Displaying 41-60 of 207 results for

ASTHO Statement on Resignation of CDC Director ASTHO Statement on Resignation of CDC Director Fitzgerald ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) president and executive director issued the following statements in response to the announcement on the resignation of CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald: “We respect Dr. Fitzgerald’s decision to step down from her role as CDC director and understand the difficult choice she had to make,” says Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO. “While her tenure was a brief six months, Dr. Fitzgerald created momentum for improving the health of our nation, specifically around her agency’s role in fighting infectious disease and promoting health security, addressing the opioid epidemic, combating this year’s deadly flu season, and bringing a public health perspective to early childhood development in a new way for CDC. ASTHO stands ready to support the future CDC director, whom we hope has the same depth of experience in leading a state, local, or territorial public health agency. It is also our hope that a new director will continue to value state and territorial public health leaders as primary partners in the implementation of CDC’s work. We know these kinds of changes can be disruptive to an agency that is already underfunded and works around the clock to protect us from our nation’s gravest health threats.” “As public health officials, we uniquely understand that the role of CDC director is critical to protecting and promoting the health and well-being of the American people above all other interests,” says John Wiesman, ASTHO’s president and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health. “We hold Dr. Fitzgerald in great esteem for her many contributions as Georgia’s health commissioner, where she spearheaded efforts to reduce childhood obesity and promote early brain development, laying the foundation to help people enjoy longer and healthier lives. We accept her decision to step down, and we look forward to working closely with CDC’s next director to continue advancing the work of our nation’s top public health agency.”   ASTHO is supportive of HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s announcement of Anne Schuchat as the interim CDC Director. “Dr. Schuchat’s experience working in the field and at CDC headquarters gives her the perspective one needs to understand the breadth, scope, and importance of the agency,” Fraser says. “We look forward to working with her during her tenure as interim director.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO and Safe States Alliance Respond to Rising Injury Deaths Among Children and Adolescents ARLINGTON, VA—Today, CDC released a report showing that injuries, suicides, and homicides are leading to more deaths among children and young adults in the United States. “After several years of progress in reducing injury deaths among 10 to 19 year-olds in the United States, this alarming upturn in deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes, suicides, and drug overdoses demonstrates that significant challenges remain,” says John Wiesman, president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health. “Preventing injuries and violence is a top priority for our nation’s health departments. ASTHO and the Safe States Alliance are committed to strengthening the capacity of state and territorial health departments to effectively advance these efforts.” While summer is the time of year when injuries among children dramatically increase, health departments are working year-round to create safe and healthy communities. “We urge Congress to invest in effective prevention programming. Expanding the CDC’s Core State Violence and Injury Program, for example, would provide necessary resources to health departments to ensure the safety and protection of all people, especially our youngest citizens,” says Rich Hamburg, executive director of the Safe States Alliance.  “As public health leaders, we find the 56 percent increase in suicides between 2007 and 2016 to be wholly unacceptable,” adds Wiesman. “To address this serious issue and save lives, we need to consider the role of mental and behavioral health and how to better integrate these principles within the governmental public health and healthcare systems. We must intensify our efforts to prevent these tragic deaths and direct greater investments toward childhood injury and suicide prevention programs.” In light of these findings, continued assessment, vigilance, and resources are needed to put proven prevention strategies into practice to save lives and prevent lifelong disability for America’s children. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate Safe States Alliance Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Statement on Media Reports Regarding “Banned Words” at CDC ARLINGTON, VA—Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO, issued the following statement on recent media reports regarding “banned words” at CDC: “It is critical that public health professionals use science and evidence to make informed decisions to improve the health of the population. Today, ASTHO sent a letter to Acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan expressing that science must remain the bedrock of policies formulated at HHS. Public health professionals should be empowered by both the Administration and Congress to use the language necessary to convey the importance of their work to the public, policymakers, and other stakeholders. We are encouraged by CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald’s clarification that there are no ‘banned’ words at CDC and we look forward to continued collaboration across HHS to implement scientifically-sound, evidence-based best practices at the state and territorial levels.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Health Officials Intensify Zika Prevention Efforts ARLINGTON, VA—State and territorial health officials are redoubling prevention efforts to address the serious public health threats associated with Zika virus and to protect the health of mothers and babies. Yesterday, CDC published an analysis of nearly 1,300 pregnant women with evidence of Zika infection, per data reported by 44 states to the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry in 2016. About 1 in 10 pregnant women with confirmed Zika had a fetus or baby with birth defects. In light of these findings, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) calls for continued resources to support an aggressive, long-term governmental public health response to Zika, including laboratory, epidemiological, and surveillance capacity, vector control, and public awareness and education campaigns. With most of the women in the study acquiring Zika infection during travel to an area where Zika was present, all jurisdictions within the United States must remain on alert and prepared due to travel-related cases and sexual transmission. Also, with warmer weather and mosquito season approaching, CDC’s new Vital Signs report highlights the need for ongoing vigilance and sustained measures to prevent and manage cases of Zika, diagnose patients, increase lab capacity and vector control, and coordinate Zika-related birth defects surveillance activities, especially in parts of the United States where local transmission through the bite from the specific mosquito capable of carrying the Zika virus is possible. “Public health has a long history of combatting and eradicating mosquito-borne diseases, but ensuring robust epidemiological and laboratory infrastructure across the governmental public health system is critical to stay ahead of the spread of Zika virus,” says Brenda Fitzgerald, ASTHO president-elect and commissioner and state health officer of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “In Georgia, for example, we have limited geographic mosquito surveillance and vector control capabilities. That causes particular concern about the 63 counties at higher risk of Zika transmission due to their dense populations, high rates of poverty, and large numbers of females of reproductive age.” State, territorial, and local health departments play an active role in determining the risk of ongoing local transmission through enhanced surveillance and vector control activities. Health departments, together with healthcare professionals, laboratory experts, and disease control specialists, are working nonstop to protect Americans from Zika and other emerging health threats. Strong collaboration among state and local partners is critical to protecting pregnant women against Zika and connecting affected families with medical, social, and community resources. ASTHO urges sustained investments in public health funding to give state, local, tribal, and territorial health departments the resources needed to pursue a broad range of strategies to prevent Zika virus. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

State and Territorial Health Leaders Praise Surgeon General’s Report on E-Cigarettes ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) praises U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy for issuing a first ever report on e-cigarette use among youth and young adults, and calls on local, state, and national partners to redouble efforts to prevent tobacco use and support tobacco cessation efforts nationwide. The new report indicates a dramatic rise in e-cigarette use among youth and young adults. E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, surpassing conventional cigarettes in 2014. Emerging data suggests that youth who use e-cigarettes are more likely to use combustible tobacco products. ASTHO members have a strong history of supporting programs that improve tobacco prevention and control efforts in their states, and this new report reiterates that tobacco use, in any form and at any age, is harmful to our health. “The report’s main message, that there is no acceptable level of nicotine when it comes to our children, is a strong one and one that I support as a physician, father, and champion for health in my state. That's why in Vermont we added e-cigarettes to the tobacco products restricted under our Clean Indoor Air Act,” says Harry Chen, MD, chair of ASTHO’s Prevention Policy Committee and commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health. “While there is still a lot we do not know about e-cigarettes, we do know that vaping products contain chemicals that could cause harm, especially in young people. Our research on the health effects of smoking clearly shows that nicotine, regardless of how it is delivered, is addictive and can harm the developing brain.” ASTHO President and Chief Medical Officer for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Jay Butler, MD, states that “our nation’s state and territorial health leaders are committed to aggressive efforts to reduce all tobacco use and address the issues posed by electronic cigarettes. This is an area where health, policy, and science can converge to prevent harm and potentially prevent addiction and substance misuse among our youth.” While all state and territorial public health agencies have experience addressing tobacco control and prevention, e-cigarettes pose new challenges to health leaders. “We are concerned about tobacco-attributable health disparities, tobacco-related morbidity and mortality, and the limited regulation and lack of definitive research on e-cigarettes and their components,” says ASTHO’s Executive Director Michael Fraser, PhD. “To this end, we support further investment in prevention efforts and research to inform local, state, and national policymakers. I think the surgeon general’s report is going to focus more attention on the unique issues raised by e-cigarettes and the need for additional policy work and investment at the state and national level to promote healthy behaviors among our nation’s young people.” ASTHO is currently updating its position statement on tobacco prevention and control to include the public health consequences of e-cigarettes and related vaping devices. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Board Selects Michael Fraser to Serve as New Executive Director ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) announced today that Michael Fraser, PhD, CAE, will serve as the organization’s executive director beginning in mid- or late-August 2016. Fraser has extensive experience leading public health and healthcare associations. Most recently he served as the executive vice president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Medical Society in Harrisburg, PA. During his tenure he worked with physician leaders to transform the Pennsylvania Medical Society into a dynamic, relevant and effective membership organization representing all of the state’s physicians. “I am very excited by this opportunity to continue ASTHO’s legacy of leadership for state public health well into the future,” said Fraser. “Collectively, state and territorial health officials are a driving force in safeguarding and promoting the health of our nation. ASTHO members make decisions every day that impact the health and well-being of millions of people across the country. I look forward to supporting state and territorial health officials’ critical role in the states and territories and forging close partnerships with local, state, national, and federal stakeholders that value ASTHO members’ efforts to improve the health of our nation.” In addition to nationally recognized work at the Pennsylvania Medical Society to address the state’s opioid misuse and drug abuse crisis, Fraser has been a distinguished leader in public health for almost twenty years. He served as CEO of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) from 2007 to 2013, where his leadership was recognized nationally by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s Director’s Award in 2014. In addition the American Public Health Association’s MCH Section awarded AMCHP the Outstanding Leadership and Advocacy Award. Prior to joining AMCHP, Fraser was the deputy executive director of the National Association of County and City Health Officials from 2002 to 2007, and served in several capacities at the US Department of Health and Human Services, including positions at the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fraser received his doctorate in sociology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in May 1997 and his M.A. in sociology in 1994. He is currently pursuing a M.S. in Management, Strategy and Leadership from the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University. Fraser received his B.A. in sociology from Oberlin College in 1991. Fraser was selected after an extensive search. The ASTHO Board of Directors hired Association Strategies to manage the search and appointed a Search Committee chaired by Terry Cline, PhD, Oklahoma Commissioner of Health and Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Search Committee put forward Fraser and the ASTHO Board, chaired by Edward Ehlinger, MD, MSPH, Minnesota Commissioner of Health, voted to extend an offer at ASTHO’s June board meeting. “Mike is the ideal person to lead ASTHO forward,” said Ehlinger. “He is a dynamic leader in the health field, and his experience leading both public health associations and medical societies will serve us well as these two health sectors become increasingly intertwined. His knowledge, wisdom, and personality will guide state and territorial health agencies through the challenges of today’s health landscape and position them for a vital leadership role in the future.” ASTHO Interim Executive Director Sharon Moffatt, BSN, MS will continue to play a leadership role on ASTHO staff and help lead and coordinate the transition to the new executive director. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Executive Director Announces New Role at the March of Dimes ARLINGTON, VA—Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Executive Director Paul E. Jarris, MD, MBA, has announced that he is stepping down at the end of this year. Jarris will assume a new Senior Vice President and Deputy Medical Officer role at the March of Dimes, effective Jan. 25, 2016. Dr. Jarris has served as ASTHO’s Executive Director for the past nine years, where he transformed ASTHO to become a premier institution vital to promoting and safeguarding health and wellness across the United States and territories. Under his guidance, ASTHO has become a leader in public health systems and services research and the authoritative source of information on state and territorial public health. At the March of Dimes, Jarris will lead a new Maternal and Child Health Program Impact department. He will have overall responsibility for the March of Dimes’ Prematurity Campaign, which addresses health equity and seeks to reduce the rate of preterm birth—a leading cause of death among babies in the United States. Jarris is passionate about children’s health. A notable achievement as Executive Director of ASTHO was his aligning the efforts of ASTHO and the March of Dimes to challenge states to lower their preterm birth rates. Together with David Lakey, MD, former ASTHO President and now at the University of Texas, they championed the 2012 ASTHO President’s Challenge on Healthy Babies. After years of climbing prematurity rates, the trend has reversed. This contribution has helped save thousands of lives and improved the health of many more infants. “I am excited to be joining the March of Dimes, an organization that has had as great an impact on public health as any organization in this country and around the world,” says Jarris. “Some of my most gratifying work at ASTHO were the partnerships we were able to build between state health agencies and the March of Dimes. I look forward to continuing this work. We have already made tremendous gains. Now is the time to seize that momentum and ensure that all moms and babies have the best chance possible for a healthy start to life.” Under Jarris’ leadership, ASTHO became integral to the national public health preparedness and response system. During the influenza H1N1 pandemic and Ebola emergency, ASTHO was key in representing state health interests to federal agencies, providing guidance and consistent risk information for the states, facilitating partnerships with the provider community, and helping negotiate ready availability of pandemic vaccine at chain pharmacies nationwide. Minnesota Commissioner of Health and ASTHO President Edward Ehlinger, MD, MSPH, remarked, “Paul Jarris helped elevate ASTHO to a true leadership position in America’s public health community. He now will be bringing his skills to the March of Dimes. I thank him for his numerous contributions to state and territorial public health and I look forward to working with him to improve the health of America’s mothers and babies.” During Jarris’ tenure, ASTHO expanded its staff from 45 to 110 and budget from 9 million to 30 million. ASTHO was recognized as a top-50 employer in the Washington, DC area by Washingtonian Magazine in 2013. Jarris is a recipient of numerous awards, including the American Academy of Family Physicians 2014 Public Health Award and has authored or co-authored over 50 publications. Prior to his appointment at ASTHO, he served as Commissioner of Health at the Vermont Department of Health from 2003 to 2006. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Juthani plans to focus presidency on the importance of public health and public health communications

ASTHO President Scott Harris, MD, MPH, Testifies to Congress Advocating for Sustainable and Predictable Public Health Funding ARLINGTON, VA — Scott Harris, MD, MPH, president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and state health officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, testified today before the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Education and Related Agencies. Harris emphasized the importance of providing sustainable and predictable federal funding for key programs and initiatives at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources and Services Administration, and other federal health agencies that enhance our nation’s public health. In addition, he mentioned the challenges associated with the recent cancellation of COVID-19 grants by HHS. “Governmental public health agencies are on the front line protecting our nation and improving the health and well-being of the entire U.S. population. Our country continues to face many public health challenges, deaths associated with chronic diseases, the re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases, and opioid misuse,” says Harris. “To build long-term resilience, public health funding must be consistent, forward-looking, and rooted in community-driven initiatives that address the needs of people where they live.” ASTHO calls on Congress to provide stable and long-term financial support for public health agencies. Without consistent investment state, local, tribal and territorial health agencies will struggle to strengthen their infrastructure, build public trust and protect the health and safety of all Americans. We must have a firm commitment to lasting resources that ensure a healthier future for our communities. For more information about the hearing, please visit the committee YouTube channel and read Harris’s full testimony. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

State and Territorial Health Leaders Convene on Capitol Hill to Advocate for Sustained Funding ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) leadership and public health officials will gather in Washington, D.C. from March 10-13 for the annual Spring Leadership Forum. Attendees will gather to discuss key policy issues, attend peer learning sessions, and advocate for critical funding on Capitol Hill. Health officials are expected to highlight the value of federal funding to public health agencies as well as infrastructure needs, with the looming expiration of federal funding on March 14. Specifically, ASTHO requests Congress provide $365 million in FY25 and invest $1 billion, which equates to about $3 per person in the United States, in FY26 for vital public health infrastructure. “This week, ASTHO members are meeting with Congress to advocate for adequate resources to sustain vital, life-saving public health operations,” says Joseph Kanter, MD, MPH, ASTHO CEO. “In-person meetings allow health officials to shed light on the impact of legislation on state-level health systems. Our goal is to foster bipartisan collaboration and advocate for Americans across the country who rely on federally funded programs to stay healthy.” Additionally, senior leadership from the five U.S. territories and three freely associated states (T/FAS) will participate in an island-tailored set of meetings with Congressional and federal agency partners. On Capitol Hill, ASTHO’s T/FAS members will discuss the impact of the recently renegotiated Compacts of Free Association, as well as emphasize the importance of territorial Medicaid funding and the challenges associated with the Section 1108b cap on territorial Medicaid funding. "ASTHO’s Spring Leadership Forum is a critical opportunity for U.S. territorial and freely associated state health officials to make our voices heard in Washington, D.C. We look forward to working with members of Congress and federal agencies on emerging federal and island public health priorities," says Dr. Esther Muña, CEO of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, chair of the ASTHO Insular Affairs Committee, and Director on the ASTHO Board. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Discover why community health workers are crucial for health equity and require sustained investment in this episode of Public Health Review.

Description (ideally 120-160 characters)

On this episode of Public Health Review, we speak with representatives from public health, public safety, and community harm reduction programs to discuss their perspectives, experiences, and the importance of maintaining strong relationships while also negotiating differing strategies and approaches to overdose prevention.

In this episode, two maternal healthcare veterans share approaches for bringing providers into the process, as well as how state health officials can promote risk appropriate care strategies and address challenges in achieving equitable risk appropriate care.

Experts from the Washington State Department of Health discuss understanding and addressing climate and equity concerns.

In honor of ASTHO’s 80th anniversary, a leadership panel—including CEO Michael Fraser, President Anne Zink, Past President Nirav Shah, and Idaho Commissioner of Health Elke Shaw-Tulloch—discusses the unique role ASTHO plays in the public health landscape.

This episode highlights how the current equity efforts can integrate with established performance management practices.

ASTHO’s Senior Leadership Reserve Corps is helping state health officials and their agencies achieve their goals, like the revitalization of Wisconsin’s Public Health Council.

In this podcast episode, Scott Harris and Mei Kwong explore the current state of telehealth during COVID-19 and how it’s being used as a tool to access care, spotlighting examples from public health.

With Omicron surges pushing jurisdictions to activate protocols for providing healthcare during crisis, it is important to incorporate disability inclusion into these crisis standards of care.