Contagious Conversations

Learn about the COVID-19 Detection Dog program—a collaboration between the California Department of Public Health and Early Alert Canines—which is introducing a new, less invasive, and more fun method of testing to schools across the state. Dr. Carol Glaser of the CADoH and Carol Edwards of EAC tell the story. Carol Edwards began her career in dog obedience training at the age of 13 and since then has immersed herself in the behavioral science of dog training. Dr. Carol Glaser is the Assistant Deputy Director in the office of the State Public Health Laboratory Director and medical officer for the infectious disease laboratories at the California Department of Public Health. Dr. Glaser is also the Laboratory Director for the California Department of Public Health K-12 School Antigen Program. For full episode transcription, visit Contagious Conversations. Key Takeaways: [1:14] Dr. Glaser talks about her background and about her role at the California Department of Public Health. [2:35] Carol Edwards shares details about her background and talks about the mission of Early Alert Canines. [3:30] Dr. Glaser speaks about the COVID-19 Detection Dog Program. [5:15] Carol Edwards discusses her early conversations with Dr. Glazer about the ability of dogs to detect COVID-19 in humans. [6:28] What are the benefits of using dogs in schools instead of more traditional swab tests? [7:32] Dr. Glaser talks about the environmental impact of this program. [8:50] Carol Edwards discusses the positive reaction of children when they see the dogs coming to school. [10:35] Carol Edwards talks about two dogs, Rizzo and Scarlett, trained for this program. [11:26] How are dogs selected and trained to detect COVID in humans? [12:28] Has a program like this ever been implemented before? [13:55] What makes using dogs to detect COVID particularly unique and effective? [14:23] Carol Edwards shares her experience with this program and her favorite part of it. [15:19] Dr. Glaser talks about the opportunities she sees arising for this kind of project during future pandemics or outbreaks. [16:38] Carol Edwards talks about the future of this program and the roles dogs can play during future pandemic or outbreaks. Mentioned in This Episode: Early Alert Canines CDC Foundation

For our milestone 30th episode, we're bringing you 3 discussions in one! Host Claire Stinson introduces a collection of speakers from this year's Aspen Ideas Health Festival, an annual event that brings together innovative thinkers and doers to address the world's biggest health challenges. Listen as the CDC Foundation's own Dr. Judy Monroe and Pierce Nelson talk climate change with Dr. Patrick Breysee, wastewater surveillance with Dr. Marlene Wolfe, and restoring trust to public health with Dr. Karen DeSalvo. Dr. Patrick Breysse is the director of the National Center for Environmental Health Agency for Toxic Disease Registry at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Marlene Wolfe is assistant professor for Environmental Health at Emory University. Dr. Karen DeSalvo is chief health officer at Google. For full episode transcription, visit Contagious Conversations. Key Takeaways: [2:02] Dr. Patrick Breysee shares his thoughts on how climate and health are related and what we can all do to reduce this threat. [3:49] Dr. Patrick Breysee talks about specific things communities are doing to address the direct bond between climate change and health. [4:54] What can the private sector do to help? Dr. Breysee talks about building climate-resilient communities. [6:36] Dr. Marlene Wolfe talks about wastewater surveillance and how it has been applied in a new way since the COVID-19 pandemic. [10:18] Dr. Wolfe talks about how wastewater surveillance can be used to address health equity issues. [12:20] Dr. Wolfe talks about some of the opportunities to apply technology to monitor and help mitigate the effects of climate change. [15:45] Dr. Karen DeSalvo discusses some of the challenges facing public health today. [17:01] Dr. DeSalvo talks about the Commonwealth Fund's recommendations for building a public health system that addresses ongoing and future health crises, advances equity and earns trust. [19:09] Dr. DeSalvo addresses the issue of funding and its linkage to the expectations to meet standards for protecting different communities. [22:10] Dr. DeSalvo talks about the recommendation in the Commonwealth Fund Report about adding an Undersecretary for Public Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [23:55] Dr. DeSalvo shares how we can restore trust in public health.

