Public Health On Call

About this episode:

Emmy-award winning drama "The Pitt" returns for a second, thrilling season that follows 15 hours in an emergency department for doctors, nurses, residents, and administrators. In this episode: Dr. Emily Boss discusses what the show gets right about real-life hospitals, from the medicine to the stress to the systemic barriers that can make delivering quality health care difficult. You don't have to watch the show to enjoy this conversation!

Guests:

Dr. Emily Boss, MPH, is a pediatric otolaryngologist and a professor of Health Policy & Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School...

About this episode:

Pertussis—more commonly known as "whooping cough—is on the rise, with more than 25,000 cases and a number of child deaths recorded in the U.S. in 2025. In this episode: Dr. Erica Prochaska talks about the symptoms of pertussis, how it spreads, when to seek out medical care, how to prevent infection, and the role of vaccines.

Dr. Erica Prochaska, MHS, is a pediatric infectious disease doctor at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and an assistant professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is t...

About this episode:

Citing a memorandum from President Trump, health officials in the Trump Administration are ending routine recommendations for vaccinating against meningitis, hepatitis A and B, and rotavirus. Vaccine expert Ruth Karron explains why each of these vaccines is critical for safeguarding health, reducing hospitalizations, and preventing deaths. She and Dr. Josh Sharfstein recorded this episode before the recent vaccine announcement. They also discuss chicken pox and RSV, where immunization recommendations are unchanged.

Guests:

Dr. Ruth Karron is a pediatrician and a professor of Internation Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public...

About this episode:

HHS leadership started 2026 with an unexpected announcement changing federal childhood vaccine recommendations. In this episode: Dr. Josh Sharfstein joins Lindsay Smith Rogers to talk about the announcement's immediate impact, the rationale behind it, and how it will reshape vaccination in the U.S.

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.

Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor for Expert Insights, and the director of content...

About this episode:

The U.S. marked its lowest birth rate on record in 2024 with American women having—on average—1.6 children. Does this mean that the country has a fertility crisis? In this episode: Professor of Population, Family and Reproductive Health Linnea Zimmerman discusses how to measure fertility, assess trends in birth rates in the U.S. and worldwide, and think about the interaction between individual decisions and social needs.

Linnea Zimmerman, PhD, MPH, is an associate professor of Population, Family and Reproductive Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Dr...

About this episode:

The only thing increasing faster than the number of new pickleball players is the number of pickleball injuries. Between 2017 and 2022, sports medicine experts saw a seven-fold increase in injuries. In this episode: orthopedic surgeon Eric Bowman tells Stephanie Desmon—Public Health On Call's resident pickleball devotee—what's driving these injuries, who's most at risk, and how players can stay healthy.

Dr. Eric Bowman, MPH, is an orthopaedic surgeon in the practice of sports medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the dire...

About this episode:

For decades, cosmetics and medicine developers have relied on animal testing to assure product safety for humans. Today, more ethical and accurate alternatives to animal testing are poised to improve this process. In this episode: scientist and lawyer Paul Locke on the new technologies replacing lab animals and how regulators can lead the gradual and necessary transition to these innovative models.

Paul Locke, DrPH, MPH, JD, is a lawyer and scientist who serves as the principal investigator for the JHU Toxicology Program and an advisory board member of the Johns Hopkins Center for...

About this episode:

Attacking health care facilities and providers is becoming a standard strategy of war in places like Colombia, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Gaza, and it is increasingly being perpetrated by state actors. In this episode: Health and human rights lawyer Leonard Rubenstein discusses these disturbing trends, why there's so little accountability for attacks on health care, and what it would take to see meaningful progress.

Leonard Rubenstein, JD, LLM, is a lawyer who has spent his career in health and human rights in armed conflict. He is core faculty of the Johns Hopkins Center for...

About this episode:

The decline in journalism and the explosion of social media have converged to form an information crisis, with millions exposed to misleading and false information relevant to their health. In this episode: Joanne Kenen, Lymari Morales, and Josh Sharfstein—authors of a new book exploring this issue—talk about the diagnosis of "information sick," as well as its causes, symptoms, and solutions.

Joanne Kenen is an experienced public health and health care journalist who has been the journalist in residence at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health since 2021.

Lymari Mora...

About this episode:

In 1979, the town of Woburn, MA, raised the alarm as unusual numbers of children fell ill with leukemia. An investigation determined that this cancer cluster was likely caused by contaminated drinking water from two of the town's wells. In this episode: Suzanne Condon, who served as the associate commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Health at the time, and Megan Latshaw, an expert in disease clusters, explain what the Woburn investigation highlights about unusual patterns of cancer and how they are studied.

Suzanne Condon, MSM, is an environmental health expert who served as...

About this episode:

After recovering from an illness like the flu or mononucleosis, most of us will return to our normal lives without complications. But for some, viruses can linger in the body—sometimes for years—and reemerge, wreaking new havoc on the immune system and even triggering chronic diseases. In this episode: Virologist Maggie Bartlett explains how viruses—many of which are vaccine-preventable—can cause post-acute infection syndrome and what's needed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

Watch the video version of this episode.

Maggie L. Bartlett, PhD, is an assistan...

About this episode:

Whether it's a social media post claiming that CBD oil can cure cancer or a very convincing AI video of a dog driving a semi-truck, falsehoods abound in our lives. But why do we believe misinformation, even when presented with evidence that debunks it? In this episode: Matthew Facciani, an expert on the topic, details the psychological identities and biases that make us vulnerable to false information and explains how good information can break through.

Matthew Facciani, PhD, is an interdisciplinary social scientist and the author of "Misguided: Where Misinformation Starts, How It...

About this episode:

Injury prevention—a field focused on preventing injuries from falls, choking, homicides, car crashes, and other incidents—saves lives and money. Now, the United States' leading injury prevention unit, the CDC Injury Center, is grappling with cuts to funding and personnel that debilitate critical work. In this episode: Natalie Draisin, an injury prevention expert, details the lifesaving work at risk in extended funding battles.

Natalie Draisin, MPH, MBA, is the director of the North America Office and United Nations representative for the FIA Foundation, an organization promoting road safety. She also serves as an a...

About this episode:

For over two years, the city of Bangor, ME, has been in the throes of a serious HIV outbreak, exacerbated by a combination of local political battles and negative perceptions of drug users and unhoused people. In this episode: Aneri Pattani, who has been reporting on this outbreak, discusses the challenges of tracking transmission and treating those infected, and how harm reduction measures might finally turn the tide.

Aneri Pattani, MPH, is a senior correspondent at KFF Health News, where she focuses on mental health and substance use disorders.

Stephanie...

About this episode:

Since 2015, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that parents and caregivers introduce peanuts to children's diets at around four to six months old to avoid the onset of a peanut allergy. In this episode: Pediatric allergist David Hill explains why early allergen introduction is safe and effective and how these recommendations have led to a significant reduction in peanut allergies in children.

Dr. David Hill, PhD, is an allergist, immunologist, and an attending physician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is also an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Perelman School...

About this episode:

As hesitancy about human vaccines rises, so too does skepticism of routine pet immunizations. In this episode: Veterinarians Meghan Davis and Kaitlin Waite explain what's behind growing anti-vaccine sentiment among pet owners, how veterinarians are navigating this divide, and why an understanding of the human-animal bond can yield better public health outcomes for all.

Meghan Davis, PhD, MPH, DVM, 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.

Kaitlin Waite, MPH, DVM, is a veterinarian...

About this episode:

Robotic telesurgery allows providers to conduct minimally invasive surgeries across long distances, reaching remote communities. In this episode: Binita Ashar, a surgeon with a background in policy, discusses the revolutionary role this technology can play in medicine and what issues need to be addressed—from cost to cybersecurity—in order to greenlight more procedures in the United States.

Binita Ashar, MD, MBA, is a general surgeon who previously served as the Director of the FDA's Office of Surgical and Infection Control Devices. She also serves on the board of the Society of Robotic Surg...

About this episode:

Long-cited research has promoted potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. But updated information disproves these claims and links drinking at any amount with increased cancer risk. In this episode: Professor Johannes Thrul, whose research covers substance use and addiction, details recent research on this topic and shares how to communicate these findings to help people make their own decisions around drinking.

Johannes Thrul, PhD, MS, is an Associate Professor of Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author...

About this episode:

A single court case in North Carolina is holding skilled nursing facilities accountable to adopt anti-discrimination policies for those with a history of substance use. In this episode: Sally Friedman, part of the team behind this lawsuit, explains the case and why it could set a national precedent for the just treatment of people who use substances in health care.

Sally Friedman, JD, is the Senior Vice President of Legal Advocacy at the Legal Action Center, where she leads a team of attorneys and paralegals that help over 1,500 clients annually to access jobs...

About this episode:

Between lawsuits, layoffs, and lags in funding, NIH has undergone significant changes in how it reviews and approves grant proposals for critical research. In this episode: Jeremy Berg, a former NIH leader, talks about what's changed and what's to come for indirect cost reimbursements, funding approvals, and the scientific research ecosystem as a whole.

Jeremy M. Berg, PhD, is a professor of computational and systems biology at the University of Pittsburgh, where he is also the Associate Senior Vice Chancellor of Science Strategy and Planning. He previously served as the Director of the...

About this episode:

As the conflict in Ukraine nears its fourth year, what help is available for vulnerable children caught in the crossfire? In this episode: Irwin Redlener, co-founder of the Ukraine Children's Action Project, discusses how he's operationalizing care for children's medical, psychological, and educational needs, and urges for an end to the conflict.

Dr. Iriwin Redlener is a pediatrician and the co-founder of the Ukraine Children's Action Project. A longtime humanitarian activist, he is also the co-founder of the Children's Health Fund and the founder of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia...

About this episode:

Since taking office in 2020, Mayor Brandon Scott and his administration have embraced a public health approach to reducing gun violence. The results include an unprecedented reduction in the number of homicides and other violent crimes. Baltimore's homicide rate is now the lowest that it has been in decades. In this episode: Mayor Scott shares what is behind the city's progress and what comes next.

Brandon M. Scott is the 52nd mayor of Baltimore, serving his second term. A lifelong Baltimorean, he previously served as President of the Baltimore City Council.

...

About this episode:

Cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies are setting higher premiums and pushing coverage out of reach for many Americans. In this episode: the yearslong political battle behind elevating insurance costs, ripple effects across health care providers, and what it will take to build a healthy insurance system.

Gerard Anderson, PhD, is an expert in health policy and a professor in Health Policy and Management and International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations...

About this episode:

Last spring, Dr. Meghan Curry O'Connell joined Public Health On Call from ground zero of a syphilis outbreak among American Indian and Alaskan Native people in the Great Plains Region. In this episode: She provides an update on the situation, explaining how a collaborative team has been able to overcome obstacles and make progress.

Dr. Meghan Curry O'Connell, MPH, is the chief public health officer at the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board and a member of the Cherokee Nation.

Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public...

About this episode:

Millions of people across the globe continue to grapple with debilitating long COVID symptoms, as researchers untangle the unknowns of the condition. In this episode: Alba Azola, who leads long COVID research and treatment at Johns Hopkins, lays out the data on who's being diagnosed with long COVID, available treatment options, and the future of post-infectious chronic disease research.

