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On March 10, 2020, ASTHO member and Mississippi state health officer, Thomas Dobbs, MD, MPH, testified before a House subcommittee about the state of the COVID-19 response.

On March 4, 2020, ASTHO member and Illinois state public health officer Ngozi Ezike, MD, testified about the COVID-19 pandemic response before a House committee.

On Jan. 14, 2020, ASTHO members from Rhode Island and Massachusetts testified before a House subcommittee on state efforts to address the opioid epidemic.

Connecticut Health Official Renée Coleman-Mitchell Testifies on Vaping Illnesses ARLINGTON, VA—Renée Coleman-Mitchell, MPH, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, testified today on the threats of e-cigarette use before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. The hearing, “E-cigarettes: An Emerging Threat to Public Health,” featured two panels that conveyed the magnitude of the current vaping-related lung disease epidemic from e-cigarette use. “Vaping of nicotine and marijuana related products has continued to rise in Connecticut and nationally – especially among young people,” says Coleman-Mitchell. “Vaping is now super easy and convenient and doesn’t smell like cigarettes. This means it’s really easy to hide it from parents. And now, vaping is endangering the lives of our citizens.” “Providing states with the necessary resources for a structure to help us cope with both our lung injury reporting and our youth epidemic is key. We cannot afford to wait another 50 years to combat the vaping epidemic, we need to take action now.” The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is pleased that Congress continues to investigate the national outbreak and learn from state public health officials about the severity tobacco use has on our health. Coleman-Mitchell is the sixth ASTHO member to testify this year on the vaping-related lung disease epidemic. Visit the committee’s website for more information and to read Coleman-Mitchell’s testimony. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

