Public Health On Call
Evidence and experts to help you understand today's public health news—and what it means for tomorrow.
What's Happening to the Federal Task Force that Oversees Prevention?
About this episode:
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force makes recommendations for preventive services that insurers in the United States must cover. Its rigorous process, however, is getting a makeover from the new administration. In this episode: Host Josh Sharfstein and former USPSTF chair Michael Silverstein discuss the panel's operations and how recent changes to the task force will shape the future of healthcare.
Guest:Dr. Michael Silverstein, MPH, is a pediatrician, former chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and professor at the Brown University School of Public Health.
Host:Dr...
Is MAHA Making Food Great?
About this episode:
The Make America Healthy Again movement has embraced the cause of reform of federal food policy. Two years after one of its prominent leaders came into government, what has—and what has not—been accomplished? In this episode: Two food systems experts from Johns Hopkins provide an interim assessment.
Guest:Patti Anderson, PhD, MPH, is an assistant practice professor of Environmental Health and Engineering and the policy director of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.
Tom Philpott is a senior research associate at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Futu...
Raising Kids in the Digital World
About this episode:
Talking about tech and social media with kids can be stressful, but according to a new resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics, intentional conversations about social media use rooted in shared values can help families connect over healthy habits. In this episode: Dr. Megan Moreno, co-author of "Connecting: Raising Kids in the Digital World," addresses common concerns about technology use and youth mental health, the benefits of digital connection, and how to set boundaries with devices.
Guest:Dr. Megan Moreno, MSEd, MPH, is a pediatrician and professor at the University of Wisconsin School...
A Beleaguered Baltimore Incinerator Shuts Down
About this episode:
A massive incinerator located in the Curtis Bay neighborhood of Baltimore will no longer burn medical waste under a new deal with the state of Maryland. It's a big win for local activists and neighbors who have long voiced concerns about the facility's repeated air pollution violations and residents' health. In this episode: Community leader Shashawnda Campbell and professor Christopher Heaney detail the neighborhood advocacy and research partnerships that led to this pivotal moment—and the work still ahead to safeguard the health of communities like Curtis Bay.
Guest:Shashawnda Campbell is a community le...
Should It Be Daylight Saving Time All the Time?
About this episode:
In addition to making you feel a bit jetlagged, the semiannual practice of moving our clocks forward and back can have health impacts. And while many Americans agree that we should "lock the clock," there's a growing debate about whether the clock should be fixed to daylight saving time or standard time. In this episode: Sleep expert Vadim Zipunnikov discusses the biology behind changing clocks and why many scientists—himself included—are on team standard time.
Guest:Vadim Zipunnikov, PhD, MS, MA, is a professor of Biostatistics at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Publ...
How Can We Respond Better to Sexual Violence?
About this episode:
Headlines about an alleged sexual assault at Cornell University provide a devastating reminder of how common sexual violence is in the U.S., particularly among high school and college students. In this episode: Michele Decker, whose research focuses on gender-based violence prevention and response, discusses the scope of sexual violence as a public health problem, misconceptions about how it's perpetrated, and evidence-backed methods for prevention, survivor support, and accountability.
Note: This episode includes discussion of incidents of sexual assault. If you or someone you know are concerned about having experienced sexual violence or supporting...
Public Health and… Anesthesiology?
About this episode:
We promise this episode won't put you to sleep. Adam Milam is a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist with a PhD in public health who leverages this unique background to improve the quality of care for his patients inside the operating room and beyond. In this episode: Dr. Milam shares how his public health training has allowed him to probe at larger questions about ethics and care as a clinician, and how his time in the operating room has given him a sense of urgency in solving population-level challenges.
Guest:Dr. Adam Milam, PhD, MHS, is a...
Kratom, the Opioid-Like Drug Available at Your Gas Station
About this episode:
Kratom is an imported leaf containing opioid-like psychoactive compounds that can be found at your local convenience store or online. Recently linked to the deaths of two college students, the product sits at the intersection of burgeoning research, drug policy limitations, and harm reduction, leaving the potentially dangerous compounds found in kratom unregulated. In this episode: Drug safety expert Caleb Alexander and host Lindsay Smith Rogers discuss what kratom is and where regulation of the drug stands.
Guest:Dr. G. Caleb Alexander, MS, is an internal medicine physician and co-director of the Center for...
Why Health?
About this episode:
In the field of medicine, health is often treated as an end goal, achieved by procedures, prescriptions, and physicians. A new book argues that we should see health instead as a social value—connected to other values we care about. In this episode: Physician, population health scientist, and author Sandro Galea talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about his book, "Why Health?: What We Need to Think About When We Think About Health."
Guest:Dr. Sandro Galea, DrPH, is the Margaret C. Ryan dean of the Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky School of Public He...
Utah's .05 Legal Blood Alcohol Limit is Saving Lives
About this episode:
In 2018, the state of Utah became the first state in the country to lower its blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving from 0.08 to 0.05. Within a year of implementation, the state's fatal crash rate dropped by nearly 20%. So, why haven't other states followed suit? In this episode: Dr. Federico Vaca, an expert in health and transportation, takes a close look at Utah's law, why it's been so effective, and how it can serve as a national model for safer driving.
Guest:Dr. Federico Vaca, MPH, is a physician and a professor of emergency medicine...
Youth Suicide Prevention on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation
About this episode:
Suicide rates in the U.S. are highest among American Indian and Alaska Native populations and are concentrated among young people. Personal brushes with this devastation sparked members of the White Mountain Apache tribe to develop an innovative and community-centered suicide prevention program. In this episode: Novalene Alsenay Goklish and Emily Haroz of the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health discuss the impact of the Celebrating Life program and how its deep roots in the tribal community allow caseworkers and staff to connect directly with those in need.
Note: This episode includes discussions of...
Change at the EPA
About this episode:
Since its inception, the Environmental Protection Agency has served as the bedrock for major policy initiatives to protect human and environmental health in the U.S.—from safeguarding access to clean air and water to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. But a recent move towards deregulation reflects major changes happening at the agency. In this episode: Tom Burke, who served as the deputy assistant administrator of the EPA from 2015 to 2017, talks about his serious concerns about recent policy moves—and his confidence that the future of environmental health nonetheless remains strong.
Guest:Tom Burke, PhD...
The Case For Not Eating Lettuce
About this episode:
A leaf of iceberg on a sandwich or a serving of chopped romaine in a salad can add a satisfying crunch to your lunch—but does it offer much of anything else? In this episode: Washington Post food policy columnist Tamar Haspel unpacks the environmental implications of growing lettuce, the limited nutritional benefits offered by the crop, and why it's such a common culprit behind outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.
Guest:Tamar Haspel is an author and columnist with the Washington Post, who covers food, health, and science.
Host:Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a...
From Saving Lives to Selling Supplements: A History of Vitamin A
About this episode:
Vitamin A is essential for good vision, a healthy immune system, cell growth, and reproductive health, and it has proved to be a critical tool in fighting childhood mortality in parts of the world where access to nutrient-rich foods is limited. But while Vitamin A has saved many lives, supplementation isn't necessary for most people, despite what you may read online. In this episode: a slate of experts from the Johns Hopkins University join host Lindsay Smith Rogers to dive into the history of vitamin A supplementation, how it has shaped global health, and what this...
Will AI Generate New Biological Threats?
About this episode:
Scientists, tech companies, and world leaders are sounding the alarm on potential threats to humanity as AI models grow more powerful. Is part of this threat related to the technology's biological capabilities? In this episode: Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, answers: yes. He provides an overview of what AI is capable of doing and what possible threats could be around the corner if policies don't intervene to control these developments.
Guest:Dr. Tom Inglesby is a professor of Environmental Health and Engineering and the director of the Johns...
An mRNA Flu Vaccine Hits the Market
About this episode:
For the first time ever, mRNA flu shots are available this respiratory virus season for adults age 50 and older, offering an opportunity to create vaccines better tailored to certain strains of the virus. Moderna's mFLUSIVA was approved by the FDA this summer and is available in some pharmacies. In this episode: Vaccine expert Anna Durbin explains how the vaccine works, discusses the current data on its safety and efficacy, and reflects on the quest for a universal flu vaccine.
Guest:Dr. Anna Durbin is a professor of International Health and the director of the...
Aging with HIV
About this episode:
Life expectancies for those living with HIV are nearly identical to those living without the virus, thanks to groundbreaking advancements in medicine and care. But that data point doesn't tell the full story about the unique needs and nuanced challenges facing those with HIV, particularly as that population skews increasingly older. In this episode: Keri Althoff and Vanessa Johnson, co-authors of a new report on aging and HIV, explain why and how prevention and treatment should adapt to support lifelong health.
Guest:Keri N. Althoff, PhD, MPH, is a professor of epidemiology at the...
A Public Health and Business School Graduate with Sickle Cell Disease
About this episode:
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, recognizing a severe disease that affects an estimated 100,000 people in the U.S. In this episode: Shayla Ellington, who lives with Hemoglobin SC disease, shares how her diagnosis has shaped her life, how she sees the underfunding of research and treatment, and how she uses her public health and business school training to advocate for a brighter future.
Guest:Shayla Ellington, MPH, MBA, is a recent alumna of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Carey Business School.
Host:Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished...
A Guide to Fall Vaccines for People Who Are Immunocompromised and Those Who Care For Them
About this episode:
Those whose immune systems are more vulnerable due to age, illness, or another condition are at a higher risk of getting sick with and experiencing severe symptoms of seasonal illnesses like flu, COVID-19, and RSV. In this episode: Epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers provides her recommendations for vaccines this respiratory virus season for people who are immunocompromised and for those who care for them, when to get them, and how to find disease trends in your area.
Guest:Caitlin Rivers, PhD, MPH, is an associate professor of Environmental Health and Engineering, director of the Johns Hopkins...
U.S. Healthcare Failures: Is Neoliberalism to Blame?
About this episode:
A new book argues that a wave of Reagan-era policies grounded in limited government intervention in the free market has given way to deregulation and corporate consolidation in healthcare, driving up costs and yielding poor health outcomes. In this episode: John McDonough, author of "America's Wrong Turn: U.S. Healthcare in the Neoliberal Era," walks through the pivotal policies of past political eras and provides his insights on where the country is headed next.
Guest:John McDonough, DrPH, MPA, is a health policy expert, author, and professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School...
The Rabies Episode
About this episode:
According to the CDC, rabies cases are on the rise nationwide. This aggressive RNA virus, primarily transmitted through biting, can infect any mammal—including household pets and humans—with horrific and fatal consequences. In this episode: Veterinarians Meghan Davis and Monica Murphy discuss how to identify a rabid animal, why preventing infection is critical to saving lives, and the fascinating cultural history of rabies with ties to werewolves, vampires, and zombies.
Guest:Meghan Davis, PhD, MPH, DVM, is a veterinarian and chair of the Master of Public Health program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Scho...
Private Equity in Healthcare
About this episode:
Private equity is purchasing hospitals, long-term care facilities, laboratories, and clinics—often promising to introduce efficient, cutting-edge care. But what's actually happening in communities? In this episode: Two health policy researchers explain one way that private equity operates in the healthcare system and its consequences for patients.
Guest:Karen Davenport, MPA, is a senior research fellow at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy.
Kennah Watts, MSPH, is a research fellow at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) at Georgetown University's McCourt School of...
Meta Settled a Case Over Social Media Addiction Claims. What Happens Now?
About this episode:
In August, Meta—the parent company of Instagram and Facebook—agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion to 54 states and U.S. territories over claims that it harmed children by fostering unhealthy digital habits. In this episode: An addiction researcher and an expert in adolescent mental health explain the terms of the agreement, what comes next, and what parents should take away from the larger conversation on youth social media use.
Guest:Tamar Mendelson, PhD, MA, is a professor of Mental Health and Population, Family and Reproductive Health, as well as the director of the John...
Does Legalizing Marijuana Affect Alcohol and Other Drug Use?
About this episode:
New research examines the relationship between the legalization of medicinal or recreational cannabis and patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and opioid use. In this episode: Lead author of the study, Sarah Windle, explains what her team's systematic review, published in the Milbank Quarterly, can tell us about whether legal cannabis is being used to substitute or to complement other substances.
Guest:Sarah Windle, MPH, is a PhD student in epidemiology at McGill University.
Host:Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary...