Dr. Alba Azola is a rehabilitation physician and the co-director of the Long COVID/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Clinic at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and...

About this episode:

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a game changing reproductive technology that leads to more than 2% of births in the U.S. But high costs and a lack of coverage options put it out of reach for many would-be parents. In this episode: Sean Tipton of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine discusses how new federal policies are moving the dial on IVF access and where more work needs to be done.

Sean Tipton, MA, is the Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, a non-profit representing over 7,000...

About this episode:

As several states weigh suspending SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown, the USDA is releasing the final edition of the Household Food Security Report—a national report card on the state of food insecurity in the U.S. In this episode: Maureen Black, whose career in nutrition spans decades, explains why losing the annual report could set back nutrition efforts as millions of Americans struggle to access healthy food.

Maureen Black, PhD, is a pediatric psychologist who has made significant contributions to the intersection of child development and nutrition. She previously chaired th...

About this episode:

Last year, Public Health On Call released a special episode on the decades-long fight to make Baltimore’s harbor safe for swimming. While the future looked bright in 2024, new challenges have emerged. In this episode: Baltimore Banner reporter Adam Willis offers an update on the health of the harbor and the city’s recent—and smelly—“pistachio tide” event.

Adam Willis reports on climate and the environment across Maryland for The Baltimore Banner. He previously covered Baltimore City Hall for The Banner.

Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public H...

About this episode:

Following months of personnel cuts, funding terminations, and escalating violence, CDC employees face a new hurdle with the government shutdown. In this episode: Yolanda Jacobs, president of the union chapter that represents more than 1,000 CDC employees, offers an inside look at how employees are grappling with these challenges and shares how those of us outside the CDC can offer support.

Yolanda Jacobs is a health communications specialist at the CDC and the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2883.

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice...

About this episode:

Prescribing medicine to address fever or pain in pregnancy is a delicate task with a need to consider both potential benefits and risks. In this episode: Obstetrician Dr. Angie Jelin shares how she discusses Tylenol use with expectant parents in the context of emerging evidence and recent news from the federal government.

Dr. Angie Jelin is the assistant director of prenatal genetics at the Prenatal Diagnostic Center in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and an assistant professor in the Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Dr. Josh Sharfstein...

About this episode:

Pressure on and antagonism towards public health practitioners, researchers, and communicators has been mounting, reaching a frightening inflection point in August when a gunman opened fire on CDC’s campus in Atlanta. In this episode: Tara Kirk Sell and Beth Resnick share methods for supporting the public health workforce and specific steps the Bloomberg School of Public Health is taking to protect community members.

Tara Kirk Sell, PhD, MA, is an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering and a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

About this episode:

Since 1971, combination mumps, measles, and rubella vaccines have protected American children against life-threatening infection. Recent calls to split the MMR vaccines into three separate injections could unravel decades of progress. In this episode: William Moss details the history of MMR vaccines and the public health dangers posed by changing immunization recommendations without scientific justification to do so.

Dr. William Moss, MPH, is an infectious disease specialist and the executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a...

About this episode:

Buprenorphine is a highly effective medication used for treating opioid use disorder. But accessing this lifesaving prescription can be challenging. In this episode: Jeff Hom and Marlene Lira talk about the critical role of buprenorphine in reducing overdose deaths and the role pharmacies can play in improving access.

Jeff Hom, MD, MPH, is the Medical Officer for Science and Policy in the Substance Use Services section of the San Francisco Department of Public Health. He is also a DrPH student in Health Policy and Bloomberg Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of...

About this episode:

Can a spoonful of sugar really cure your hiccups? Can a dab of soy sauce soothe a burn? Is there any science behind home remedies? In this episode: Joe and Terry Graedon of The People’s Pharmacy discuss some of their favorite, evidence-backed home remedies and how they balance alternative medicine with scientific data to promote wellbeing.

Joe Graedon, MS, and Terry Graedon, PhD, are the award-winning authors, newspaper columnists, and podcast hosts behind The People’s Pharmacy, an enterprise focused on sharing information on both medical and alternative health treatments.

...

About this episode:

Pharmacies do a lot more than dispense medications. In this episode: Christina Madison, known online as the Public Health Pharmacist, explains how pharmacists and pharmacies are able to support critical health needs in communities across the country.

Christina Madison, PharmD, FCCP, is a clinical pharmacist and the founder and CEO of The Public Health Pharmacist, PLLC.

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department.

The Public Health Ph...

About this episode:

Apprenticeships offer the unique opportunity to earn money while learning in-demand skills—and they can be a useful public health intervention, diverting young people away from violence and poor choices. In this episode: Maryland State Senator Cory McCray opens up about his own apprenticeship experience and how earn-while-you-learn opportunities can transform young people’s lives.

Cory V. McCray is a state senator representing Maryland’s 45th District. He is also an electrician, an entrepreneur, and the author of “The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life: Guidebook to Navigating the Earn-While-You-Learn Opportunity of a Lifetime”.

About this episode:

This summer, President Trump issued an executive order aimed at “ending crime and disorder on America’s streets.” In this episode: Ann Oliva of the National Alliance to End Homelessness discusses her concerns about what this executive order means for unhoused people. She also discusses proven strategies for reducing homelessness and the renewed role of states and localities in addressing the nation's housing crisis.

Ann Oliva is the CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a public education, advocacy, and capacity-building organization dedicated to ending homelessness in the United States.

Dr...

About this episode:

For centuries, public health has seen invisible killers, believed in the power of community interventions, and created better health outcomes across the globe. In this episode: Former CDC director Tom Frieden explains how to tackle today’s biggest health challenges and previews his new book, “The Formula for Better Health: How to Save Millions of Lives—Including Your Own”.

Dr. Tom Frieden, MPH, is the president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives. He previously served as the director of the CDC and is the author of “The Formula for Better Health: How to Save Mi...

About this episode: 

How do people in ICE custody, many of whom have chronic diseases or rely on daily medication, receive medical care? In this episode: Dr. Katherine Peeler, a medical adviser for Physicians for Human Rights, talks about the standards of care for detainees, challenges emerging at overcrowded detention centers, and high rates of burnout among providers.

Dr. Katherine Peeler, MA, is a pediatric critical care physician and a medical adviser at Physicians for Human Rights. She leads the Peeler Immigration Lab where she researches the health and health rights of immigrants and, in particular, a...

About this episode:

How well do ICE detention centers provide mental health care? In this episode: We first hear from Dr. Solomiya Tsymbalyuk from the University of Maryland about an emergency department interaction that presented legal and ethical questions around treating individuals in ICE custody. Then, Dr. Katherine Peeler of Physicians for Human Rights offers a look at how mental health care should be offered in immigration detention centers and why those protocols are becoming more difficult to follow.

Dr. Katherine Peeler, MA, is a pediatric critical care physician and a medical adviser at Physicians for...

About this episode:

Social media and AI chatbots are changing the landscape of suicide prevention, requiring a multidisciplinary care model. In this episode: Walker Tisdale, Johns Hopkins’ Director of Outreach for Suicide Prevention Initiatives, discusses how these developing technologies are changing care models and how to help loved ones who are struggling with suicidal thoughts.

Walker R. Tisdale III, MPH, DSW, is a leading subject-matter expert and national speaker on suicide prevention, crisis intervention, health equity and the social determinants of health. He serves as the Director of Outreach for Suicide Prevention Initiatives at Johns Hopkins Un...

About this episode:

Does acetaminophen use during pregnancy cause autism in children? In this episode: Brian Lee, who led the largest study on acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental outcomes, walks through the study's findings—as well as the challenges of researching the causal effects of medication use during pregnancy. Then, biostatistician Elizabeth Stuart discusses how she thinks about assessing potential cause-and-effect relationships when studies have different strengths and weaknesses.

Brian Lee, PhD, MHS, is a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University.

Elizabeth Stuart, PhD, is...

About this episode:

Eighty years ago, the United States introduced the globe to atomic warfare, devastating the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In this episode: Author Leslie Sussan tells the story through the eyes of her father, who filmed the aftermath of this disaster on orders from the President of the United States.

Leslie Sussan is an attorney and author, who wrote the book, “Choosing Life: My Father’s Journey in Film from Hollywood to Hiroshima”.

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and fo...

About this episode:

Last week, Dr. Debra Houry was testifying before Congress. Today, she’s talking with Dr. Josh Sharfstein on Public Health On Call. In this episode: Dr. Houry reflects on her time at the CDC, the drastic changes at the agency under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and what she hopes her testimony can do to uphold quality public health.

Dr. Debra Houry, MPH, most recently served as the Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science at the CDC. She has also worked as a professor at bo...

About this episode:

An overwhelming majority of Americans support vaccines, particularly routine childhood immunizations for preventable diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella. But misinformation is obscuring the scientific evidence on vaccine safety and efficacy. In this episode: Michael Osterholm, one of the founding members of the Vaccine Integrity Project, talks about his work to uplift science-backed research and offers a readout on the most recent meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, is an author and epidemiologist who serves as the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research an...

About this episode:

Teenagers get a bad rap. They’re seen as defiant and disrespectful, when, in reality, they’re navigating a critical development period that teaches them how to regulate emotions, take responsibility, and build relationships. In this episode: Lisa Lawson debunks common misconceptions about adolescence and offers her recommendations for creating conditions that allow young people to thrive.

Lisa Lawson, JD, is the president and chief executive officer of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a philanthropy creating better outcomes for children. She is also the author of the new book, “Thrive: How the Science of the...

About this episode:

The FDA has long convened scientifically rigorous advisory committees to review data and offer recommendations for regulating a range of food and drug products. However, it has recently pulled back and leaned heavily into ad-hoc “expert panels” that are not held to the same standards. In this episode: Caleb Alexander, an epidemiologist and drug safety expert who has served on over a dozen FDA advisory committees, raises concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in these new panels and suggests that their lax standards might undermine the agency’s credibility.

Dr. G. Caleb...

About this episode:

Over the past few months, USAID has been dismantled, forcing the abandonment of aid projects and flushing away millions of dollars worth of food and medicine. In this episode: Journalist Hana Kiros talks about her reporting on the thousands of USAID-funded projects that have been terminated, the potential PR nightmare for the U.S., and what is happening to lifesaving supplies.

Hana Kiros is a writer and an assistant editor at The Atlantic, where she covers human rights and technology.

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the...

About this episode:

This July, a dangerous influx of opioids triggered two mass overdose events in the Penn North neighborhood of Baltimore. A swift and nimble response from the city and community stakeholders resulted in zero fatalities. In this episode: Dr. Letitia Dzirasa and Sara Whaley from the City of Baltimore explain what happened, detail the multipronged emergency response, and share how the city plans to move forward in addressing the opioid crisis.

Dr. Letitia Dzirasa is the Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services with the City of Baltimore.

Sara Whaley, MPH, MSW...

About this episode:

Through the summer, the city of Phoenix consistently hits temperatures upwards of 110 degrees, creating dire conditions for vulnerable populations like outdoor workers and those with substance use disorders. In this episode: Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and City Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington detail the city’s extreme heat challenges, how other communities can deal with rising temperatures, and the successful cooling interventions championed by local leaders in the Valley of the Sun.

Kate Gallego is the 62nd mayor of Phoenix, AZ. During her time in office, she has focused on diversifying the city’s econ...

About this episode:

Credit scores are more than just a number—they can determine your ability to access critical financial assets like loans, leases, and jobs that, in turn, have a huge impact on your health. In this episode: Professor Catherine Ettman shares new research that explores the relationship between low credit scores and mental health, and discusses a recent ruling reinstating medical debt as a metric of creditworthiness.

Catherine K. Ettman, PhD, is an assistant professor in Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she studies population mental he...

About this episode:

The FDA and CDC are tightening eligibility requirements for COVID-19 vaccines this year, pushing effective treatments out of reach for millions of Americans including young children. In this episode: Dr. Fiona Havers, formerly a senior adviser on vaccine policy at the CDC, draws on recent hospitalization rates to identify who is most at risk for severe COVID-19 infection and in need of immunization for protection.

Dr. Fiona Havers, MHS, is an infectious disease physician, a medical epidemiologist, and an expert on vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases and vaccine policy. She previously led the Respiratory Virus...

About this episode:

Animal-to-human transmission of bacteria and viruses have triggered outbreaks of diseases like avian influenza, COVID-19, and Ebola. A public health approach called One Health can help us to better understand these cases—and possibly help prevent future pandemics. In this episode: Professors Emily Gurley and Raina Plowright explain how One Health investigations work, why they’re an effective tool for addressing spillover events, and a new One Health Coursera course that you can preview for free: https://www.coursera.org/learn/one-health-investigations-of-outbreaks-and-spillover-events

Emily S. Gurley, PhD, MPH, is a professor in Epidemiology at the...

About this episode:

Post-pandemic rates of absenteeism continue to climb across the country as many students navigate concerns that include anxiety and food insecurity. One state is fostering new partnerships and using a public health approach to directly address hurdles to school attendance. In this episode: Pediatricians Deanna Haag and Heidi Schumacher detail their work alongside educators, policymakers, and other medical professionals to advance health and educational equity across rural Vermont.

Dr. Deanna Haag is a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Vermont and a pediatrician at Monarch Maples Pediatrics in Enosburg Falls...

About this episode:

Last week the CDC was rocked by the abrupt removal of director Susan Monarez and the resignation of four other senior officials, following months of budget and personnel cuts. In this episode: a quick update from former CDC Director Tom Frieden about these concerning developments, how they might impact vaccine access this fall, and what they mean for public health writ large.

Dr. Tom Frieden is a physician and the president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, a global health mission focused on stopping preventable deaths. He previously served as the director...

About this episode:

Back-to-back crises of the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 have pummeled American communities, eroding trust in public health. But what if restoring that trust could start with a simple conversation? In this episode: Maggie Bartlett shares how she’s using her platform as co-host of the podcast, “Why Should I Trust You?”, to forge human connections with those who feel left out of public health conversations and to debunk misinformation about measles, vaccines, and corporate influence.

Watch the video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zCx9YY9EBWk

Maggie L. Bartlett, PhD, is an...

About this episode:

Official measures of homeless Americans omit the millions of individuals and families that make up the “working homeless”—a segment of the population that, despite working full time, cannot secure stable housing. In this episode: Journalist Brian Goldstone pulls back the curtain on America’s worsening homelessness crisis and interrogates the fractured relationship between employment and financial stability.

Brian Goldstone, PhD, is a journalist and the author of There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Harper’s, The New Republic, Guernica...

About this episode:

Since the fifth grade, high schooler Nayesha Diwan has been fascinated by the world of public health. Throughout her childhood and teenage years, she has immersed herself in research and advocacy, delivering speeches at her state’s capitol and interning at an elite neurophysiology lab. In this episode: Nayesha explains how her mother’s cancer diagnosis drew her to public health and reminds us how complex and impactful the field can be.

Nayesha Diwan is a rising high school junior with a passion for science, health care, and public health. She is a semi...

About this episode:

The reconciliation bill passed by Congress in July is set to unravel key aspects of the Affordable Care Act that have expanded health coverage to millions of Americans. In this episode: One of the architects of the ACA, Liz Fowler, outlines how work requirements, truncated enrollment periods, and higher premiums will change health care for Americans on Medicaid and Medicare and for those buying coverage through their state’s marketplace.

Elizabeth Fowler, PhD, JD, is a distinguished scholar in Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and pr...

About this episode:

Progress in the global mission to eradicate malaria has stalled due to mosquito evolution, drug resistance, and underfunding. In this episode: Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles discusses what it will take to get this mission back on track, promising new tools recommended by WHO, and why a multisector approach to defeating malaria is crucial for achieving healthy outcomes.

Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles, MPH, is the Chief Executive Officer of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria which brings together over 500 international partners dedicated to eliminating the disease.

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a...

About this episode: 

Sickle cell disease affects an estimated 100,000 people in the United States. Recent advancements in gene therapies and medicines like hydroxyurea are diminishing extreme pain, reducing strokes, and extending survival times for those afflicted by the disease. In this episode: leading sickle cell disease expert Dr. Mark Gladwin explains how revolutionary new treatments work and discusses the challenges to accessing life-saving care.

Dr. Mark Gladwin is a physician-scientist and the Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. His research focuses i...

About this episode:

Fall vaccines for flu, RSV, and—more recently—COVID have long followed a uniform rollout schedule allowing clinics and pharmacies ample time to order and administer shots. But that process looks different this year, raising concerns about access. In this episode: Katelyn Jetelina, publisher of Your Local Epidemiologist, explains how changes to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the FDA are pushing back the timeline and changing recommendations for routine vaccinations.

Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, MPH, is an epidemiologist and scientific communicator. She is the co-founder of Health Trust Initiative, an adj...

About this episode:

The Department of Health and Human Services has cancelled nearly $500 million in funding for the development of mRNA vaccines, including for vaccines against potential new pandemic threats. In this episode: Professor Bill Moss delves into the misinformation surrounding mRNA vaccines, explains their potential to treat diseases like cancer and HIV, and warns of the national security threats posed by cuts to development.

Dr. Bill Moss, MPH, is an infectious disease specialist and the executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

...

About this episode:

Since 2010, the nonprofit ChopChop Family has published magazines, cookbooks, and other tools to help pediatricians and nutrition educators inform families about the positive health outcomes of cooking nutritious foods. But deep cuts to SNAP-Ed, the federally-funded nutrition education program, are placing programs like ChopChop Family in limbo. In this episode: ChopChop Family founder and president Sally Sampson explains how the rapid rollback of SNAP-Ed is crippling nutrition education.

Sally Sampson is a cookbook author and the founder and president of ChopChop Family, a nonprofit publisher of cooking magazines, cookbooks, digital content, cooking curricula...

About this episode:

As the United States grows more polarized along regional, political, and ideological lines, it is critical to resolve conflict civilly—particularly when it comes to pressing public health concerns that implicate all of us. In this episode: Peace building experts David Addiss and John Paul Lederach draw on their careers in conflict resolution and public health to share strategies for building relationships, restoring trustworthiness, and fostering solutions-oriented conversations to bridge ideological gaps.

Dr. David Addiss, MPH, is a public health doctor whose career has involved migrant health, mountain medicine, neglected tropical diseases, research, ph...

About this episode:

Trying to save money on antibiotics, GLP-1 antagonists, or other medications using online pharmacies can pose serious health risks. These sites are flush with substandard and falsified drugs, which can cause adverse side effects, leave serious conditions untreated, and, in some instances, lead to death. In this episode: Dr. Henry Michtalik shares how providers and patients can spot unregulated suppliers and report counterfeit drugs.

Dr. Henry Michtalik, MHS, MPH, is a hospitalist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and an assistant professor at both the School of Medicine and the Bloomberg...

About this episode:

Following the rise of restrictive abortion laws around the country, a pilot program in Washington state is training pharmacists to screen for and prescribe medication abortion. In this episode: Dr. Beth Rivin talks about the Pharmacist Abortion Access Project and how it’s creating more options for safe, convenient, and effective care for women—especially those living in rural and low-income communities.

Dr. Beth Rivin, MPH, is the President and CEO of Uplift International, an organization focused on improving health and human rights with a particular emphasis on family planning and reproductive rights.

About this episode:

Breastfeeding plays a crucial role in babies’ development and new research is even suggesting that breast milk can provide benefits to the microbiomes and immune systems of adults. In this episode: Meghan Azad, a breastfeeding researcher from the University of Manitoba, explains the chemical compounds that make human breast milk unique from other mammals, the opportunities to build more community support for breastfeeding, and the benefits of lactation for mothers.

Meghan Azad, PhD, is a professor of pediatrics and child health at the University of Manitoba, where she leads a lab studying breastfeeding an...

About this episode: 

Medicaid cuts from the recent budget reconciliation law are raising fears of cutbacks among Americans with disabilities who rely on the program for services that allow them to live independently. In this episode: Demi Eckhoff, who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and who relies on Medicaid in North Carolina, explains the uncertainty and what people with disabilities are doing to advocate for themselves.

Guest:

Demi Eckhoff, MPH, is a disability advocate, a registered dietitian, and an incoming doctoral student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Duration: 00:14:18

About this episode:

The World Health Organization is reporting thousands of cases of malnutrition and 74 civilian deaths resulting from mass starvation in Gaza in 2025. In this episode: Dr. Paul Spiegel discusses the origins of the crisis and recent developments and shares what this dire situation means for the future of the international humanitarian system.

Dr. Paul Spiegel is a physician, epidemiologist and the director of the Center for Humanitarian Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr Spiegel has worked in humanitarian emergencies for the last 30 years.

Dr. Josh Sharfstein...

About this episode:

Since the 1980s, petrochemical production along an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River has designated the corridor as “Cancer Alley,” but recent research shows that the risks from air pollution in the region have been seriously underestimated. In this episode: Pete DeCarlo and Keeve Nachman of the Johns Hopkins University discuss their concerning findings about compounding chemical exposure on human health and explain what these conclusions mean for how the United States should regulate carcinogens.

Pete DeCarlo, PhD, is an associate professor in Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of E...

About this episode:

The United States stands at a pivotal juncture in eliminating HIV. Despite recent advancements, including the development of an effective new form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an uncertain future marked by cuts to Medicaid and research hurdles threatens to undo the country’s progress. In this episode: Jeremiah Johnson, Executive Director of PrEP4All, sheds light on the urgent need for equitable access to PrEP and what’s at stake if we fail to scale up initiatives to test, prevent, and treat HIV.

Jeremiah Johnson is the Executive Director of PrEP4All—an organi...

About this episode:

In the 1980s, Colombian neurologist Francisco Lopera discovered a rare genetic mutation afflicting residents of a village outside Medellín that could hold the key to understanding and treating Alzheimer’s disease. In this episode: Author Jennie Erin Smith talks about her new book Valley of Forgetting: Alzheimer's Families and the Search for a Cure and how families in the Paisa region of Colombia have forever changed the study of neurodegenerative diseases.

Jennie Erin Smith is an author and a regular contributor for The New York Times, whose work has also appeared in The...

About this episode: 

In early July, the CDC deactivated the United States’ H5N1 emergency response, citing lowered rates of infection among animals and humans. But fewer cases might not indicate an end to the years-long emergency. In this episode: Dr. Erin Sorrell of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security details the timeline of the virus, its impacts on American farmers, and how to prepare for the return of migratory birds later this year.

Dr. Erin Sorrell, PhD, MSc, is an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Department of Environmental Health and...

About this episode:

The recent dismissal of all members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has stirred questions about vaccine safety and immunization protocols. In this episode: Dr. Grace Lee—a former ACIP chair—shares insights on the committee's crucial role in recommending vaccines uses, the importance of transparent decision-making, and dangers of abandoning strong processes.

Dr. Grace Lee, MPH, is the Chief Quality Officer and the Christopher G. Dawes Endowed Director of Quality at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, and Associate Dean for Maternal and Child He...

About this episode:

The deadly Fourth of July floods in Kerr County, TX are raising urgent concerns about flash flooding risks and the future of storm response. In this episode: Hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry discusses what causes increasingly intense storms, details the significant strides made in forecasting, and outlines what’s at stake with potential cuts to NOAA.

Michael Lowry is a hurricane specialist and storm surge expert for WPLG-TV in Miami, FL. He previously served as a senior scientist at the National Hurricane Center and as disaster planning chief at FEMA.

About this episode: 

Artificial intelligence is changing everything about how we work, live, and study—and, now, AI therapy chatbots are poised to transform mental health care. In this episode: Stanford researcher Nick Haber details recent data that suggests that therapeutic AI has a long way to go in addressing biases and recognizing safety-critical situations in order to provide adequate care.

Nick Haber, PhD, is an assistant professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, and by courtesy, Computer Science, where he researches AI implementation for learning and therapeutic tools.

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is...

About this episode:

For mothers questioning whether or not to vaccinate their children, the decision can be complicated by an overwhelming and, at times, conflicting information environment. In this episode: Health communication researcher Melissa Carrion explores how an onslaught of messaging is informing how mothers decide to vaccinate their kids and how public health experts can better communicate on these key decisions.

Melissa Carrion, PhD, is an assistant professor of Writing and Rhetoric at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she researches rhetoric and health communication.

Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the...

About this episode:

Asthma can cause sometimes debilitating symptoms for children who have it, and some—particularly Black and Hispanic children—can experience higher rates of diagnoses, hospitalizations and emergency department visits. In this episode: pediatrician and immunology researcher Dr. Elizabeth Matsui talks about the known causes behind childhood asthma and how it impacts youths, and how factors like poor housing conditions and barriers to care and medication worsen conditions and undermine long-term lung development.

Dr. Elizabeth Matsui is a pediatric allergist-immunologist and epidemiologist and a leading researcher on the connection between asthma and environmental conditions.

About this episode:

Caregivers—both paid and unpaid—are the silent backbone of the nation’s workforce, providing crucial support to America’s young, aging, and disabled populations. But 24 states stand on the precipice of crisis with looming threats to caregiver stipends, salaries, and other resources. In this episode: what led to this tipping point, how proposed cuts to Medicaid could make it worse, and how to build a more supportive system for caregivers, patients, and loved ones.

Stacey B. Lee, JD is a professor of Law and Ethics at Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School, wi...

About this episode:

American farms, restaurants, retailers, and households throw out nearly 30% of the food in our system, landfilling millions of tons of food each year and draining resources like land and energy. Households generate the most waste, with everyday cooks overbuying at grocery stores and throwing away a substantial portion of their purchases—but getting ahead of those scraps can make a big difference. In this episode: ReFED’s Dana Gunders covers the environmental costs of food waste and shares immediate action items to better manage it.

Dana Gunders is a national food systems expert and...

About this episode:

Since the 1950s, companies have been using PFAS—or “forever chemicals”—to manufacture everyday household items from waterproof mascara to shaving cream to Bandaids. Research and advocacy have not only linked these chemicals to certain cancers, liver disease, and fertility issues, but they have also posited that 97% of Americans have traces of PFAS in their blood. In this episode: guest host Tom Burke talks with writer Rachel Frazin about her new book outlining the dark history of PFAS in American manufacturing, the communities across the country demanding accountability and regulation, and the near future of regulation of drink...

About this episode:

Consumer wearables like Fitbits track a lot of our activity, from time spent standing to estimates of calorie expenditure. What if they could also alert us to possible health issues as we age? In this episode: How movement patterns change with aging, and how researchers are examining ways to measure those patterns to determine what’s normal and what may be associated with cognitive decline and other neurological issues.

Jennifer Schrack is the director of the Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health.

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, autho...

About this episode:

Growing and producing our food comes at an extreme cost to the environment. In this episode: a conversation about climate and agriculture with journalist and author Michael Grunwald, whose blunt new book looks at how the food system is wiping out wetlands, forests, and other carbon reservoirs that protect us from global warming.

Michael Grunwald is a journalist and author who covers public policy. He’s written for Politico Magazine, The Boston Globe, and Washington Post, and Time. His new book is We Are Eating The Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food Sy...

About this episode:

What might be in store for the 2025 hurricane season? Meteorologist Brian McNoldy returns to the podcast to talk about how things are shaping up, a look back at how last summer’s unprecedented mix of heat and moisture played out in an extremely active season, and a zoomed-out look at climate change trends as larger patterns beyond individual events and year-over-year comparisons.

Guest:

Brian McNoldy is a senior research associate at the Rosenstiel School of Marine Atmosphere and Earth Science at the University of Miami.

Host:

Li...

About this episode:

Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021 but many people don’t know the history or how to recognize the day. In this episode: a look back at a 2022 conversation with Janice Bowie about how to celebrate, reflect, and recommit to social justice this Juneteenth.

Janice Bowie is a Bloomberg Centennial Professor in Health, Behavior, and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research focuses on health equity and disparities.

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Ho...

