Public Health On Call

Latest Episodes:

840 - Vaccines 101: The Basics of Vaccines and Vaccination Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

About this episode:

The first of a series of podcasts about vaccine basics from the molecular level to global policy and everything in between. What actually are vaccines and how do they work? In this episode: back to basics on vaccines and immunology with Dr. Arturo Casadevall and Dr. Josh Sharfstein, including a discussion on why we still don't have a vaccine for HIV.

Guest:

Arturo Casadevall is chair of the department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an infectious disease physician with more than 30 years of experience studying vaccines.

Host:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.

Show links and related content:

How do we know that vaccines work?–HHS
Understanding the Impact and Importance of Childhood Vaccinations—Yale School of Public Health

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.

839 - The First Week's Executive Orders Jan 24, 2025

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About this episode:

In the first few days of President Trump's second term he signed a blitz of executive actions. In today's episode: a look at some of the actions and memos that take aim at key public health policies including the communications pause for health and science agencies, a pause on NIH study sections, immediate posturing on DEI initiatives, exiting the Paris Agreement and WHO, and more. Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Guest:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein served in a number of political roles in his career including as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, the Principal Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as Commissioner of Health for Baltimore City, and as a Congressional health policy advisor.

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, the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Show links and related content:

Memo: Immediate Pause on Issuing Documents and Public Communications (pdf)—Department of Health & Human Services
Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing—White House Executive Order
Putting America First In International Environmental Agreements—White House Executive Order
Withdrawing the United States From the World Health Organization—White House Executive Order
Federal health agencies told to halt all external communications—NPR
Trump administration halts NIH grant-making process—The Hill
Trump is withdrawing the U.S. from WHO. Here's what that means—Science News
Statement From Dr. Richard Besser on DEI and Health—The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

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.

838 - Book Club—Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks Jan 22, 2025

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About this episode:

Throughout history, humans have been engaged in public health work. In a new book, epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers shares lessons from past outbreaks, what's changed since COVID-19, and how, at a difficult moment for public health, she's thinking about the future and keeping a watchful eye on mpox, H5N1, and more.

Guest:

Caitlin Rivers is an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security who specializes in preparedness and response for epidemics and pandemics.

Host:

Show links and related content:

Dr. Caitlin Rivers' New Book 'Crisis Averted' Explores Public Health Lessons and Provides Insights for Future Pandemic Preparedness—The Center for Health Security

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.

837 - Seeking Common Ground in Public Health Jan 20, 2025

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About this episode:

As the administration in Washington DC changes, where will public health be able to work across partisan lines to improve the health of all Americans? A conversation with Brian Castrucci, President and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation.

Guest:

Brian Castrucci is president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, a philanthropy dedicated to supporting state and local public health agencies.

Host:

Show links and related content:

Health Action Alliance
What the Senate Needs to hear from RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz—US News and World Report

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.

836 - The FDA Says Goodbye to Red Dye No. 3 Jan 17, 2025

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About this episode:

The FDA's ban on the use of Red Dye No. 3 raises two questions — why is this color additive leaving the food supply? And what does this mean for other chemicals in the foods we eat? In this episode: a discussion about how the FDA regulates food additives, and how that might change in the future. A note for listeners: By the end of this episode, you will understand why "GRAS reform" is not about cannabis.

Guest:

Howard Sklamberg is the former deputy commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a legal expert in FDA compliance and enforcement.

Host:

Show links and related content:

What to Know About the Ban on Red Dye No. 3 in Food—The New York Times
Red #3's Swan Song: The Science Behind the FDA's Latest Decision—Unbiased Science
A New Law To Enhance the Safety of Cosmetics—Public Health On Call (February 2023)
The U.S. Food Safety System—Public Health On Call

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.

835 - Fluoride and The Law Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

About this episode:

Conversations about fluoride in the water supply are revving up but a key factor in the debate is the legal framework. In this episode: a discussion about the relevant law for assessing fluoride added to drinking water known as the Toxic Substances Control Act—a law limited to a focus on risk, not benefit—and what that means for emerging science and policy discussions around fluoridating water.

Guest:

Dr. Lynn Goldman is a pediatrician, the dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University, and an expert in environmental health.

Host:

Show links and related content:

EPA 'in a really tough spot' after landmark fluoride ruling—E&E News, Politico
The Benefits and Risks of Fluoride, Explained—New York Times
Fluoride's PR Nightmare—Unbiased Science
Fluoride Face-Off: Court Ruling Challenges, But Science Stands Firm—Unbiased Science

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.

834 - Bird Flu Is Escalating Jan 14, 2025

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About this episode:

The U.S.'s first reported human death from bird flu is another sign that the virus is not going away anytime soon. In this episode: why it's time to double down on efforts to limit H5N1 transmission among cattle and birds, concerns about cats and other mammals, and how response measures need to scale up quickly and more broadly to try and prevent the virus from gaining a foothold in humans. The experts also discuss why bird flu poses an existential threat to the dairy industry.

Guests:

Dr. Meghan Davis is a veterinarian and public health researcher at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a joint appointment at the School of Medicine.

Dr. Andy Pekosz is a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with appointments in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Environmental Health and Engineering. Host:

Show links and related content:

Bird flu H5N1 claims first human life in U.S.: "We remain vigilant"—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza—USDA
Defend The Flock: Biosecurity Practices—USDA

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.

833 - Why Are Americans Dying So Much Earlier Than Some Of Their Counterparts? Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

About this episode:

A new report from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative finds that the U.S. lags behind many other high-income countries in life expectancy. In this report, researchers found that babies born 40 years ago in the U.S. and U.K could expect to live to the same age. Today, however, life expectancy is nearly three years shorter for those on our side of the Atlantic Ocean. In this episode: a look at the four main causes of death driving this gap—all of which are preventable—and how one of the world's richest countries that spends the most on healthcare is continually failing to improve the health of its people.

Guest:

Host:

Show links and related content:

A Tale of Two Countries: The Life Expectancy Gap Between the United States and the United Kingdom—The Bloomberg American Health Initiative
Americans Die Younger Than U.K. Counterparts Due to Four Preventable Causes—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Expanding Access to Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Carceral Settings—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

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.

832 - The Importance of Knowing and Optimizing Your Hearing Health…At ANY Age Jan 08, 2025

Show notes

About this episode:

Hearing declines for everyone as we get older, no matter what we do. As it declines, it can cause health problems like cognitive decline and brain atrophy, and is directly linked with Alzheimer's. But there are ways to understand and reduce these impacts including over-the-counter hearing aids and a new app where people can test their hearing on their smartphone. In this episode: a conversation about a health issue that will impact all of us to some degree, and how technology is helping to address impacts early and upend the stigma of hearing loss.

Guest:

Dr. Frank Lin is the director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health and a professor of otolaryngology, medicine, mental health, and epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine and 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:

Episode transcript
How and Why to Learn Your Hearing Numbers
Download the Hearing Number app for iOS (App Store) or Android (Google Play)

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.

831 - Public Health Science Communication With Your Local Epidemiologist Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

About this episode:

Science communication is a vital skillset for public health practitioners. But what does it really take to cut through the noise? In today's episode, Katelyn Jetelina, the publisher of Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about the art and science of science communication, and why it's less about being right and more about a commitment to changing the way people think.

Guest:

Dr. Katelyn Jetelina is an epidemiologist and scientific communicator. She is the co-founder of Health Trust Initiative, an adjunct professor at Yale School of Public Health, and a Senior Scientific Advisor to several government and non-profit agencies, including the CDC. In addition, Dr. Jetelina is the publisher of Your Local Epidemiologist.

Host:

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