Hot Topics This Fall: Food Recalls, Measles, Respiratory Vaccines
About this episode:
Between the cyclosporiasis outbreak and other food safety issues, the ongoing measles outbreak, and the coming respiratory season, there's a lot going on in public health. In this episode: Dr. Josh Sharfstein, a pediatrician, former principal deputy commissioner of the FDA, and Public Health On Call host, covers these and other hot topics in public health.
Guest:Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.
Host:Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health...
Taking Public Health from the Classroom to the Community
About this episode:
Malcolm Cunningham and Amelia Hulbert both work in local government, spearheading violence prevention programs and reducing barriers to food access, respectively. Through the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, they've supercharged their work with MPH degrees and instruction from leaders in their fields. In this episode: Malcolm and Amelia discuss their work to create better health outcomes in their communities and how programs at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have guided them.
Guest:Malcolm Cunningham, MPH, is the director of the Toledo, OH, Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and an alumnus...
Challenges in Global Access to Life-Saving Medications and Vaccines
About this episode:
During the recent pandemic, low-income countries struggled to access the COVID-19 vaccine, despite a global framework that had been established for this purpose. In this episode: Tahir Amin, a leader in the access to medicines movement, shares his perspective on what failed during the pandemic and how this experience reflects larger challenges in the availability and affordability of critical medications.
Guest:Tahir Amin, DPLP, is a founder and CEO of the Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge (I-MAK), a nonprofit organization working to address the inequities in how medicines are developed and distributed.
Host: <...Why Does A Bee Matter to My Health?
About this episode:
Wild pollinators like bees and hoverflies play a direct role in human health. A recent study in Nepal shows that flourishing pollinator populations lead to higher agricultural yields, bolstering both human economic wellbeing and access to ample, nutrient-rich foods. In this episode: Dr. Samuel Myers of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health details the link between biodiversity and human health and the risk that mankind's ecological footprint poses to this complex and essential relationship.
Guest:Sam Myers, MD, MPH, is the founding director of the Planetary Health Alliance and the faculty director at...
Saving Babies' Lives by Preventing Neonatal Sepsis
About this episode:
Global infant mortality has fallen dramatically since 1990, but neonatal sepsis—a serious bloodstream infection occurring in newborns—still accounts for a significant portion of preventable deaths. Simple interventions like good hygiene practices and sufficient staffing in delivery rooms could reduce infections and prevent fatalities. In this episode: Pablo Duran, a perinatal health expert with the Pan American Health Organization, explains how providers, parents, and public health can prevent, recognize, and treat neonatal sepsis early on for better outcomes.
Guest:Dr. Pablo Duran, PhD, MPH, is a pediatrician and neonatologist who serves as the regional advi...
How Safe Are E-Bikes and E-Scooters?
About this episode:
As electric scooters and bikes explode in popularity in cities across the globe, concerns about safety abound. Early data shows that injuries from collisions and falls on these devices can include severe head trauma and injuries to internal organs, culminating in increased visits to the hospital. In this episode: Road safety expert Johnathon Ehsani provides an epidemiological overview of the safety data and offers advice for parents and policymakers to prevent injuries.
Guest:Johnathon Ehsani, PhD, MPH, is an internationally recognized road safety researcher and an associate professor in Health Policy and Management at...
Gas Stoves Are Worsening Breathing Issues, According to Canceled Study
About this episode:
Accumulating research has linked nitrogen dioxide emissions from gas stoves to exacerbated respiratory issues. A recent study from Case Western Reserve University set out to conduct a large analysis of whether switching to electric stoves could improve breathing conditions, but funding was halted just as early results came in showing significantly improved asthma symptoms. In this episode: what this truncated study can tell us about air quality inside our homes and what's lost when public health research is canceled.
Guest:Ana Rule, PhD, MHS, is an associate professor of Environmental Health and Engineering.
...Abel Wolman, "Friend of the Thirsty": A Life and Legacy of Water Sanitization
About this episode:
At the turn of the 20th century, waterborne diseases like typhoid and dysentery posed a significant threat to public health, accounting for a large part of infant mortality and overall morbidity. Enter Abel Wolman, an early graduate of Johns Hopkins' engineering program and a professor at the university's school of public health. In this episode: the story of the Baltimore-born pioneer of water sanitization and how his work in water chlorination and infrastructure set the stage for better health across the globe.
