The Health Advocates

In this episode of The Health Advocates , we unpack a turbulent week in public health. The CDC’s Vaccine Advisory Committee (ACIP), now reshaped under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., met to debate changes to the COVID-19, MMRV, and Hepatitis B vaccine recommendations. Despite heated rhetoric and process irregularities, the committee ultimately kept broad access to COVID-19 vaccines &...

This fall’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout is more confusing than ever. The FDA has narrowed eligibility to older adults and people with high-risk conditions, while major medical societies are urging broader access — and insurance companies are waiting for new guidance from ACIP, the advisory committee that’s been reshaped by RFK Jr. In this episode of The Health Advocates , host Steve...

In this special episode of The Health Advocates, we take a closer look at Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), a condition that affects tens of thousands of older adults each year in the U.S. but is often misunderstood. Host Steven Newmark is joined by GHLF’s Angela Degrassi, patient advocate Eileen Salsman, and two leading experts — Dr. Leonard Calabrese and Dr. Jeffrey Curtis — to unp...

CDC Director Susan Monarez has been fired after less than one month on the job, sparking a wave of resignations by senior leaders and raising alarms about the politicization of public health. In this episode of The Health Advocates , host Steven Newmark unpacks what happened, why it matters, and what the loss of experienced leadership means for patients and communities. From vaccines to emergency...

A leaked draft of the Trump administration’s Make Our Children Healthy Again plan reveals a strategy to improve kids’ health that’s far less sweeping than many expected. Instead of bold action on processed foods and pesticides, the draft emphasizes “awareness” campaigns and industry-friendly guidelines, while reopening old battles over vaccines, fluoride, and even WiF...

In this episode, Steven is joined by Dr. Zameer Pirani, an interventional pain specialist and co-founder of the Afiya Spine and Pain Institute in Canada. Dr. Pirani shares his path to pain medicine, from early training in Ireland to his experiences with anesthesia and chronic pain fellowships. He discusses how the opioid crisis, gaps in the health care system, and the stigma surrounding pain patie...

In this episode, host Steven Newmark breaks down four critical public health stories making headlines: Senators Angus King and Elizabeth Warren introduce a resolution to defend the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force amid reports that RFK Jr. may fire its members. What’s really at stake if the Task Force is dismantled—and how evidence-based guidelines are already saving lives, from col...

In this episode, Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, is joined by Clayton Ruley, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Mission Advancement & Impact at the Community Liver Alliance. Clayton shares his decades-long journey from frontline harm reduction work to shaping national health policy. Together, they discuss the need for compassion in healthcare, the importance of patient-centered policy...

What exactly are reconciliation and rescission—and why do they matter for your health? In this episode, Steven Newmark, Chief Policy Officer at GHLF, demystifies two powerful — and often misunderstood — budget tools: reconciliation and rescission. What do they mean? How do they bypass the normal budget process? And why do they matter for healthcare, public programs, and patients?...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark takes a deep dive into the high-stakes lawsuit against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Six major medical organizations, and a pregnant physician are challenging Kennedy’s directive to remove COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant people — and they’re asking the courts to intervene. Steven unpacks t...

In this week’s episode of The Health Advocates , host Steven Newmark unpacks a whirlwind of health news that could reshape the foundation of U.S. public health. From a major lawsuit against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to record-high measles cases and the quiet cancelation of a critical preventive care meeting, Steven explains what’s at stake. Plus, he shares a hopeful update on...

In this episode of The Health Advocates , Steven Newmark breaks down two urgent public health threats: a Senate proposal that would deeply cut Medicaid funding and an extreme heat wave affecting more than 265 million Americans. Steven explains how the Senate bill could gut essential health services for millions, all to fund tax cuts—and how this could impact everyone, not just Medicaid enrol...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark sits down with Jon Erlichman — founder of Ticker Take and a well-known financial journalist whose videos have reached nearly a billion views across platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and X. Jon shares his personal journey of living with Crohn’s disease and what inspired him to open up about it publicly. He also talks a...

In this week’s special episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark breaks down a major and alarming development in U.S. public health policy: the removal of all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Steven explains what ACIP does, why its role is crucial to vaccine access and confidence, and how this sudden and sweepi...

This week on The Health Advocates , Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, breaks down two major stories: sweeping proposed cuts to key federal health agencies in the 2026 U.S. budget, and a new national partnership between GHLF and Walgreens aimed at improving care for chronic skin conditions. Steven explains what’s at stake, how advocacy can influence policy decisions, and why pharmacist...

The FDA just made a surprising move that could reshape COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S. going forward, and the House passed a major budget bill with proposed cuts to Medicaid. In this episode of The Health Advocates , Steven Newmark breaks down the changes, debates, and potential impacts on people living with chronic conditions. Tune in to understand what these updates mean and what steps advocate...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark is joined by Rob Long, Executive Director of Uplifting Athletes. Rob shares his journey from All-American punter at Syracuse University to rare brain cancer survivor and patient advocate. Diagnosed during his senior season, Rob’s football career was cut short, but his passion for teamwork and purpose found new life in advocacy. Through...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark breaks down the potential $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid currently under debate in Congress. Steven walks through what’s at stake, who could be affected, and why this moment matters. He explains the proposed changes to work requirements, federal matching cuts, and Medicaid expansion support — and outlines what patients, caregive...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark breaks down the latest public health developments you need to know. From a surge in measles and dengue cases to proposed changes in food dye regulations, Steven explains what’s happening, why it matters, and how it could impact people living with chronic illness. He also unpacks the delay in FDA approval for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, we’re joined by Cristina Montoya, a registered dietitian, advocate, and patient living with both rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s disease. Cristina shares her diagnosis journey, the challenges of managing symptoms from childhood to adulthood, and how she uses her lived experience to guide others through nutrition and advocacy. We also hea...

In this episode of The Health Advocates, we’re joined by Gaile Valcho, founder and president of the Brady Valcho Autism Foundation. Gaile shares her powerful story as the mother of a child with autism and her journey to address a gap in community resources in Holly Springs, North Carolina. She opens up about the challenges and triumphs of caregiving while living with lupus, the importance of...

In this episode, Steven breaks down a tumultuous week in public health and healthcare policy — from a growing trade war with China and its potential impact on medical imports, to the elimination of a vital pain research office at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He also unpacks the mixed messaging from HHS Secretary RFK Jr. on vaccines, including unchecked claims about measles treatm...

It’s been a whirlwind week in public health. In this episode, host Steven Newmark breaks down a string of major developments coming out of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). From mass layoffs across HHS, including at the FDA, to the resignation of the country’s top vaccine regulator, these changes raise serious concerns—especially amid a rising measles outbre...

In this episode, our hosts break down the latest health care news, from the cancellation of a long-running diabetes study to the rising number of measles cases across the U.S. They also discuss the nomination of Dr. Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), potential Medicaid cuts tied to tax policy changes, and major layoffs at a key health research agency. Tune in to hear...

In this episode our hosts sit down with Tennessee State Senator Shane Reeves, a pharmacist-turned-legislator, to discuss his journey from pharmacy to public office. Senator Reeves shares his firsthand insights into the obstacles pharmacists face in patient care and policy, the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and why transparency in health care pricing is crucial for patients. He also bre...