Public Health Review Morning Edition

Lynn Gallagher, former New Mexico State Health Director, explains how a new commission created by the New Mexico Supreme Court will work to address the mental health needs of people who are in and out of the court system; Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, shares how her young son confirmed the value of a state campaign to help connect parents and their kids; and ASTHO has extended the deadline to sign up for its Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health program. New Mexico Order Establishing Commission on Mental Health and Competency Webpage: Colorado's Forward Together Campaign Webpage: Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health

Justa Encarnacion, Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health, discusses the differences and similarities in responding to COVID-19 as a territory as opposed to a state. Encarnacion also expands on the challenges the U.S. Virgin Islands have faced when it comes to vaccination.

Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health, looks back on the past 13 years of her career in Public Health. She has this conversation as she prepares for the next steps in her career, and leaves us with a few words of encouragement for public health workers across the country.

Mike Fraser, Chief Executive Officer for ASTHO, discusses the need for the continued funding of public health. Fraser also elaborates on the unique challenges they face when requesting the money and he explains where this funding would be allotted.

Dr. Manisha Juthani, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, fresh off her time at the ASTHO COVID-19 Summit in Washington D.C., explains the challenge COVID-19 will present for public health officials in the coming months.

Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO's Chief Medical Officer, joins the show from the ASTHO COVID-19 Summit in Washington D.C. to discuss his expectations from the summit and the COVID-19 response going forward.

Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, explains the Forward Together campaign; Dr. James Bell, State Assistant Administrator for the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, discusses the benefits of being a graduate from the Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health program; and Mike Fraser, CEO for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, tackles the cancer of racism in a new blog article. Forward Together Webpage Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health (DELPH) Webpage ASTHO Blog Article: Excising the Cancer of Racism

Dr. Lisa Piercey, Tennessee's Health Commissioner, reflects on her time in office as she prepares to leave her position at the end of this week; Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, Director of the District of Columbia Department of Health, says her department created programs to address vaccine access and hesitancy by listening to community feedback; and ASTHO's Dr. Kim Wyche Etheridge and Wisconsin State Health Officer Paula Tran talk about health equity in a video conversation now online. Washington Post – Live: Health Equity Vaccines ASTHO Q&A: Health Equity, Minority Health & COVID-19 – A Conversation with Paula Tran and Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge

Gaafar Uherbelau, the Minister of Health in Palau, discusses the COVID-19 pandemic making landfall last December; Angela Minicuci, former Communications Director for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, reflects on lessons learned from the contaminated water supplies in Flint, Michigan, and their application today; and one last reminder to register for the ASTHO Public Health TechXpo to still watch all the discussions on demand. ASTHO Website: Public Health TechXpo

Linda Mendonca, President of the National Association of School Nurses, discusses nurses needing a break, but also wanting more input regarding school health policy; Dr. Tom Simon, the Associate Director for Science in the Division of Violence Prevention with the CDC, elaborates on a way forward among record increases in the firearm homicide rate with public health leading the way; and a new ASTHO blog article explains recent changes to HRSA's Women's Preventive Services Guidelines. CDC Webpage: Vital Signs – Changes in Firearm Homicide and Suicide Rates ASTHO Policy Statement: Preventing Firearm Misuse, Injury, and Death ASTHO Blog Article: Understanding the Updated Women's Preventive Services Guidelines