New York Public Health Now

Navigating Public Health in a Political World; A Conversation with Dr. Demetre Daskalakis

What is it like to practice public health in ever-changing political climates? Dr. Demetrre Daskalakis reflects on lessons learned at the CDC and the importance of humility, trusted messengers, and coordinated action amidst political pressures and public health challenges. If you have an idea for topics we should discuss, please let us know: PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov [PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov]

From Hospital Beds to Healthy Homes: The Power of RSV Vaccination

For a long time, RSV has sent too many babies to the hospital—but new breakthroughs in vaccine science are turning the tide. New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Jim McDonald puts on his pediatrician coat for this episode of New York Public Health now - he and Executive Deputy Director Johanne Morning explores why prevention matters, while also offering practical advice for parents and families during RSV season. If you have an idea for topics we should discuss, please let us know: PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov [PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov]

Life-Saving Economics: Naloxone’s Cost-Effective Role on the Opioid Crisis

In this episode of "New York Public Health Now," Commissioner Dr. Jim McDonald and Executive Deputy Commissioner Johanne Morne are joined by Dr. David Holtgrave as they explore the remarkable story of the cost effectiveness of naloxone in New York State. This episode dives into the real-world impact of naloxone, illuminating stories, budget realities, and lives saved. Learn how New York’s overdose prevention and harm reduction programs are changing lives, the science of measuring cost effectiveness, and why ongoing community engagement remains vital. If you have an idea for topics we should discuss, please let us know: PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov [PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov]

Partisanship and the Bifurcation of Public Health: Brown SPH's Dr. Ashish Jha's Roadmap for Bridging the Widening Cultural Gap

Joining Commissioner McDonald and Executive Deputy Commissioner Morne is Brown University's School for Public Health Dean Dr. Ashish Jha.  They discuss Dr. Jah's strategies to "departisanize" public health and reach out to communities that feel disaffected, emphasizing the importance of understanding diverse perspectives in addressing current and future public health challenges. Hear Dr. Jha's personal story, from his initial aspirations to become a journalist to his transition into medicine and his influential role at the federal level assisting the Biden administration as White House COVID-19 response coordinator and most recently as the Dean of Brown University's School of Public Health. Dr. Jha shares his innovative approaches to public health education, including his focus on diversifying the student body, not just along racial lines, but also socio-economic and political, and his focus on integrating new voices and perspectives while preparing students for the evolving challenges and media landscape facing the next generation public health workforce. If you have an idea for topics we should discuss, please let us know: PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov [PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov]

Battling Emerging Threats: The Vital Role of Microbiology Research, a Conversation with Wadsworth's Dr. Nicholas Mantis

In this episode, Commissioner Dr. Jim McDonald and Executive Deputy Director Johanne Morne sit down with Dr. Nick Mantis, a Research Scientist and Principal Investigator at the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center, to explore the vital role of microbiology research in improving public health outcomes. Discover how Dr. Mantis and his team's discoveries are paving the way for more effective vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments for a wide range of infectious diseases. From investigating the immune response to Lyme disease to tackling the rise of drug-resistant fungal infections, this episode delves into the critical work that is shaping the future of public health. Find out more about the work being done at the Mantis Laboratory: https://www.wadsworth.org/research/laboratories/mantis [https://www.wadsworth.org/research/laboratories/mantis] If you have an idea for topics we should discuss, please let us know: PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov [PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov]