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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

Alabama shares six ways a cross-cutting approach successfully impacted its PHIG workplan implementation.

ASTHO President Steven Stack, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, shares a message of gratitude to all of the hardworking public health professionals that help keep the nation healthy and well.

As in any sector, there is often talk in the public health field of “working upstream,” or addressing problems at their source. If public health is going to be a changemaker in the world, its leaders must be equal parts nimble and innovative.

An interview with ASTHO President Anne Zink (SHO-AK) about strengthening state and federal connections for public health.

The Louisiana Department of Health HAI/AR program highlights the current landscape of HAI/AR programs, the benefits of having leadership dedicated to the HAI/AR program mission and priorities, and the need for alignment of HAI/AR program communications and structure with state and territorial health agencies.

After years of advocacy, ASTHO and our partners are celebrating the recently signed Consolidated Appropriations Act.

ASTHO interviews Anne Zink, MD, as she steps into her role as the association's 80th president.

Accurate and timely communication from health officials during a public health emergency is critical to ensure people can reduce their risk of illness or death. Karen Smith (alumni-CA) talks about her experiences communicating policy changes, as well as key strategies for maintaining public trust.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of having in-house skills to respond to worldwide public health emergencies. Because of this, the American College of Preventive Medicine recommends that health departments consider bringing a board-certified preventive medicine physician on staff or to have one available to assist with preparedness and population health interventions.

ASTHO’s Leadership Trailblazers series shares outstanding public health leaders’ inspirations, motivations, and accomplishments. This post features Joneigh S. Khaldun (alumni–MI), Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer at CVS.

This interview is part of ASTHO’s Leadership Trailblazers series, which shares outstanding public health leaders’ inspirations, motivations, and accomplishments. This post features Anne Zink, MD, FACEP, chief medical officer of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

This interview is part of ASTHO’s Leadership Trailblazers series, which shares outstanding public health leaders’ inspirations, motivations, and accomplishments. This post features Karyl Thomas Rattay, MD, MS, director of the Delaware Division of Public Health.

Amid so much uncertainty, it might feel naïve to make any claims about what the future holds. But it is in these moments that it becomes more important than ever to have beacons to guide us and give us hope. As we look ahead to 2022, here are four priorities that must steer the public health course in the year to come.

On March 23, 2023, ASTHO President Anne Zink testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

On Dec. 10, 2020, ASTHO president and Pennsylvania secretary of health Rachel Levine, MD, testified about the COVID-19 vaccine before a Senate subcommittee.

On July 16, 2020, ASTHO announced that Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, MD, has been appointed to the position of ASTHO President.

State Health Officials Commend Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address Opioid Epidemic ARLINGTON, VA—Members of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) joined President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump today at the White House for a meeting declaring the nation’s opioid crisis a public health emergency.  “While emergency declarations are normally reserved for natural disasters or infectious disease outbreaks, the President’s announcement recognizes the work that states and territories are already undertaking to address the crisis and will allow for increased collaboration and coordination of regional and federal assets across the country for an even more effective response,” says John Wiesman, ASTHO president and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health. “We hope the public health emergency declaration, combined with future additional federal investments in substance abuse treatment and prevention, will lead to fewer deaths and better health for all Americans.” State and territorial health officials have been at the frontlines of this crisis working to address the many facets of the epidemic. Six states have already declared emergencies in their jurisdictions: Alaska Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Virginia. “While federal leadership has been working hard in partnership with states to address this crisis, many states have taken executive and legislative action to address the epidemic including implementing new laws and regulations around prescribing and providing additional funding for treatment services and evidence-based public health interventions to prevent substance misuse in the first place,” says Michael Fraser, ASTHO’s executive director. “The federal emergency adds to the work that states and territories have been doing in many different ways across the country.” Treating and preventing substance use disorders and addiction is very complex. “Opioid addiction is challenging because many people first become addicted when receiving the medications through the healthcare system. Addiction is not a moral failing on the part of the individual; it is a health condition we must address in healthcare and across all sectors as a society at the national, state, and community levels,” says Jay Butler, ASTHO’s immediate past president and chief medical officer for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. “Addiction is treatable and, more importantly, preventable with appropriate evidence-based interventions. The declaration today will help us respond even more effectively to the loss of life and devastating impact of substance misuse and addiction.” ASTHO, in partnership with the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), recently released a framework on public health responses to the opioid crisis that was developed to assist health officials in combating the epidemic. As federal agencies and Congress look to implement their response to this public health emergency, ASTHO urges national leaders to provide additional resources focusing on both treatment and prevention of addiction. “This is a crisis we ultimately are not going to arrest—or treat—our way out of; instead, we have to prevent our way out of this,” adds Fraser. “Like any public health emergency, addressing this problem calls for important steps to prevent the disease in the first place. We hope that the President and First Lady’s attention to the opioid epidemic will help us focus on both treatment and prevention. That is the work of public health, and states and territories are committed to mustering all resources available to end this epidemic.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes