Public Health On Call

About this episode: Ten years ago, Flint, Michigan was in the headlines for its catastrophic water crisis. Now, it's on the map for a very different public health story: the success of the country's first unconditional cash program for expecting mothers and babies in their first year of life. The concept is not new, however—it's rooted in decades of evidence that cash programs help address root ca...

About this episode: Lingering environmental policy legacies from Trump's last administration may be harbingers for what's to come in 2025. Concerns include widespread deregulation leading to increased use of fossil fuels and a lack of vigilance around protecting drinking water and air quality. But it isn't just the EPA itself that's in peril: Major shift towards the politicization of climate chang...

About this episode: Outbreaks of H5N1 continue to rise in dairy cattle and poultry, and human cases are also starting to creep up including a Canadian teen who was hospitalized in critical condition. In this episode: the latest on viral sequencing and patterns of spread, the potential for economic impacts and interruptions in the food supply, risks to the general public, and concerns about how an...

About this episode: Baltimore's iconic Inner Harbor is like a highway for massive ships. It's also been a dumping ground for chemicals and pollutants, and every time it rains, stormwater runoff brings sewage and trash from miles inland. But in 2010, a coalition announced the Healthy Harbor initiative—a plan to make Baltimore's famous waterfront swimmable and fishable by 2020. In June 2024, the cit...

About this episode: Water fluoridation is considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th Century. Yet for as long as there has been fluoride in the water, some have raised concerns about its safety. In this episode: the history of water fluoridation, its enormous benefits for preventing tooth decay, and the recent wave of interest in whether fluoridation policies should chan...

About this episode: For nearly 30 years, Judge David Tatel served on the the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. But his rising legal career corresponded with his declining vision–a fact he tried to hide. Now, Tatel credits his blindness (and his guide dog Vixen) for helping him evolve as a judge and a person. In this episode: a look at Judge Tatel's astonishing career, his take on how SCO...

About this episode: In the wake of the presidential election, many people are feeling big emotions like shock, disbelief, anger, and fear. Psychological first aid is a process that can help "take the sting out of injury" and chart a way forward after disruptive, upsetting events. In this episode: an explanation of the process and how people can use the framework to start to regain control and feel...

About this episode: A new documentary, "Shot in the Arm," looks at the modern anti-vaccine movement from its opposition to the measles vaccine in 2019 through the pandemic and its opposition to COVID vaccination. Filmmaker Scott Kennedy joins the podcast to talk about about the five-year project of creating the film, including details from his hour-long interview with a leading voice in the moveme...

About this episode: There's a lot of speculation in the media about what Trump's second term might mean for health and health policy. In this episode: a look at some of the headlines from this week and what we might see in the next four years around vaccines, the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, contraceptives, the federal workforce, immigration, and global health programs. Guest: Dr. Josh Sharfstei...

About this episode: In this episode: an update on the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and pertussis (whooping cough) in the U.S. Globally, a look at the mpox vaccine and exciting news about two brand new vaccines for malaria and TB in the pipeline. Guest: Dr. Bill Moss is the executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School...

About this episode: From frozen waffles to deli meat and even fast food burgers, outbreaks of foodborne illnesses seem to be everywhere. But are they happening more often or is our surveillance system just getting better? And how do bacteria like listeria and E. coli survive the manufacturing process, and persist long enough to sicken and even kill consumers? In today's episode: a look at foodborn...

About this episode: CRISPR technology can edit genetic codes, making it possible to cure people of terrible diseases, among other uses. But its power is not fully understood—even by the scientists and researchers who use it—and the technology far outpaces conversations about ethics and regulations. In this episode: that we know and don't know about CRISPR, and why it's critical for these conversat...

About this episode: Dr. Jirair Ratevosian was a high level global health official in the State Department—a job he left to pursue a Congressional seat in California's 30th district. In this episode, he details what it takes to run for Congress (including knocking on more than 30,000 doors) and how he talked about public health with voters. Spoiler alert: He didn't win, but he did learn a lot and i...

About this episode: The rise of misinformation and the appeal of "alternative medicine" is coupled with a decline in trust of the U.S. health care system. In a new book, Dr. Sara Gorman explains how an inaccessible health care system has fed the rise of misinformation and what policymakers and providers need to do to earn back some credibility. Guests: Dr. Sara Gorman is a public health researcher...

About this episode: Since the 2022 Dobbs decision, women's healthcare in the U.S.—which was already underperforming in everything from access to maternal mortality rates—has faced a new set of challenges. In today's episode: All about a Commonwealth Fund report that updates the status of women's health care and reproductive health across the nation and why even services not related to reproductive...

About this episode: Respiratory syncytial virus can be particularly dangerous for older adults and infants and this year, for the first time, there are three approved and readily available products to help prevent severe disease: A vaccine for pregnant women and people over age 65, and an antibody treatment for infants born during RSV season. In this episode: all about these products and the promi...

About this episode: In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act—the first comprehensive federal legislation to recognize the often-overlooked dangers of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other gender-based violence. In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, researchers Tiara Willie and Michelle Decker join the podcast to talk about the legislation's initial g...

About this episode: What will the Presidential election mean for immigration—and for immigrants? A look at how each administration might approach one of the most polarizing issues on voters' minds. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode belong solely to those interviewed. As a nonprofit entity, the Johns Hopkins University cannot take a position for or against any candidate runnin...

About this episode: An outbreak of Marburg virus, one of the deadliest viruses in the world, has been reported in Rwanda. In this episode: an overview of the rare, hemorrhagic fever with an 88% mortality rate and how it's impacting Rwanda, and why we're seeing more and more instances of zoonotic disease spillovers. Guest: Kari Debbink is a virologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Hea...

About this episode: The grand opening of a new research hub in Rapid City, South Dakota marks an exciting moment for the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health. The Hub will bring together community members and researchers to advance the Center's lifesaving work in a central—and meaningful—location. In this episode: a look at some of the Hub's first projects including lung cancer and diabetes...

About this episode: A look at the frontlines of the response 13 days after Hurricane Helene hit Tennessee—the state's most devastating natural disaster in history. County commissioners Dr. Robert Acuff and Danny Deal report from the Elizabethton Municipal Airport which has become a staging area for relief supplies. Note: In the podcast, the commissioners request that supplies such as propane heate...

About this episode: Gun violence is a top-of-mind issue for Americans and there are evidence-based solutions for prevention. In this episode: a focus on the stark differences between potential Trump and Harris presidencies when it comes to addressing gun violence. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode belong solely to those interviewed. As a nonprofit entity, the Johns Hopkins Un...

About this episode: One year after the Hamas attacks, the Israel-Hamas war remains among the most intractable and violent situations in the world. Today, an episode from the archives about peacebuilding to help solve violent conflicts and rebuild societies through nonviolent means. Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks with Michael Shipler, vice president of Search for Common Ground, an international peacebui...

About this episode: Hurricane Helene's catastrophic force seemed to catch many by surprise, especially those living in western North Carolina. The focus is now on the response, but it's clear from the devastation that old playbooks for preparedness and readiness must change to consider new risks in a new reality. In this episode: a conversation about what emergency responders are already learning...

About this episode: Public health is often invisible: when things go well, people don't die and "nothing happens." But the lifesaving work of public health relies on a powerful infrastructure that includes the FDA, the CDC, the EPA and other federal agencies. In this episode, a look at how public health necessities like disease prevention, and food that's safe to eat and water that's safe to drink...