Public Health Review Morning Edition

JoAnne McClure, Senior Analyst on ASTHO's State Health Policy Team, discusses a new ASTHO health policy update that centers on the need for more overdose prevention supports for those in the criminal justice system; Catherine Jones, ASTHO Government Affairs Senior Analyst, recaps her article on the fentanyl crisis which was one of ASTHO's most viewed resources; ASTHO is accepting applications for the Implementing Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraception Learning Community; and an ASTHO blog article examines equity, diversity and inclusion in public health. ASTHO Blog Article: Overdose Prevention Policies Help People Involved with Criminal Justice System ASTHO Blog Article: The Fentanyl Crisis Requires Ongoing and Strategic Federal Action ASTHO Blog Article: ASTHO's Most Popular Resources of 2024 ASTHO Web Page: Implementing Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraception Learning Community ASTHO Blog Article: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Public Health: Creating a Healthier Society

Dr. Jerome Larkin, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, recaps a White House roundtable meeting that focused on sepsis; Meghan Mead, Deputy Director in the Mid-States Region at the Network for Public Health Law, tells us about a webinar today at 3 p.m. ET that is about AI and public health; an ASTHO report dives into one possible solution to health disparities in our nation; an ASTHO resource focuses on legislative trends dealing with the containment and prevention of infectious diseases; and Dr. Victor Ramos is the Secretary of Health for the Puerto Rico Department of Health and ASTHO's newest member. Report to Congress: An Assessment of Sepsis in the United States and its Burden on Hospital Care The Network for Public Health Law Webinar: AI and Public Health – Opportunities and Challenges ASTHO Report: Including Island Areas in Federal Public Health Datasets ASTHO Web Page: Containing and Preventing the Spread of Infectious Disease ASTHO Web Page: Victor Ramos, MD

Courtney Anderson, a Director with ASTHO's Environmental Health Team, discusses a blog article on Alpha-Gal Syndrome that was one of ASTHO's most popular resources of 2024; Catherine Murphy, a Government Affairs Analyst for ASTHO, uses past examples to see how key players in the 119th Congress might prioritize public health; an ASTHO webinar today focuses on the Building Capacity to Advance Health program; on January 29th, STRETCH will host its 4th national meeting; and the CDC has issued a Health Alert Network Health Advisory for clinicians and laboratories to accelerate the subtyping of influenza A-positive patients. ASTHO Blog Article: What Health Officials Should Know About Alpha-Gal Syndrome ASTHO Blog Article: ASTHO's Most Popular Resources of 2024 ASTHO Blog Article: Key Players and Health Policy Insights for 119th Congress ASTHO Webinar: Centering Community-Led Strategies to Sustainable Public Health Financing ASTHO Webinar: BCAH Informational Session CDC Web Page: Accelerated Subtyping of Influenza A in Hospitalized Patients

Melissa Magstadt, Secretary of Health for the South Dakota Department of Health, explains how her state has used Public Health Infrastructure Grant funding to bolster public health. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter

In the latest discussions, the significance of racial healing is highlighted as the National Day of Racial Healing approaches. Experts emphasize integrating race and ethnicity data into public health strategies. The new administration is expected to prioritize over 100 executive orders addressing various health issues. There's also a focus on enhancing leadership capabilities within governmental public health through upcoming webinars. This talk weaves together urgent public health initiatives and pivotal legislative changes.

Dr. Laura Herrera Scott, Secretary of Health for the Maryland Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, tells us how Maryland was the first state to sign on to the AHEAD Model released by CMS; Jessica Byrski, Senior Policy Analyst for the National Emergency Management Association, previews a webinar focused on North Carolina's Hurricane Helene response; and the California Air Resources Board and the California Department of Public Health have developed resources to safeguard communities during smoke events. Maryland Web Page: AHEAD Model Maryland News Release: Governor Moore Signs Historic Agreement to Advance Innovative and Equitable Health Care, Lower Health Care Costs for Marylanders NEMA Webinar: Navigating Crisis Communication: Lessons from North Carolina's Response to Hurricane Helene AirNow Web Page: Wildfire Smoke – A Guide for Public Health Officials Wildfire Smoke – Considerations for California's Public Health Officials

Dr. Russell Dunkel, President of the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, tells us why dental health is so important to public health; Keith A. James, Program Manager for Workforce Development and Health Equity for the U.S. Virgin Island Department of Health, explains how others can address workforce challenges with island-centric strategies; and an ASTHO report outlines ASTHO's most popular resources of 2024. ASTHO Web Page: Joint and Affiliate Councils Association‌ of‌ State‌ &‌ Territorial‌ Dental‌ Directors Web Page ASTHO Report: Leveraging Island-Centric Strategies to Address Workforce Challenges ASTHO Report: Improving Indirect Cost Rate Use in Island Jurisdictions ASTHO Blog Article: ASTHO's Most Popular Resources of 2024 ASTHO Web Page: Stay Informed

Dr. Umair Shah, Secretary of Health for the Washington State Department of Health, shares some of his proudest accomplishments as he steps away from his position; Dirk Wilke is the new Interim Commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services; and an ASTHO webinar on January 29th will be the Strategies to Repair Equity and Transform Community Health (STRETCH) 2.0 initiative's fourth national convening. Fox 13 Seattle News Article: WA Secretary of Health, Dr. Umair Shah, stepping down in 2025 ASTHO Web Page: Dirk Wilke, JD, MBA ASTHO Webinar: Centering Community-Led Strategies to Sustainable Public Health Financing

Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, Deputy Secretary for Public Health at the Maryland Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, discusses Maryland's winter weather safety campaign; and Dr. Tobi Adeyeye Amosun, Deputy Commissioner for Population Health for the Tennessee Department of Health, tells us about a recent meeting between senior deputies and CFOs with the CDC. Maryland Department of Health Web Page: Resources – Extreme Cold ABC 7 News Article: Maryland Department of Health urging residents to take precautions during winter months ASTHO Blog Article: How to Stay Safe This Winter ASTHO Web Page: Stay Informed

Maggie Davis, ASTHO Director of State Health Policy, dives into ASTHO's Legal Mapping Project which was one of the most popular resources on ASTHO's website in 2024; and Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, recaps how last year's legislative session ended and gives an outlook for 2025 in this week's View From Washington D.C. Report. ASTHO Web Page: ASTHO's Public Health Legal Mapping Center ASTHO Web Page: ASTHO's Most Popular Resources of 2024