Public Health On Call

For immediate reaction to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe versus Wade, Dr. Josh Sharfstein speaks to Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, an obstetrician-gynecologist who leads Power to Decide, a nonprofit organization with the goal of ensuring that all people "have the power to decide if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child."

First identified 50 years ago, Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness endemic to many parts of the U.S. While the acute infection can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed in time, 10-20% of people still go on to experience persistent symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and pain. Lyme expert John Aucott talks with Stephanie Desmon about how to prevent Lyme disease, what we know about chronic Lyme, and how long COVID is helping to draw attention to it and other diseases like chronic fatigue.

In a bonus episode, Alex McCourt, the director of legal research at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, speaks to Dr. Joshua Sharfstein about guns and the Supreme Court. They discuss this decision's meaning and direct impact, as well as the potential implications for other actions to reduce the toll of gun violence in the United States.

Johns Hopkins University hosted a live, virtual briefing earlier this month on responses to the crisis of gun violence featuring a panel of experts, including Cass Crifasi, Shannon Fratteroli, Josh Horwitz, Odis Johnson, and Daniel Webster. Moderated by Lainie Rutkow, the discussion focuses on the challenges gun violence poses for American democracy, which gun laws are effective, how Extreme Risk Protection Orders can help to prevent gun violence, research on public opinions about solutions, and measures to promote student safety and health in a time of rising gun violence.

Greater global cooperation could have saved many lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preparedness and response expert Lucia Mullen of the Center for Health Security talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the growing call to support such cooperation through a pandemic treaty . They also talk about mis- and disinformation that have emerged already, such as myths that a treaty could override countries' rights or give the World Health Organization sweeping power.

In 2021, Congress established Juneteenth as a federal holiday but many people don't know the history or how to recognize the day. Dr. Janice Bowie, an expert in community-engaged research, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how to celebrate, reflect, and recommit to social justice this Juneteenth.

An FDA advisory panel recommended Emergency Use Authorization for the two-dose Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 18+. The vaccine is built on a different technology than others currently authorized in the US, and significant delays in manufacturing and authorization have slowed down its entry into the US market. Vaccine expert Dr. Bill Moss returns to the podcast to talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers about Novavax and its potential and what's behind the delays.

Suicide is a significant public health problem. News coverage, and how we talk about it with each other, can actually help prevent suicide and connect those who are vulnerable with lifesaving resources. Journalist and MPH suicide expert Aneri Pattani talks with Stephanie Desmon about a free Coursera course she helped develop, Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists, and what we can all learn to help reframe the conversation around hope and resilience. Learn more about the course here.

Melanoma is the riskiest, most lethal skin cancer and it's completely preventable. Dr. Sancy Leachman, the chair of dermatology at the Oregon Health and Science University, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about Oregon's "War on Melanoma," an all-fronts effort to educate people on early identification, diagnosis, and prevention of melanoma. They also discuss the role of tattoo parlors in this campaign.

Kicking off our third pandemic summer looks a lot different than the last two….or does it? With more than five times as many COVID cases as this time last year, have we given up on trying to protect ourselves? What should we be focusing on, and does this mean we're truly learning to live with COVID? Experts Keri Althoff and Elizabeth Stuart return to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about where we are this pandemic summer, what's changed, what hasn't, and where we might be headed.

Dr. Joe Sakran is a Hopkins trauma surgeon and a survivor of gun violence, giving him a unique perspective on this heavy moment in history. He talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what needs to be done to effectively tackle the complex public health problem of gun violence, and how it will require moral and political courage to finally turn the tide on senseless tragedies.

The CDC is investigating reported clusters of children with acute severe hepatitis that have no known cause. Johns Hopkins pediatric hepatologist Dr. Kathryn Smith talks with Stephanie Desmon about hepatitis in children and what we know and don't know about this particular phenomenon. Ultimately, she says, it's a question of whether this really is something new or if we're just now noticing patterns that already existed.

The US has a complex and underfunded approach to food safety that has recently experienced some high profile failures to keep the food supply safe. Former FDA official and legal expert Howard Sklamberg talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the challenges facing FDA and some potential solutions. At the end of the episode is an extra conversation between the two on the recent infant formula recall.

Many parents of kids ages 5 and under have been anxiously awaiting FDA authorization for vaccines for the youngest age group. Dr. Ruth Karron, one of the world's leading experts in the development of children's vaccines, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about why it's taken so long to authorize vaccines for young children, the evidence behind the safety and efficacy of vaccinating this age group, and what's likely to happen in the next few weeks.

For the first time in history, a working draft of an opinion by justices of the Supreme Court was leaked to the media and the public. Legal and public health expert Joanne Rosen talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what the opinion expressly says, why it would upend precedent, and what may happen at the state level. They also discuss the immediate and long-term consequences if it's passed, including for public health.

Dr. Cass Crifasi, director of research and policy at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the deadly misperception that there's nothing to be done about gun violence. They discuss what could have prevented this senseless tragedy—and what must be done to prevent further loss of life.

In June 2020, amid #BlackLivesMatter protests across the country, law professor and philosopher Ekow Yankah of Yeshiva University talked with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the crisis of legitimacy in policing and opportunities for reform based on public health approaches. Two years later, Yankah returns to the podcast to discuss how and why the optimism of the protests has receded.

1 in 3 Americans believes the pandemic is over, but waves of illness and hospitalizations continue to cause signifiant disruption and death. Dr. David Dowdy returns to the podcast to talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers about how COVID-19 is impacting both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, why there were so many deaths of vaccinated people from omicron (hints: sheer numbers and outsize impacts on older and immunocompromised individuals), and a look at where we are now and what we can expect in the coming months.

As the world watches reported outbreaks of monkeypox, researchers are trying to learn more about how and why the virus is spreading. Dr. Eric Toner, an expert in bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about what monkeypox is and where it comes from, how it spreads, treatments and prevention, and why these outbreaks are important to know about but not necessarily cause for alarm.

Dr. Sandro Galea, dean of the Boston University School of Public Health and author of the book "The Contagion Next Time" talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about why the US was a "sitting duck" at the onset of the pandemic. They also discuss what needs to change in public health—and society—to be better prepared for day-to-day challenges and the next emergency.

This week, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is holding its spring graduation ceremonies. Today, Caitlin Ceryes, a soon-to-be PhD in Environmental Health and Engineering, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what led her to a career in public health, her diverse research ranging from soda taxes to sustainable aquaculture, and how the pandemic caused her to pivot her dissertation work to focus on COVID-19 occupational hazards for essential food workers.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness month, Christen Linke Young, the deputy assistant to President Biden for Health and Veteran's Affairs, talks with Josh Sharfstein about the mental health component of the President's Unity Agenda. The ambitious plan aims to build the mental health workforce, make mental health care much more accessible, and invest in resilience to prevent mental health disorders. You can read about the President's mental health agenda here.

During the pandemic, the US Surgeon General declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health—a recognition of a crisis long in the making. Psychologist and researcher Tamar Mendelson, talks with Josh Sharfstein about what young people are experiencing, who is most affected, and what can be done to help young people thrive.

Since February 2021, Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security, has been working with HHS as part of the government response to COVID-19. Now, Dr. Inglesby returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what he learned from inside government, the importance of renewed funding from Congress, the potential of test-to-treat programs, and his assessment of the state of the pandemic.

Since 1893, public health nurses have served the rural communities of Alaska, mainly providing individual patient care for infectious diseases like TB. Public health nurse Lorne Carroll serves an area of about 15,000 people across four Alaskan native villages. He talks with Stephanie Desmon about how public health nursing has changed in recent years with more emphasis on community and systems care, the unique demands of a public health nurse in Alaska, and how COVID has impacted their work, highlighting both challenges and strengths.

Humanitarian expert Dr. Paul Spiegel is back from Poland where he has been working with the WHO for the last six weeks. Spiegel talks with Stephanie Desmon about his work helping to coordinate the massive response for millions of Ukranian refugees seeking shelter throughout Europe. They talk about providing psychological first aid and basic care for refugees, what makes this situation different from others, and the frustration that many humanitarian crises aren't always met with the same resources and support.

On this special Mother's Day episode, Public Health On Call host Dr. Josh Sharfstein interviews retired pediatrician, Dr. Margaret Sharfstein, aka Josh's mom. Together they discuss the early stages of COVID, the impact it had on her perception of age, her concerns throughout the pandemic, and even why she nicknamed him "Dr. No".

Ukraine's strangled food exports of commodities like wheat and sunflower oil are disrupting food supplies and causing food insecurity around the world. William Masters, professor of food economics and policy at Tufts University, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about these and other consequences of the war for food, in the United States and internationally. They also discuss short- and long-term solutions.

Emerging research shows that COVID-19 infection can accelerate the aging process, especially for older people with chronic conditions. But the pandemic may also be aging those who haven't been sick, from social isolation and depression to burnout and worsening of chronic conditions. Hopkins geriatrician Dr. Alicia Arbaje talks with Stephanie Desmon about how chronic stress and uncertainty may be affecting us. They also discuss implications of the health care staffing crisis, including an increased burden on an "invisible workforce" of caregivers.

How did omicron numbers affect hospitalization rates? Why are positivity rates so high in some areas, and should we even pay attention to those? How accurate are rapid tests, and how forgiving are they of user error? Are our immune systems more "naive" after two years of physical distancing and masks? Dr. Amesh Adalja from the Center for Health Security returns to the podcast to talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers and answer your questions sent to [email protected].

Wastewater surveillance has become an indispensable leading indicator of community COVID levels, providing real time data a week or so ahead of health department testing reports. Johns Hopkins environmental health scientist Dr. Natalie Exum talks with Stephanie Desmon about wastewater surveillance for COVID and tracking new variants, why it's not a replacement for nasal testing, and how the technology could help warn hospitals about other outbreaks like flu, RSV, and antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.

The federal "test-to-treat" program was designed to reduce hospitalizations and deaths by getting antivirals to people who test positive for COVID-19 as quickly as possible. Hannah Recht, a reporter at Kaiser Health News who has written about the topic, talks to Stephanie Desmon about how confusing websites, lack of up-to-date information and costs have kept many of the neediest from receiving prompt care.

Malaria, a serious disease caused by the plasmodium pathogen which is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, affects some 228 million people worldwide each year and kills more than 600,000—90% of whom live in Africa. On World Malaria Day, Dr. George Dimopolous of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute talks with Stephanie Desmon about his lab's research into genetically modifying mosquitoes so they can't carry plasmodium—a potential game-changer in the fight against malaria. They also talk about other approaches to controlling and ending malaria, and techniques being used in the US to fight dengue and Zika.

In-patient treatment for severe COVID has come a long way since 2020 thanks, in part, to the rare opportunity of real-time data collection from so many people sick with the same disease at the same time. Dr. Brian Garibaldi, director of the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit, returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about treating severely ill COVID patients, advances in therapeutics like antivirals and anti-inflammatory treatments, and why vaccines remain "the most astounding achievements."

The Biden administration recently approved nearly $10 billion to broaden access to PrEP, a medication that is 99% effective at preventing HIV and key to ending the nation's HIV epidemic. Amy Killelea, a policy expert on HIV and public health financing, talks with Stephanie Desmon about why health policies have meant this game-changing drug hasn't yet delivered on its potential, how experts hope Biden's budget will build a better nationwide PrEP distribution system, and how much is at stake at this particular turning point in the epidemic.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Black physicians and social scientists connected racism to a host of health consequences. Dr. Ayah Nuriddin, a Princeton scholar of race and science in this era, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about this emergence of Black public health and its efforts to push back against prevailing messages. Long underappreciated, these insights are now front and center in discussions of health equity.

For 15 years, science journalist Meghan O'Rourke chased a diagnosis for a constellation of symptoms that left her bedridden at times. O'Rourke talks with Stephanie Desmon about capturing the "messy, repetitive, and chaotic" story arc of chronic illness in her New York Times bestselling book, and how long COVID is drawing new attention to the conversation about and treatment of chronic illness.

Russia has claimed that the US and Ukraine were working on bioweapons in labs across Ukraine, dangerous disinformation being used in part to justify the Russian invasion. Biosecurity expert Gigi Gronvall returns to the podcast to talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers about the dangers of this disinformation, the attempted cover-up of a 1979 bioweapons anthrax accident in Russia, why biosecure labs are so critical to public health, and the potential impacts of this disinformation campaign.

Emergency departments not only treat gunshot wounds, they can help prevent them. Trauma surgeon Dr. Chethan Sathya talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about treating gun violence as a public health issue in emergency departments, how to help people at risk of being shot, and the push to make conversations about gun safety standard practice.

Ending the US's COVID-19 state of emergency has far-reaching effects and may leave Americans vulnerable to the next pandemic. Reducing spending on COVID-19 now could mean fewer tests, reduced access to vaccines and a weakened understanding of how COVID-19 is behaving. Health policy expert Dr. Zeke Emmanuel of the University of Pennsylvania joins the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about why ending the response too soon is so shortsighted and may have impacts on securing much-needed reforms to health care and insurance, protecting people from future variants, studying the effects of long COVID, and preparing for the next pandemic.

A persistent pandemic challenge has been making decisions when the evidence is limited. Should masks be required? Should bars and restaurants be closed? Should kids in school be spaced out by six feet -- or just three? Dr. Sherry Glied, dean of NYU's Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, is studying ways to make these decisions better. She joins the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the three dimensions of decision making amid uncertainty—and how we can do better.

Even as COVID-19 remains a critical public health issue, there are all sorts of emergencies that can occur due to diseases, disasters, and bioterrorism. Dr. Nadine Gracia, CEO of Trust for America's Health, joins Dr. Josh Sharfstein on the podcast to talk about the organization's report, Ready Or Not 2022. The report ranks states on their ability to respond to extreme weather and other crises. Learn more at tfah.org.

Will we see strain-specific vaccines in the future? Where are we on fourth doses/second boosters? What do we know about the effectiveness of international vaccines like Sinopharm and Sputnik? What still needs to be done to vaccinate the world? Dr. Anna Durbin and Dr. Bill Moss return to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about these and more vaccine updates.

On a special episode, Tradeoffs host Dan Gorenstein talks about 988, a nationwide mental health crisis line launching in July that connects people with emergency help without having to call 911. A content warning that this episode mentions suicide and other mental health emergencies. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). Learn more here: https://tradeoffs.org/

The newly launched Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions brings together two powerhouses in gun policy: The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy and the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. Guest host Keshia Pollack Porter, chair of the Bloomberg School's Department of Health Policy and Management, returns to the podcast to talk with Daniel Webster, director of the Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy, and Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, about their goals to apply cutting-edge science and research to evidence-based, equity-informed advocacy to end the trauma of gun violence.

Dr. Judy Melinek, a forensic pathologist, was a guest on the podcast in the early days of the pandemic to talk about her work with autopsies and COVID-19 in San Francisco. Since then, Dr. Melinek and her family moved to ... New Zealand, a nation that kept COVID from entering for many months. Dr. Melinek talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the latest COVID news from New Zealand, which includes high vaccination rates and a surge in omicron infections. They also talk about the role of a medical examiner in a country with few deaths related to COVID.

In just a few weeks, Poland has welcomed more than 2 million Ukrainian refugees and 200,000 of them have come to the city of Kraków. Dr. Wojtek Szczelik, an anesthesiologist and intensive care physician, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how his hospital and the city are triaging care for refugees, how the pandemic has prepared the health care system to expand its capacity, and how the city is readying to accommodate military casualties. it is possible to donate to Dr. Szczelik's efforts to help Ukrainian refugees here.

California has had a reputation as one of the more vigorous in terms of COVID-19 mitigation tactics and now, two years later, the state is changing tack. Dr. Mark Ghaly, California's Secretary of Health and Human Services, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the state's new and more nimble S.M.A.R.T.E.R. approach which focuses on key metrics and broad surveillance to know what responses are needed where. They also talk about what it's been like to lead in this role during the pandemic.

China and Hong Kong are facing the worst COVID outbreaks since the start of the pandemic and a draconian zero-COVID policy is making things worse. Dr. Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council of Foreign Relations, talks with Stephanie Desmon about how the zero-COVID policy has left China and Hong Kong vulnerable to outbreaks, why vaccination of vulnerable groups is so low, and why outbreaks may continue to happen if the policy stays in place.

Virologist Dr. Andrew Pekosz returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about BA.2, a "not unexpected but tiring" new sibling of the omicron variant. They discuss who should be most concerned about getting sick and what might happen in the coming weeks. They also discuss reports of "deltacron," a viral recombination of delta and omicron, and what we can learn from Hong Kong and China's COVID crises about the omicron variant.