Public Health On Call

Latest Episodes:

222 - Overdose and the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Harm Reduction Movement Dec 16, 2020

Show notes

As part of a periodic series on overdose and the pandemic, guest host Susan Sherman speaks with Monique Tula, executive director of the National Harm Reduction Coalition, and Louise Vincent, executive director of the North Carolina Survivor's Union about the role of harm reduction in both the COVID and overdose crises. In an extended conversation, Tula and Vincent talk about harm reduction as a strategy for reducing suffering among people who use drugs, centering health and dignity in services, and how the "syndemic" of drug use, COVID-19, and racism are converging in a moment that requires a fundamental restructuring of services related to substance use in the US.

KEYWORDS: substance use; policy; racial disparity

221 - Why COVID-19 Cases in Africa Are Much Lower Than Expected Dec 15, 2020

Show notes

Thanks to an early warning system that was put in place for Ebola and other infectious disease outbreaks, countries across Africa acted swiftly to respond to COVID-19—actions that have resulted in many fewer cases and deaths than in other parts of the world. Tolbert Nyenswah, former Deputy Minister of Health for Liberia, talks with Stephanie Desmon about Africa's experience during the pandemic.

KEYWORDS: policy; supply chain; health equity

220 - Overdose and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Breaking Through Bureaucracy With High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Dec 11, 2020

Show notes

As part of a periodic series on overdose and the pandemic, guest host Susan Sherman speaks with Chauncey Parker, director of the New York/New Jersey High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. HIDTA is a federally funded program that invests in public safety and public health partnerships designed to "bring everyone to the table" in unique collaborations that help facilitate better policy and data collection. Parker also talks about how COVID-19 has—and hasn't—impacted the drug market in New York.

KEYWORDS: substance use; policy; harm reduction

BONUS: Public Health On Call—Season 3 Trailer Dec 11, 2020

Show notes

The Public Health On Call podcast is wrapping up Season Two with our final episode on December 18. We'll return for Season Three on January 4 with more evidence and experts to help unpack the days COVID-19 and public health news. Listen here for more on what's to come.

219 - What Went Wrong? The CDC and COVID-19 Dec 11, 2020

Show notes

The CDC has been hailed as the world's leading public health agency, but throughout the COVID-19 pandemic—a time when the agency should have been leading the charge—its responses have fallen short of expectations. Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska and a former top CDC official, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what went wrong despite decades of preparation. Dr. Khan also shares what needs to happen for the agency to regain credibility and meet the pressing challenges of COVID-19 and other public health crises. (This interview was recorded on November 6.)

KEYWORDS: health communication; policy

218 - The Health Impacts of Climate Change Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

The health impacts of climate change can be severe: asthma attacks triggered by mold from flooding, infectious diseases spread by mosquitoes which thrive in warmer and wetter climates, and violent conflict over dwindling clean water sources. Dr. Megan Latshaw talks with Stephanie Desmon about a new report card grading states on how well they are prepared to protect people from health effects linked with climate change, showing which states are most vulnerable and how a coordinated national response could help prevent catastrophic impacts. For more information, visit www.climateandhealthreport.org.

KEYWORDS: natural disaster; policy; environmental health

217 - How Youth Serving Organizations Can Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Dec 09, 2020

Show notes

Elizabeth Letourneau, director of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, talks with Stephanie Desmon about a groundbreaking new report to help youth serving organizations prevent child sexual abuse. For more information, visit https://americanhealth.jhu.edu/youth-serving-organizations

KEYWORDS: policy; child health

216 - Economist Dr. Emily Oster on COVID-19 and Schools Dec 08, 2020

Show notes

Although there's enough data to show that K-12 schools are not driving COVID-19 transmission, many are still closed even though bars, restaurants, and gyms are open. Brown economist Dr. Emily Oster returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about the latest data on schools and COVID-19, why many places haven't prioritized reopening schools, and what might get us out of this situation.

KEYWORDS: schools; student life; pandemic response

BONUS: Overdose and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Dr. Chinazo Cunningham and the Challenges of Providing Patient-Centered Treatment During the Pandemic Dec 07, 2020

Show notes

Treatment for opioid use disorder can be highly effective in preventing overdoses, but only if it's easily accessible. Last spring, Dr. Chinazo Cunningham's health clinic in the South Bronx found itself in the "epicenter of the epicenter" of the COVID-19 outbreak that devastated New York. Dr. Cunningham talks with guest host Brendan Saloner about how the clinic adapted to continue providing patient-centered care during shutdowns, the uptick in overdoses in 2020 that predated the pandemic, and the need for urgent policy changes from the Biden administration to stem the opioid epidemic.

215 - Considering Holiday Travel During COVID-19 Dec 07, 2020

Show notes

With COVID-19 cases on the rise, the CDC and other health authorities are urging people to avoid nonessential travel in the coming weeks. But there are also concerns about the physical and emotional health of those who may be isolated during the pandemic, and some may be determined to travel to see a loved one face to face no matter what. Epidemiologist Keri Althoff and mental health expert Elizabeth Stuart talk with Stephanie Desmon about the logistics of pandemic travel, quarantine and testing protocols, important conversations to have starting now.

KEYWORDS: community mental health; testing methods; social distancing

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