924 - The Shocking Hazards of Louisiana's “Cancer Alley”
Release Date: 07/28/2025
948 - Recent “Expert Panels” Could Undermine the FDA’s Credibility
Public Health On Call
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...
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947 - “Taxpayer Money Went to Buy Food to Feed People… Now It’s Being Burned”
Public Health On Call
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. Guest: is a writer and an assistant editor at The Atlantic, where she covers human rights and technology. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public...
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946 - Baltimore’s Back-to-Back Mass Overdoses
Public Health On Call
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. Guest: Dr. Letitia Dzirasa is the Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services with the City of Baltimore. Sara Whaley, MPH, MSW, is the...
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945 - Keeping Cool in One of America’s Hottest Cities
Public Health On Call
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. Guest: is the 62nd mayor of Phoenix, AZ. During her time in office, she has focused...
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944 - How Credit Scores Impact Your Health
Public Health On Call
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. Guest: , PhD, is an assistant professor in Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she studies population...
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943 - Who Can Get a COVID Vaccine This Fall?
Public Health On Call
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. Guest: Dr. Fiona Havers, MHS, is an infectious disease physician, a medical epidemiologist, and an expert on vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases and vaccine...
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942 - Could One Health Prevent the Next Pandemic?
Public Health On Call
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: Guest: , PhD, MPH, is a professor in Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins...
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941 - Back to School: How Vermont is Addressing Chronic Absence
Public Health On Call
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. Guest: is a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Vermont and a...
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940 - A Brief Update: CDC in Crisis
Public Health On Call
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. Guest: is a physician and the president and CEO of , a global health mission focused on stopping preventable deaths. He previously served as the director of the CDC and commissioner of the New York...
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939 - Unfiltered Conversations to Restore Trust in Public Health
Public Health On Call
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: Guest: , PhD, is an assistant research professor...
info_outlineAbout 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.
Guest:
Pete DeCarlo, PhD, is an associate professor in Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering.
Keeve Nachman, PhD, MHS, is the Robert S. Lawrence Professor in Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Host:
Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.
Show links and related content:
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Air testing reveals cancer-causing gas levels far exceeding some government estimates—ABC News 4
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Ethylene Oxide in Southeastern Louisiana’s Petrochemical Corridor: High Spatial Resolution Mobile Monitoring during HAP-MAP—Environmental Science and Technology
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Surprisingly High Levels of Toxic Gas Found in Lousiana—The Hub
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