989 - A Sharp Rise in Pickleball Injuries
Public Health On Call
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. Guests: Dr. Eric Bowman, MPH, is an orthopaedic surgeon in the practice of sports medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Host: Stephanie Desmon,...
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988 - An End to Animal Testing?
Public Health On Call
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. Guests: , DrPH, MPH, JD, is a lawyer and scientist who serves as the principal investigator for the and an advisory board member of the . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the...
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987 - The Disturbing War Strategy of Attacking Health Care
Public Health On Call
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. Guests: , JD, LLM, is a lawyer who has spent his career in health and human rights in armed conflict. He is core faculty of the and the . Host: is distinguished...
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986 - "Information Sick"
Public Health On Call
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. Guests: 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. ,...
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985 - How to Investigate a Cancer Cluster
Public Health On Call
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. Guests: Suzanne Condon, MSM, is an environmental...
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984 - Sneak Attacks: How Viruses Can Hide In Our Bodies and Cause Problems Years Later
Public Health On Call
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. . Guests: , PhD, is an assistant research professor in...
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983 - Why Do We Believe Misinformation?
Public Health On Call
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. Guests: , PhD, is an interdisciplinary social scientist and the author of . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the...
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982 - An Uncertain Outlook for Injury Prevention in the U.S.
Public Health On Call
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. Guests: Natalie Draisin, MPH, MBA, is the director of the North America Office and United Nations representative for the , an organization...
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981 - Maine’s Largest Ever HIV Outbreak
Public Health On Call
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. Guests: , MPH, is a senior correspondent at KFF Health News, where she focuses on mental health and substance use disorders. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is...
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980 - Why Early Introduction Helps Reduce Children’s Peanut Allergies
Public Health On Call
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. Guests: , PhD, is an allergist, immunologist, and an attending physician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is also an assistant professor of pediatrics...
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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.
Guests:
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 University.
Host:
Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor for Expert Insights, and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Show links and related content:
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UCAP Report: October 2025—Ukraine Children’s Action Project
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Zelensky, 2022—Joan Baez Art
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Ukraine’s Humanitarian Crisis—Public Health On Call (March 2022)
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