Public Health Review Morning Edition

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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