Building a Better World with Prevention Thinking
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Could applying a public health approach to issues like education, crime, and the environment help tackle some of society’s most pressing challenges? That’s what one researcher argues in a new book titled “Imagine Doing Better: Why Policies Backfire and How Prevention Thinking Can Change Everything.” In this episode: Author and professor Paul Fleming discusses his new book, a generational approach to policymaking, and the power of collective action. Guest: , PhD, MPH, is an associate professor of health behavior and health equity at the and...
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Senator Andy Kim on the MediKids Act
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Over four million children in the United States are uninsured, while many more lack health insurance that adequately meets their care needs. A proposed bill aims to fix that by providing universal health coverage for everyone aged zero to 26. In this episode: Senator Andy Kim, sponsor of the MediKids Act, on why now is the right time for this bill to become law and how it can be implemented by building on the existing Medicaid framework. Guest: , PhD, is a U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He previously held roles at the Pentagon, State Department, and White...
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Are Humans Hot Enough to Survive a Fungal Apocalypse?
Public Health On Call
About this episode: New research has identified massive fungal blooms in North America in the Cretaceous period, suggesting significant ecological upheaval before and after the asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs. In this episode: Arturo Casadevall, senior author of the study, explains why these findings are so significant and his hypothesis that fungi gave mammals an evolutionary leg-up over reptiles. Guest: , PhD, MS, is chair of the department of at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a global expert in host defense mechanisms, fungi, and antibody-based...
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The HPV Vaccine, 20 Years Later
Public Health On Call
About this episode: In the two decades since the HPV vaccine was approved, women’s risk of developing cervical cancer has dropped by 80% for those vaccinated before age 16 and 66% in those vaccinated after age 16. It has also lowered the risk of other HPV-related cancers in men. In this episode: Journalist Liz Szabo recounts the incredible successes of this intervention in preventing cancer and discusses the existing misinformation surrounding the vaccine, still considered by some to be too “new.” Guest: , MA, is an investigative health reporter with CIDRAP News....
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Prescription Denials Are on the Rise
Public Health On Call
About this episode: If you’ve ever been prescribed a new medication from your doctor only to be told by the pharmacy that your insurance won’t cover it, you’re not alone. In fact, new research shows that denials and requirements for prior authorizations are happening more frequently and that, in half of these cases, patients are subsequently forgoing their prescriptions. In this episode: Joseph Levy, lead author of the study, explains why this is the case and discusses the tradeoffs between controlling drug spending and ensuring access to necessary treatments. ...
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The Peptide Episode
Public Health On Call
About this episode: In June, the FDA convened an advisory committee to discuss whether seven selected peptides should be permitted for legal sale under pharmacy compounding laws despite little research into safety and efficacy. Agency scientists oppose the decision while some committee members with ties to the growing industry support it. In this episode: Dr. Josh Sharfstein, who previously served as the Principal Deputy Commissioner of the FDA, explains what is happening and what it may mean for consumers and patients. Note: That this episode was updated on August 5, 2026....
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An Early Start to West Nile Virus Season?
Public Health On Call
About this episode: West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne illness in the U.S., and while most people who contract it won’t even know they’re infected, it can be debilitating for older adults and the immunocompromised. In this episode: an expert in insect-borne diseases gives listeners the essential information on West Nile, offers a forecast on this year’s disease season, and answers the most important question: can we just get rid of mosquitoes? Guest: , PhD, is a professor of who studies vector-borne diseases. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the...
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Immigration Crossfire in Tennessee Threatens Children's Health
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Children in Tennessee who need ventilators, chemotherapy and other essential medical treatments—but who have no means to pay for them—turn to the Children’s Special Services program. But as a result of a new state law, hundreds of children and their families were told to withdraw from the program or risk being reported to immigration officials. In this episode: Dr. Morgan McDonald explains what happened—and how a lawsuit is aiming to preserve lifesaving care. Guest: Dr. Morgan McDonald is a pediatrician, a public health physician, and a ...
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All About Legionnaires’ Disease
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Cooling towers rife with Legionella bacteria are fueling an outbreak of a serious respiratory disease in New York City. Legionnaires' disease is common in the summer months as the water we use to shower and cool our air conditioning systems warms, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. In this episode: Environmental scientist Natalie Exum details the symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, who is most at risk of infection, and how cities can monitor and treat water systems to reduce exposure. Guest: , PhD, MS, is an assistant professor of at the Johns...
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Are SSRIs Being Overprescribed?
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are the most widely used class of antidepressants. While these medications have undoubtedly saved lives, they have also gained scrutiny for having significant side effects and being difficult to taper off of. In this episode: Two psychiatrists talk about the existing recommendations for deprescribing and why SSRIs remain a critical treatment tool despite pressure from federal health officials to wean Americans off of them. Guest: is an associate professor of who studies the epidemiology of suicide and...
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The U.S. stands out among peer countries for having the worst rate of traffic deaths. Approaching this issue from a public health angle can help to make roadways safer by focusing on population-level interventions rather than directing resources towards policing “bad apple” individuals. In this episode: Tiffany Joyce Smith, lead author of a new report on the role of enforcement in road safety, explains the value of a proactive approach to preventing crashes versus a reactive one.
Guest:
Tiffany Joyce Smith, MPH, is a public health and mobility expert and program advisor with the Vision Zero Network.
Host:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. He served as the Baltimore City Commissioner of Health from 2005 to 2009.
Show links and related content:
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Right-Sizing the Role of Traffic Enforcement: Prioritizing Effective, Cost-Efficient and Equitable Improvements to Road Safety—Vision Zero Network
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Money Drove Criminal Justice System In Ferguson, DOJ Report Says—NPR
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The Surprising Benefits of Narrower Traffic Lanes—Public Health On Call (November 2023)
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Why Are So Many Pedestrians Getting Struck and Killed By Cars, and Why Aren’t We Doing More To Stop It?—Public Health On Call (July 2023)
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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.