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

ASTHO Member and Delaware Health Official Karyl Rattay Testifies on Nation’s Opioid Epidemic ARLINGTON, VA—Karyl Rattay, MD, MS, director and state health officer at the Delaware Division of Public Health, testified today on the Administration’s response to the drug crisis before the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The hearing, “The Trump Administration’s Response to the Drug Crisis, Part II,” continues the committee’s examination of national drug control efforts by ONDCP, including efforts to expand access to treatment for substance use disorder. “The opioid epidemic continues to evolve, and it remains a deadly and complicated issue. Fentanyl is now driving an alarming increase in deaths. In addition, many states are seeing emerging drug patterns and trends with methamphetamine, cocaine, and benzodiazepines, often in combination with opioids, and continue to face challenges with alcohol misuse and addiction. Addiction is plaguing our country, impacting individuals, families, schools, the workplace, and entire communities. We must address this like a chronic disease and apply evidence-based strategies to prevent addiction. Additionally, we must further expand access to effective treatment and ensure that the systems in place are engaging, comprehensive, coordinated, integrated, high-quality, and person-centered. In this respect, we need to redouble our efforts to meet people where they are in their communities, provide immediate connection to treatment following an overdose, and ensure a warm hand-off no matter the setting. We must also focus on saving more lives with naloxone and preventing the spread of infections with proven approaches like syringe service programs,” says Rattay. “Collectively, states, territories, and local health departments recognize the opioid crisis as a complex issue,” Rattay continued. “Our efforts to combat the issue cannot be accomplished without the support of federal grants. It is very important that Congress provide sustained and predictable federal funding so that states and territories can build infrastructure to combat and prevent addiction. Our work includes not only saving lives but improving the lives of people impacted by the disease of addiction.” For more information about the hearing, visit the committee’s website. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Supporting Governmental Public Health Should be a Congressional Priority Says Dr. Nathaniel Smith at Today’s House Appropriations Hearing ARLINGTON, VA—Nathaniel Smith, MD, MPH, director and state health officer for the Arkansas Department of Health and president-elect of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), testified today before the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies to discuss the importance of Congress providing enhanced resources for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Health Resources and Services Administration, and other federal agencies to improve our nation’s health. “Governmental public health agencies work everywhere, every day to protect and improve the health of the entire U.S. population. Our work is often invisible and sometimes it is only in a crisis when the value and importance of sustained investment in public health becomes apparent. These crises unfortunately happen all too often – the current measles and hepatitis A outbreaks, the obesity and opioid epidemics, and many others, highlight the important work of disease prevention and health protection at the core of public health’s mission,” says Smith. “ASTHO urges Congress to sustain and increase funding for federal public health agencies so that state, local, tribal and territorial health departments can continue and enhance their work to prevent drug overdoses, save lives through chronic disease prevention, prepare for and respond to disasters and public health emergencies, combat infectious disease, and prevent and remediate environmental health hazards.” For more information about the hearing visit the committee’s website. To read Dr. Smith’s full written testimony, visit ASTHO’s website. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Current Measles Outbreaks Should Alarm Every American and Highlight the Critical Importance of Vaccination Programs ARLINGTON, VA—John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH, secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health and immediate past president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on the growing number of infectious disease outbreaks impacting the country. The hearing, “Vaccines Save Lives: What Is Driving Preventable Disease Outbreaks?” provided members of Congress the opportunity to discuss the current measles outbreaks affecting several states, along with children’s health and vaccinations and significant gaps in public health funding for programs to address preventable outbreaks. “Every American should be alarmed by the current measles outbreaks occurring in many states. Measles is an entirely preventable disease and we must redouble our efforts as a nation to spread the truth that vaccines save lives and address parental concerns about vaccinating their children,” says Wiesman. “No one should live in fear of contracting this disease and it is part of my mission as a public health official to protect the lives of American people. I am deeply grateful to the Senate HELP Committee for bringing broader awareness to the importance of vaccinations and better understanding the current gaps that exist in the public health system. Addressing these outbreaks will require a strong and coordinated response from federal, state, and local governments.” Wiesman recently authored an op-ed citing concerns about the nation’s public health system, which has suffered as a result of chronic underfunding as the population continues to grow. We are constantly reacting to crises rather than working to prevent them, Wiesman says. ASTHO and 80 other organizations are requesting Congress to raise CDC’s budget 22 percent by 2022 to address growing public health threats, including support for state and territorial vaccination programs, in order to protect our nation’s health system. For more information and to read Wiesman’s testimony, visit the committee’s website. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Recognizes State, Territorial, and National Leaders in Public Health ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) presented several awards during its 2018 Annual Meeting this week to commend public health leaders for their service and dedication to improving our nation’s health. “On behalf of ASTHO, I am pleased to recognize this distinguished group of public health professionals who continuously strive to promote health and well-being in communities across the country,” says Karen McKeown, state health officer at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and ASTHO past president and chair of ASTHO’s Nominations, Awards, and Membership Committee. “We admire their commitment to raising the bar and ensuring that state and territorial health agencies play an active role in creating the conditions that allow us all to be healthy. We are grateful for the work of these dedicated individuals and for their contributions to the field of public health.” The 2018 ASTHO awardees include: Anne Schuchat, MD, Principal Deputy Director, CDC Ed Thompson Lifetime Achievement Medal Schuchat has been CDC’s principal deputy director since September 2015 and has played key roles in CDC emergency responses including the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the 2003 SARS outbreak in Beijing, and the 2001 bioterrorist anthrax response. Upon completing 30 years of service in 2018, Schuchat retired from the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service at the rank of Rear Admiral. Karyl Rattay, MD, MS, Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health Arthur T. McCormack Award Rattay leads over 600 employees as state health officer and director of the Delaware Division of Public Health. As a board-certified pediatrician, Rattay has practiced pediatrics for nearly 14 years. Between 2001-2004, she served as a senior public health advisor to the U.S. Surgeon General and HHS Assistant Secretary of Health. Joan Duwve, MD, MPH, Associate Dean for Practice, Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health Noble J. Swearingen Award Duwve is the Associate Dean for Practice at the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health in Indianapolis and the former chief medical officer at the Indiana State Department of Health. Duwve was a private practice family physician for 11 years. Prior to medical school, she served in the Peace Corps and worked in international public health in North Africa and the Middle East. Grant Baldwin, PhD, MPH, Director, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, CDC Injury Center National Excellence in Public Health Co-Award Baldwin began his career at CDC in September 1996. In his nearly 10 years of leadership at the Injury Center, he has helped raise the profile of motor vehicle injury prevention and scaled up CDC’s response to the prescription drug overdose epidemic. He has also advanced the work in older adult fall prevention and CDC’s efforts in the prevention of traumatic brain injury. Patricia Mitchell, MPH, Deputy Director, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, CDC Injury Center National Excellence in Public Health Co-Award Mitchell joined CDC’s Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention as deputy director in March 2014. After over 20 years in the agency’s diabetes division, Mitchell quickly got up to speed on pressing and high priority unintentional injury prevention topics, including opioid overdose, traumatic brain injury, transportation safety, and older adult falls. Jennifer Clarke, MD, MPH, FACP, Medical Programs Director, Rhode Island Department of Corrections State Excellence in Public Health Award Clarke led a treatment program for opioid addiction launched by the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, which was associated with a significant drop in post-incarceration drug overdose deaths and, ultimately, resulted in an overall drop in overdose deaths statewide. The first-of-its-kind program screens all Rhode Island inmates for opioid use disorder and provides addiction treatment medications for those in need. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) 2018 Legislative Champion Award Blunt was elected to the United States Senate in 2010. He serves on the Appropriations Committee; the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; the Select Committee on Intelligence; and the Senate Rules Committee. Before serving in Congress, he was a history teacher, a county official, and in 1984 became the first Republican elected as Missouri’s Secretary of State in more than 50 years. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) 2018 Legislative Champion Award Serving as a member of Senate Democratic leadership since 2007, Patty has established herself as a tireless and effective leader on education, transportation, budget issues, port security, healthcare, women, and veterans’ issues. She is currently Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Terry Dwelle, MD, FAAP ASTHO Alumni Award Dwelle served as the state health officer for the North Dakota Department of Health from 2001-2016. He was previously the clinical director for the Indian Health Service clinic at Fort Totten, an assistant professor of pediatrics, an infectious disease consultant, and a medical missionary to Central and East Africa. Dwelle is the founder and director of the North Dakota Public Health Training Network and serves as the alumni society representative on the ASTHO Board of Directors. de Beaumont Foundation ASTHO Partner Award The de Beaumont Foundation’s mission is to strengthen and transform public health in the United States. The foundation improves the effectiveness and capacity of local and state health departments through research, collaboration, and strategic grantmaking. Texas Department of State Health Services Model Policies and Practices Challenge Winner ASTHO, in partnership with the de Beaumont Foundation, recognizes Texas’ health department for its grand rounds program, an organization-wide strategy that encourages thought-provoking conversations around the science of public health. Since its inception in 2008, the program has hosted 132 presentations and engaged nearly 25,000 learners on topics ranging from human trafficking to food access/insecurity and Zika to illegal pain clinics.    San Francisco Department of Public Health Model Policies and Practices Challenge Winner ASTHO, in partnership with the de Beaumont Foundation, recognizes San Francisco’s health department for its trauma informed systems model, designed to create a healing public health system of care that fosters wellness and resilience for everyone in the system. In addition, ASTHO presented its 2018 Vision Awards to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Tennessee Department of Health, and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. <!--Learn more about their award-winning programs here.--> ASTHO congratulates the 2018 award winners for demonstrating excellence in public health leadership and working tirelessly to protect and promote our nation’s health. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Files Amicus Brief in Michigan Case, Argues Against Criminally Charging Health Officials During Major Public Health Crises ARLINGTON, VA—Last week, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) filed an amicus brief with the Genesee District Court in Michigan asserting that criminal prosecutions of health officials based on their professional judgment and decisions will weaken governmental public health’s ability to respond during health emergencies and present additional risks to the public. The court case is the first of its kind where a standing health official has been criminally charged for an alleged failure to notify the public regarding an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease in Genesee County in 2014 and 2015. The outcome of this case is of great interest to ASTHO and its members who are concerned that the threat of criminal sanctions based on a health official’s professional, discretionary decisions will endanger public health. “We are very alarmed by this case, and the fact that a health official can be criminally charged to this extent for doing his job, especially during a public health crisis, is not right,” says John Wiesman, president of ASTHO and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health. “ASTHO’s board has carefully considered the allegations in the case. As public health officials, our decisionmaking does not fit within a one-size-fits-all model, but rather includes a thoughtful approach to limiting widespread panic, translating meaningful communication about public health risks and proper efforts to address the crisis at hand, especially when information is subject to change or incomplete.” “The outcome of this case could have an immediate chilling impact on the entire public health profession and a cascading effect on critical life and death decisions public health officials face every day,” says Michael Fraser, CEO of ASTHO. “The public must trust our public health officials to make the right decision at the right time and the fear of criminal prosecution will stymie their efforts.” The amicus brief also notes that “the basis for responsible public health communication is scientific knowledge and consensus,” and “[p]ractitioners have a responsibility to examine the quality of the available scientific information prior to performing any communication activity.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Member and West Virginia Health Commissioner Rahul Gupta Testifies on Nation’s Opioid Epidemic ARLINGTON, VA—Rahul Gupta, commissioner and state health officer at the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ Bureau for Public Health, testified today on the nation’s opioid epidemic before the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The hearing, “A Sustainable Solution to the Evolving Opioid Crisis: Revitalizing the Office of National Drug Control Policy,” provided members of Congress the opportunity to discuss reauthorizing the Office of National Drug Control Policy to elevate evidence-based initiatives to combat the current opioid crisis.  The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is pleased Congress continues to address the greatest public health threat facing Americans today. The nation’s state and territorial health agencies are on the front lines combating the current substance misuse, addiction, and drug overdose crisis and it is vital that Congress and the Administration support efforts to end the epidemic. “I am grateful for the opportunity to represent West Virginia and discuss the twin challenges of overprescribing opioids for pain and the growing use of heroin, often adulterated with fentanyl. West Virginia continues to experience the highest rate of overdose fatalities in the nation and is also enduring a surge in the rate of neonatal abstinence syndrome,” says Gupta. “Collectively, states and territories recognize the opioid crisis as a public health emergency. To develop sustainable solutions to this contemporary challenge we need authentic national leadership, expanded access to evidence-based treatment, and increased focus on primary prevention strategies to avert drug use and misuse before it starts. I will continue to work tirelessly in my state to address those areas, but we rely on a strong partnership with the federal government. To implement these solutions, it is critical that we take a comprehensive, science-driven approach that combines the efforts of federal, state, and local agencies, along with other organizations and industries. The hearing today was a very important first step in that process.”  For more information on the hearing, visit the committee's website. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

