Public Health On Call

Nearly six months into the US outbreak, getting a test for COVID-19 is still messy, and getting results can take so long that they're useless for contact tracing and isolating. Scott Becker, chief executive of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the complexities of testing and why we should not expect anything to change in the next six months. Becker also talks about the innovation happening to try and reduce excessive wait times for results, the role of public health labs, and the burden of responsibility on individuals to "flatten the curve" of demand on testing.

COVID-19 shutdowns forced businesses into a remote work culture—many of them almost overnight. As employers contemplate how to safely bring staff back to work, they'll need to consider the ways in which "work" itself and the role of the physical office have changed. Steve Lang, President and CEO of Dancker, a US company that designs office space, talks with Stephanie Desmon about solving for basic needs like safety and wellness while considering how to reconfigure physical office spaces to be places for collaboration and community.

How do social injustices contribute to health problems among Black Americans? Today, we look at racial disparities through the lens of kidney disease. Dr. Tanjala Purnell and Dr. Deidra Crews talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about a confluence of factors—including harmful experiences and societal barriers to equal housing, employment, and other opportunities—that contributes to Black Americans experiencing kidney failure at three times the rate of whites. They also talk about the concept of "weathering," the added complexities brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, and what actions individuals can take to start addressing systemic health inequities caused by racism.

A special episode today as Dr. Josh Sharfstein discusses Henrik Ibsen's play, The Enemy of the People, with Dr. Leonardo Lisi, Hopkins professor and an expert in 19th century Scandinavian literature and philosophy. The play, which was written in 1882, draws parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic like the vilification of health officials whose guidance may run counter to political and economic interests. Lisi and Sharfstein discuss the play's relevance to current events including attacks on health officials and social inequality. (Don't worry: You do not have to have read this play to enjoy the discussion!)

Dr. Mikhail "Doctor Mike" Varshavski, D.O., a board certified family medicine physician, has amassed six million subscribers on YouTube where he posts fun and engaging videos that demystify healthcare and combat misinformation. Doctor Mike talks to Dr. Josh about his "edutainment" approach to inform and engage people on health literacy, and how physicians and institutions can help make medicine more approachable.

India's Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, or PM-JAY, was founded in 2018 as a government-funded health insurance initiative that provides free services to the poorest 40% of the population. Dr. Indu Bhushan, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Authority and CEO of the PM-JAY, talks with Sara Bennett about the COVID-19 pandemic in India and how the health system is addressing the crisis.

Forty million people are at risk of eviction in the US as a result of COVID-19-related unemployment. Emily Benfer, Wake Forest law professor and co-creator of the Princeton Eviction Lab's COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard, talks with Stephanie Desmon about what could be the biggest housing crisis in US history and the lasting impact this could have on individuals, communities, and the housing market.

With resources strained and attention focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, active hurricane and wildfire seasons could add more deadly threats to the mix. Craig Fugate, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the Obama administration, talks with Stephanie Desmon about how disaster management experts are prepping shelters and crews, and what people can do to keep themselves and their families safe from both COVID-19 and imminent environmental threats.

How close are we to a vaccine? What do efficacy trials actually entail? What are the challenges to achieving diversity in clinical trials? How long would a COVID-19 vaccine provide some level of protection? How is vaccine safety assessed? Should pregnant women be included in vaccine trials for COVID-19? Dr. Ruth Karron, one of the top vaccine experts in the world and a professor in International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health speaks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein to answer these and more questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Sweden's approach to controlling the spread of COVID-19 has relied largely on providing guidance and expecting compliance. What's gone right? What's gone wrong? Anders Tegnell, Sweden's chief epidemiologist, talks candidly with Dr. Josh Sharfstein. He rejects the idea that the nation has been complacent, saying the goal has always been to reduce transmission, using mandates as necessary to achieve the goal. He also explains why Sweden has not hospitalized more older adults who contracted COVID-19 in nursing homes, a population that has accounted for a large share of deaths.