Contagious Conversations: Building Back Public Health

Last summer, I was honored to be asked by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb to co-chair a new commission charged with examining the public health system in the state and making recommendations for future policies. Designated policy advisors (DPA) perform research on critical topics such as funding, data, workforce and emergency preparedness. The DPAs present recommendations for the Governor’s Public Health Commission’s consideration. The commission will submit a report with recommendations to Governor Holcomb this summer. 

Against that backdrop, I was particularly pleased to join Joshua Sharfstein, MD, vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, to discuss the importance of state public health and the future of public health in a special edition episode of the Contagious Conversations podcast. This episode was produced in conjunction with Public Health On Call, a podcast from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

During this special edition episode, Dr. Sharfstein and I discussed the importance of this commission, along with the state of public health in our nation today. We both agree that we are currently living in an important moment for public health protection, and that it is incumbent on all of us as public health professionals to give our best in this moment, work together for the greater good and ensure that we improve health for everyone across our nation.

Special thanks to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for their partnership on this podcast episode. Be sure to check out more episodes of Public Health On Call, available wherever you get your podcasts as well as all of the CDC Foundation’s Contagious Conversation episodes.