Public Health On Call

18 minutes 43 seconds
1046 - "The Service is the Message": A Conversation with New York's Commissioner of Health
About this episode:
Appointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani earlier this year, Dr. Alister Martin is developing creative ways to make life healthier and more affordable for New Yorkers. In this episode: Dr. Martin shares how his office is meeting problems head on, finding innovative ways to connect with neighbors, and serving through a public health trust deficit.
Guest:
Dr. Alister F. Martin, MPP, is the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. He is also an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and the founder of A Healthier Democracy.
Host:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.

Show links and related content:
- I'm New York City's new health commissioner. Here's how I'll help deliver on Zohran Mamdani's affordability agenda.—MSN
- VoteER: Helping Patients and Providers Vote Like Their Health Depends On It—Public Health On Call (September 2021)
Transcript information:
Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.
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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
6 May 2026, 10:00 am
15 minutes 56 seconds
1045 - What's Next for a New Lyme Vaccine
About this episode:
A new vaccine shows 70% efficacy in preventing Lyme disease, but limitations to the clinical trials put the fate of this intervention in limbo. In this episode: Anna Durbin, an expert in experimental vaccines, explains where this vaccine shows promise, where it falls short, and what could happen next for licensing and regulation.
Guest:
Dr. Anna Durbin is a professor of International Health and the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Immunization Research.
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.
Show links and related content:
- Pfizer and Valneva Announce Lyme Disease Vaccine Candidate Demonstrates Strong Efficacy in Phase 3 VALOR Trial—Pfizer
- Tickborne Diseases Are on the Rise—Here's What To Know—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- F.D.A. Reverses Decision and Agrees to Review Moderna's Flu Vaccine—New York Times
- It's Tick Season!—Public Health On Call (April 2025)
Transcript information:
Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.
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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.
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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
4 May 2026, 10:00 am
13 minutes 50 seconds
1044 - A Peek Behind the Curtain: A Conversation with Our Resident in Residence
About this episode:
Amid a major turning point for the field of public health, physicians and public health experts are reckoning with their approach to their work, especially in the context of public outreach. In this episode: a discussion with a preventive medicine resident who is spending a month working with the podcast team. Topics include his experiences, interplay between new media and public health, and the power of telling stories to support changemaking.

Watch this episode on YouTube.
Guest:
Ari Goldstein, MD, is a family medicine physician and a preventive medicine resident at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health General Preventive Medicine Residency
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:
- What is Preventive Medicine?—American College of Preventive Medicine
- HEAL Collaborative
- National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention
- Storytelling for Global and Public Health - Resource Pack—Global Health Education and Learning Incubator at Harvard University
Transcript information:
Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.
Contact us:
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.
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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
30 April 2026, 10:00 am
14 minutes 30 seconds
1043 - How Community Health Workers Improve Research
About this episode:
Many people know community health workers for their work supporting clinical care and connecting people to resources. In this episode: the role of community health workers in crafting research questions, recruiting study participants, sharing results, and making a broader impact.
Guest:
Donald Young Jr. is a community outreach engagement specialist for the D.C., Maryland, Virginia Community Engagement Alliance.
Host:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.
Show links and related content:
- Community Health Workers—Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity
- Donald Young—Baltimore Connect
- Baltimore man shares story of his struggle with substance use disorder—WMAR 2 News
Transcript information:
Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.
Contact us:
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.
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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
29 April 2026, 10:00 am
18 minutes 57 seconds
1042 - The Red Hill Water Crisis: How Jet Fuel Contaminated the Water Supply of More Than 60,000 People
About this episode:
A 2021 leak of jet fuel into the drinking water supply on O'ahu has caused neurological, gastrointestinal, and respiratory conditions and prompted outrage from community members. In this episode: the story of an in-depth investigation into the disaster, which covered how to measure exposure and support the individuals and families compromised by this crisis.
Guest:
Natalie Exum, PhD, MS, is an assistant professor of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an affiliate of the Johns Hopkins University Water Institute.

Andrew Whelton, PhD, MS, is a professor of civil and construction engineering at Purdue University.
Host:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.
Show links and related content:
- Clinical Follow-up and Care for Those Impacted by the JP-5 Releases at Red Hill—National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
- About the Fuel Releases at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility—United States Environmental Protection Agency
- How to Investigate a Cancer Cluster—Public Health On Call (December 2025)
Transcript information:
Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.
Contact us:
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.
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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
27 April 2026, 10:00 am
15 minutes 40 seconds
1041 - World Malaria Day: Promising Tools for Elimination Amidst Research Cuts
About this episode:
Exacerbated by cuts to research funding and on-the-ground interventions, malaria remains one of the deadliest and most burdensome health crises across the globe. In this episode: Jane Carlton of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute details the state of the disease in 2026 and how tools like improved vaccines and genetically modified mosquitoes can bring us closer to elimination.
Guest:
Jane Carlton, PhD, is a Bloomberg distinguished professor and the director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute.
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.
Show links and related content:
- The Malaria Minute Podcast—The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute
- World Malaria Day: Advocacy on Capitol Hill—Funding, Research, and Global Impact—Public Health On Call (April 2025)
Transcript information:
Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.
Contact us:
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.
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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
23 April 2026, 10:00 am
18 minutes 49 seconds
1040 - Growing Demand for Menopausal Hormone Therapies Brings Excitement—and New Concerns
About this episode:
Following the FDA's removal of black box warnings for hormone therapy drugs, demand has skyrocketed for menopause treatments. In this episode: why this explosion in popularity marks a trend in the right direction for quality reproductive care while also raising concerns about "menowashed" products and blanket prescribing of hormonal interventions.
Guests:
Dr. Wendy L. Bennett, MPH, is a primary care doctor and associate professor with appointments at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Medicine.

Dr. Tina Zhang is a primary care doctor and assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
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.
Show links and related content:
- Why the 'mad scramble' to fill hormone therapy prescriptions for menopause—NPR
- FACT SHEET: FDA Initiates Removal of "Black Box" Warnings from Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy Products—U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- What Is a Black Box Warning?—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- De-medicalizing Menopause—Public Health On Call (March 2024)
Transcript information:
Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.
Contact us:
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.
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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
22 April 2026, 10:00 am
18 minutes 31 seconds
1039 - Spending Down Billions in Opioid Settlement Money: The Debatable, The Inventive, and The Innovative
About this episode:
A collaboration between the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, KFF Health News, and Shatterproof is tracking how communities across the country are spending opioid settlement funds. In this episode: Abigail Winiker of the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative details the good, bad, and the ugly of the expenditures the team has tracked, from EMS-delivered harm reduction methods to punitive law enforcement investments to... D.A.R.E magicians?
Guest:
Abigail Winiker, PhD, MSPH, is an assistant scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the program director of the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative.
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:
- Six Innovations in Settlement Fund Spending—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Innovations in Opioid Settlement Fund Spending | CMAP Nexus Series—Health Policy and Management – BSPH via YouTube
- From Narcan to Gun Silencers, Opioid Settlement Cash Pays Law Enforcement Tabs—KFF Health News
- Edgecombe County honored for its innovative approach to opioid crisis—Rocky Mount Telegram
Transcript information:
Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.
Contact us:
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.
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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
21 April 2026, 10:00 am
16 minutes 5 seconds
1038 - Cannabis Use Disorder in Adolescents Linked to Other Psychiatric Conditions
About this episode:
New findings suggest that, compared to adults with similar habits, teens with patterns of problematic cannabis use are at an elevated risk for developing other mental disorders like schizophrenia and depression. In this episode: Johannes Thrul breaks down a study on this potential link and outlines what it may mean for the growing field of cannabis research.
Guest:
Johannes Thrul, PhD, MS, is an associate professor of Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of 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:
- Association of Cannabis Use Disorder Versus Other Substance Use Disorders With Psychiatric Conditions: A Propensity-Matched Retrospective Cohort Analysis—American Journal of Psychiatry
- Cannabis Use Disorder Among Young People Linked to Diagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- New Research Reveals Age Plays Key Role in Cannabis‑Related Psychiatric Risks—Men's Journal via Yahoo
- The Risks of Psychotic Symptoms With Cannabis Use in Younger People—Public Health On Call (January 2024)
Transcript information:
Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.
Contact us:
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.
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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
20 April 2026, 10:00 am
15 minutes 51 seconds
1037 - Chatbots, Mental Health, and Suicide
About this episode:
People are increasingly turning to AI chatbots for therapeutic purposes—but these platforms are built for engagement, not mental health care. In this episode: Laura Reiley, whose daughter took her own life after confiding in a chatbot, explains why this technology is ill-equipped to treat those struggling with their mental health and how a transparent regulatory system could establish responsible practices for AI companies.

Note: This episode includes discussions of suicidality and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, there is 24-hour assistance in the United States available by dialing 988.
Guest:
Laura Reiley is a journalist whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the Baltimore Sun. She is currently a writer for the Cornell Chronicle.
Host:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.
Show links and related content:
- What My Daughter Told ChatGPT Before She Took Her Life—New York Times
- The family of teenager who died by suicide alleges OpenAI's ChatGPT is to blame—NBC News
- Summary of Artificial Intelligence 2025 Legislation—National Conference of State Legislatures
- Register of Suicides—Centre for Suicide Research
- Should AI Be Your Therapist?—Public Health On Call (July 2025)
Transcript information:
Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.
Contact us:
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.
Follow us:
Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
16 April 2026, 10:00 am
16 minutes 36 seconds
1036 - Geopolitics and Humanitarian Health in Iran, Cuba, and Ukraine
About this episode:
Humanitarian crises don't exist in a vacuum—they are shaped by geopolitical actions like blockades, sanctions, and armed conflicts between countries. In this episode: Stanford University scholar Ruth Gibson details how geopolitical decisions impact civilians on the ground and how this framing applies to current situations in Iran, Cuba, and Ukraine.
Guest:
Ruth Gibson, PhD, is a scholar at Stanford University where she holds appointments in at the Center for Innovation and Global Health and the Center for International Security and Cooperation.
Host:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.
Show links and related content:
- U.S. to Blockade Ships Entering or Exiting Iranian Ports—U.S. Central Command
- Block Food and Medicine?—Geopolitics and Humanity Dispatch
- Cuban doctors endure burnout, blackouts as once-vaunted healthcare declines—Reuters
- Willing Accomplices: Gazprom & Rosneft's Role in the Transport and Indoctrination of Ukraine's Children—Yale School of Public Health Humanitarian Research Lab
- Caring for Children in War-Torn Ukraine—Public Health On Call (November 2025)
- Starvation in Gaza—Public Health On Call (July 2025)
Transcript information:
Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel.
Contact us:
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.
Follow us:
Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
15 April 2026, 2:03 pm
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