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

John Wiesman Named ASTHO President ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) announced the appointment of John Wiesman, secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health, as ASTHO’s new president, effective Sept. 21. “I am thrilled to serve as president of this amazing organization and to help tackle the many public health challenges facing our country,” says Wiesman. “ASTHO is a non-partisan public health powerhouse and I look forward to working with states and territories to further achieve optimal health for all.” Wiesman has served as secretary of health for the Washington State Department of Health since April 2013. During his career, Wiesman has transformed health departments from providing individual clinical services to implementing policies, systems, and environmental changes that make healthy choices easier and less expensive. In Washington state, he is working to create the healthiest next generation, end AIDS, reduce suicide deaths, and identify and fund foundational public health services across the state.  Wiesman is a native of Wisconsin and has worked in four local public health departments in Washington and Connecticut. He started his public health career in Connecticut in 1986 and was in one of the first groups trained to provide HIV counseling and testing. He earned his Doctorate of Public Health in public health executive leadership from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2012. He received a Master of Public Health in chronic disease epidemiology from Yale University in 1987 and his Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Lawrence University in Wisconsin in 1983. “We are extremely honored to have Dr. Wiesman serve as our new president. He has a breadth of experience, he is a wonderful mentor, and he walks the talk,” says Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO. “As a local health department director, he understands the urgent need to address specific community health problems and his statewide perspective as secretary gives him the point of view an ASTHO president needs to inform national policy on behalf of states. I am truly excited to work with and learn from John in the year ahead.” Other ASTHO leaders elected at the meeting include Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, who will serve as president-elect, and Gerd Clabaugh, director at the Iowa Department of Public Health, who will serve as secretary-treasurer.  ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

State and Territorial Health Leaders Commend Selection of Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald for CDC Director ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) commends the Administration for nominating Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald to serve as director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fitzgerald has served as commissioner and state health officer of the Georgia Department of Public Health since 2011, directing the state’s 18 public health districts and 159 county health departments and overseeing various state public health programs. “Brenda comes to the job with experiences as a successful leader in public health and healthcare” says Dr. Jay Butler, ASTHO president and chief medical officer for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. “Her accomplishments in Georgia and her many contributions to ASTHO are a testament to her commitment to promote, protect, and improve the health of all Americans. Her perspectives gained from clinical practice as well as serving as chief of a state public health agency will be crucial to her success as director of our nation’s premiere public health agency.” Fitzgerald currently serves as president-elect of ASTHO, is a board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist, and has practiced medicine for more than three decades. She was in private practice before being tapped by Gov. Nathan Deal in 2010 to be part of his transition team, and then was ultimately selected to lead the Georgia Department of Public Health in 2011. As state health official, Fitzgerald has undertaken many state public health initiatives including launching the “Talk with me Baby” initiative to encourage increased language development among Georgia babies; leading a statewide, multi-faceted childhood obesity initiative, called the Georgia Student Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) Initiative, which took Georgia’s childhood obesity rate from second highest in the nation to 17th in just five years; and coordinating efforts across the state during the Ebola virus disease epidemic and protecting Georgia residents from the Zika virus through a Zika Awareness Campaign. “Dr. Fitzgerald’s first-hand experience working at the frontlines of public health and dealing with real-time health emergencies make her an ideal leader for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” says Dr. Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO. “Her collaborative approach to addressing both infectious disease and chronic health issues will serve the CDC well. We look forward to supporting her in this new role and working with CDC leadership well into the future to protect all Americans from health threats and promote optimal health for all.” Fitzgerald holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Emory University School of Medicine. She completed post-graduate training at the Emory-Grady Hospital in Atlanta and held an assistant clinical professorship at Emory Medical Center. As a Major in the U.S. Air Force, Fitzgerald served at the Wurtsmith Air Force Strategic Air Command Base in Michigan and at the Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

