outside the policy space – but that also informs it. They’ll investigate how Black moms, community advocates, and a new generation of medical trainees are taking this issue into their own hands—and how everyone can contribute to solutions. Access the resources and organizations me

May 12, 2023 • 29:21

610 - Public Health in the Field: How Policy Can Help Solve the Black Maternal Health Crisis

610 - Public Health in the Field: How Policy Can Help Solve the Black Maternal Health Crisis

Continuing our 3-part series dedicated to addressing the Black maternal health crisis in the United States, co-hosts Dr. Rachel Bervell and Annalies Winny explore how government policy can help shape the solutions, from closing the “Medicaid gap” to passing the most ambitious federal effort yet on this issue: the Momnibus. Access the resources and organizations mentioned in this series, including suggested reading: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/solving-the-black-maternal-health-crisis

May 8, 2023 • 24:07

609 - The Surge in Anti-Trans Bills and Attacks on LGBTQ+ Health

609 - The Surge in Anti-Trans Bills and Attacks on LGBTQ+ Health

In the last year, more anti-trans legislation has been passed in the U.S. than at any other time in history. Dr. Helene Hedian, director of clinical education at the Johns Hopkins Center for Transgender and Gender Expansive Health, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the dehumanizing aspects of these bills and how much they can impact her patients’ daily lives and overall health. They also discuss what’s going right, and how advocacy is helping to bring better and more protective health care cover

May 5, 2023 • 15:17

608 - What May Happen When the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Ends on May 11

608 - What May Happen When the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Ends on May 11

Jennifer Kates, senior vice president and director of global health and HIV policy at KFF, returns to the podcast to talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers about the looming expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency and what that means for things like access to tests, treatments, vaccines, and eligibility for Medicaid. They also discuss the differences between this and the national health emergency that Biden ended in April, and why both are significant symbolic gestures at a time when a new va

May 3, 2023 • 17:44

607: How The FDA Can Help More People Stop Smoking

607: How The FDA Can Help More People Stop Smoking

In a recent commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine, Johns Hopkins tobacco policy expert Joanna Cohen and colleagues call for the FDA to take steps to bring more smoking cessation therapies to the market. Cohen, director of the Institute for Global Tobacco Control, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about why new therapies are needed and where to find evidence to support their use. Read the full commentary here: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2301700. If you or someone you kno

May 1, 2023 • 15:29

606 - What Happens Next with Mifepristone?

606 - What Happens Next with Mifepristone?

To understand what happens now that SCOTUS has stayed Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk’s ruling on mifepristone, we first have to understand how the case got to the highest court in the land in the first place. Public health lawyer Joanne Rosen returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the unprecedented series of filings and rulings around mifepristone from Amarillo, Texas to Washington D.C., and what could happen next as litigation continues to play out.

Apr 28, 2023 • 23:37

605 - World Immunization Week: The Big Catch-Up and Preventing a Large-scale Global Outbreak of Measles

605 - World Immunization Week: The Big Catch-Up and Preventing a Large-scale Global Outbreak of Measles

World Immunization Week is the last week in April and this year’s theme is The Big Catch Up. Vaccine expert Dr. Bill Moss returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how major setbacks in global vaccine coverage over the past few years are seeding the deadly threat of a measles resurgence. They discuss contributing factors and what needs to be done to get out in front of one of the world’s most infectious viruses.

Apr 26, 2023 • 15:26

604 - Malaria Advocates Go to D.C.: Meet the Americans Passionate About Ending Malaria For Good

604 - Malaria Advocates Go to D.C.: Meet the Americans Passionate About Ending Malaria For Good

Malaria infects hundreds of millions of people around the globe each year and kills more than 600,000. But the disease has been eliminated in many of the countries providing significant support in the fight against malaria, like the U.S. For World Malaria Day, Thomas Locke, host of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute’s podcast, Malaria Minute, talks with some advocates in the U.S. who are passionate about rallying political support around the fight against malaria and raising the bar fo

Apr 24, 2023 • 18:58

603 - Adjusting for Reality: Rethinking Goals to Address Climate Change

603 - Adjusting for Reality: Rethinking Goals to Address Climate Change

In the 1980s and 90s, the world came together to successfully address a major environmental problem: a growing hole in the ozone layer. So why hasn’t that success translated to global collaboration to make a dent in climate change? For Earth Day, David Victor, professor at UC San Diego, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the unique problem of climate change, and some optimistic and realistic signs of progress.

Apr 21, 2023 • 18:22

602 - How The Use—and Overuse—of Antibiotics is Making Us Sicker

602 - How The Use—and Overuse—of Antibiotics is Making Us Sicker

Antibiotics are marvels of modern medicine but overuse has created deadly strains of bacteria that can’t be treated. Where and how could prescriptions be curtailed to have the biggest effects? Dr. David Wallinga, a physician-scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the murky picture of unnecessary antibiotic use in animals in the US and the “dismal” near future where many more may die before efforts are made to get overuse under control.

Apr 19, 2023 • 15:48

601 - How Health Care Algorithms and AI Can Help and Harm

601 - How Health Care Algorithms and AI Can Help and Harm

Algorithms—formulas that do everything from suggesting Netflix shows to streamlining Google results—are increasingly used in health care settings. But could these tools be introducing bias? Kadija Ferryman, a cultural anthropologist and faculty at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute for Bioethics, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what algorithms are and the double-edged sword of their use in medicine.

Apr 17, 2023 • 20:03

Public Health in the Field: What is the Black Maternal Health Crisis and How Can It Be Solved?

Public Health in the Field: What is the Black Maternal Health Crisis and How Can It Be Solved?

