Public Health On Call

The vacancy on the Supreme Court left by Justice Ginsburg could have an unprecedented impact on critical public health issues. In a special Friday episode, Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks with three experts in public health law—Lainie Rutkow, Jon Vernick, and Joanne Rosen—about the ACA, the Second Amendment, and Roe v. Wade. They discuss the Court's precedents around these issues, how nominee Amy Coney Barrett's originalist and textualist philosophies might be used to interpret them, whether one judge can make a significant difference in overall decisions, and the potential impacts reversals and changes to existing laws could make on the public's health. KEYWORDS: policy; firearms; abortion

The University of Arizona recently tracked a potential COVID-19 outbreak in a dorm by testing sewage. Johns Hopkins chemist Dr. Carsten Prasse, who studies wastewater-based epidemiology, talks with Stephanie Desmon about what poop can tell us about the health of individuals and communities, privacy concerns, and how sewage surveillance could be part of the COVID-19 response in certain circumstances. KEYWORDS: pandemic response; viral shedding; human waste

We last heard from Matt Hornbeck—longtime principal of Hampstead Hill Academy, a K-8 school in Baltimore city—in the spring after schools abruptly closed. Hornbeck now returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the first few weeks of online learning and what a typical day looks like. They also discuss successes and setbacks, how to think about prioritizing ESOL students and those with special needs, and what might happen regarding reopening for in-person learning in the months ahead. KEYWORDS: schools; student life; pandemic response

When the world first heard about a new respiratory virus, it was a surprise to learn that patients were suffering from blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks. Johns Hopkins hematologist Dr. Robert Brodsky talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about recent research exploring the role of complement, a part of the immune system, in COVID-related clotting. Brodksy talks about how COVID-19 may be similar to other diseases that involve complement, and the implications of the theory for treatment and diagnosis. KEYWORDS: spike protein; COVID-19 therapy; endothelium

Research has shown that COVID-19 transmission is largely through airborne droplets and particles expelled during sneezing, coughing, talking, and singing. There's little evidence, though, that surfaces are making us sick. Microbiologist Dr. Emanuel Goldman talks with Stephanie Desmon about the science behind COVID transmission research, the strong evidence that infection comes from aerosols and not surfaces, and how excess sanitation in public spaces may be giving us a false sense of security when all we really need is to wash our hands. KEYWORDS: fomite; hand washing; pandemic response

How can we deal with all of the unique stressors happening right now? How can families adjust to "back to school," in whatever form that may take? Is it helpful to have a broader perspective of what's going on in the world? What should we be doing to prepare for the winter months ahead in terms of our mental health and outlook? Dr. Laura Murray returns to the podcast this week with Stephanie Desmon to talk us through dealing with some of the punches 2020 has thrown. KEYWORDS: community mental health; stress management; child health

Bestselling author Wes Moore remembers the feelings of heartache, anger, and complicity following Freddie Gray's funeral. Five years later, the Black Lives Matter movement has shown that the issue is much bigger than Baltimore and its policing. Moore talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how the police were the last in a long line of systems to fail Gray throughout his life, how Black Lives Matter means addressing all stages of the lifecycle of Black people, why COVID-19 is life or death for many, and how to get people to pay attention and create change. KEYWORDS: racial disparity; social determinants of health; health equity

At the beginning of the pandemic, many in the US seemed to view public health measures like lockdowns and social distancing and economic recovery as a tradeoff. But economist Dr. James Galbraith says this is an incorrect assumption, and that early failures to contain the virus mean the US now has uncontrolled spread and a less resilient economy. Galbraith talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the current state of the US economy, the failure of the government to launch an effective public health response, why another shutdown may be necessary, and what we need to think about to address urgent economic impacts to low-income and minority populations hit hard by the pandemic. KEYWORDS: unemployment; health equity; schools

As some schools and leagues resume play among youths, how can parents assess which activities are safer than others? Dr. Tara Kirk Sell—an expert from the Center for Health Security and an Olympic silver medalist in swimming—talks with Stephanie Desmon about how to think about levels of risk in different sports both on and off the field or court, how pro sports teams are thinking through safety, and how they can be messengers for public health. Sell also discusses why, with so many activities deemed nonessential, watching and participating in sports are important for our well-being. KEYWORDS: athletes; college; student life

The University of Alabama saw some 2,000 cases of COVID-19 within the first few weeks of students returning to campus. Walt Maddox, mayor of Tuscaloosa and dad to an Alabama freshman, talks with Stephanie Desmon about how intertwined his city is with the university and how town and gown have had to work together to implement public policies to stem the spread. Maddox also talks about the economic impact COVID-19 has had both on the school and the city, and how all decision making has been rooted in public safety, logic, data, and science. KEYWORDS: young adults; student life; college