Public Health Review Morning Edition

Cyberattacks aren’t just an IT problem, they’re a potential public health emergency. ASTHO Senior Analyst for Preparedness, Maggie Nilz, explains how cyber disruptions are reshaping the foundation of public health systems. She explains how increasingly interconnected digital infrastructure has made core health functions more vulnerable, which raises the risk of things like delayed outbreak detection and interrupted lab reporting. As cyber threats surge and federal policy shifts, states are beginning to treat cyber incidents like hurricanes or pandemics, building coordinated response frameworks and integrating cybersecurity into emergency planning. State Policy Trends in Cybersecurity and Public Health Preparedness | ASTHO Thriving Under Pressure: Building Resilient Dialysis Systems and Teams

When overdose cases suddenly spike, every second counts. In this episode, Jessica Pough, director of overdose preparedness and response at ASTHO, talks about a new tool designed to help communities prepare before crisis hits. The “Overdose Spike Preparedness Exercise: Tabletop in a Box” gives state and local agencies a structured, customizable way to simulate real-world overdose surge scenarios. From identifying spikes and coordinating across partners to making high-stakes decisions with limited information, the exercise helps teams practice what it takes to respond effectively. Overdose Spike Preparedness Exercise Tabletop in a Box | ASTHO ASTHO Policy Institute Lunch & Learn Series: Modernizing and Strengthening Data For STI Prevention Subscribe | ASTHO

Strong leaders don’t just appear, they’re developed. In this episode, Joshua Allen, leadership training Director for the South Carolina Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Organizational Development, talks about how targeted supervisor training and mentorship programs are reshaping workforce culture in public health. Born out of a clear need to better prepare new supervisors, Allen’s team built a hands-on training program focused on real-world skills, like communication and conflict resolution, and strategic planning and burnout prevention. Paired with a structured mentorship initiative for new hires, the approach is already delivering results. Home | Public Health Careers.org Public Health Leadership Starts in the Classroom | ASTHO Demonstrating the Impact of School-Based Health Centers | Key Measures That Highlight ROI | ASTHO

What does it take to build and sustain a strong public health workforce in uncertain times? In this episode Kirsten Aird, public health director for Oregon’s Multnomah County, explores how strategic investments are strengthening workforce capacity, stability, and community impact. Aird breaks down how PHIG funding is being used to support professional development, create staff-led communities of practice, and tackle long-standing hiring challenges, including restoring leadership continuity after years of vacancies. She also highlights the critical role of “behind-the-scenes” infrastructure like HR, finance, and operations, in enabling frontline public health work. This work is supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, through OE⁠22-2203⁠: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government. Public Health Infrastructure Grant: Resources & Impact - PHIG

Public health data modernization isn’t a quick fix, it’s a multi-decade transformation. In this episode, ASTHO Senior Vice President for Population Health and Innovation, Jen Layden talks about the real progress happening across the country and the persistent challenges that remain. Drawing from insights at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, or HIMSS, conference, Dr. Layden highlights key advancements like the expansion of electronic case reporting, improved syndromic surveillance, and ongoing efforts to modernize vital statistics systems. But she’s clear: sustaining this progress requires more than just technology. It demands stronger policy frameworks, a skilled workforce, and new ways of working across sectors. Breaking Silos, Building Success: A New Era of Policy, Funding, and Partnerships Driving Impact with Flexible Funding ASTHO Policy Institute Lunch & Learn Series: Modernizing and Strengthening Data For STI Prevention

How do public health officials detect emerging viruses before they spread widely across the U.S.? Heather Reese, Genomic Epidemiology and Preparedness Team Lead at CDC tells us about the Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance (TGS) program: a cutting-edge effort that turns international travel into an early warning system for public health threats. By combining voluntary nasal swabs from incoming travelers with wastewater sampling from aircraft, the program monitors for pathogens like COVID-19, flu, and RSV. These data help identify new variants and emerging strains, often before they begin circulating domestically, giving public health leaders critical time to prepare and respond. Driving Impact with Flexible Funding How Public Health Can Support Modern Administrative Readiness in a Dynamic World | ASTHO

Public health challenges don’t exist in neat categories, so why does funding? In this episode, Corinne Gillenwater, ASTHO senior analyst for Chronic Disease and Health Improvement, unpacks the limitations of traditional, siloed funding models and explores a more adaptive approach: flexible funding. It’s the topic of the upcoming ASTHO webinar, “Driving Impact with Flexible Funding.” From “braiding,” “blending,” and “layering” funding streams to real-world examples in states like California and Colorado, Corinne explains how agencies are aligning resources to better reflect how health actually happens across overlapping conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and food insecurity. Driving Impact with Flexible Funding Leadership Power Hour: Session 5 – The Adaptive Leader Workforce Conference - NACHC Environmental Public Health | ASTHO