About this episode:

Homicides in the U.S., particularly those involving gun violence, peaked in 2022 following a rapid rise during the COVID pandemic. In the years that followed, there were notable decreases and 2025, so far, shows one of the most dramatic reductions in homicides in decades. In this episode: A look at some of the reasons behind the rise and fall of deaths, and why staying the policy course may be key to avoiding another spike.

Daniel Webster is a Bloomberg Professor of American Health who has studied gun violence and prevention for more than thirty...

About this episode:

Humanitarian health systems provide relief like food, water, and medicine in crisis situations. They operate within a carefully organized framework built on core principles including impartiality and neutrality. In this episode: what's happening with humanitarian aid in Gaza and the importance of a new framework for global humanitarian efforts.

Dr. Paul Spiegel is a physician, epidemiologist and the director of the Center for Humanitarian Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr Spiegel has worked in humanitarian emergencies for the last 30 years.

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean...

About this episode:

In 2016, the nonprofit Braver Angels was founded to bring together diverse groups of people to try and figure out why productive communication has become so difficult. During the pandemic, the conversations got even harder. In this episode: How Braver Angels is bringing together questioners and supporters of public health to hear each other out with a goal of humanizing, understanding, and remembering that “everyone is worth listening to.”

Dr. Leslie Lapato is a retired psychiatrist who has worked with Braver Angels since 2017 in a variety of roles including alliance chair, debate chair, debate whip...

About this episode:

A recent MAHA report from the Department of Health and Human Services stated that a trio of common procedures for children—tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and tympanostomy tube (ear tube) placement—“cause harm without offering benefits.” In this episode: a look at what these surgeries are, the advantages and risks, and what the report said—and didn’t say—about the value of these procedures when properly indicated.

Guests:

Dr. Emily Boss is the director of pediatric otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community en...

About this episode:

Would it be a good idea to have tariffs on pharmaceuticals? In this episode: a conversation about the rationales for tariffs as well as potential downsides—like higher drug prices—and what could really help with supply and pricing issues.

Dr. Mariana Socal studies the pharmaceutical market and is an associate professor in Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty memb...

About this episode:

A new report from the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition documents incidents of violence against health care facilities and workers in conflict zones around the world. In this episode: why it’s important to track these trends, how incidents are reported and investigated, and a look at the 2024 report with examples from various conflict zones around the world including Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza. Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Joe Amon is the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Pu...

About this episode:

June is Gun Violence Awareness Month with a focus on safe storage, a key factor in preventing gun-related injuries and deaths. In this episode: a look at how safe storage saves lives, evidence-based tools and tips for lawmakers, gun owners, parents, pediatricians, and more; and how to normalize conversations about safe storage in everyday life.

Dr. Katherine Hoops, is a pediatrician and the director of Clinical Practice at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.

Cass Crifasi is the co-executive director at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.<...

About this episode:

Last week, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., announced that the COVID vaccine will no longer be recommended for healthy children or pregnant women. In this episode: a vaccine policy expert unpacks the announcement — how it differs from past policy changes, and its potential impact on Americans. Note: This episode was recorded on May 28, 2025.

Sarah Despres has over 25 years of experience in public health policy and advocacy and is an expert on immunization policy. She has served on the HHS National Vaccine Advisory Committee from 2012-2017. She has also served on the board of V...

About this episode:

Travel can open our eyes to the world and make us better global citizens. But there’s no denying the environmental impacts of travel. Plus, with climate change happening everywhere, it’s becoming more difficult for tourists to predictably see and do some things without factoring in extreme weather. In this episode: how travelers can be more mindful and a look at how a travel company is thinking about the industry’s carbon footprint.

Cameron Hewitt is a travel writer and photographer, and for the last 25 years he’s been a co-writer for Rick Ste...

About this episode:

The approval of pediatric COVID vaccines during the height of the pandemic brought reassurance to many parents and pediatricians who were caring for children with severe infections and, sometimes, Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MISC)—a rare but extremely dangerous condition that could impact even the healthiest kids after a COVID infection. But what’s the picture of pediatric COVID vaccination now? In this episode: a discussion about the risks and benefits of pediatric COVID vaccination in 2025.

Dr. Erica Prochaska is a pediatric infectious disease physician at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

About this episode:

A look inside the ongoing public health response to measles outbreaks in Lubbock, a city in West Texas.

Katherine Wells is the director of Lubbock Public Health in West Texas.

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.

Lubbock’s public health director fights to stop measles and build public trust—The Texas Tribun...

About this episode:

It’s graduation time at the Bloomberg School! Doctoral candidate Jeff Marr joins the podcast to talk about how an economics major and an early internship at a health care system led to an interest in examining how health care markets and public policy work. Soon-to-be Dr. Marr discusses his dissertation looking at how predictive algorithms lead to decisions about care coverage.

Jeffrey Marr is a healthcare economist and doctoral candidate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In July 2025, he will join Brown University as an Assistant Professor of Health Se...

About this episode:

While cigarette use has radically declined in the U.S., many still die from smoking here and around the world. World No Tobacco Day—celebrated annually on May 31 since the 1980s—has helped expose tobacco industry tactics and highlight progress in global tobacco control. This year, a look at how manufacturers are increasing efforts to hook younger users on new products like e-cigs with fun packaging, new flavors, fashionable designs, and gimmicks including video games and social media integration.

Kevin Welding is an economist studying corporate influence on public health at the Institute for...

About this episode:

This week, President Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at lowering prescription drug costs. In this episode: a look at why the U.S. spends three to four times more for drugs than many peer countries, its current approach to drug pricing policy, the directives laid out in the Executive Order, and how other countries negotiate their prices. Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Gerard Anderson is an expert in health policy and a professor in Health Policy and M...