In this episode, we'll discuss the link between people experiencing homelessness and public health and what CDC is doing to address this issue. CDC's Dr. Emily Mosites details the unique health challenges for those living with homelessness and discusses state and local solutions to this national issue. For full episode transcription, visit Contagious Conversations Key Takeaways: [1:32] Dr. Mosites shares how her work in public health was inspired by her being a global adventurer at heart. [2:43] In her role as Epidemic Intelligence Officer in Alaska, Dr. Mosites investigated an outbreak of a new strain of a Streptococcus that was affecting people experiencing homelessness. Dr. Mosites shares how this outbreak led to her work on issues that affect people experiencing homelessness. [4:14] Dr. Mosites explains the link between people experiencing homelessness and public health. [5:32] What particular challenges did people experiencing homelessness face during the COVID-19 pandemic? [7:17] Did COVID-19 serve as a catalyst to help advance this issue in some communities? [7:40] What is CDC doing to address the issue of homelessness? [10:30] Is there a need for more understanding in the public health community about the issues facing people experiencing homelessness? [11:18] Dr. Mosites shares successful approaches addressing people experiencing homelessness at the local level. [12:47] What is the role that race and equity play in homelessness? [14:10] Dr. Mosites shares what she considers the biggest public health challenges ahead in working to address this issue. Mentioned in This Episode: CDC Foundation Learn more about homelessness and health on CDC's website Tweetables: "Even though #homelessness might be a national and regional issue, problem solving and #innovation really occur at the local level." – Dr. Emily Mosites at @CDCgov in new @CDCFound Contagious Conversations #podcast episode "Both racism and homelessness are a threat to #publichealth." – Dr. Emily Mosites at @CDCgov in new @CDCFound Contagious Conversations #podcast episode

How does climate change affect health? What are some successful approaches from public health's past that we can use to tackle this challenge today? And most importantly: how can we all work together to combat this growing crisis? In this episode of Contagious Conversations, Dr. Judy Monroe, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation, discusses these questions and more. For full episode transcription, visit Contagious Conversations. Key Takeaways: [1:56] Dr. Monroe shares how climate change is impacting health right now. [3:00] Dr. Monroe explains the ways climate change is impacting global health. [5:31] How can we all work to combat this crisis? [7:06] Dr. Monroe explains the urgency around having a national conversation about health and climate change. [8:43] Dr. Monroe discusses the successful approaches from the past that we should consider to protect public health today. [9:48] Has the COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst to understand the importance of public health? [11:49] Which populations are most vulnerable to climate change and why? [13:06] Dr. Monroe talks about the role that partnerships play in bringing the message of health to the forefront of the climate change conversation. [13:42] Dr. Monroe explains what the CDC Foundation is doing to advance this issue. [17:11] Dr. Monroe speaks about the biggest challenges ahead with tackling this issue. [17:53] How will the question of health equity inform the overall message of health as a cornerstone of climate change action? [18:32] Dr. Monroe shares her thoughts about the future of public health. Mentioned in This Episode: CDC Foundation: Climate Change and Health

"We can't do the work alone. That is why it is important to have partnerships in our communities." Hear Dr. Mysheika Roberts discuss this idea and more, as she takes listeners through her own journey in community-centered public health. Plus: how critical relationships helped build trust and shape responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Roberts is the Health Commissioner for the City of Columbus, Ohio, leading a team of more than 500 public health professionals focused on neighborhood-based approaches that address the social determinants of health, from safe affordable housing and education to jobs and violent crime, to decrease health disparities. Dr. Roberts has a 20-year public health background at local, state and national levels. She built a solid foundation in public health early in her career by investigating outbreaks in Ohio for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and leading an STD clinic and hepatitis prevention efforts at the Baltimore City Health Department. For full episode transcription, visit Contagious Conversations. Key Takeaways: [1:15] Dr. Roberts talks about her background and journey to becoming a Health Commissioner for Columbus, Ohio. [3:01] Dr. Roberts shares her experiences with the EIS Program for CDC. [4:03] Dr. Roberts speaks about her role as Health Commissioner in Columbus. [6:15] How did Dr. Roberts and her team work to prevent inequities during COVID? [9:31] What was it like for Dr. Roberts to be a Health Commissioner during COVID-19? [11:25] Dr. Roberts explains what opportunity clinics are. [12:55] Dr. Roberts talks about her experiences with community and multisector partnerships in Columbus. [16:08] Dr. Roberts discusses the role of community engagement in Columbus in general. [19:06] Why is it important to engage all parts of communities in public health work? [20:38] How does Dr. Robert envision her work changing after COVID-19? [22:39] Dr. Roberts shares the key takeaways from the most recent Lights, Camera, Action Summit that the public health community can take action on. [25:35] What are some of the bright lights that give Dr. Roberts hope today? Mentioned in This Episode: CDC Foundation Lights, Camera, Action National Summit Series