Dire statistics about birth outcomes for Black people in the U.S. have become front-page news in recent years. But this problem isn’t new—in fact, it has roots in the very fabric of American society and health care with structural and systemic racism at its core. Kicking off a series from Public Health in the Field, Rachel Bervell and Annalies Winny explore how and why the nation has come to recognize this crisis in Black maternal health, what it means for health care as a whole, and possible so

Apr 14, 2023 • 19:44

599 - Book Club—“Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and the Health of Our Nation” with Linda Villarosa

599 - Book Club—“Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and the Health of Our Nation” with Linda Villarosa

This week is Black Maternal Health Week in the US and to kick off the conversation, Dr. Josh Sharfstein speaks with author and New York Times contributor Linda Villarosa about her new book on racism and health. They discuss how she came to this topic after her years being a health editor at Essence magazine and why the picture is particularly stark for the health of Black women and their infants. They also talk about why she’s optimistic about the health of Black people and how personal stories

Apr 12, 2023 • 20:38

BONUS: Mifepristone On Trial: An Unprecedented Overreach

BONUS: Mifepristone On Trial: An Unprecedented Overreach

Dr. Raegan McDonald Mosley, an obstetrician-gynecologist and CEO of Power to Decide, returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the Texas case that invalidated FDA approval of the abortion medication mifepristone. They discuss what the ruling might mean in the short term and the broader implications for reproductive health, FDA approval of other drugs, and the field of medicine.

Apr 11, 2023 • 15:01

598 - A Court Decision Reducing Access to Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act

598 - A Court Decision Reducing Access to Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act

A U.S. district court in Texas issued a ruling limiting the scope of the Affordable Care Act’s requirements for coverage of preventive services. On today’s podcast, Joe Palmore, a former assistant to the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice and current co-chair of the Appellate and Supreme Court Practice Group at the law firm Morrison Foerster, talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the Braidwood Management Inc versus Becerra case, its consequences, and what comes next.

Apr 10, 2023 • 20:52

597 - Intimate partner violence, guns and the courts

597 - Intimate partner violence, guns and the courts

Recently, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit allowed a man subject to an intimate partner violence restraining order to keep his guns. Kelly Roskum, the director of law and policy for the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, joins Dr. Josh Sharfstein to talk about this decision and what's next for guns and the courts.

Apr 7, 2023 • 13:53

596 - Building a Better CDC

596 - Building a Better CDC

A new report entitled “Building the CDC the Country Needs,” makes recommendations for how to return trust and confidence to the nation’s top public health agency’s tarnished reputation. Stephanie Desmon talks to the co-chairs of the report, Steve Morrison, a global health policy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Tom Inglesby, who heads the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. They discuss what has happened to the CDC during the COVID-19 pandemic, and outline

Apr 5, 2023 • 19:09

595 - How to be a Climate Advocate: Antha Williams on Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Work to Tackle Climate Change and Improve Public Health

595 - How to be a Climate Advocate: Antha Williams on Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Work to Tackle Climate Change and Improve Public Health

Guest host Shelley Hearne, director of the Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy talks to Antha Williams, who leads the Environment program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. In this episode, they discuss how Bloomberg Philanthropies is using data, storytelling, and grassroots campaigns to fight climate change and protect public health. Under Williams’ direction, Bloomberg Philanthropies supports environmental initiatives to improve the sustainability of cities around the world, accelerate the tran

Apr 3, 2023 • 23:05

594 - Could Patent Reform Lower Drug Prices?

594 - Could Patent Reform Lower Drug Prices?

Humira is an immunosuppressive drug used to treat arthritis, plaque psoriasis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis, is one of the most profitable drugs of all time. In this episode, Tahir Amin, founder and executive director of the Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge., joins Dr. Josh Sharfstein to talk about how gaming the patent system may have helped stave off competition, costing consumers billions of dollars. They also discuss what it would take to reform the system.

Mar 31, 2023 • 16:36

593 - Do COVID’s Origins Still Matter?

593 - Do COVID’s Origins Still Matter?

Three years on, we are still actively debating whether the pandemic was caused when the virus spilled over naturally from animals in a market or whether it was somehow caused by a Chinese lab leak. In this episode, Stephanie Desmon talks to Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, about the dueling theories on where COVID came from. They discuss what we know, why it matters and what lessons we can learn for the future.

Mar 29, 2023 • 16:01

592 - Anopheles Stephensi: The Invasive Mosquito Threatening to Worsen Malaria in Africa

592 - Anopheles Stephensi: The Invasive Mosquito Threatening to Worsen Malaria in Africa

The Anopheles stephensi mosquito is threatening to redefine malaria in Africa. In this episode, Thomas Locke, host of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute Extended podcast produced by the School Malaria Research Institute, speaks to Eric Ochomo from the Kenya Medical Research Institute, and Seth Irish from the World Health Organization, about the rise of the Anopheles stephensi mosquito. Together, they discuss why the mosquito is in Africa, what this means for malaria, and—more importantly—what can

Mar 27, 2023 • 13:35

591 - Avoiding Clots After Fractures: Why Clinical Research Matters

591 - Avoiding Clots After Fractures: Why Clinical Research Matters

What’s the best way to prevent blood clots after serious fractures? Is it an expensive shot you have to give yourself twice a day? Or is it a little pill you might have already somewhere in your house? In this episode, Dr. Josh Sharfstein speaks to Dr. Robert O'Toole, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, about a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This research was conducted by the Major Extreme Trauma Research Consortium (METR

Mar 24, 2023 • 14:25

590 - Fatbergs Can Dance!? Behind The Scenes Of A Public Health Water Ballet

590 - Fatbergs Can Dance!? Behind The Scenes Of A Public Health Water Ballet

Fatbergs are a menace to public health in our cities, and a potent symbol of neglect of our urban water systems. They're also disgusting to look at. Yet thanks to a glamorous troupe of synchronized swimmers, Fluid Movement Baltimore made them glamorous in the name of public health. Find out how as we go behind-the-scenes of a special video project that reminds us we all have a role to play in keeping our sewers healthy.

