Public Health On Call

About this episode: What will the Presidential election mean for health care? A look at the candidates' priorities and track records for the future of the Affordable Care Act and health care coverage and cost. 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 cand...

About this episode: Abortion access is on the ballot nationwide this November. In this episode: a look at proposed bans and protections across the state and federal levels, and the long-term implications of judicial decisions. 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...

About this episode: The 2024 presidential election lands at a critical time in global public health. In this episode: a look at the potential implications for the U.S.'s future relationships with global health institutions like the World Health Organization and funding of initiatives on HIV and other challenges. Also covered: the connection between US domestic policy and US global health engagemen...

About this episode: Safer supply is a harm reduction tool that involves making regulated pharmaceuticals available for people who use drugs. In today's episode: The safer supply model explained, and why some experts are saying it is time to give it a try. Guests: Becky Genberg is an epidemiologist studying the intersection substance use and infectious diseases. Danielle German studies drug use and...

About this episode: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is primarily diagnosed in childhood, but a lack of understanding about this neurodevelopmental disorder means many adults have lived their entire lives with undiagnosed ADHD. As we age, a certain degree of forgetfulness or decreased ability to mentally multitask is expected but then how can you tell what's normal from what could be cogni...

About this episode: Last month, the CDC issued an alert about an increase in parvovirus, a respiratory disease that is common for children but can be very serious in people with certain medical conditions. In today's episode: all about parvovirus and why it's yet another reason to wash your hands regularly. Guest: Dr. Erica Prochaska is a pediatric infectious disease physician at Johns Hopkins Sch...

About this episode: Playing video games has long been seen as an isolating activity, but the world of online gaming is anything but. Platforms like Twitch and Discord are home to thriving communities of players who connect over games and strategies. Researchers are also finding that they offer unique opportunities for peer support and mental health programs. In today's episode: A study looked into...

About this episode: When should you get your COVID/flu shots? How long can a COVID vaccine really protect you from infection? Why do we have summer waves of COVID but not flu or RSV? Will we ever see a flu/COVID combo shot? A virologist answers questions as we gear up for respiratory virus season. Guest: Andy Pekosz is a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with appoin...

About this episode: School nurses are charged with helping to maintain the health and well-being of every student in their care which goes way beyond providing basic first aid. Today, the podcast goes back to school at KIPP Baltimore, an open enrollment charter school serving pre-K to 8th grade students. Nurse Erica and Nurse Lily talk about their work providing health care to nearly 1,000 student...

About this episode: Now in its 21st year, PEPFAR—the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief which launched in 2003 under President George W. Bush—still has ending the HIV epidemic in its sights. It's now at a critical juncture with an expanding toolbox of exciting treatments and, simultaneously, eroding bipartisan support from Congress. Guest: Dr. Mike Reid is the Chief Science Officer in the...

About this episode: The discovery of a new clade of C. auris—a fungus the WHO has declared a "critical pathogen"—has ignited new fears about the fungi's ability to evolve beyond infection control measures. C. auris already poses significant—and lethal—risks to hospitals and patients worldwide and, with global warming, medicine should expect more emerging fungal infections that are resistant to exi...

About this episode: When evaluating programs, policies, and interventions, how do you know if they're working? In today's episode: The science (and art!) of biostatistics, and an exploration of the question: How can we design studies to find out if there really is a relationship between A and B? Guest: Elizabeth Stuart is the chair of the department of Biostatistics at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg...

About this episode: Health diplomacy is how countries work together to advance global health. What does health diplomacy look like in 2024—a post-pandemic time marked by multiple violent crises and zoonotic disease outbreaks? Loyce Pace is America's top health diplomat within the Department of Health and Human Services. In today's episode: a conversation about the agenda for US and global health....

About this episode: World Mosquito Day, observed annually on August 20th, commemorates British doctor Sir Ronald Ross's discovery in 1897 that female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans. More than a century later, major advancements like genetically modifying mosquitoes—AKA gene drives—have the potential to reduce malaria cases and deaths dramatically, but not without hurdles. This spe...

About this episode: Since 2015, 1,939 individuals experiencing mental health crises have been killed during encounters with police in America, accounting for 20% of all police killings. The first episode of "The Fifth Branch"— a three-part special series by Tradeoffs and The Marshall Project— examines what it looks like when one community dramatically changes how it responds to people in crisis. E...

About this episode: Violence Reduction Councils review huge quantities of data to pinpoint how homicides and shootings can be prevented. They include diverse stakeholders from a city or community including first responders, community-based organizations, and elected officials—all of whom come together to review cases and identify policies or interventions to prevent future violence. A new toolkit...

About this episode: A concerning and deadly outbreak of mpox is spreading across central Africa and the world's response has been lackluster. In this episode: an overview of the virus and a brief history of mpox outbreaks, a breakdown of the different clades, and why this particular epidemic is so concerning—not just for the regions impacted but for the rest of the world. Guest: Dr. Chris Beyrer i...

About this episode: Environmental protection has a long history of entanglement with the court system. But the supermajority conservative Supreme Court could now become the primary influence in how water, air, and chemicals are regulated, displacing evidence and recommendations from scientists. From the Good Neighbor Rule to the Chevron case, SCOTUS is disempowering environmental protection at a t...

About this episode: Open Air Care Connections is a pilot project between Prospect Park Alliance, various community organizations, and the New York City Health Department. Born from the COVID-19 pandemic and built with basic public health principles like equity, access, and dignity, the program connects Brooklynites with much-needed services like mental health care, housing, and food access—all thr...

About this episode: This "Inside Out 2" has quickly become the highest-grossing animated film of all time with parents and their kids alike praising the movie for its wit, storyline, and—for some—very realistic depictions of complex themes like puberty, anxiety, and emotional intelligence. But how accurate are these depictions and how helpful are they in helping parents and teens relate to a time...

About this episode: New screening tools like full-body MRI scans and blood tests claiming to detect over 50 kinds of cancer are generating excitement with their potential to catch diseases early. But is more knowledge about our bodies always beneficial? Host: Dan Gorenstein is the founder and executive editor of the Tradeoffs podcast. Show links and related content: Hope, Hype or Harm? What We Kno...

About this episode: In 1964, an advisory committee to the Surgeon General issued a report on smoking and disease that was so damning, it had to be released with cloak-and-dagger preparations on a Saturday so as not to disrupt the stock market. 60 years later, the report remains one of the most important scientific documents of the 20th century. Today: the inside history of a committee and a report...

About this episode: Diapers are expensive. For low-income families, diaper insecurity refers to the financial, health, and economic tradeoffs they may face in trying to afford them. Evidence is mounting that giving families cash for diapers can not only help to substantially alleviate these burdens, but it could help keep kids out of the child welfare system. Guest: Mike Shaver is the president an...

About this episode: Choosing the right sunscreen for you can be overwhelming with so many options on the market. This episode debunks common myths and uncovers essential facts about sunscreen, explaining the differences between UVA and UVB coverage, mineral vs. chemical sunscreens, and why European sunscreens are often considered superior to American-made ones. We address concerns about sunscreen...

About this episode: Every four years, the Olympics brings athletes and spectators together from all over the world in one of the largest mass gathering events. Planning begins years in advance, and public health security is a major consideration. Experts are brought in to map out possible threats and think through preparedness for everything from terrorist attacks to addressing rumors to respondin...