Public Health Review Morning Edition

Public health nurses are on the front lines of community health but many are facing stress, burnout, and limited opportunities for advancement. In this episode Shirley Orr, executive director for the Association of Public Health Nurses, talks about the final session in the Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab series and what it reveals about retaining the public health nursing workforce. Drawing on insights from the Association of Public Health Nurses and the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS), Orr discusses why about a quarter of public health nurses say they may leave the field, and what leaders can do about it. From fostering supportive workplace cultures and strong supervision to creating clear pathways for professional development and shared decision-making, the conversation highlights practical strategies agencies can use to improve satisfaction and keep nurses engaged.Meeting Home PageASTHO (@astho) on X⁠, Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn, ⁠Facebook

As Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funding moves into its later years, how can health departments maximize its impact? Ron Bialek, President and CEO, Public Health Foundation, talks about the biggest opportunities ahead for state and local agencies.  Bialek highlights three key areas where PHIG investments can drive lasting improvement: responsibly integrating AI into public health operations, strengthening performance management systems to guide daily decision-making, and expanding partnerships between health departments and academic institutions.AI in Public Health | PHFPerformance Improvement Consulting Services | PHFAcademic Health Department Learning Community | PHFPerformance Management Toolkit | PHF

Public health programs don’t operate in a vacuum; they’re shaped by policies that influence funding, access to care, reporting requirements, and more. In this episode, JoAnne Deehr, Director of State Health Policy at ASTHO, explains ASTHO’s Policy Institute for STI and Infectious Disease Prevention.  She’ll discuss how the multi-part initiative helps state and territorial health department staff build practical policy skills, turning data and program challenges into actionable solutions. The Institute combines an on-demand Policy Academy, live Lunch and Learn webinars on timely topics like Medicaid and STI prevention, and hands-on office hours that allow participants to apply what they’ve learned to real-world challenges in their jurisdictions.Meeting Home PageMeeting Home PageStrength in numbers: Nonprofit launches consortium to improve public health data and outcomes - Route FiftyPublic Health Data Consortium | ASTHO

At the ASTHO Leadership Forum, Justa Encarnacion, ASTHO member and Commissioner of Health for the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health, shared how island jurisdictions are tackling some of the nation’s toughest health challenges with collaboration, data, and community-driven prevention.  Encarnacion discusses the Fentanyl Free PR–USVI Initiative, a partnership with Puerto Rico and federal agencies that blends enforcement with public health strategies using targeted education, naloxone training, and even wastewater surveillance to detect opioid trends and respond quickly. She explains how real-time data helps the territory pinpoint where opioids are appearing and tailor prevention efforts to specific communities.Talking Public Health with Jen LaydenStates are embracing the MAHA food agenda

What does it really mean for a food system to be resilient, and why does it matter for public health? In this episode, we hear from Elsie Moore, Postdoctoral Associate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University, who breaks down the concept of food system resilience and why it goes far beyond simply maintaining food supply. True resilience, she explains, means ensuring that food remains sufficient, appropriate, and accessible to all communities. Moore explores the complexity of modern food systems, from farms and distributors to government agencies and public health programs, and explains how shocks like hurricanes, supply chain breakdowns, workforce shortages, or rising food costs, can ripple across the system and impact population health. She also discusses how state-level food system resilience councils can help coordinate across sectors, institutionalize lessons learned from crises like COVID-19, and plan proactively for future challenges. Food System Resilience: A Planning Guide for State Governments | ASTHOMeeting Home PageLeadership Power Hour: Your Launchpad for Impact | ASTHO

A parasitic pest once eradicated from the United States is moving closer to the border and public health officials are paying close attention. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Shuford an ASTHO member and Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services discusses the growing threat posed by the New World Screwworm as cases spread north through Central America and Mexico. Dr. Shuford explains how Texas is preparing for a potential return of the parasite, an organism that primarily affects livestock but can also cause severe infections in humans. From clinician alerts and lab guidance to enhanced environmental surveillance, Texas is taking a proactive approach to detection and containment. 

At the ASTHO Spring Leadership Forum in Arlington, public health leaders met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss the issues shaping health policy across the country. In this episode, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, an ASTHO member and Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan, shares how bipartisan conversations with members of Congress revealed something often overlooked in today’s political climate: a shared commitment to healthier, safer communities.  Plus, Carolyn Mullen, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Relations at ASTHO, provides a behind-the-scenes look at meetings with lawmakers during ASTHO’s annual Hill Day, where state and territorial health officials discussed public health infrastructure, vaccination rates, and the impact of federal funding decisions on communities.Leadership Power Hour: Your Launchpad for Impact | ASTHOFlu has been worse than covid this winter. Here’s why. - The Washington PostSubscribe | ASTHO

In this episode, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Joseph Kanter, shares key insights from this year’s Spring Leadership Forum, an in-person opportunity to exchange lessons learned, strengthen peer support, and tackle the complex realities facing public health leaders today.  From a productive visit with leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to renewed conversations about partnerships around healthy eating and chronic disease prevention, Dr. Kanter reflects on why strong federal–state collaboration is essential, how federal initiatives live or die at the state and territorial level, and how effective partnerships make all the difference.Four Ways Public Health Agencies Are Strengthening Grants Management | ASTHOWorkforce Planning, Incorporating Core Competencies for Public Health ProfessionalsASTHO (@ASTHO) on X⁠⁠Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (@asthonews.bsky.social)⁠⁠Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (@asthonews) • Instagram profile⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-state-and-territorial-health-officials/⁠⁠ASTHO (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials)

What does it take to build a resilient public health system? Keshana Owens-Cody, Director of the Office of Public Health Infrastructure at the New York State Department of Health, talks about incorporating core competencies into public health agencies and why fostering a true culture of learning is essential in an era of constant change. Owens-Cody explains how competency-based frameworks can help agencies move beyond “survival mode” and toward a more intentional, organized approach to workforce development, performance evaluations, accreditation, and long-term infrastructure building.  Later, Catherine Murphy, Senior Analyst of Government Affairs at ASTHO, discusses the status of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). Originally passed in 2006, the sweeping preparedness law underpins key programs supporting medical countermeasures, hospital readiness, and emergency response nationwide. Meeting Home PageASTHO’s 14 Most Popular Resources of 2025 | ASTHOThe Future of PAHPA and National Public Health Preparedness | ASTHOSubscribe | ASTHOMeeting Home Page

Public health agencies across the country face a growing workforce shortage—but Missouri is tackling the challenge head-on. In this episode, we explore how Missouri internship programs are building a diverse, skilled pipeline of future public health professionals while strengthening partnerships between state and local agencies. Scott Allen, an Administrator and Health Officer of the Webster County Health Unit shares how hands-on internships are giving students real-world experience in areas like accreditation, emergency preparedness, food safety, and wastewater policy while delivering immediate value to rural communities. We’re also joined by Brenna Davidson, an Operational Excellence Leader with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, who explains how strategic investments through the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funding helped launch and scale the program. She highlights the importance of removing barriers with paid internships, broadening recruitment beyond traditional public health fields, and strengthening leadership development through innovative initiatives like the Leadership Challenge.