Public Health On Call

Public Health On Call

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

14 minutes 40 seconds

843 - The Native Biodata Consortium: Data Sovereignty For Good
About this episode:
Since the mapping of the human genome in 2003, scientists have sought data from Indigenous and isolated populations. But often that research doesn’t translate into better health care for the groups whose biological specimens informed it. In this episode: all about the Native Biodata Consortium, a research organization that collects, stores, and shares data from indigenous environments and communities.
Guest:
Joseph Yracheta, Pūrepecha, is a biomedical researcher and the executive director of the Native Biodata Consortium.
Host:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department.
Show links and related content:
- Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx)—The National Institutes of Health
- Native Americans Graves Protection and Repatriation Act—National Park Service
- Tribal Data Repository—Data for Indigenous Innovations, Interventions and Implementations
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30 January 2025, 11:00 am
24 minutes 50 seconds

842 - Polio and the Polio Vaccine
About this episode:
Thanks to vaccines, most people under a certain age have no memory of the devastation and terror caused by the poliovirus. Although widely eliminated, polio still poses a threat in certain countries around the world. Waning vaccination rates in pockets of the U.S. mean some communities are at risk of a resurgence. In this episode: a look back at polio before vaccines, and how technology has evolved—including a discussion about a previous version of the vaccine that did, in rare instances, actually cause paralytic polio.
Guest:
Dr. Bill Moss is the executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center 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:
- How Lagging Vaccination Could Lead to a Polio Resurgence—The New York Times
- The Polio Outbreak and What Needs to be Done to Eradicate the Virus Globally—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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29 January 2025, 11:00 am
18 minutes 2 seconds

841 - The U.S. & The World Health Organization
About this episode:
President Trump’s executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO could have lasting implications on the health and wellbeing of the world, and on the American people. In today’s episode, the essential roles that the WHO plays both for the U.S. and around the globe, America’s imperfect relationship with the institution, and the potential consequences of a U.S. exit.
Guest:
Dr. Judd Walson is an infectious disease physician and epidemiologist, and the chair of the department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
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, the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Show links and related content:
- Reflecting on the US Withdrawal from the World Health Organization—Infection Control Today
- What Leaving the WHO Means For the U.S. and the World—Time Magazine
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28 January 2025, 11:00 am
16 minutes 10 seconds

840 - Vaccines 101: The Basics of Vaccines and Vaccination
About this episode:
The first of a series of podcasts about vaccine basics from the molecular level to global policy and everything in between. What actually are vaccines and how do they work? In this episode: back to basics on vaccines and immunology with Dr. Arturo Casadevall and Dr. Josh Sharfstein, including a discussion on why we still don’t have a vaccine for HIV.
Guest:
Arturo Casadevall is chair of the department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an infectious disease physician with more than 30 years of experience studying vaccines.
Host:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department.
Show links and related content:
- How do we know that vaccines work?–HHS
- Understanding the Impact and Importance of Childhood Vaccinations—Yale School of Public Health
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27 January 2025, 11:00 am
14 minutes 22 seconds

839 - The First Week's Executive Orders
About this episode:
In the first few days of President Trump’s second term he signed a blitz of executive actions. In today’s episode: a look at some of the actions and memos that take aim at key public health policies including the communications pause for health and science agencies, a pause on NIH study sections, immediate posturing on DEI initiatives, exiting the Paris Agreement and WHO, and more. Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
Guest:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein served in a number of political roles in his career including as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, the Principal Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as Commissioner of Health for Baltimore City, and as a Congressional health policy advisor.
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, the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Show links and related content:
- Memo: Immediate Pause on Issuing Documents and Public Communications (pdf)—Department of Health & Human Services
- Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing—White House Executive Order
- Putting America First In International Environmental Agreements—White House Executive Order
- Withdrawing the United States From the World Health Organization—White House Executive Order
- Federal health agencies told to halt all external communications—NPR
- Trump administration halts NIH grant-making process—The Hill
- Trump is withdrawing the U.S. from WHO. Here’s what that means—Science News
- Statement From Dr. Richard Besser on DEI and Health—The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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24 January 2025, 8:00 pm
14 minutes 56 seconds

