Public Health On Call

Latest Episodes:

A Guide to Fall Vaccines for People Who Are Immunocompromised and Those Who Care For Them Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

About this episode:

Those whose immune systems are more vulnerable due to age, illness, or another condition are at a higher risk of getting sick with and experiencing severe symptoms of seasonal illnesses like flu, COVID-19, and RSV. In this episode: Epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers provides her recommendations for vaccines this respiratory virus season for people who are immunocompromised and for those who care for them, when to get them, and how to find disease trends in your area.

Note: The RSV vaccine is not an annual vaccine, though the virus flares up seasonally in the fall and winter. According to the best available research, only one dose of the RSV vaccine can offer protection for multiple seasons.

Guest:

Caitlin Rivers, PhD, MPH, is an associate professor of Environmental Health and Engineering, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Outbreak Response Innovation, and a senior scholar at the Center for Health Security. She is also the author of the Force of Infection newsletter.

Host:

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

Show links and related content:

Guide to seasonal vaccinations for people who are immunocompromised—Force of Infection
IDSA recommends respiratory vaccines for people with weakened immune systems—Infectious Disease Society of America
Respiratory Virus Activity Levels—CDC
Book Club—Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Preventing Outbreaks—Public Health On Call (January 2025)

Transcript information:

Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript.

AI disclosure (as of September 2026):

The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu.

Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website.

Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

U.S. Healthcare Failures: Is Neoliberalism to Blame? Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

About this episode:

A new book argues that a wave of Reagan-era policies grounded in limited government intervention in the free market has given way to deregulation and corporate consolidation in healthcare, driving up costs and yielding poor health outcomes. In this episode: John McDonough, author of "America's Wrong Turn: U.S. Healthcare in the Neoliberal Era," walks through the pivotal policies of past political eras and provides his insights on where the country is headed next.

Guest:

John McDonough, DrPH, MPA, is a health policy expert, author, and professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Host:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.

Show links and related content:

America's Wrong Turn: U.S. Healthcare in the Neoliberal Era—Johns Hopkins University Press (book)
Why Are Americans Dying So Much Earlier Than Some Of Their Counterparts?—Public Health On Call (January 2025)

Transcript information:

AI disclosure (as of September 2026):

Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website.

Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

The Rabies Episode Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

About this episode:

According to the CDC, rabies cases are on the rise nationwide. This aggressive RNA virus, primarily transmitted through biting, can infect any mammal—including household pets and humans—with horrific and fatal consequences. In this episode: Veterinarians Meghan Davis and Monica Murphy discuss how to identify a rabid animal, why preventing infection is critical to saving lives, and the fascinating cultural history of rabies with ties to werewolves, vampires, and zombies.

Guest:

Meghan Davis, PhD, MPH, DVM, is a veterinarian and chair of the Master of Public Health program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Monica Murphy, MPH, DVM, is a veterinarian and author of the book "Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus."

Host:

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

Show links and related content:

Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus—Penguin Random House
Disease experts urge safe animal practices amid 'unusual' rabid beaver attacks—Maryland Matters
Nationwide Increase in Reported Human Rabies Exposures: Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis Administration—CDC
Stopping Dog Bites Helps Stop Rabies—Johns Hopkins Center for Communications Programs
Why We Vaccinate Our Dogs and Cats—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Transcript information:

AI disclosure (as of September 2026):

Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website.

Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Private Equity in Healthcare Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

About this episode:

Private equity is purchasing hospitals, long-term care facilities, laboratories, and clinics—often promising to introduce efficient, cutting-edge care. But what's actually happening in communities? In this episode: Two health policy researchers explain one way that private equity operates in the healthcare system and its consequences for patients.

Guest:

Karen Davenport, MPA, is a senior research fellow at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy.

Kennah Watts, MSPH, is a research fellow at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy.

Host:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.

Show links and related content:

Hollowed Out - How Private Equity Destabilized Safety-Net Hospitals in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Rhode Island—Center on Health Insurance Reforms

Transcript information:

AI disclosure (as of September 2026):

Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website.

Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Meta Settled a Case Over Social Media Addiction Claims. What Happens Now? Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

About this episode:

In August, Meta—the parent company of Instagram and Facebook—agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion to 54 states and U.S. territories over claims that it harmed children by fostering unhealthy digital habits. In this episode: An addiction researcher and an expert in adolescent mental health explain the terms of the agreement, what comes next, and what parents should take away from the larger conversation on youth social media use.

Guest:

Tamar Mendelson, PhD, MA, is a professor of Mental Health and Population, Family and Reproductive Health, as well as the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Adolescent Health.