Note: This episode was produced in collaboration with the Johns Hop...
The Workplace Hazard of Radiation—For Flight Crews
About this episode:
Long flights at high altitudes can expose pilots and flight attendants to dangerous levels of cosmic radiation over their careers, potentially increasing their risk for a variety of cancers and posing special dangers to pregnant crewmembers. In this episode: a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine urges action on in-flight radiation exposure, including mandating airline safety programs and developing new ways to measure hazards.
Guest:Tom Burke, PhD, MPH, is an emeritus professor at Johns Hopkins and a former top official with the Environmental Protection Agency in the Obama...
Child Sexual Abuse is Preventable, Not Inevitable
About this episode:
Millions of children will experience sexual abuse before they turn 18, either in-person or online and often at the hands of people they know. The mental, behavioral, and physical health consequences can linger into adulthood. In this episode: Elizabeth Letourneau, director of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, explains why child sexual abuse is one of the nation's most pressing public health crises and what can be done to prevent it.
Guest:Elizabeth Letourneau, PhD, MA, is a professor of mental health and the director of the Moore Center for the...
A Settlement in the Gardasil Lawsuits
About this episode:
This summer, Merck & Co. settled more than 200 lawsuits alleging that the company's HPV vaccine, Gardasil, caused cases of autoimmune conditions and fertility issues in young women. But that $50 million settlement is not an admission of fault on the part of the company or the vaccine. In this episode: Vaccine law expert Dorit Reiss details the lawsuits, including why evidence isn't stacking up for plaintiffs and how headlines about the dollar amount can misconstrue the facts of the case.
Guest:Dorit Reiss, PhD, is an expert on vaccine policy and a professor of law at...
The Executive Order on Childhood Vaccines
About this episode:
In the latest move to alter the childhood vaccine schedule, the president has signed an executive order seeking to scale back and restructure routine immunizations. In this episode: what's in the executive order, what it means, and what comes next.
Guest:Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department. He served as the Baltimore City Commissioner of Health from 2005 to 2009.
Host:Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor...
Building a Better World with Prevention Thinking
About this episode:
Could applying a public health approach to issues like education, crime, and the environment help tackle some of society's most pressing challenges? That's what one researcher argues in a new book titled "Imagine Doing Better: Why Policies Backfire and How Prevention Thinking Can Change Everything." In this episode: Author and professor Paul Fleming discusses his new book, a generational approach to policymaking, and the power of collective action.
Guest:Paul Fleming, PhD, MPH, is an associate professor of health behavior and health equity at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and co-founder...
Senator Andy Kim on the MediKids Act
About this episode:
Over four million children in the United States are uninsured, while many more lack health insurance that adequately meets their care needs. A proposed bill aims to fix that by providing universal health coverage for everyone aged zero to 26. In this episode: Senator Andy Kim, sponsor of the MediKids Act, on why now is the right time for this bill to become law and how it can be implemented by building on the existing Medicaid framework.
Guest:Andy Kim, PhD, is a U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He previously held roles at the...
Are Humans Hot Enough to Survive a Fungal Apocalypse?
About this episode:
New research has identified massive fungal blooms in North America in the Cretaceous period, suggesting significant ecological upheaval before and after the asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs. In this episode: Arturo Casadevall, senior author of the study, explains why these findings are so significant and his hypothesis that fungi gave mammals an evolutionary leg-up over reptiles.
Guest:Dr. Arturo Casadevall, PhD, MS, is chair of the department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a global expert in host defense mechanisms, fungi, and antibody-based therapies. He...
The HPV Vaccine, 20 Years Later
About this episode:
In the two decades since the HPV vaccine was approved, women's risk of developing cervical cancer has dropped by 80% for those vaccinated before age 16 and 66% in those vaccinated after age 16. It has also lowered the risk of other HPV-related cancers in men. In this episode: Journalist Liz Szabo recounts the incredible successes of this intervention in preventing cancer and discusses the existing misinformation surrounding the vaccine, still considered by some to be too "new."
Guest:Liz Szabo, MA, is an investigative health reporter with CIDRAP News.
Host:Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a...
