Public Health Review Morning Edition

In the latest discussions, the significance of racial healing is highlighted as the National Day of Racial Healing approaches. Experts emphasize integrating race and ethnicity data into public health strategies. The new administration is expected to prioritize over 100 executive orders addressing various health issues. There's also a focus on enhancing leadership capabilities within governmental public health through upcoming webinars. This talk weaves together urgent public health initiatives and pivotal legislative changes.

Dr. Laura Herrera Scott, Secretary of Health for the Maryland Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, tells us how Maryland was the first state to sign on to the AHEAD Model released by CMS; Jessica Byrski, Senior Policy Analyst for the National Emergency Management Association, previews a webinar focused on North Carolina's Hurricane Helene response; and the California Air Resources Board and the California Department of Public Health have developed resources to safeguard communities during smoke events. Maryland Web Page: AHEAD Model Maryland News Release: Governor Moore Signs Historic Agreement to Advance Innovative and Equitable Health Care, Lower Health Care Costs for Marylanders NEMA Webinar: Navigating Crisis Communication: Lessons from North Carolina's Response to Hurricane Helene AirNow Web Page: Wildfire Smoke – A Guide for Public Health Officials Wildfire Smoke – Considerations for California's Public Health Officials

Dr. Russell Dunkel, President of the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, tells us why dental health is so important to public health; Keith A. James, Program Manager for Workforce Development and Health Equity for the U.S. Virgin Island Department of Health, explains how others can address workforce challenges with island-centric strategies; and an ASTHO report outlines ASTHO's most popular resources of 2024. ASTHO Web Page: Joint and Affiliate Councils Association‌ of‌ State‌ &‌ Territorial‌ Dental‌ Directors Web Page ASTHO Report: Leveraging Island-Centric Strategies to Address Workforce Challenges ASTHO Report: Improving Indirect Cost Rate Use in Island Jurisdictions ASTHO Blog Article: ASTHO's Most Popular Resources of 2024 ASTHO Web Page: Stay Informed

Dr. Umair Shah, Secretary of Health for the Washington State Department of Health, shares some of his proudest accomplishments as he steps away from his position; Dirk Wilke is the new Interim Commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services; and an ASTHO webinar on January 29th will be the Strategies to Repair Equity and Transform Community Health (STRETCH) 2.0 initiative's fourth national convening. Fox 13 Seattle News Article: WA Secretary of Health, Dr. Umair Shah, stepping down in 2025 ASTHO Web Page: Dirk Wilke, JD, MBA ASTHO Webinar: Centering Community-Led Strategies to Sustainable Public Health Financing

Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, Deputy Secretary for Public Health at the Maryland Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, discusses Maryland's winter weather safety campaign; and Dr. Tobi Adeyeye Amosun, Deputy Commissioner for Population Health for the Tennessee Department of Health, tells us about a recent meeting between senior deputies and CFOs with the CDC. Maryland Department of Health Web Page: Resources – Extreme Cold ABC 7 News Article: Maryland Department of Health urging residents to take precautions during winter months ASTHO Blog Article: How to Stay Safe This Winter ASTHO Web Page: Stay Informed

Maggie Davis, ASTHO Director of State Health Policy, dives into ASTHO's Legal Mapping Project which was one of the most popular resources on ASTHO's website in 2024; and Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, recaps how last year's legislative session ended and gives an outlook for 2025 in this week's View From Washington D.C. Report. ASTHO Web Page: ASTHO's Public Health Legal Mapping Center ASTHO Web Page: ASTHO's Most Popular Resources of 2024

Dr. Yngvild Olsen, Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at SAMHSA, tells us about the importance of the first-ever Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month; Dr. Beverly Kingston, Director of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, discusses the brand-new Power of One app launched in Colorado aimed at potential risk factors for youth violence; and an episode of the Public Health Review Podcast explains how your team can improve brain health with data-driven solutions. SAMHSA Web Page: Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month The Power of One App Web Page ASTHO Web Page: Enhancing Brain Health with Data-Driven Solutions ASTHO Web Page: Stay Informed

Dr. Kristy Marynak, Senior Science Advisor at the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health, details a report on tobacco-related disease and death; Dr. Jean Ko, discusses a CDC report about overdose rates involving illicitly manufactured fentanyls; and an ASTHO Blog Article focuses on the integration of race and ethnicity data into public health. CDC Web Page: Surgeon General's Report – Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities CDC Web Page: Detection of Illegally Manufactured Fentanyls and Carfentanil in Drug Overdose Deaths — United States, 2021–2024 ASTHO Blog Article: Integrating Race and Ethnicity Data in Public Health – Local, State, and Territorial Insights ASTHO Web Page: Stay Informed

Dr. Sameer Vohra, ASTHO Member and the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, takes us through how his team is using the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) to impact the state of Illinois. PHIG Partners Web Page ASTHO Blog Article: Illinois Strengthens Public Health Infrastructure with New Data Modernization Director PHIG Partners Web Page: Illinois Director Vohra Announces Groundbreaking Public Health Workforce Transformation Initiative at Kick-Off Meeting PHIG Newsletter

Dr. Ralph Alvarado, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, tells us why his team decided to create an Office of Healthy Aging; Dr. Jennifer Unger, a Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences at the University of Southern California, discusses the rise of vape devices with built-in video games; and ICF is hosting a webinar about the transformative impact of recent CMS actions on Tuesday, January 7th at Noon ET. Tennessee Department of Health News Release: New Office of Healthy Aging Will Support Well-Being of Tennessee's Growing Population of Older Adults Keck School of Medicine of USC News Story: Vaping devices with video games ICF Webinar: Medicare and Medicaid move upstream to address social determinants of health ASTHO Web Page: Stay Informed