1001 - Vaccines 101: How FDA Regulates Vaccines
Public Health On Call
About this episode: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for reviewing the safety and effectiveness of vaccines—a job that requires deep scientific understanding as well as thoughtful regulatory judgment. In this episode: Dr. Jesse Goodman, a former top vaccine regulator and chief scientist at the FDA, explains how the agency came to lead the world in vaccine oversight—and shares his concerns for the future. Guests: , MPH, is a professor and the director of Georgetown University’s He worked at the FDA from 1998 until 2014, including as chief scientist. Host: is...
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1000 - Celebrating 1,000 Episodes of Public Health On Call
Public Health On Call
About this episode: It started as a time-limited series of interviews with public health experts at the start of a global pandemic. Over nearly six years, Public Health On Call expanded to a wide range of topics, including humanitarian health, aging, and vaccines, becoming a home for nuanced public health discussions and analysis. In this episode: Hosts Stephanie Desmon, Josh Sharfstein, and Lindsay Smith Rogers reflect on 1,000 episodes of the show, the challenges of covering complex health topics, and what issues they want to focus on next. Note: This...
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999 - Head Lice and Bed Bugs
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Nothing can make your skin crawl quite like the mention of lice or bed bugs, especially if you’re the parent of young children. The good news: though these blood-sucking pests are a nuisance, they pose limited risk to human health. In this episode: Parasitologist Conor McMeniman explains why infestations start, who’s susceptible, and how to get these pests out of your hair—literally. Guest: , PhD, is an associate professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and faculty at the . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and...
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998 - Marion Nestle on the New Dietary Guidelines
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Renowned nutritionist Marion Nestle likes the federal recommendation to reduce ultra-processed foods and its emphasis on healthy school meals. But there are other things she finds muddled, contradictory, and incomplete about the nation's new dietary guidelines. In this episode: Nestle talks protein, whole grains, and expanding access to healthy foods. Guests: , PhD, MPH, is emeritus faculty at New York University. She is the author of the blog and the book . Host: is distinguished professor of the practice in , a pediatrician, and former...
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997 - The New Drug Igniting a Withdrawal Crisis
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Medetomidine, a veterinary sedative similar to xylazine, is appearing more frequently in drug supplies in Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania—and the withdrawal symptoms are debilitating. In this episode: Addiction medicine specialist Jordan Nahas-Vigon details the risks facing people who use drugs and why it’s so difficult to quit. Guests: is a primary care doctor with Johns Hopkins Medicine who specializes in addiction medicine. Host: is distinguished professor of the practice in , a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links...
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996 - Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Guidelines
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Citing updated research on the health risks of drinking alcohol, Canada changed consumption guidelines in 2023, making global headlines for its steep drop in what’s viewed as “low risk” drinking. In this episode: One of the architects of those guidelines explains how these recommendations were developed, their efficacy as a public health intervention, and what to make of the U.S.’s new guidelines. Guests: , PhD, is a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Victoria. Host: Lindsay Smith...
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995 - A Record-Breaking Flu Season
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Flu is surging in states across the country, breaking a 25-year record for flu-related doctor visits. In this episode: the new strain of influenza A that’s driving cases, why getting a flu shot can still protect you, and how antivirals can help if you do get sick. Guest: , PhD, is a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with appointments in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Environmental Health and Engineering. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the ....
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994 - What “The Pitt” Reflects About Real-Life Hospitals
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: ...
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993 - What to Know About Whooping Cough
Public Health On Call
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. Guests: , MHS, is a pediatric infectious disease doctor at the and an assistant professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the director of content...
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992 - HHS Changes Its Pediatric Vaccine Recommendations—Part 2, Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Public Health On Call
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 chickenpox and RSV, where recommendations remain in place. *Please note that this episode was recorded prior to the announcement...
info_outlineAbout this episode:
Citing updated research on the health risks of drinking alcohol, Canada changed consumption guidelines in 2023, making global headlines for its steep drop in what’s viewed as “low risk” drinking. In this episode: One of the architects of those guidelines explains how these recommendations were developed, their efficacy as a public health intervention, and what to make of the U.S.’s new guidelines.
Guests:
Tim Stockwell, PhD, is a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Victoria.
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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US has new alcohol guidelines: How much is healthy to drink?—The Hill
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Is That Drink Worth It to You?—New York Times
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Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health—Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
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