Mar 22, 2023 • 17:30

589 - World Water Day: Fatbergs — The Public Health Menace Beneath Our Feet

589 - World Water Day: Fatbergs — The Public Health Menace Beneath Our Feet

Fatbergs are ‘the bane of utilities’ existence’—they exist because many cities take for granted an essential but largely hidden public health tool: urban sewers. In this episode, Natalie Exum, Assistant Scientist in the department of Environmental Health and Engineering, and Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper Alice Volpitta of Blue Water Baltimore, a nonprofit that serves as a watchdog for the city’s water systems, about the immovable clogs that threaten public health in cities across the globe—and wh

Mar 22, 2023 • 15:50

588 - Public Health and Food Assistance

588 - Public Health and Food Assistance

Jerold Mande, CEO of Nourish science and an adjunct professor of nutrition at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, speaks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about an article he co-authored calling for more attention to health in the nation's largest food assistance program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. They also discuss SNAP's benefits in reducing food insecurity, and how potential changes could help reduce diet-related disease as well.

Mar 20, 2023 • 20:27

BONUS - Reducing Infant Mortality in West Baltimore

BONUS - Reducing Infant Mortality in West Baltimore

The B'more for Healthy Babies program in Promise Heights is a remarkable program in West Baltimore that has reduced infant mortality and improved other health outcomes for more than a decade. Stacey Stephens, the social worker who directs this effort for the University of Maryland School of Social Work, speaks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about this effort.  Joining them is Gisele Joseph, a community health worker and certified lactation consultant in the program. The secret to their success? It's n

Mar 17, 2023 • 24:08

587 - Entrepreneurship and Public Health

587 - Entrepreneurship and Public Health

Dr. Rebekah Gee, formerly the successful Commissioner of Health for Louisiana, is now the founder of the startup company Nest Health. She speaks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about why she chose a for-profit venture, how her current role compares and contrasts with the public sector, and the advice she would give to someone looking to make an impact in public health. You can read more about Dr. Gee's company at nesthealth.com.

Mar 17, 2023 • 19:13

586 - Masks and COVID Again? Yes, Masks and COVID...again

586 - Masks and COVID Again? Yes, Masks and COVID...again

Johns Hopkins Professor and infectious disease epidemiologist Dr. David Dowdy returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about some of the latest studies on the effectiveness of masks in protecting people from COVID

Mar 15, 2023 • 12:24

585 - Hidden in Plain Sight Part 3: Stories About the Powerful—and Often Invisible—Public Health Forces That Shape Our Lives

585 - Hidden in Plain Sight Part 3: Stories About the Powerful—and Often Invisible—Public Health Forces That Shape Our Lives

The Stoop Storytelling Series and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health partnered last fall to present a night of storytelling by scientists, activists, and community members sharing personal stories about urgent public health issues. In part 3, Ashley Esposito, a “litter picker” with Bmore Trashpickers, talks about the story that trash can tell about the health of a community, and Dr. Stephen Thomas, director of the Maryland Center for Health Equity at the University of Maryland Schoo

Mar 13, 2023 • 12:38

584 - A New Type of Overdose Response

584 - A New Type of Overdose Response

Dr. Gerard Carroll is the Division head of EMS and Disaster Medicine and an emergency room physician at Cooper University Health Care in Camden, New Jersey. He joins Dr. Josh Sharfstein to talk about a pilot program that allows emergency responders to give the treatment buprenorphine after the reversal medication naloxone—right at the scene of an overdose. Dr. Carroll is the co-author of a new paper about his hospital's experience, as well as its impressive results. Learn more: https://pubmed.nc

Mar 10, 2023 • 17:49

583 - Are Self-driving Cars Safe?

583 - Are Self-driving Cars Safe?

Dr. Johnathon Ehsani is an expert in traffic safety at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He speaks with Dr. Sharfstein about the safety of autonomous vehicles today and what might be possible in the future. He also shares what he thinks of the potential benefits of this technology.

Mar 8, 2023 • 15:36

582 - Hidden in Plain Sight Part 2: Stories About the Powerful—and Often Invisible—Public Health Forces That Shape Our Lives

582 - Hidden in Plain Sight Part 2: Stories About the Powerful—and Often Invisible—Public Health Forces That Shape Our Lives

The Stoop Storytelling Series and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health partnered last fall to present a night of storytelling by scientists, activists, and community members sharing personal stories about urgent public health issues. In part 2, we hear from Cleo Hirsch, the executive director of COVID Response at Baltimore City Public Schools about creating “learning pods” for some of the most vulnerable kids in the city, and Tyde-Courtney Edwards, founding director of Ballet After Da

Mar 6, 2023 • 25:23

BONUS - When Will the Bird Flu Outbreak End?

BONUS - When Will the Bird Flu Outbreak End?

Johns Hopkins veterinarian Meghan Davis joins Stephanie Desmon to discuss the avian flu outbreak. They discuss the influenza that has been raging since 2021, with no signs of abating, and what the impacts are on the food supply, the cost of eggs and products that contain them, and on human and animal health.

Mar 3, 2023 • 14:17

581 - The Kids are Not Alright

581 - The Kids are Not Alright

A devastating CDC report on youth risk behavior paints a grim picture of how today’s adolescents are faring mentally. Dr. Kathleen Ethier, director of the Division of Adolescent and School Health at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, joins Stephanie Desmon to discuss the large increase in depression, suicidal ideation and sexual violence being seen among teenage girls and LGBTQ kids. They talk about what schools and parents can do to help.

Mar 3, 2023 • 15:55

580 - The Community Role in Fighting the Pandemic—and Beyond

580 - The Community Role in Fighting the Pandemic—and Beyond

Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, the executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, joins Dr. Josh Sharfstein to talk about her shift during the pandemic. She began supporting community coalitions that came together to fight COVID-19. In July 2021, she became the city's leading health official, focused on creating new connections with community organizations—for the pandemic and beyond.

Mar 1, 2023 • 15:57

579 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Making Sure Public Health is Part of the Climate Change Equation

579 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Making Sure Public Health is Part of the Climate Change Equation

Guest host Shelley Hearne, director of the Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy, speaks with Jaime Madrigano, Visiting Associate Professor, with the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Bloomberg School, whose research examines the health impacts of environmental air pollution and weather. Together they discuss how health and cost implications must be tied to climate change policies, communications, and real community engagement.

Feb 27, 2023 • 19:20

578 - Does Cancer Screening Save Lives?

578 - Does Cancer Screening Save Lives?

For decades, improvement in diagnostic tools for cancer have led to a movement of early screening from mammograms to colonoscopies. Today, Dr. Otis Brawley, a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, tells Stephanie Desmon that many people think screening is better than it actually is. While early screening can save lives, they discuss the how to be sure you’re getting high-quality screening when you need it, and about some of the harm of over-screening in certain cases.

Feb 24, 2023 • 17:22

577 - Congressman Elijah E. Cummings: A Force for Health

577 - Congressman Elijah E. Cummings: A Force for Health

Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings joins Dr. Josh Sharfstein to talk about her late husband, the Honorable Elijah E. Cummings, who represented Baltimore for more than 35 years in the Maryland General Assembly and in Congress. Dr. Rockeymoore Cummings explains the origins of the Congressman's successful efforts to expand access to dental care, reduce prescription drug prices, and tackle addiction. She also tells some amazing behind the scenes stories, including the moment when Congressman Cummings met

Feb 22, 2023 • 26:25

576 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Natalia Linos on Why We Should Embrace the Fact That “All Public Health Is Political”

576 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Natalia Linos on Why We Should Embrace the Fact That “All Public Health Is Political”

Today, guest host Shelley Hearne, director of the Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy, talks with Natalia Linos, a social epidemiologist and executive director of Harvard’s FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, and 2020 Congressional candidate. Linos talks with Hearne about why “all public health is political,” how to approach politics as a public health professional, and the importance of not only naming climate change problems, but getting involved with them “at every level” to advance

Feb 20, 2023 • 25:10

BONUS - The Aftermath in East Palestine, Ohio

BONUS - The Aftermath in East Palestine, Ohio

In this bonus episode, Johns Hopkins Professor Thomas Burke joins Dr. Sharfstein to talk about  the risk to residents following the train derailment and toxic release of chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio— the knowns, the unknowns, and where to go from here. Dr. Burke is a former environmental official for the state of New Jersey and a former science adviser of the Environmental Protection Agency

Feb 17, 2023 • 17:07

575 - What's Next for Prescription Drug Pricing?

575 - What's Next for Prescription Drug Pricing?

Mark Miller, the executive vice president of health care at Arnold Ventures joins Dr. Josh Sharfstein to talk about the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act for Medicare patients this year, as well as two areas of future work to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. They discuss patent reform and opportunities to increase transparency for pharmaceutical benefit managers.

Feb 17, 2023 • 16:01

574 - The Earthquake in Syria and Turkey

574 - The Earthquake in Syria and Turkey

Amany Qaddour, regional director for Syria Relief and Development, a nonprofit humanitarian organization on the ground in Syria, joins Dr. Sharfstein They discuss the enormous challenge of responding to a natural disaster in a part of the world that has suffered from conflict, displacement, and crisis for years. To make a contribution to the organizations mentioned in the podcast, see https://srd.ngo/  and https://www.whitehelmets.org/en/ .

Feb 15, 2023 • 18:25

573 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Catherine Flowers on the “Secret Sauce” of Elevating Local Environmental Issues to the National Agenda

573 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Catherine Flowers on the “Secret Sauce” of Elevating Local Environmental Issues to the National Agenda

Today, guest host Shelley Hearne, director of the Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy brings us to the south lawn of the White House for a conversation with Catherine Flowers, environmental justice advocate and a MacArthur Genius Award winner. Flowers talks about working with grassroots advocates, celebrities, politicians, and influencers of all kinds to raise awareness around serious sanitation issues in US cities that we usually associate with underdeveloped nations.

Feb 13, 2023 • 7:55

572 - Can U.S. Life Expectancy Declines be Reversed?

572 - Can U.S. Life Expectancy Declines be Reversed?

The average life expectancy in the United States has dropped precipitously during the pandemic—and COVID-19 is not the only culprit. Dr. Josh Sharfstein, who leads the Bloomberg American Health Initiative at Johns Hopkins, talks to co-host Stephanie Desmon about a new report on how we can halt U.S. life expectancy declines by focusing on major causes of the declines: COVID, opioids, gun homicides and suicides, motor vehicle crashes, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. This report sets out ten f

Feb 10, 2023 • 14:54

571 - Hidden in Plain Sight Part 1: Stories About the Powerful—and Often Invisible—Public Health Forces That Shape Our Lives

571 - Hidden in Plain Sight Part 1: Stories About the Powerful—and Often Invisible—Public Health Forces That Shape Our Lives

The Stoop Storytelling Series and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health partnered last fall to present a night of storytelling by scientists, activists, and community members sharing personal stories about urgent public health issues. In part 1, Carolyn Sufrin, an obgyn and medical anthropologist, tells her story of how she began working in reproductive health care in prisons, and Cicely Franklin, an overdose prevention specialist with the Baltimore City Health Department, talks about

Feb 8, 2023 • 21:43

570 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Persistence is Key In Climate Change Action

570 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Persistence is Key In Climate Change Action

In a two-part conversation that begins while facing down a tiny yet fierce migratory bird on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Refuge to a celebration on the south lawn of the White House, guest host Shelley Hearne, director of the Johns Hopkins Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy, and David Kieve, president of the Environmental Defense Action Fund, discuss why the new climate bill is so critical, what it took to get this massive piece of legislation to the finish line.

Feb 6, 2023 • 9:22

569 - Literally Saving the Planet

569 - Literally Saving the Planet

Astronomer Andy Rivkin led the team at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory that sent a rocket into space last year to change the trajectory of an asteroid. Stephanie Desmon talks to him about how this proof of concept launch could one day aid in the ultimate public health mission: To save humans from the fate of the dinosaurs.

Feb 3, 2023 • 12:15

BONUS - Tradeoffs: Can Creating New Career Pathways Solve Shortages in Long-Term Care?

BONUS - Tradeoffs: Can Creating New Career Pathways Solve Shortages in Long-Term Care?

Roughly 10 percent of long-term care workers have left their careers since the start of COVID-19. The shortage in staffing has led to nursing homes turning patients away, left caregivers at home struggling for help, and ultimately put patients at risk in the hands of workers who have been stretched thin. Tradeoffs host Dan Gorenstein talks about a San Fransisco non-profit home health agency looking to make changes in this sector and how providing long-term care workers with new career pathways c

Feb 3, 2023 • 23:21

568 - A New Law To Enhance the Safety of Cosmetics

568 - A New Law To Enhance the Safety of Cosmetics

Howard Sklamberg, a former deputy commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, talks to Dr. Sharfstein about legislation passed at the end of 2022 to improve the safety of cosmetics. On the agenda for discussion: inspections, manufacturing standards, recalls, and the answer to the trivia question of whether a combination of antiperspirant and deodorant is considered a cosmetic or a drug.

Feb 1, 2023 • 12:55

567 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Bernadette Demientieff and the People of the Gwich’in Nation Want You To Know That We’re All Connected

567 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Bernadette Demientieff and the People of the Gwich’in Nation Want You To Know That We’re All Connected

Guest host Shelley Hearne, director of the Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy, brings us eight miles above the Arctic Circle to talk with Bernadette Demientieff, council member for the Arctic Refuge Defense Council and member of the Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich'in Tribe. They discuss the very real impacts of climate change on her community in their day-to-day lives and our global interconnectedness, including why it matters to all of us what's happening in a remote corner of the world.

Jan 30, 2023 • 11:45

566 - What is "Immunity Debt"?

566 - What is "Immunity Debt"?

Years of masking and distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic protected many of us from the common cold and flu, and isolation protected children from respiratory illnesses like RSV. So, why are so many kids getting sick this winter? In this episode, Stephanie Desmon talks to Dr. Mike Rose, a pediatric resident at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine about a concept called ‘immunity debt’ and why it could explain the recent increase in pediatric illness and hospitalizations.

Jan 27, 2023 • 13:52

565 - A New COVID Landscape in China

565 - A New COVID Landscape in China

After years of using a ZERO COVID strategy in China, which led to many lockdowns and economic questions, the country has dropped all COVID restrictions in recent weeks. Dr. Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security joins Stephanie Desmon to discuss what has happened in China, what the consequences are now and what they will be in the future. Adalja says both policies were destined to fail and we could see China in 2023 look a lot like the United States in 2020.

Jan 25, 2023 • 15:37

564 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Howard Frumkin on How Environmental Health = Our Health, and Why There’s Empirical Evidence For Hope

564 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Howard Frumkin on How Environmental Health = Our Health, and Why There’s Empirical Evidence For Hope

Environmental health wasn’t always part of the public health portfolio but in recent years “science caught up to the obvious.” Dr. Howard Frumkin, former head of Environmental Health Operations at the CDC and currently senior vice president at Trust for Public Land, talks with Shelley Hearne about the evidence base behind environmental impacts on our health, the political and cultural changes required for the CDC to adopt programs around climate and environment, and why hope for tackling climate

Jan 23, 2023 • 22:08

563 - Controversy over Deaths in Custody

563 - Controversy over Deaths in Custody

Dr. Roger Mitchell, the former chief medical examiner of the District of Columbia, and current chief of pathology at Howard University speaks with Dr. Sharfstein about how deaths in custody are classified. Dr. Mitchell has observed that when it comes to understanding the reasons for these deaths, the usual rules of autopsies and death investigations don't always seem to apply. He's leading the charge to understand more about what's happening.

Jan 20, 2023 • 17:06

562 - The Pandemic is Not Over

562 - The Pandemic is Not Over

As we enter the fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Mike Osterholm, a leading expert from the University of Minnesota, talks to Stephanie Desmon about why hundreds of people in the U.S. continue to die each day from COVID and tens of thousands are newly hospitalized. They discuss the question he gets asked most often, “Is this pandemic ever going to end?”, as well as coming variants, the massive outbreaks in China, and the lack of demand for vaccines and treatments that are effective in pr

Jan 18, 2023 • 15:48

561 - A Supreme Court Case That's a "Big Deal" for Public Health

561 - A Supreme Court Case That's a "Big Deal" for Public Health

Our guest is Judge David Tatel, who recently took senior status on the U.S. court of appeals for the DC circuit after joining the court in 1994. He was appointed to fill the seat created by the appointment of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court. Judge Tatel speaks with Dr. Sharfstein about West Virginia v. EPA, in which the Supreme Court announced a major new doctrine for judging actions by health agencies to protect the public.

Jan 13, 2023 • 20:12

560 - Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

560 - Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Letourneau, director of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, speaks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about sexual abuse prevention means for youth serving organizations, and for children themselves. More about the Moore Center is here.

Jan 11, 2023 • 12:55

559 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Gina McCarthy On Helping People Want Change Without Being Afraid of It

559 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Gina McCarthy On Helping People Want Change Without Being Afraid of It

Today, guest host Shelley Hearne, director of the Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy talks with former EPA leader and inaugural White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy about why climate change is a people and public health problem, not a planetary problem.

Jan 9, 2023 • 20:54

558 - “It Was Compromised": The Trump Administration and CDC, with Congressman Bill Foster

558 - “It Was Compromised": The Trump Administration and CDC, with Congressman Bill Foster

A report from the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis sheds light on disturbing instances of the Trump administration’s politicization of science during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Subcommittee member Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what’s in the report, how to better protect agencies like the CDC from political interference, and lessons learned to prepare for the next pandemic.

Jan 6, 2023 • 15:51

557 - What’s Happening With Abortion Access Six Months After the SCOTUS Decision

557 - What’s Happening With Abortion Access Six Months After the SCOTUS Decision

Since the reversal of Roe v. Wade, there’s been a flurry of activity at the state levels to protect, significantly restrict, or ban abortion. Legal and public health expert Joanne Rosen returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how removing the “constitutional guardrails” is playing out in courtrooms across the country, the “chilling effect” much of this has on practitioners, and how the recently passed Respect for Marriage Act could have implications for protections at the f

Jan 4, 2023 • 21:12

556 - Backstage at Public Health On Call: 2022 Year in Review with Dr. Josh Sharfstein and Stephanie Desmon

556 - Backstage at Public Health On Call: 2022 Year in Review with Dr. Josh Sharfstein and Stephanie Desmon

In the last episode of Season 6, Lindsay Smith Rogers talks with co-hosts Dr. Josh Sharfstein and Stephanie Desmon about 2022: how it started, what happened, and how it's going now. They reflect on the changing COVID response, listener feedback, standout episodes, notable guests, looking ahead to topics for 2023 and more. This episode was recorded in person as a video and can be viewed on the @johnshopkinssph YouTube channel. Please vote for the podcast in the Signal Listener’s Choice Awards! In

Dec 16, 2022 • 27:03

555 - Special Episode—Conversations on Critical Topics: The Bloomberg American Health Summit

555 - Special Episode—Conversations on Critical Topics: The Bloomberg American Health Summit

Last week, hundreds of public health leaders and scholars gathered in Philadelphia for the annual Bloomberg American Health Summit and to discuss critical topics ranging from gun violence and environmental justice to food policy and preventing overdose. This special episode of Public Health On Call features three panels from the main plenary session: Extreme Risk Protection Orders, Innovations in Harm Reduction, and Youth Suicide Risk in Latinx Communities. You can watch the full sessions here.

Dec 14, 2022 • 33:19

554 - A Bleak Winter? Modeling the Next Six Months of COVID, Flu, and RSV

554 - A Bleak Winter? Modeling the Next Six Months of COVID, Flu, and RSV

Dr. Shaun Truelove, an infectious disease epidemiologist, returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the latest models for the COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub. They discuss the possibility of another COVID surge this winter as well as what models can tell us about other respiratory diseases like flu and RSV, and factors like the flu and bivalent vaccines. Please vote for the podcast in the Signal Listener’s Choice Awards! Info here

Dec 12, 2022 • 11:21

553 - The World's Most Dangerous Fungi

553 - The World's Most Dangerous Fungi

For the first time, the WHO released a report of fungal “priority pathogens” that are causing invasive diseases in humans and are becoming more prevalent and more resistant to treatment. Dr. Hatim Sati, technical leader of the report, talks with Stephanie Desmon about why fungi pose such a threat to human health, the lack of diagnostics and treatments, and how better research and surveillance can help.

Dec 9, 2022 • 18:11

552 - The Historic Floods in Pakistan

552 - The Historic Floods in Pakistan

Guest host Bilal Khan, a Johns Hopkins public health student who recently worked as an advisor to senior public health leaders in Pakistan, talks with Dr. Rabika Fatima, a Karachi-based doctor volunteering at medical relief camps near the floods, about what’s happening on the ground in the aftermath of Pakistan’s devastating floods. Organizations working on the front lines include: JDC Foundation, Al Khidmat Foundation, IMI Pakistan, and The Indus Hospital.

Dec 7, 2022 • 15:40

551 - The Massachusetts Pediatric Injury Equity Review—A New Process for Reviewing Pediatric Injuries in Order to Prevent Them

551 - The Massachusetts Pediatric Injury Equity Review—A New Process for Reviewing Pediatric Injuries in Order to Prevent Them

Unintentional injuries like auto and firearm accidents, drownings, and poisonings, are the leading causes of death in US children over age 1. Dr. Sadiqa Kendi, Division Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Boston Medical Center and a Bloomberg Fellow, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about her work on the Mass PIER project and some insights they’ve gained from reviewing pediatric injuries. Learn more about the project findings here.

Dec 5, 2022 • 13:56

550 - ”Take Nothing For Granted With This Virus”—The Latest on COVID Treatment and Vaccines

550 - ”Take Nothing For Granted With This Virus”—The Latest on COVID Treatment and Vaccines

COVID-19 infections may look different in 2022 than they did in 2020, thanks to vaccines, infection-induced immunity, and new treatments—but that doesn’t mean we can rest easy. Dr. Paul Sax, clinical director of infectious diseases at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the overall state of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, what we still don’t know about this virus, and why it’s important to stay

Dec 2, 2022 • 19:08

549 - Treating Substance Use Disorder in Pregnancy

549 - Treating Substance Use Disorder in Pregnancy

Medications to treat opioid use disorder in pregnant people can decrease the chances of an infant being born too early and reduce risks of maternal overdose and death. But with a fractured and underfunded system of OUD treatment, as well as stigma around drug abuse in pregnancy and siloed maternal health care, how can pregnant people access this lifesaving care? Dr. Stephen Patrick, pediatrician and former senior policy advisor at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, returns t

Nov 30, 2022 • 15:04

548 - Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) and the Dual Crises of Nurse Shortages & Post-Roe Fallout

