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.

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What happens when an entire health system is pushed to the brink of a funding cliff? In this episode, Dr. Victor Ramos Otero, Secretary of Health for Puerto Rico, joins the show to discuss the urgent challenges facing the island’s health care 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 health care resources and force difficult decisions about services, staffing, and access to care. Dr. Ramos Otero 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 health care professionals and patients to leave the island in search of more stable support.

Past, Present, and Future: Reflections from a Radiation Readiness Professional

What does it take to communicate clearly when the stakes are high and the science is complex? In this episode, Jessica Wieder, President of Teal Skies Consulting and former leader in external affairs at FEMA and EPA, shares how a career that started with a satellite crash simulation turned into two decades at the forefront of radiological preparedness and risk communication. Jessica breaks down the evolution of crisis messaging in the digital age, from early “message mapping” techniques to today’s multi-channel, narrative-driven strategies. She explains why people can only absorb a few key messages under stress, how authenticity can make or break public trust, and why validating emotions is just as important as delivering facts.

Past, Present, and Future: Reflections from a Radiation Readiness Professional

Storytelling in Public Health: Lessons from STI Prevention & Care

Driving Impact with Flexible Funding

What if public health could predict outbreaks the way we predict the weather? In this episode, Jason Asher, Director of the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at the CDC, joins us to explain how a new generation of data tools is transforming how we detect and respond to infectious diseases. For decades, public health has relied on lagging data telling us what already happened. Asher and his team are working to change that, building systems that turn real-time data streams into actionable forecasts, simulations, and decision-making tools for health departments across the country. We dive into how these tools are already being used, from measles outbreak modeling in South Carolina to national “nowcasting” systems that fill in data gaps in real time.

Behind the Model: How Scenario Modeling Can Inform Public Health Decision-Making | CFA: Behind the Model | CDC

Connect with CFA | CFA | CDC

Modeling Handbook | CFA: Modeling and Forecasting | CDC

Learning Resources | CFA | CDC

epiENGAGE Measles Outbreak Simulator v-2.6.0

Current Epidemic Trends (Based on Rt) for States | CFA: Modeling and Forecasting | CDC

Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET) | RESP-NET | CDC

Measles Outbreak Simulator | CFA: Modeling and Forecasting | CDC

Scenario assessment: 2025-2026 Measles Outbreak in South Carolina | CFA: Qualitative Assessments | CDC

2025-2026 Respiratory Disease Season Outlook - December Update | CFA: Qualitative Assessments | CDC

Past, Present, and Future: Reflections from a Radiation Readiness Professional

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What does the future of public health look like and what does it cost to build it? In this episode, ASTHO member Dr. James McDonald, Commissioner of Health for New York State, returns to the show to unpack the state’s $1.7 billion investment in a new, state-of-the-art Wadsworth Center Laboratory. Set to consolidate five aging facilities into one 655,000-square-foot, LEED Gold-certified campus in Albany, the new lab is designed to transform how New York detects, tracks, and responds to public health threats—from infectious diseases and wastewater surveillance to antimicrobial resistance and emerging pathogens. Dr. McDonald explains why co-locating more than 800 scientists alongside academic partners will accelerate research and innovation, how lessons from COVID-19 are shaping flexible, future-proof lab design, and why investments like this are critical to national health security.

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

Living With Long COVID: Stories, Science, and Public Health

Long COVID didn’t end with the pandemic and in some ways, the challenges are just beginning. In this episode, Heather Drummond, Deputy Director of the Center for Access to Whole Person Care for the Washington State Department of Health joins us to discuss the myths, realities, and urgent gaps surrounding Long COVID today. With an estimated 6.2% of Washington adults affected and over $1.5 billion in associated medical costs, Long COVID remains a complex and often misunderstood condition. Drummond explains why it’s so difficult to diagnose, how symptoms can vary widely across individuals, and why stigma and low awareness continue to prevent patients from getting the care they need. We also explore Washington State’s innovative response, from building a multi-source surveillance system to expanding provider training, launching public awareness campaigns, and developing clinical decision tools in partnership with the University of Washington.

Living With Long COVID: Stories, Science, and Public Health

Past, Present, and Future: Reflections from a Radiation Readiness Professional

Now, Next, and Beyond: Understanding the Rural Health Transformation Program | EY - US

At this year’s ASTHO Spring Leadership Forum, Gaafar Uherbelau, Advisor to the President of Palau and former Minister of Health and Human Services, shared the story behind a long-awaited solution to a quiet but growing challenge in public health. Palau’s new transition facility is designed for individuals who are medically cleared to leave the hospital but have nowhere to go, or no one to care for them. What sounds like a simple fix is actually the result of decades of cultural shifts, resource challenges, and evolving community needs. In this episode, Uherbelau unpacks how the facility works, why it took over 20 years to become a reality, and how it reflects broader global trends like aging populations and changing family structures. He also explores the delicate balance between honoring cultural expectations of family caregiving and building formal systems of support.

Weathering the Storm – Part 2: The Importance of Environmental Health Preparedness and Response

Living With Long COVID: Stories, Science, and Public Health