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Latest Episodes:

658 - What Happened to the Doctors Spreading Misinformation During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Sep 06, 2023

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Throughout the pandemic, a few medical professionals spread false and misleading information about COVID-19 and even touted potentially harmful "treatments" to their patients. But did they face consequences? Journalist Lena Sun talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about her Washington Post report looking at how medical professional boards handled—or dismissed—complaints about these doctors.

657 - The Consequences of Abortion Restrictions Part 2: Denials of Medical Care Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

Part two of this series features Dr. Daniel Grossman, an obstretrician and gynecologist, and Dr. Katrina Kimport, a sociologist in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California at San Francisco. They talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about their research documenting cases where patients were denied proper medical care because of abortion restrictions—even when the care was unrelated to a pregnancy. They discuss how being forced to deny proper medical care can cause catastrophic health problems and trauma for pregnant people and their loved ones, as well as distress for the medical professionals involved. For part one of the series, check out episode 656. Read the report here: https://www.ansirh.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/Care%20Post-Roe%20Preliminary%20Findings.pdf

656 - The Consequences of Abortion Restrictions Part 1: Spotlight on Texas Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

In part one of a two part series, Johns Hopkins demographic researcher Suzanne Bell talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about a new report quantifying the impacts of Texas's SB8, an extremely restrictive abortion bill that passed in 2021. They discuss how empirical evidence can help to illuminate the consequences of major legislation. Read more:

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/analysis-suggests-2021-texas-abortion-ban-resulted-in-nearly-9800-extra-live-births-in-state-in-year-after-law-went-into-effect

655 - Are We At A Tipping Point For Climate Change? Aug 28, 2023

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Massive deadly fires, bleached coral reefs, extreme heat, ocean temps topping 100 degrees….have we reached a tipping point in climate change? Johns Hopkins planetary scientist Dr. Ben Zaitchik returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about recent headline-grabbing climate events and whether or not they signal a critical threshold for the health of the planet. They discuss how we can collectively approach mitigation and planning for climate change and why it can be short-sighted to see climate change as an existential crisis for humans.

654 - The Evidence—and Lack Thereof—About Cannabis Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

Legalizing medical cannabis may have paved the way for recreational use in many states, but what is actually known about cannabis as a medical treatment? Dr. Johannes Thrul, a Johns Hopkins substance use researcher, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about why there are huge gaps in research of the risks and benefits of cannabis, and how legalization might create new opportunities to finally get some answers.

653 - Back to School: How One K-8 School Is Getting Ready for the Fall Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Principal Matt Hornbeck of Hampstead Hill Academy, an award-winning public K-8 school in Baltimore City, returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about gearing up for school. They discuss how students fared academically last year—and how the school is preparing to address chronic absenteeism and mental health challenges this fall.

652 - How to Extend Life Expectancy: Pay for Health, Not Just Health Care Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

As life expectancy slips in the US, what can we do differently to improve overall well-being and health? For one thing: start paying for health care differently. Dr. Mai Pham, physician and president and CEO of the Institute for Exceptional Care, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about a new report from the National Academy of Medicine on the opportunity of innovation in payment: What if health insurance covered social needs? What if primary care clinicians were paid for extra time to help those patients who need support the most? What if health care institutions saw their role as broadly promoting health?

651 - The Indoor Air Quality Act: Mandating Clean Air in Public Spaces Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

Outdoor air quality is a major concern but what about the safety of the air we breathe indoors in public spaces like schools and offices? Dr. Gigi Gronvall of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about the threats of poor indoor air quality including spreading infectious diseases and particulate matter, and a new framework for states to consider how to mandate clean, filtered air in public spaces to keep people safe.

Read more about the importance of indoor air quality and what states can do to improve it: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/regulating-indoor-air-quality

650 - How to Make Sure Food is Available in a Crisis Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

During the pandemic, it became clear that America's vast and complex food system has weak spots and needs help from farm to table to be more resilient to shocks and stressors. Elsie Moore, a Johns Hopkins PhD candidate and researcher at the Center for a Livable Future talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about this "resiliency concept" and how some jurisdictions are thinking through their capacity to make sure food is available during emergencies from extreme weather and global unrest. Learn more about the Center for a Livable Future's Food System Resilience Planning Guide. https://clf.jhsph.edu/about-us/news/news-2022/new-food-system-resilience-planning-guide-helps-cities-prepare-disruptions

649 - Tradeoffs—988 Turns 1: Progress and Pain Points in National Crisis Line's First Year Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

Last summer, Lifeline transitioned away from a 10-digit national suicide prevention number to the three-digit 988 line in hopes of making it easier for people experiencing a mental health crisis to call and text. One year after its launch, guest host Dan Gorenstein of the Tradeoffs podcast talks about the crisis line's successes and where it's fallen short.

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