What does it take to build a stronger, more resilient food system? In this episode we speak with Nessa Richman, executive director of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council about how the Council is bringing diverse stakeholders together to tackle complex food challenges, from farmers and fishers to public health leaders and policymakers. Nessa will explain how the council creates space for collaboration across the food system, helping break down silos and align efforts around shared goals like food access, economic vitality, and environmental sustainability. Through convenings, education programs, and coordinated advocacy, the council is driving more equitable and community-informed food policy. Food System Resilience: A Planning Guide for State Governments | ASTHO Sustaining Accreditation: How Montana and Southern Nevada Are Building Resilient Public Health Infrastructure for the Long Term | ASTHO A Guide for Sustainable Public Health Accreditation | ASTHO How States Can Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences Through Stability, Safety, and Support | ASTHO Utilizing Partnerships, Data, and Messaging to Prevent ACEs | ASTHO Adverse Childhood Experiences | ASTHO

Grants management doesn’t always get the spotlight, but it’s critical to how public health departments operate and deliver services. In this episode, Colton Anderson, a senior analyst in Public Health Systems Improvement at ASTHO, explains how agencies across the country are rethinking and improving their grants management processes. From centralizing functions and modernizing systems to refining subrecipient monitoring, departments are finding practical ways to increase efficiency, strengthen compliance, and make better use of funding. Colton shares real-world examples, including innovations in Nebraska and Washington State, and explains how even small, operational changes like better documentation, clearer roles, and improved training, can drive meaningful results. Four Ways Public Health Agencies Are Strengthening Grants Management | ASTHO Leadership Power Hour: Session 5 – The Adaptive Leader ASTHO Learning Opportunity: ACEs Policy & Partnerships Training

What does it take to turn a struggling performance management system into a national standout? Anna Bryant, Performance Manager at the Louisiana Department of Health, shares the story of how her team went from receiving an action plan after initial accreditation in 2019 to earning top recognition during their 2025 reaccreditation. Using a “telescope and microscope” analogy, Bryant breaks down the essential connection between performance management and quality improvement, showing how big-picture strategy and day-to-day problem solving must work hand in hand. She walks through the nuts and bolts of Louisiana’s transformation, from conducting system-wide assessments and tackling staff burnout to leveraging existing tools like Monday.com and Tableau to reduce friction and drive adoption. Creating Meaning from Measures: A PDSA Approach to Performance Management Public Health Infrastructure Grant: Resources & Impact - PHIG ASTHO Leadership Institute | ASTHO

At this year’s Spring Leadership Forum, momentum was unmistakable. With more than 40 health officials convening for a week of strategy, training, and direct engagement with federal leaders, a unified message emerged: the future of public health depends on sustained investment and smarter, more flexible funding. Catherine Jones, ASTHO Government Affairs Senior Analyst, returns to discuss the biggest takeaways: from the growing impact of the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) to the urgent push for $1 billion in FY27 funding. She explains how states are using PHIG to strengthen workforce capacity, modernize data systems, and build resilient health infrastructure, and why predictable funding is critical to keep that progress going. Hill Day Advocacy at ASTHO’s 2026 Spring Leadership Forum | ASTHO Subscribe | ASTHO Leadership Power Hour: Session 5 – The Adaptive Leader

What if public health recruitment started with a summer camp? In this PHIG impact report, Veronika Hanna and Mondi Mason from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment share how creative workforce strategies powered by the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) are opening new pathways into the field. Veronika Hanna walks through Denver’s innovative three-day public health “summer camp,” where high school and college students step into real-world roles, from testing river water quality to inspecting food trucks and exploring the work of medical examiners. And Mondi Mason expands on how Denver is scaling that vision through deeper partnerships with universities, community colleges, and public schools. From paid internships and long-term placements to co-developing research and securing joint funding, these collaborations are transforming workforce development into a more structured, sustainable system. This work is supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, through OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government. Public Health Infrastructure Grant: Resources & Impact - PHIG

Today: bringing oral health into the public health conversation with Flora Nathan, assistant secretary for the Bureau of Oral Health in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. At her first ASTHO Spring Leadership Forum, Flora shares a candid look at the challenges and opportunities of delivering oral healthcare across a U.S. remote island nation. From severe workforce shortages and long clinic wait times to the ripple effects on families, schools, and local economies, she highlights how oral health is deeply connected to broader public health outcomes. She also discusses the importance of integrating oral health into maternal and child health programs, school-based care, and community outreach, as well as the realities of operating without consistent funding. ASTHO Leadership Institute | ASTHO Storytelling in Public Health: Lessons from STI Prevention & Care

The FY27 federal budget proposal is officially out, and while it’s just the opening move, there’s already a lot to unpack. In this episode, ASTHO’s Senior Director for Government Affairs, Jeffrey Ekoma, breaks down what’s in the proposal, what’s changed from last year, and what it all signals for public health and federal agencies. He’ll dig into key highlights, including the proposed creation of the Administration for Healthy America (AHA), new structural changes within HHS, and fresh initiatives at the CDC and FDA, from data reporting requirements to food safety oversight. Jeffrey also explains how this year’s proposal compares to previous budgets, where cuts and consolidations stand, and why states may be asked to take on more responsibility. President Trump Releases FY27 Budget Proposal: April 2026 | ASTHO Subscribe | ASTHO RSV is still spreading, prompting states to extend the immunization period | CNN RSV immunizations for infants available an additional month this year | Washington State Department of Health

Public health doesn’t stop at hospitals or health departments, it lives in barbershops, grocery stores, schools, and small businesses. In this episode for National Public Health Week, Megan DeNubila-Griffin, ASTHO Assistant Director of Chronic Disease and Health Improvement, explores how agencies are building meaningful partnerships with non-traditional community players to address the social and environmental factors that shape health. From collaborating with local business owners to rethinking transportation and food access, this conversation highlights how public health leaders act as conveners, bringing the right voices to the table and asking who’s missing. Megan shares real-world examples, including a multi-year collaboration in Walworth County, Wisconsin, that shows how cross-sector partnerships can drive measurable impact.National Public Health WeekLeveraging Healthy People 2030 to Build Non-Traditional Multisector Partnerships | ASTHOPima County Elevates Collaboration with IT to Advance Data Modernization | ASTHO

In this National Public Health Week conversation about community leadership and tobacco control, Josh Berry, Director, Chronic Disease Risk Factors at ASTHO, breaks down how state and territorial programs partner with trusted, on-the-ground community organizations to reach at-risk populations and drive real impact. These long-standing relationships aren’t just helpful, they’re essential to building credibility and delivering results where they matter most. But the landscape is shifting. With the elimination of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health and growing uncertainty around funding, programs across the country are being forced to adapt and do more with less while trying to maintain core services like quitlines, surveillance, and policy engagement. Final_The-Future-of-Tobacco-Control-Relies-on-OSH-Funding-.pdf Ready. Set. Action: You Partner with Public Health Past, Present, and Future: Reflections from a Radiation Readiness Professional Subscribe | ASTHO

Scientific advancement has always been at the heart of public health, but as new technologies emerge, the opportunities and challenges are evolving. In this National Public Health Week conversation, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Susan Kansagra explores how public health can better integrate innovation into everyday practice, from leveraging continuous improvement frameworks like Plan-Do-Study-Act to building stronger partnerships with academic and research institutions. It’s about turning questions from the field into actionable research and using that knowledge to improve real-world outcomes. National Public Health Week Public Health Infrastructure Grant: Resources & Impact - PHIG Driving Impact with Flexible Funding

As National Public Health Week kicks off, this episode spotlights a theme that often goes unnoticed but is essential to keeping communities safe: government partners. ASTHO CEO Dr. Joseph Kanter reflects on the “invisible wins” of public health, from behind-the-scenes planning for massive events like Mardi Gras and the World Cup to the work that quietly prevents crises before they start. It’s a reminder that when public health works, most people never see it, but lives are improved and saved every day. And Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO senior vice president for government affairs and public relations, joins the conversation to explore how state and federal agencies collaborate in a complex and often polarized environment. She shares how public health leaders find common ground across political divides, build trust with policymakers, and tailor their messaging to drive real impact, from food safety to maternal health. Key Topics National Public Health WeekStorytelling in Public Health: Lessons from STI Prevention & Care PH-HERO | ASTHO

As the federal budget process stalls, uncertainty continues to ripple through Washington. ASTHO’s senior director of Government Affairs, Jeffrey Ekoma joins us to break down the latest on the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which is the longest on record, and what it means for the broader FY26 budget timeline. He’ll unpack how congressional gridlock is delaying progress on FY27 appropriations, what to expect from the president’s upcoming budget request, and why growing talk of a reconciliation bill could have major implications for public health funding. While current delays may not directly hit public health programs, the indirect effects could shape funding priorities and advocacy efforts in the months ahead. Subscribe | ASTHO

What happens when an entire health system is pushed to the brink of a funding cliff? In this episode, Dr. Victor Ramos, Secretary of Health for Puerto Rico, joins the show to discuss the urgent challenges facing the island’s healthcare system. At the center of the conversation is the looming expiration of enhanced Medicaid funding in 2027, a shift that could strip away a third of Puerto Rico’s healthcare resources and force difficult decisions about services, staffing, and access to care. Dr. Ramos outlines the structural inequities that set Puerto Rico apart from U.S. states, including capped Medicaid funding, lower Medicare Advantage rates, and gaps in critical programs like long-term care and low-income subsidies. These disparities, he explains, are driving both healthcare professionals and patients to leave the island in search of more stable support. Past, Present, and Future: Reflections from a Radiation Readiness Professional