State and Territorial Health Leaders Commend Nomination of Dr. Jerome Adams for U.S. Surgeon General ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) commends the Administration for nominating Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Jerome Adams to the position of U.S. Surgeon General. Adams has served as commissioner of the Indiana State Department of Health since 2014, where he oversees the public health protection and laboratory services, health and human services, healthcare quality and regulatory, and tobacco prevention and cessation commissions. “The Administration has nominated a true public health leader to serve as U.S. Surgeon General,” says Dr. Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO. “Dr. Adams understands the healthcare landscape, has first-hand experience dealing with serious public health issues, and will be a strong advocate for state public health, bringing a unique and valuable set of skills to the nation’s healthcare system. His knowledge of public health challenges and opportunities as Indiana State Health Commissioner will serve our nation well in the months and years ahead.” As a member of ASTHO, Adams has worked nationwide to address public health issues, including the challenges presented by the current opioid crisis. His clinical acumen combined with strong clinical and community-based experience make him a uniquely qualified candidate for the nation’s top physician. “Our nation needs a strong, experienced, and articulate public health champion, and Jerome is the right person at the right time to serve as our Surgeon General,” says Dr. Jay Butler, ASTHO president and chief medical officer for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. “This nomination recognizes his state and national leadership experience, his broad perspective, and his clinical expertise—he brings all this to the very important job of Surgeon General.” Adams earned a B.S. in biochemistry and a B.A. in biopsychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He has been a researcher at medical schools in both the Netherlands and Zimbabwe and has worked under Nobel Prize winner Dr. Tom Cech. He earned his Medical Doctorate at the Indiana University School of Medicine, and his Masters of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley.  He has been an active member of ASTHO, including representing ASTHO at the American Medical Society House of Delegates and participating in national initiatives to address significant public health challenges. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Harris plans to focus presidency on building public trust in our work and advancing collaboration between state and territorial public health agencies

Readout of CDC/ASTHO/CSTE/APHL Call Regarding Avian Influenza Preparedness ARLINGTON, VA—On Friday, Nirav D. Shah, CDC’s Principal Deputy Director, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, and Dr. Vivien Dugan, Director of CDC’s Influenza Division, met with members of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) to discuss avian influenza planning. CDC officials emphasized that, although the risk to the public remains low, the agency wants state public health officials to be prepared to respond. CDC recommended that state public health officials engage with their state veterinarians and agriculture department officials to ensure that they have up-to-date operational plans to respond to avian influenza at the state level. For example, CDC emphasized the importance of having plans in place to quickly test and provide treatment to potentially impacted farm workers following positive results among cattle herds. CDC also encouraged state health officials to communicate about any challenges they are facing. ASTHO, CSTE, and APHL members support CDC’s recommendations and look forward to continuing their partnership with their state agriculture counterparts, as well as CDC and other federal agencies, as part of their preparedness efforts. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

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

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

ASTHO Members Convene to Share Perspectives on Rural Health Transformation Program ARLINGTON, VA — On September 4, ASTHO members and leadership convened for a panel discussion on the Rural Health Transformation Program. The panel focused on the $50 billion investment in rural health care as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. "Our vision for the rural health fund is to address issues we heard about from many rural health care providers and their community members. This includes maternal health, access to behavioral health services, emergency medical services, transportation, and workforce," said ASTHO Past-President and Secretary of Health for the Pennsylvania Department of Health Debra Bogen, MD. "It is essential that we strengthen the primary care workforce in rural parts of our state. Understaffed primary care results in overuse of emergency departments and missed opportunities for prevention. Working with many partners, we want this funding to be foundational for innovation in rural Pennsylvania." "The majority of Mississippians live in rural areas, so this grant is a big deal for us," said ASTHO member and State Health Officer for the Mississippi State Department of Public Health Daniel Edney, MD. "Some of the issues we are focused on include a statewide health information exchange, distribution of hospital beds, chronic diseases, investing in remote patient monitoring, leveraging telehealth, and emergency medical services. In terms of outcomes, we need to see the life expectancy of Mississippians go up. If all Mississippians benefit from this grant, poverty will go down and our whole ship will rise higher." In addition to Drs. Bogen and Edney, leaders from the National Rural Health Association, National Association of Medicaid Directors, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services participated.  Learn more from a recent ASTHO blog: Understanding and Applying for the Rural Health Transformation Program. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes