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Public Health On Call: Daily Summaries Delivered
by The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Evidence and experts to help you understand today's public health news—and what it means for tomorrow.
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- 2 days ago16 min
Change at the EPA
About this episode: Since its inception, the Environmental Protection Agency has served as the bedrock for major policy initiatives to protect human and environmental health in the U.S.—from safeguarding access to clean air and water to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. But a recent move towards deregulation reflects major changes happening at the agency. In this episode: Tom Burke, who served as the deputy assistant administrator of the EPA from 2015 to 2017, talks about his serious concerns about recent policy moves—and his confidence that the future of environmental health nonetheless remains strong. Guest: Tom Burke, PhD, MPH, is an emeritus professor at Johns Hopkins and a former top official with the Environmental Protection Agency in the Obama administration. 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: EPA Hits 40-Year Lows in Staffing After Trump Targets Its Public Health Experts—Inside Climate News The EPA's Approval of Two New Pesticides—Public Health On Call (March 2026) The Future of the Environmental Protection Agency Under Trump—Public Health On Call (December 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. <h3 data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-nam
- 3 days ago14 min
The Case For Not Eating Lettuce
About this episode: A leaf of iceberg on a sandwich or a serving of chopped romaine in a salad can add a satisfying crunch to your lunch—but does it offer much of anything else? In this episode: Washington Post food policy columnist Tamar Haspel unpacks the environmental implications of growing lettuce, the limited nutritional benefits offered by the crop, and why it's such a common culprit behind outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. Guest: Tamar Haspel is an author and columnist with the Washington Post, who covers food, health, and science. 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: Why we should stop eating lettuce, cyclospora or not—The Washington Post Why salad is so overrated—The Washington Post The Explosive Diarrhea Episode—Public Health On Call (July 2026) 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 qu
- 5 days ago34 min
From Saving Lives to Selling Supplements: A History of Vitamin A
About this episode: Vitamin A is essential for good vision, a healthy immune system, cell growth, and reproductive health, and it has proved to be a critical tool in fighting childhood mortality in parts of the world where access to nutrient-rich foods is limited. But while Vitamin A has saved many lives, supplementation isn't necessary for most people, despite what you may read online. In this episode: a slate of experts from the Johns Hopkins University join host Lindsay Smith Rogers to dive into the history of vitamin A supplementation, how it has shaped global health, and what this incredible nutrient can't do despite its benefits. Note: This episode was produced in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University sesquicentennial campaign. Guests: Brian Foster, PhD, MSc, is an associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and director of the laboratory of cardiovascular biochemistry. Amanda Palmer, PhD, MHS, is an associate professor of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Alfred Sommer, MHS, is a Johns Hopkins University distinguished service professor and dean emeritus of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Keith P. West, Jr., DrPH, MPH, is the George G. Graham professor of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, M
- 1 weeks ago17 min
Will AI Generate New Biological Threats?
About this episode: Scientists, tech companies, and world leaders are sounding the alarm on potential threats to humanity as AI models grow more powerful. Is part of this threat related to the technology's biological capabilities? In this episode: Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, answers: yes. He provides an overview of what AI is capable of doing and what possible threats could be around the corner if policies don't intervene to control these developments. Guest: Dr. Tom Inglesby is a professor of Environmental Health and Engineering and the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. 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: A.I. Queries From Abroad Raise Fears of a Biological Weapons Race—The New York Times How AI makes biological research more dangerous—Axios Detecting and countering misuse of AI: September 2026—Anthropic Generative design of bacteriophages with genome language models—Science Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on
- 1 weeks ago16 min
An mRNA Flu Vaccine Hits the Market
About this episode: For the first time ever, mRNA flu shots are available this respiratory virus season for adults age 50 and older, offering an opportunity to create vaccines better tailored to certain strains of the virus. Moderna's mFLUSIVA was approved by the FDA this summer and is available in some pharmacies. In this episode: Vaccine expert Anna Durbin explains how the vaccine works, discusses the current data on its safety and efficacy, and reflects on the quest for a universal flu vaccine. Guest: Dr. Anna Durbin is a professor of International Health and the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Immunization Research. 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: New mRNA Flu Vaccine Makes This Flu Season 'One to Watch'—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health August 5, 2026 Clinical Review - MFLUSIVA—FDA How Influenza (Flu) Vaccines Are Made—CDC How Flu Viruses Can Change: "Drift" and "Shift"—CDC The Long History of mRNA Vaccines—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health <a href= "https://podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/a-guide-to-fall-vaccines-for-people-who-are-immunocompromised-and-those-
- 1 weeks ago23 min
Aging with HIV
About this episode: Life expectancies for those living with HIV are nearly identical to those living without the virus, thanks to groundbreaking advancements in medicine and care. But that data point doesn't tell the full story about the unique needs and nuanced challenges facing those with HIV, particularly as that population skews increasingly older. In this episode: Keri Althoff and Vanessa Johnson, co-authors of a new report on aging and HIV, explain why and how prevention and treatment should adapt to support lifelong health. Guest: Keri N. Althoff, PhD, MPH, is a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Vanessa Johnson, MPA, JD, is a recognized advocate, community leader, and champion for people living with HIV. She is the co-executive director at Ribbon, a social justice organization, and senior advisor to ROC4Aging+, a project that seeks to improve quality of life for those aging with HIV. 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: The Lancet HIV Commission on ageing and HIV: a global perspective—The Lancet HIV Commissions Amy Justice and Keri Althoff on the Lancet HIV Commission on ageing and HIV—The Lancet On the Cusp of Eliminating HIV—Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine <a href= "https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/growing-and-aging-the-population-of-people-living-with-hiv" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name= "link
- 2 weeks ago21 min
A Public Health and Business School Graduate with Sickle Cell Disease
About this episode: September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, recognizing a severe disease that affects an estimated 100,000 people in the U.S. In this episode: Shayla Ellington, who lives with Hemoglobin SC disease, shares how her diagnosis has shaped her life, how she sees the underfunding of research and treatment, and how she uses her public health and business school training to advocate for a brighter future. Guest: Shayla Ellington, MPH, MBA, is a recent alumna of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Carey Business School. 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: About Sickle Cell Disease—Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Beyond Gene Therapies: People With Sickle Cell Disease Need Comprehensive Care—Health Affairs Sickle Cell Disease: Genetic Therapies and Treatment Hurdles—Public Health On Call (August 2025) 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): <p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-p
- 2 weeks ago15 min
A Guide to Fall Vaccines for People Who Are Immunocompromised and Those Who Care For Them
About this episode: Those whose immune systems are more vulnerable due to age, illness, or another condition are at a higher risk of getting sick with and experiencing severe symptoms of seasonal illnesses like flu, COVID-19, and RSV. In this episode: Epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers provides her recommendations for vaccines this respiratory virus season for people who are immunocompromised and for those who care for them, when to get them, and how to find disease trends in your area. Note: The RSV vaccine is not an annual vaccine, though the virus flares up seasonally in the fall and winter. According to the best available research, only one dose of the RSV vaccine can offer protection for multiple seasons. Guest: Caitlin Rivers, PhD, MPH, is an associate professor of Environmental Health and Engineering, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Outbreak Response Innovation, and a senior scholar at the Center for Health Security. She is also the author of the Force of Infection newsletter. 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: Guide to seasonal vaccinations for people who are immunocompromised—Force of Infection IDSA recommends respiratory vaccines for people with weakened immune systems—Infectious Disease Society of America Respiratory Virus Activity Levels—CDC <p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name= "p
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