What exactly is public health law? Drawing from disciplines like epidemiology, public policy and evaluation, it's a field that we may not often think about in our day-to-day lives. But it has a profound impact on our lifetime trajectory. Sarah de Guia—chief executive officer of ChangeLab Solutions, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that uses the tools of law and policy to advance health equity—joins Contagious Conversations to discuss how to better engage communities to advance policy development, and how public health law can help facilitate true systemic change. For more information and a full transcript of this episode, visit Contagious Conversations. Key Takeaways: [1:46] Sarah talks about her background, why health equity is important to her and the impact of laws and policies on communities. [5:57] Sarah talks about her current role at ChangeLab Solutions and what its mission means to her. [7:30] Sarah explains the five fundamental drivers of health equity. [8:54] Sarah explains the direct link between public health and law. [11:56] How can we better engage communities to advance in policy development in public health? [14:05] Sarah talks about community trust, participatory budgeting and public deliberation for intentional change. [16:57] Why do we need to strengthen public health law? [21:32] Sarah talks about some of the public health law tools and resources that can help strengthen public health. [23:53] Sarah shares her experience participating in the Lights, Camera, Action National Summit Series. [24:44] How can public health law facilitate more systemic change within governmental public health policy to help address existent inequities? [25:49] Sarah shares her thoughts on restoring the spirit and value of the common good. [29:21] How do we balance individual liberties with the approach of public health and its mandate of securing the common good? [30:52] Sarah talks about the biggest challenge from a legal and funding perspective to strengthen the relationship between public health and health equity. [31:49] Sarah shares her thoughts on the future of health equity. Mentioned in This Episode: CDC Foundation Lights, Camera, Action National Summit Series

This is a special edition Contagious Conversations podcast in conjunction with Public Health On Call, a podcast from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. This special edition features a discussion between CDC Foundation President and CEO Judy Monroe, MD, and Joshua Sharfstein, MD, vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Sharfstein and Dr. Monroe discuss the importance of state public health and the future of public health in our nation. For a full episode transcript, visit cdcfoundation.org/conversations. Key Takeaways: [1:10] Dr. Monroe provides information about her background. [2:15] Dr. Monroe was asked by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb to co-chair a commission looking at the public health system in the state of Indiana and making recommendations for future policies. [4:46] Dr. Monroe discusses how this public health commission is structured in Indiana and what they are tasked with. [7:00] Dr. Sharfstein asks about the state of the public health workforce in Indiana. [9:48] Dr. Monroe explains that we need to get to people in ways that they will be receptive to information about public health. [11:40] Dr. Sharfstein asks Dr. Monroe if anything has surprised her with this public health commission process. [14:04] How do we assess the challenge of the future of public health in America? [14:21] Dr. Monroe discusses the Lights, Camera, Action National Summit Series. [18: 40] One challenge with public health is that it is often invisible. [19:22] Dr. Monroe asks Dr. Sharfstein about the role of public health schools in this landscape. [20:12] Dr. Monroe says it is incumbent on all of us to give our best in this moment and to work together. Mentioned in This Episode: CDC Foundation Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Contagious Conversations Public Health On Call

