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688 - Red Flag Laws, Maine's "Yellow Flag" Law, and Preventing Gun Violence Through Policy Nov 15, 2023

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In the wake of last month's Lewiston shootings in Maine, the state's "yellow flag" law has come under scrutiny. Josh Horwitz of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions talks with Stephanie Desmon about red flag laws, or Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and why Maine's hybrid approach is so ineffective. They also discuss the constitutionality of red flag laws and a number of other effective policies that can help prevent all kinds of gun violence.

687 - Two New RSV Products to Protect Infants Nov 13, 2023

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RSV—respiratory syncytial virus—is a common infection that causes cold-like symptoms but can become very severe in young children and is the leading cause of hospitalization for babies under 1. Dr. Ruth Karron, director of the Johns Hopkins Vaccine Initiative, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about two new products, a vaccine for pregnant people and an antibody treatment for babies, that could substantially lower the rates of severe infections among children. However, the rollout has been slow and people may still have a hard time getting them for their children as RSV season kicks into gear.

686 - Some Practical Tips For Coping With Grief During the Holidays Nov 10, 2023

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The holiday season can be intense for anyone, but especially those who are living with grief—whether it's recent or decades old. Eleanor Haley, who has a master's in counseling psychology, and Litsa Williams, a clinical social worker, are co-founders of What's Your Grief, an online community for grieving people and grief support professionals. They talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers about ways to approach celebrations or rituals, the importance of communication with loved ones, and the need to make room for flexibility, honesty, and maybe even a little joy. Learn more: https://whatsyourgrief.com/

685 - Still in Court: COVID Vaccine Mandates Nov 08, 2023

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Many lawsuits against employers for requiring COVID-19 vaccines remain in U.S. courts. Dawn Solowey, a partner in the labor and employment practice of Seyfarth Shaw, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about these court cases, the rise in public discourse around religious and medical exemptions, and implications for other workplace issues like diversity training and protections for LGBTQ individuals.

684 - From Contraception to COVID to Climate Action, The Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs Has Inspired Healthy Behaviors Worldwide for 35 Years Nov 06, 2023

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The Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs was established to develop and research creative ways to boost the use of modern family planning around the world. Today, as the center marks its 35th birthday, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein speaks to CCP's new executive director Debora Freitas Lopez about the program's continued mission to inspire and enable people around the world to make healthy choices about everything from contraception to COVID-19 to climate action.

683 - In the West Wing With Dr. Ashish Jha, Former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Nov 03, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator under President Biden, helped the country move out of the acute phase of the pandemic—and learned a lot in the process. Dr. Jha talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what surprised and disappointed him during his federal experience, what it was like to feel responsible for the health of 300+ million people, and why he's concerned about respiratory virus season this year, and every year. Plus: listen to the end to hear a little history about Dr. Jha and Dr. Sharfstein.

682 - The Surprising Benefits of Narrower Traffic Lanes Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

The U.S. is home to some of the widest streets and driving lanes in the world—and that's not something to brag about. Shima Hamidi, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Climate-Smart Transportation, talks with Stephanie Desmon about a new report from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative that challenges the notion that wider lanes are safer. They also discuss how altering roads could not only help with safety, but our physical health and climate change adaptations. Learn more here: http://narrowlanes.americanhealth.jhu.edu/

681 - All About Ringworm Oct 30, 2023

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Ringworm, athletes foot, and jock itch are all names for a fungal infection of our skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologist Dr. Avrom Caplan talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about tinea, the actual name of the infection, and how people can get it, how it's treated, and why there are global concerns about new strains that may be much harder to treat.

680 - How Genomics is Helping Scientists to Understand Why There Is Local Malaria Transmission in the U.S. Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

For the first time in 20 years, locally transmitted cases of malaria have been reported across three US states. Scientists are trying to piece together why and how malaria is appearing in places where it's no longer endemic. Guest host Thomas Locke talks with Jane Carlton, the new director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, about her work decoding the genomes of the parasites that have infected individuals in Maryland to determine their lineage. They also discuss the role of climate change in malaria infections, the global fight against the disease, and the extent to which the public is at risk.

679 - October 28 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is coming up, and Dr. Caleb Alexander joins the podcast to help you clean our your medicine cabinet in preparation. Dr. Alexander talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about the history behind the day and its roots in response to the opioid epidemic, what kinds of drugs and equipment require safe disposal, where you can find a Take Back drop-off in your community on the 28th, and how to safely get rid of unused prescription drugs year round. Learn more: https://www.dea.gov/takebackday NOTE: In this episode we discuss medical equipment, such as syringes or "sharps" as they're called. Most DEA drop-off locations will not accept these as part of Take Back day, but you can take them to pharmacies, health clinics, police stations, and many other locations.

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