1028 - Vaccine Policy in the States
Public Health On Call
About this episode: As policy has shifted at the federal level, state legislatures are considering a broad range of vaccine-related bills. In this episode: Jennifer Herricks and Northe Saunders of American Families for Vaccines talk about the landscape of vaccine policy, from "medical freedom" bills to those seeking shore up vaccine access. Guests: , PhD, is the founder of and the advocacy director of . is a grassroots organizer and the president of . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the director of content strategy for...
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1027 - The EPA’s Approval of Two New Pesticides
Public Health On Call
About this episode: In late 2025, the EPA approved two pesticides for agricultural use that opponents argue contain PFAS—“forever chemicals” that pose hazards to human health. In this episode: the debate around what constitutes PFAS and the EPA’s role in regulating these harmful chemicals. Guest: covers energy and environmental policy for The Hill and is the co-author of the book “. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: ...
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1026 - A Mental Health Crisis for Adults with IDDs
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience higher rates of anxiety and depression than those without IDDs. Barriers like cost, a lack of trained providers, and societal biases keep many from accessing the care they need. In this episode: what’s fueling this crisis hidden in plain sight and what needs to change in order to fix it. Guests: is a former Special Olympics Minnesota athlete, a founding member of the Athlete Leadership Program, and an Athlete Advisory Board member. , MPH, is the Chief Health Director for the Special Olympics and the...
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1025 - Advancing the Elimination of Schistosomiasis
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease transmitted to human hosts via freshwater snails. It can cause serious and debilitating chronic conditions, but the Pan American Health Organization is leading a charge to end transmission in the Americas. In this episode: PAHO Parasitologist Ronaldo Scholte details how locations like Puerto Rico are successfully working to eliminate schistosomiasis. Guest: Ronaldo Scholte, PhD, MS, is a technical officer at the Pan American Health Organization where he oversees efforts to treat and eliminate neglected tropical...
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1024 - “Healing in a Changing America”—Starting with Florida
Public Health On Call
About this episode: From working in immigrant health care under the Reagan administration to tackling today’s measles outbreak in Florida, George Rust has decades of experience caring for the disadvantaged. In this episode: Dr. Rust discusses the state of public health in Florida, the need to return to a community-focused model, and his new book “Healing in a Changing America: Doctoring in a Nation of Needless Suffering.” Guest: , PhD, is a family physician, a preventative public health specialist, and a professor at the Florida...
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1023 - How Social Media is Changing the Way We Talk About Health
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Once a useful tool for sharing critical information during the pandemic, social media has evolved into an oversaturated and underregulated marketplace for health disinformation. In this episode: Infectious disease epidemiologist and science communicator Jessica Malaty Rivera analyzes the online landscape and advises listeners on how to approach alarmist and misleading health content. Guest: Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, is a DrPH student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a researcher at the . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the ,...
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1022 - Preventing Teen Car Crashes and Deaths
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Getting your license as a teenager is an exciting time but it’s also a dangerous one. In this episode: Johns Hopkins researcher Johnathon Ehsani discusses why teens are more vulnerable to serious crashes, how driving tests and licensing laws can improve safety, and how parents can best support their new drivers. Please send this podcast to a new driver or their parents—today. Guest: , PhD, MPH, is an internationally recognized road safety researcher and an associate professor in at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host:...
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1021 - Antibiotic Overuse in Dentistry
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Dentists prescribe about 10% of all antibiotics in the U.S., but research shows that a large share may be unnecessary. In this episode: the grave public health risks of inappropriate antibiotic use, how this can be curbed, and the questions you should ask next time you’re in the dentist’s chair. Guest: , MA, is an investigative health reporter with CIDRAP News. Host: is distinguished professor of the practice in , a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: —CIDRAP News ...
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1020 - TrumpRx and High Drug Prices
Public Health On Call
About this episode: The Trump administration’s online prescription drug platform promises the world’s lowest prices on medications. In this episode: Dr. Mariana Social explains how the site’s discounts work, who they benefit, and whether they’re truly the most affordable prices. Guest: , PhD, MPP, MSc, studies the pharmaceutical market and is an associate professor in Health Policy and Management 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 . Show...
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1019 - Medical Aid in Dying
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Often referred to as “physician-assisted suicide,” medical aid in dying poses complex ethical, medical, and policy questions. In this episode: why some individuals with a terminal illness choose MAiD, the eligibility requirements in U.S. states, and the tension between individual health choices and public policy. Guests: , PhD, MPH, is the Robert Henry Levi and Ryda Hecht Levi Professor of Bioethics and Public Policy at the . , JD, MPH, is a research professor in bioethics and law at the . Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of...
info_outlineAbout this episode:
The Trump administration’s online prescription drug platform promises the world’s lowest prices on medications. In this episode: Dr. Mariana Social explains how the site’s discounts work, who they benefit, and whether they’re truly the most affordable prices.
Guest:
Dr. Mariana Socal, PhD, MPP, MSc, studies the pharmaceutical market and is an associate professor in Health Policy and Management 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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Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Launches TrumpRx.gov to Bring Lower Drug Prices to American Patients—The White House
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TrumpRx launches, but it’s unclear if it will lower drug prices for most patients—CNN
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Tariffs on Pharmaceuticals—Public Health On Call (June 2025)
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