548 - Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) and the Dual Crises of Nurse Shortages & Post-Roe Fallout

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, or SANEs, are specially trained advocates and care providers for survivors of sexual violence in ERs and other clinical settings. In addition to providing medical care and counseling, they can collect forensic evidence at the critical moment following a sexual assault. Oregon SANE Savannah Powell talks to Lindsay Smith Rogers about the important role SANEs play in survivors’ healing and the unique challenges the field faces in the context of the nation’s nursing c

Nov 28, 2022 • 12:31

547 - “Could You Pass the Peace, Please?” How to Handle Difficult Conversations at the Thanksgiving Table

547 - “Could You Pass the Peace, Please?” How to Handle Difficult Conversations at the Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving dinner can bring tension alongside turkey and this year may feel especially stressful given a highly polarizing political environment. Dr. Consuelo Amat, an expert in peace building at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about some ground rules for peace-building and dialogue, and how to meaningfully engage in difficult conversations with people we love.

Nov 23, 2022 • 15:29

BONUS - Oregon’s Measure 114: Reducing Gun Violence by State Referendum

BONUS - Oregon’s Measure 114: Reducing Gun Violence by State Referendum

During the midterms, Oregon voters passed Measure 114 which restricts magazine capacity for firearms and requires purchasers to obtain a permit which includes a background check and safety training. Cass Crifasi, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about why this measure is a lifesaving win not only for gun violence solutions and public health, but also for evidence-based advocacy. They also discuss where the measure falls in the co

Nov 22, 2022 • 15:26

546 - The "Liver Lady"

546 - The "Liver Lady"

Today’s episode is all about the liver. Thelma Thiel, founder and chair of The Liver Health Initiative, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about this “silent organ” that, among many roles, removes toxins from what you eat, breathe, and absorb through your skin. They also discuss Thiel’s efforts in advocacy and education—including her talking about the "football-sized" liver with an NFL team.

Nov 21, 2022 • 11:36

545 - A Conversation with the "Drug Czar": New Directions for the National Drug Control Strategy

545 - A Conversation with the "Drug Czar": New Directions for the National Drug Control Strategy

For the first time, a physician—Dr. Rahul Gupta—is directing the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. Dr. Gupta talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the national strategy to address addiction and overdose, emphasizing treatment and harm reduction, not criminalization.

Nov 18, 2022 • 19:43

544 - The Increase in Gun-Related Deaths During the Pandemic

544 - The Increase in Gun-Related Deaths During the Pandemic

New CDC data shows that during the pandemic, gun-related homicides and suicides surged to record highs. Ari Davis, a researcher at the John Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the spikes, some possible contributing factors, and effective public health solutions. ‌

Nov 16, 2022 • 13:03

543 - A Global Snapshot of Family Planning and Reproductive Freedom

543 - A Global Snapshot of Family Planning and Reproductive Freedom

As advocates from around the world gather at the International Conference on Family Planning in Thailand this week, what’s the state of global reproductive rights? Megan Christofield, a project director and advisor at JHPIEGO, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the accessibility and prevalence of contraceptive use worldwide, where gains have been made and where things have been stagnant or even backslid in the last decade, and some game-changing new contraception options that could help avert man

Nov 14, 2022 • 15:24

542 - COVID-19’s Long-term Neurological Problems

542 - COVID-19’s Long-term Neurological Problems

Coming into the third year of the pandemic, we now have more data about how COVID affects people in the long term. Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, Chief of Research and Education Service at Veterans Affairs in the St. Louis Health Care System returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about a new study of 150,000 people with COVID-19 that found higher incidence of headaches, seizures, sleep problems, strokes, and other neurological symptoms following even mild or asymptomatic infections. Read the st

Nov 11, 2022 • 15:57

541 - “There Weren’t Enough Greek Letters”—Keeping Track of COVID-19 Omicron Variants

541 - “There Weren’t Enough Greek Letters”—Keeping Track of COVID-19 Omicron Variants

First we had alpha, beta, and delta, and now we have hundreds of sublineages just from omicron alone. Virologist Dr. Andy Pekosz returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how experts are keeping track of so many variations of SARS-CoV-2, which advantageous mutations most lineages are picking up to help them spread, the clinical impacts on treatments and vaccines, and why COVID-19 is not yet seasonal.

Nov 9, 2022 • 14:39

540 - What Happens When the COVID-19 Emergency Declarations End?

540 - What Happens When the COVID-19 Emergency Declarations End?

First declared in January, 2020 and renewed every 90 days since, the federal COVID-19 public health emergency allows for key flexibilities and funds in response to the pandemic. With the declaration due to expire in January, what are the implications for things like Medicare/Medicaid coverage, and cost and access to vaccines and tests? Jennifer Kates, Senior Vice President and Director of Global Health & HIV Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about the PHE an

Nov 7, 2022 • 19:17

539 - When Surges of Respiratory Disease Meet a Mental Health Crisis

539 - When Surges of Respiratory Disease Meet a Mental Health Crisis

Disappointing rates of child and adolescent vaccination for COVID are colliding with an intensifying seasonal storm of viral illnesses including flu and RSV. ERs and pediatric ICU beds are already filling up in some areas and many more kids will miss precious school time on top of pandemic learning loss. Pediatrician Dr. Megan Tschudy talks with Stephanie Desmon about the importance of vaccination in prevention and protection, a worsening child and adolescent mental health crisis, and why the pa

Nov 4, 2022 • 13:36

538 - The Political Determinants of Health

538 - The Political Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health—such as access to appropriate housing, health care, and transportation—drive massive health disparities in the US, and many are underpinned by politics and policies. Professor and author Daniel Dawes talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about his new book which looks at the role of politics and health, why the “moral case” alone can’t advance change, and how the health of the democratic process is key to a healthier and more equitable future.