In today's world, people are used to having immediate access to data directly from the phones in their pockets. But how do public health agencies ensure that their massive and complex sets of data are managed at both scale and speed? Dr. Daniel Jernigan, who has led CDC's responses to dozens of disease outbreaks and flu pandemics in the United States and around the world, sits down with Claire Stinson to discuss all things data modernization in this episode of Contagious Conversations. For a full episode transcript, visit cdcfoundation.org/conversations. Key Takeaways: [1:35] Dr. Jernigan shares why he was interested in becoming a disease detective. [3:10] Dr Jernigan talks about his current role at CDC. [4:30] Dr. Jernigan shares how his experience with the H1N1 response helped him prepare to help with the COVID-19 pandemic response. [5:34] What have we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that is helping us improve the quality, sharing and use of data for preventing chronic and infectious diseases? [7:58] Dr. Jernigan discusses the challenges that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that became obstacles to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [10:33] The underinvestment in public health data capabilities is another challenge that we are facing. [13:22] Dr. Jernigan explains why data is so important in public health. [15:30] Dr. Jernigan explains how new technologies can get the public health ecosystem where it needs to be. [18:55] Dr. Jernigan explains the data lags that occur with public health data. [22:33] Dr. Jernigan talks about the different parts of the life cycle of data. [23:50] What concrete actions would Dr. Jernigan prioritize during the next three years to help assure investments would translate in long lasting improvements in the health care data system? [26:19] Data needs to be able to predict what is going to happen and we need to accelerate data into action in public health [27:40] We need new policies to be able to implement new technologies. [30:50] What are the challenges we face to achieving an equitable data infrastructure? [34:43] Looking beyond COVID-19, how do we show value to the public about the importance of data? Mentioned in This Episode: CDC Data Modernization Initiative CDC Foundation Lights, Camera, Action National Summit Series

In this episode of Contagious Conversations, Dr. Anand Parekh breaks down the critical population health and policy issues facing the United States now—plus what's needed in a public health workforce of the future. Dr. Parekh is the chief medical advisor for the Bipartisan Policy Center. Prior to joining the BPC, he served for ten years at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, playing instrumental roles in the implementation of the Recovery Act's Prevention and Wellness Fund, the Affordable Care Act, and HHS' Multiple Chronic Conditions Initiative. Dr. Parekh is a board-certified internal medicine physician, a fellow of the American College of Physicians, and an adjunct assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University. For a full episode transcript, visit cdcfoundation.org/conversations. Key Takeaways: [1:53] Dr. Parekh discusses his role at the Bipartisan Policy Center. [3:52] What is Dr. Parekh's focus area in health? [5:05] Why is the Public Health Forward framework needed? [7:12] Dr. Parekh explains how COVID-19 has served as a catalyst for other health issues. [8:59] Dr. Parekh explains what he meant by his statement at the first Lights, Camera, Action National Summit, saying "If public health doesn't do its work, we all suffer." [10:45] What is needed in the public health workforce that we do not have today? [13:47] Dr. Parekh shares what surprised him during the first Summit. [14:52] Dr. Parekh talks about his book titled Prevention First: Policymaking in America. [20:06] Dr. Parekh shares how our country can better invest in public health. [21:41] Did COVID-19 put a spotlight on the need for better investments in public health? [24:00] How can we do better to reduce preventable deaths in America? [25:22] What does Dr. Parekh see as our nation's biggest challenges ahead as we enter the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic? [29:45] Dr. Parekh shares why he is hopeful about our nation's capacity to tackle all of our health challenges, even in addition to COVID-19. [30:55] Dr. Parekh shares his advice to those pursuing a career in public health. Mentioned in This Episode: CDC Foundation Lights, Camera, Action National Summit Series

In this episode of Contagious Conversations, Dr. Heidi Larson discusses the spread of vaccine rumors, how these rumors impact confidence in science, and how we can help put a stop to them. Dr. Larson is the professor of anthropology, risk and decision science and the founding director of the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. She is also the author of a recent book, Stuck: How Vaccine Rumors Start - and Why They Don't Go Away. For full episode transcription, visit Contagious Conversations. Key Takeaways: 1:22] Professor Larson explains what it means to be called a vaccine anthropologist. [3:53] Professor Larson talks about her research on vaccination rumors and how it relates to COVID-19. [5:45] Professor Larson explains the role of the Vaccine Confidence Project. [9:49] What has Professor Larson's research shown about the main causes of rumors and misinformation around the COVID-19 vaccine? [12:54] What has surprised Professor Larson about her research? [14:13] Professor Larson shares the background about her book and the approach she proposes regarding rumors. [18:30] How can we better understand misinformation around science? [20:02] How can we strengthen the "trust chain" related to the COVID-19 vaccine? [21:23] Professor Larson shares recent successes related to communications around vaccination efforts. [24:38] What are the best opportunities to stop the spread of misinformation and restore broad trust in vaccines? [27:06] There is a need for deep listening with patients and individuals who have questions about vaccinations. [28:58] Professor Larson gives advice to public health workers who are dealing with the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. [30:35] What are Professor Larson's thoughts about the future of public health? Mentioned in This Episode: CDC Foundation The Vaccine Confidence Project