NACCHO’s Podcast from Washington: Dr. Michael Kilkenny of Cabell-Huntington Health Department Discusses Local Preparedness Work and Leading Public Health Through Change
Release Date: 01/16/2026
NACCHO’s Podcast from Washington: Dr. Michael Kilkenny of Cabell-Huntington Health Department Discusses Local Preparedness Work and Leading Public Health Through Change
The NACCHO Podcast Series
Washington, DC, January 16, 2026 —This month’s podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) includes discussion of significant changes to the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule, announced on January 5 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NACCHO issued a opposed to the change, and about what this means for local public health practice. The episode also includes updates on the and the status of FY26 federal funding negotiations. For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington newsletter: . Later...
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The NACCHO Podcast Series
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The NACCHO Podcast Series
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The NACCHO Podcast Series
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The NACCHO Podcast Series
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The NACCHO Podcast Series
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NACCHO’s Podcast From Washington: A Discussion with NACCHO’s New Board President, Damōn Chaplin
The NACCHO Podcast Series
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The NACCHO Podcast Series
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The NACCHO Podcast Series
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NACCHO’s Podcast from Washington: Update on Department of Health and Human Services Recent Reorganization and How Dallas County Health and Human Services is Responding to the HIV Epidemic in Texas
The NACCHO Podcast Series
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info_outlineWashington, DC, January 16, 2026 —This month’s podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) includes discussion of significant changes to the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule, announced on January 5 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NACCHO issued a joint statement opposed to the change, and published an analysis about what this means for local public health practice. The episode also includes updates on the Rural Health Transformation Program and the status of FY26 federal funding negotiations. For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.
Later in the program (6:00), Dr. Michael Kilkenny, NACCHO Immediate Past President and Chief Executive Officer and Health Officer for Cabell-Huntington Health Department, discusses how his department is navigating the many changes occurring in public health and offers advice to public health leaders on how to thrive in 2026. Dr. Kilkenny shared that, despite losing funding for their syringe services program in 2025, Cabell-Huntington Health Department remains committed in providing overdose prevention services.
As the 2026 Preparedness Summit approaches in April, Dr. Kilkenny emphasized that emergency preparedness and response start at the local level. At the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, officials are focusing on recruitment and capacity building within their Medical Reserve Corps and are excited to bring responders and community leaders together to discuss efforts to address key public health concerns.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.