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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.

Panel of State Public Health Officials Testify on Lung Disease Outbreak WASHINGTON—Today, four state health officials are testifying on a panel before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations about the public health impacts of youth e-cigarette use and the current lung disease outbreak. The panel includes: Joneigh Khaldun, chief deputy director for health and chief medical executive, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Elizabeth Tilson, state health director and chief medical officer, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Lee Norman, secretary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment Monica Bharel, commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health The hearing, “Sounding the Alarm: The Public Health Threats of E-Cigarettes,” will provide members of Congress the opportunity to examine causes of the ongoing vaporizer-linked lung disease outbreak. “State and territorial public health agencies are taking a leading role in implementing strong action to protect consumers from the harms of e-cigarette use,” says Michael Fraser, CEO of ASTHO. “We are pleased that Congress highlighted their critical work today. We strongly urge Congress and the administration to take steps to strengthen oversight of e-cigarettes, increase investments in research and prevention, and to better understand health effects associated with their use, and provide increased funding for tobacco education and cessation programs.” For more information and to read the state health officials’ testimony, visit the committee’s website. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

On Jan. 30, 2023, ASTHO released a statement commending the FDA on a new proposal to conduct individual risk assessments for blood donors, a policy that reflects the best available science while not promoting stigma and discrimination against historically excluded groups.