838 - Book Club—Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks
About this episode:
Throughout history, humans have been engaged in public health work. In a new book, epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers shares lessons from past outbreaks, what’s changed since COVID-19, and how, at a difficult moment for public health, she’s thinking about the future and keeping a watchful eye on mpox, H5N1, and more.
Guest:
Caitlin Rivers is an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security who specializes in preparedness and response for epidemics and pandemics.
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, the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Show links and related content:
- Dr. Caitlin Rivers’ New Book ‘Crisis Averted’ Explores Public Health Lessons and Provides Insights for Future Pandemic Preparedness—The Center for Health Security
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22 January 2025, 11:00 am
13 minutes 16 seconds

837 - Seeking Common Ground in Public Health
About this episode:
As the administration in Washington DC changes, where will public health be able to work across partisan lines to improve the health of all Americans? A conversation with Brian Castrucci, President and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation.
Guest:
Brian Castrucci is president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, a philanthropy dedicated to supporting state and local public health agencies.
Host:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department.
Show links and related content:
- Health Action Alliance
- What the Senate Needs to hear from RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz—US News and World Report
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20 January 2025, 11:00 am
20 minutes 30 seconds

836 - The FDA Says Goodbye to Red Dye No. 3
About this episode:
The FDA’s ban on the use of Red Dye No. 3 raises two questions — why is this color additive leaving the food supply? And what does this mean for other chemicals in the foods we eat? In this episode: a discussion about how the FDA regulates food additives, and how that might change in the future. A note for listeners: By the end of this episode, you will understand why “GRAS reform” is not about cannabis.
Guest:
Howard Sklamberg is the former deputy commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a legal expert in FDA compliance and enforcement.
Host:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department.
Show links and related content:
- What to Know About the Ban on Red Dye No. 3 in Food—The New York Times
- Red #3’s Swan Song: The Science Behind the FDA’s Latest Decision—Unbiased Science
- A New Law To Enhance the Safety of Cosmetics—Public Health On Call (February 2023)
- The U.S. Food Safety System—Public Health On Call
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17 January 2025, 11:00 am
29 minutes 49 seconds

835 - Fluoride and The Law
About this episode:
Conversations about fluoride in the water supply are revving up but a key factor in the debate is the legal framework. In this episode: a discussion about the relevant law for assessing fluoride added to drinking water known as the Toxic Substances Control Act—a law limited to a focus on risk, not benefit—and what that means for emerging science and policy discussions around fluoridating water.
Guest:
Dr. Lynn Goldman is a pediatrician, the dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University, and an expert in environmental health.
Host:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department.
Show links and related content:
- EPA ‘in a really tough spot’ after landmark fluoride ruling—E&E News, Politico
- The Benefits and Risks of Fluoride, Explained—New York Times
- Fluoride’s PR Nightmare—Unbiased Science
- Fluoride Face-Off: Court Ruling Challenges, But Science Stands Firm—Unbiased Science
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15 January 2025, 11:00 am
19 minutes 19 seconds

834 - Bird Flu Is Escalating
About this episode:
The U.S.’s first reported human death from bird flu is another sign that the virus is not going away anytime soon. In this episode: why it’s time to double down on efforts to limit H5N1 transmission among cattle and birds, concerns about cats and other mammals, and how response measures need to scale up quickly and more broadly to try and prevent the virus from gaining a foothold in humans. The experts also discuss why bird flu poses an existential threat to the dairy industry.
Guests:
Dr. Meghan Davis is a veterinarian and public health researcher at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a joint appointment at the School of Medicine.

Dr. Andy Pekosz is a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with appointments in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Environmental Health and Engineering. 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, the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Show links and related content:
- Bird flu H5N1 claims first human life in U.S.: “We remain vigilant”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza—USDA
- Defend The Flock: Biosecurity Practices—USDA
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14 January 2025, 11:00 am
15 minutes 58 seconds

833 - Why Are Americans Dying So Much Earlier Than Some Of Their Counterparts?
About this episode:
A new report from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative finds that the U.S. lags behind many other high-income countries in life expectancy. In this report, researchers found that babies born 40 years ago in the U.S. and U.K could expect to live to the same age. Today, however, life expectancy is nearly three years shorter for those on our side of the Atlantic Ocean. In this episode: a look at the four main causes of death driving this gap—all of which are preventable—and how one of the world’s richest countries that spends the most on healthcare is continually failing to improve the health of its people.
Guest:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department.
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, the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Show links and related content:
- A Tale of Two Countries: The Life Expectancy Gap Between the United States and the United Kingdom—The Bloomberg American Health Initiative
- Americans Die Younger Than U.K. Counterparts Due to Four Preventable Causes—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Expanding Access to Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Carceral Settings—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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13 January 2025, 11:00 am
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