Nov 2, 2022 • 17:06

537 - Death and Public Health Part II: Environmental Impacts of the Funeral Industry and “Green Burials”

537 - Death and Public Health Part II: Environmental Impacts of the Funeral Industry and “Green Burials”

Traditional after-deathcare in the US carries a huge environmental toll from burying toxic embalming chemicals to the carbon footprint of cremation. Samuel Cline Perry, a licensed mortician, professor of mortuary science, and a deathcare educator at Southern Illinois University Carbondale talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about how the funeral industry is evolving with more options for “green burials.” They also discuss new legislation around human composting and why social justice is a key aspect

Oct 31, 2022 • 18:47

536 - Death and Public Health Part I: How to Talk About Death and Dying

536 - Death and Public Health Part I: How to Talk About Death and Dying

Conversations about death and dying between physicians and patients or patients and loved ones are difficult but important. Dr. Jillian Tullis, a professor in Communication at the University of San Diego, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about why these conversations are important to dying well, some tools for starting the conversation (especially with loved ones who may be resistant to the topic), and some important things to consider when inquiring about someone’s wishes. They also discuss how

Oct 28, 2022 • 14:39

535 - Public Health’s Role at the Intersection of Climate Change and Advocacy

535 - Public Health’s Role at the Intersection of Climate Change and Advocacy

Climate change is an urgent existential threat to public health, so why is it still considered a separate issue and how can public health take on more problem solving to address it? “Problem Solver for Public Health” Dr. Judy Monroe, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation, talks with guest host Dr. Shelley Hearne, director of the Johns Hopkins Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy about lessons learned from tobacco battles, why engaging in politics—but not partisanship—is a crucial asset, an

Oct 26, 2022 • 16:59

534 - The Overturning of Roe vs. Wade, 3 Months Later

534 - The Overturning of Roe vs. Wade, 3 Months Later

Dr. Raegan McDonald Mosley, an obstetrician-gynecologist and CEO of Power to Decide, returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the state of reproductive health care 3 months after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. They discuss barriers to access to abortion services, interference with the care of pregnancy, and the challenge posed to US medicine and the health care system.

Oct 24, 2022 • 12:10

533 - COVID in Oklahoma

533 - COVID in Oklahoma

In June 2020, Dr. Dale Bratzler stepped in to serve as the Chief COVID Officer for the University of Oklahoma. He talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about making controversial health and safety decisions in a charged atmosphere, his transition from primary care to public health, and his views on COVID as a long-term issue with far-reaching impacts.

Oct 21, 2022 • 13:34

532 - Flint, Jackson, and Beyond: Infrastructure Failures in U.S. Cities

532 - Flint, Jackson, and Beyond: Infrastructure Failures in U.S. Cities

The disastrous water infrastructure issues in Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi are not outliers. Looming failures across water, energy, and transportation systems are threatening dozens of cities. Dr. Marccus Hendricks, director of the Stormwater Infrastructure Resilience and Justice Lab at the University of Maryland, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about these emerging challenges.

Oct 19, 2022 • 13:13

531 - Redefining the Challenges of Foster Care

531 - Redefining the Challenges of Foster Care

Across the country, kids who fall into the foster care system are getting stuck in hospitals and institutions because there’s nowhere for them to go. Molly Tierney, the leader of child welfare work at Accenture, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about these heartbreaking scenarios and how change starts with redefining the challenges, as well as what individuals can do in their own communities.

Oct 17, 2022 • 17:28

530 - The Devastating Floods in Pakistan and the Role of Climate Change

530 - The Devastating Floods in Pakistan and the Role of Climate Change

The unprecedented floods in Pakistan that have killed more than 1,600 people and directly affected 33 million are the result of years of planning failure coming head to head with climate change. In a two-part conversation, Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks with Dr. Debbie Guha, the head of the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters at the Lovain School of Public Health in Belgium about the scale of the disaster and contributing factors, and then to Dr. Ben Zaitchik, a Johns Hopkins Profess

Oct 14, 2022 • 16:46

529 - The Chutzpah of Public Sector Leadership

529 - The Chutzpah of Public Sector Leadership

It’s a difficult time for public sector workers—health departments, social workers, sanitation staff, and more are burned out from doing so much with so little during an intense pandemic. Beth Blauer, associate vice provost for public sector innovation at Johns Hopkins, talks with Josh Sharfstein about contributing factors to the burnout, where there is innovation happening, and ways for public officials to embrace “the chutzpah of leadership.”

Oct 12, 2022 • 14:53

528 - Why the Health of Indigenous People Impacts Us All

528 - Why the Health of Indigenous People Impacts Us All

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Dr. Donald Warne, the new co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health and a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the challenges and opportunities for the health of the world’s indigenous populations. They also discuss the expansive work of the Center, and the hope that greater understanding of indigenous health will bring a broad range of benefits to the world.

Oct 10, 2022 • 15:43

527 - The White House’s National Action Plan On Long COVID

527 - The White House’s National Action Plan On Long COVID

The Biden administration’s action plan for responding to long COVID is a good start, but much more is required to truly address the impacts of this “mass disabling event” on health, safety, and the economy. Journalist Ryan Prior and inaugural White House Director for Disability Policy Kim Knackstedt talk with Stephanie Desmon about what is included in the nation’s long COVID plan, what was left out, and how the plan could pave the way for responding to other chronic illnesses.

Oct 7, 2022 • 14:40

526 - YouTube’s Dr. Garth Graham on Social Media and Misinformation

526 - YouTube’s Dr. Garth Graham on Social Media and Misinformation

Social media has long been criticized for its role in perpetuating dangerous misinformation. Dr. Garth Graham, the director and global head of healthcare and public health at Google and YouTube, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how this came to a head during the pandemic and how he sees the opportunity for social media channels to be leaders in the evolution of science and public health communications.

Oct 5, 2022 • 15:52

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