Johannes Thrul, PhD, MS, is an associate professor of Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Host:

Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor for Expert Insights, and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Show links and related content:

Meta to Pay Up to $17.1 Billion in Landmark Settlement Over Social Media Addiction Claims—New York Times
Mental Health in the Scroll Age—Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine
Social Media and Youth Mental Health—Office of the Surgeon General
A College Course for Digital Detoxing—Public Health On Call (February 2026)
Social Media and Adolescent Health—Public Health On Call (February 2024)

Transcript information:

AI disclosure (as of September 2026):

Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website.

Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Does Legalizing Marijuana Affect Alcohol and Other Drug Use? Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

About this episode:

New research examines the relationship between the legalization of medicinal or recreational cannabis and patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and opioid use. In this episode: Lead author of the study, Sarah Windle, explains what her team's systematic review, published in the Milbank Quarterly, can tell us about whether legal cannabis is being used to substitute or to complement other substances.

Guest:

Sarah Windle, MPH, is a PhD student in epidemiology at McGill University.

Host:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.

Show links and related content:

Impacts of Global Cannabis Policy Changes on Substance Use: A Systematic Review of Quasi-Experimental Studies—The Milbank Quarterly
Here's how cannabis legalization affected tobacco, alcohol and opioid use: McGill study—CTV News
The Hazy World of Cannabis Policy—Public Health On Call (February 2025)

Transcript information:

AI disclosure (as of September 2026):

Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website.

Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Hot Topics This Fall: Food Recalls, Measles, Respiratory Vaccines Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

About this episode:

Between the cyclosporiasis outbreak and other food safety issues, the ongoing measles outbreak, and the coming respiratory season, there's a lot going on in public health. In this episode: Dr. Josh Sharfstein, a pediatrician, former principal deputy commissioner of the FDA, and Public Health On Call host, covers these and other hot topics in public health.

Guest:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.

Host:

Show links and related content:

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts—U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania mark first 2 US fatalities this year—CIDRAP
AAFP Announces Fall Immunization Recommendations to Protect Patients and Communities—American Academy of Family Physicians
The Executive Order on Childhood Vaccines—Public Health On Call (August 2026)
The Explosive Diarrhea Episode—Public Health On Call (July 2026)
An Update on Measles and the U.S.'s Elimination Status—Public Health On Call (April 2026)

Transcript information:

AI disclosure (as of September 2026):

Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website.

Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Taking Public Health from the Classroom to the Community Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

About this episode:

Malcolm Cunningham and Amelia Hulbert both work in local government, spearheading violence prevention programs and reducing barriers to food access, respectively. Through the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, they've supercharged their work with MPH degrees and instruction from leaders in their fields. In this episode: Malcolm and Amelia discuss their work to create better health outcomes in their communities and how programs at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have guided them.

Guest:

Malcolm Cunningham, MPH, is the director of the Toledo, OH, Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and an alumnus of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative.

Amelia Hulbert, MPH, is the Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) specialist with Boulder County Public Health and an alumna of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative.

Host:

Show links and related content:

The Cost of Gun Violence: The Direct Cost to Tax Payers—National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform
To get fresh vegetables to people who need them, one city puts its soda tax to work—NPR
The Bloomberg Fellows Program—Bloomberg American Health Initiative

Transcript information:

AI disclosure (as of September 2026):

Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website.

Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Challenges in Global Access to Life-Saving Medications and Vaccines Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

About this episode:

During the recent pandemic, low-income countries struggled to access the COVID-19 vaccine, despite a global framework that had been established for this purpose. In this episode: Tahir Amin, a leader in the access to medicines movement, shares his perspective on what failed during the pandemic and how this experience reflects larger challenges in the availability and affordability of critical medications.

Guest:

Tahir Amin, DPLP, is a founder and CEO of the Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge (I-MAK), a nonprofit organization working to address the inequities in how medicines are developed and distributed.

Host:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.

Show links and related content:

Pharma Monopoly: The Battle for the Future of Medicines—Polity Books (book)
Americans' Challenges with Health Care Costs—KFF
Patently imperfect—Science
Could Patent Reform Lower Drug Prices?—Public Health On Call (March 2023)

Transcript information:

Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website.

Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Why Does A Bee Matter to My Health? Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

About this episode:

Wild pollinators like bees and hoverflies play a direct role in human health. A recent study in Nepal shows that flourishing pollinator populations lead to higher agricultural yields, bolstering both human economic wellbeing and access to ample, nutrient-rich foods. In this episode: Dr. Samuel Myers of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health details the link between biodiversity and human health and the risk that mankind's ecological footprint poses to this complex and essential relationship.

Guest:

Sam Myers, MD, MPH, is the founding director of the Planetary Health Alliance and the faculty director at the brand new Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health.

Host:

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

Show links and related content: