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Public Health On Call

Public Health On Call

Written by: The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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Evidence and experts to help you understand today's public health news—and what it means for tomorrow.Copyright of this audio content is owned by The Johns Hopkins University. Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Why Health?

    Why Health?
    Oct 15 2026
    About this episode: In the field of medicine, health is often treated as an end goal, achieved by procedures, prescriptions, and physicians. A new book argues that we should see health instead as a social value—connected to other values we care about. In this episode: Physician, population health scientist, and author Sandro Galea talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about his book, "Why Health?: What We Need to Think About When We Think About Health." Guest: Dr. Sandro Galea, DrPH, is the Margaret C. Ryan dean of the Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky School of Public Health at Washington University. He is also the author of "Why Health?: What We Need to Think About When We Think About Health." 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. Show links and related content: Why Health?: What We Need to Think About When We Think About Health—Oxford University Press The Invisible Shield—Public Health—Public Health On Call (July 2024) How "Illiberal" Is Public Health?—Public Health On Call (March 2024) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript. AI disclosure (as of September 2026): The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(667) 217-6214‬ for the chance to hear your voice on the podcast. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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    18 mins
  • Utah's .05 Legal Blood Alcohol Limit is Saving Lives

    Utah's .05 Legal Blood Alcohol Limit is Saving Lives
    Oct 14 2026
    About this episode: In 2018, the state of Utah became the first state in the country to lower its blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving from 0.08 to 0.05. Within a year of implementation, the state's fatal crash rate dropped by nearly 20%. So, why haven't other states followed suit? In this episode: Dr. Federico Vaca, an expert in health and transportation, takes a close look at Utah's law, why it's been so effective, and how it can serve as a national model for safer driving. Guest: Dr. Federico Vaca, MPH, is a physician and a professor of emergency medicine at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. 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: Utah's Move From 0.08 to 0.05 Blood Alcohol Concentration Per Se Policy: Effects on Driver Crash Fatalities Compared With Contiguous States—American Journal of Preventive Medicine Evaluation of Utah's .05 BAC Per Se Law—National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Utah's 0.05 BAC Law: If You Drink, Don't Drive—Utah Highway Safety Office Alcohol-Impaired Driving—National Safety Council For Better Health, Drink Less Alcohol—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript. AI disclosure (as of September 2026): The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(667) 217-6214‬ for the chance to hear your voice on the podcast. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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    16 mins
  • Youth Suicide Prevention on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation

    Youth Suicide Prevention on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation
    Oct 12 2026
    About this episode: Suicide rates in the U.S. are highest among American Indian and Alaska Native populations and are concentrated among young people. Personal brushes with this devastation sparked members of the White Mountain Apache tribe to develop an innovative and community-centered suicide prevention program. In this episode: Novalene Alsenay Goklish and Emily Haroz of the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health discuss the impact of the Celebrating Life program and how its deep roots in the tribal community allow caseworkers and staff to connect directly with those in need. Note: This episode includes discussions of suicidality and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, there is 24-hour assistance in the United States available by dialing 988. Guest: Novalene Alsenay Goklish, DrPH, MS, is an assistant scientist with the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health. Emily Edmunds Haroz, PhD, MHS, MA, is an associate professor of International Health and Mental Health, and a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor for The Uptake, and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: Celebrating Life—Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health Suicide Prevention Programs for Native American Youth—Bloomberg American Health Initiative Decreases in Suicide Deaths and Attempts Linked to the White Mountain Apache Suicide Surveillance and Prevention System, 2001–2012—American Journal of Public Health Suicide Data and Statistics—CDC Why the Health of Indigenous People Impacts Us All—Public Health On Call (October 2022) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. You can also email PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu to request a transcript. AI disclosure (as of September 2026): The conversations you hear on the podcast are happening between real humans, and real humans are developing and researching episodes behind the scenes. In addition to real human audio engineers, Public Health On Call uses AI production tools to assist with the removal of filler words and improve audio quality. If you have any questions about our use of AI, please reach out to PublicHealthQuestion@jhu.edu. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(667) 217-6214‬ for the chance to hear your voice on the podcast. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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    23 mins
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