Public Health On Call

Public Health On Call

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

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
20 minutes 5 seconds

832 - The Importance of Knowing and Optimizing Your Hearing Health…At ANY Age
About this episode:
Hearing declines for everyone as we get older, no matter what we do. As it declines, it can cause health problems like cognitive decline and brain atrophy, and is directly linked with Alzheimer’s. But there are ways to understand and reduce these impacts including over-the-counter hearing aids and a new app where people can test their hearing on their smartphone. In this episode: a conversation about a health issue that will impact all of us to some degree, and how technology is helping to address impacts early and upend the stigma of hearing loss.
Guest:
Dr. Frank Lin is the director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health and a professor of otolaryngology, medicine, mental health, and epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine and 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:
- Episode transcript
- How and Why to Learn Your Hearing Numbers
- Download the Hearing Number app for iOS (App Store) or Android (Google Play)
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8 January 2025, 11:00 am
16 minutes 15 seconds

831 - Public Health Science Communication With Your Local Epidemiologist
About this episode:
Science communication is a vital skillset for public health practitioners. But what does it really take to cut through the noise? In today’s episode, Katelyn Jetelina, the publisher of Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about the art and science of science communication, and why it’s less about being right and more about a commitment to changing the way people think.
Guest:
Dr. Katelyn Jetelina is an epidemiologist and scientific communicator. She is the co-founder of Health Trust Initiative, an adjunct professor at Yale School of Public Health, and a Senior Scientific Advisor to several government and non-profit agencies, including the CDC. In addition, Dr. Jetelina is the publisher of Your Local Epidemiologist.
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:
- Your Local Epidemiologist
- Public Health Professionals Must Engage The Public. Communications Training Is Key.—Forbes
6 January 2025, 11:00 am
26 minutes 44 seconds

830 - Advancing Public Health in Uncertain Political Times
About this episode:
On December 3, the Bloomberg American Health Initiative held its annual summit. This year, the theme really marked the moment: Advancing Public Health in Uncertain Political Times. In today’s episode, you’ll hear three conversations from the Summit about how public health can provide a roadmap for making needed progress. First: how public health data and evidence provide context for judicial decisions. Then, how a public health lens is helping to address the issue of gun violence. And finally, how to find common ground on mental health and addiction.
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:
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18 December 2024, 11:00 am
20 minutes 57 seconds

829 - Do Mammograms Save Lives?
About this episode:
For decades, regular mammograms to detect breast cancer have been recommended for women ages 50-75. In 2024, the age range dropped to include women 40-49 as well. But what do we really know about mammography as a tool to save lives? Are all scans created equal? What is the risk/benefit analysis to upping the number of screenings a woman is recommended to receive in her lifetime? In today’s episode: a deep dive into the evidence around mammography, and a look at the new guidelines—including the controversy around them.
Guest:
Dr. Otis Brawley is a globally-recognized expert in cancer prevention and control whose work focuses on developing cancer screening strategies and ensuring their effectiveness. He is a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor and faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in epidemiology with a joint appointment in oncology at Johns Hopkins Medicine. He was the former Chief Medical Officer of the American Cancer Society.
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:
- Final Recommendation Statement: Breast Cancer Screening—U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
- The Rise of Colorectal Cancer Among Younger People—Public Health On Call (June 2024)
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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16 December 2024, 3:48 pm
15 minutes 1 second

828 - Public Health is a Human Right
About this episode:
The day after the 2024 presidential election, Joe Amon—the brand new director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health and Human Rights—was set to give a speech for a panel about health discrimination. But the one he’d prepared wasn’t going to cut it for a moment suddenly marked by uncertainty and change. He pivoted to a different message: one that acknowledges that public health doesn’t have everything figured out, and that it works best when it’s viewed as a social movement. In this episode: a moment of reflection for the field, considerations of some of the challenges that lay ahead, and the critical importance of thinking about public health as a human right. Note: You can read an adaptation of the speech in the link below.
Guest:
Joe Amon is the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health and Human Rights.
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:
- Post-Election Public Health Needs to Keep On Keeping On—Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine
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11 December 2024, 11:00 am
17 minutes 37 seconds

827 - The Rise in Pediatric Cases of Walking Pneumonia
About this episode:
Well into the respiratory illness season, there’s been a rise in cases of walking pneumonia compared to recent years, particularly among children. In this episode: an overview of walking pneumonia; how it’s tested, treated, and prevented; and what parents and caregivers should look out for in children.
Guests:
Dr. Anna Sick-Samuels is an associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of medicine and a pediatric infectious disease epidemiologist for Johns Hopkins Hospital.
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:
- Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infections Have Been Increasing—CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
- Walking pneunomia cases are rising among kids. Here’s what to know.—The Washington Post
- All About Parvovirus—Public Health On Call (September, 2024)
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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9 December 2024, 11:00 am
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