Public Health On Call

COVID-19 infections may look different in 2022 than they did in 2020, thanks to vaccines, infection-induced immunity, and new treatments—but that doesn't mean we can rest easy. Dr. Paul Sax, clinical director of infectious diseases at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the overall state of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, what we still don't know about this virus, and why it's important to stay vigilant.

Medications to treat opioid use disorder in pregnant people can decrease the chances of an infant being born too early and reduce risks of maternal overdose and death. But with a fractured and underfunded system of OUD treatment, as well as stigma around drug abuse in pregnancy and siloed maternal health care, how can pregnant people access this lifesaving care? Dr. Stephen Patrick, pediatrician and former senior policy advisor at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, returns to the podcast to talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers about a new report that lays out suggestions for lifting barriers to OUD treatment for pregnant people. Read the report here.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, or SANEs, are specially trained advocates and care providers for survivors of sexual violence in ERs and other clinical settings. In addition to providing medical care and counseling, they can collect forensic evidence at the critical moment following a sexual assault. Oregon SANE Savannah Powell talks to Lindsay Smith Rogers about the important role SANEs play in survivors' healing and the unique challenges the field faces in the context of the nation's nursing crisis and post-Roe policies. This episode was co-produced by intern Hannah Bennett.

Thanksgiving dinner can bring tension alongside turkey and this year may feel especially stressful given a highly polarizing political environment. Dr. Consuelo Amat, an expert in peace building at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about some ground rules for peace-building and dialogue, and how to meaningfully engage in difficult conversations with people we love.

During the midterms, Oregon voters passed Measure 114 which restricts magazine capacity for firearms and requires purchasers to obtain a permit which includes a background check and safety training. Cass Crifasi, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about why this measure is a lifesaving win not only for gun violence solutions and public health, but also for evidence-based advocacy. They also discuss where the measure falls in the context of the Supreme Court's Bruen Decision and what Crifasi hopes to see happen next.

Today's episode is all about the liver. Thelma Thiel, founder and chair of The Liver Health Initiative, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about this "silent organ" that, among many roles, removes toxins from what you eat, breathe, and absorb through your skin. They also discuss Thiel's efforts in advocacy and education—including her talking about the "football-sized" liver with an NFL team.

For the first time, a physician—Dr. Rahul Gupta—is directing the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy. Dr. Gupta talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the national strategy to address addiction and overdose, emphasizing treatment and harm reduction, not criminalization.

New CDC data shows that during the pandemic, gun-related homicides and suicides surged to record highs. Ari Davis, a researcher at the John Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the spikes, some possible contributing factors, and effective public health solutions. ‌

As advocates from around the world gather at the International Conference on Family Planning in Thailand this week, what's the state of global reproductive rights? Megan Christofield, a project director and advisor at JHPIEGO, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the accessibility and prevalence of contraceptive use worldwide, where gains have been made and where things have been stagnant or even backslid in the last decade, and some game-changing new contraception options that could help avert many more millions of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal deaths.

Coming into the third year of the pandemic, we now have more data about how COVID affects people in the long term. Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, Chief of Research and Education Service at Veterans Affairs in the St. Louis Health Care System returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about a new study of 150,000 people with COVID-19 that found higher incidence of headaches, seizures, sleep problems, strokes, and other neurological symptoms following even mild or asymptomatic infections. Read the study here.