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In 2021 ASTHO has been recognized for its efforts advocating for and supporting state and territorial public health leaders via four separate awards by the Alliance for Health Policy, the Center for Association Leadership, the American Association of Medical Society Executives, and the American Advertising Federation.

On Aug. 12, 2021, ASTHO announced that Kimberlee D. Wyche Etheridge, MD, MPH, will serve as the organization’s senior vice president of health initiatives, effective Oct. 4, 2021.

On July 13, 2021, ASTHO issued a statement of support for President Joe Biden’s nomination of Rahul Gupta, MD, MPH, MBA, FACP, to serve as the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

On July 15, 2021, ASTHO CEO, Michael Fraser, PhD, issued a statement support for U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s new advisory "Confronting Misinformation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Building a Healthy Information Environment."

On Sept. 22, 2021, ASTHO announced the launch of Public Health Review Morning Edition, a daily on-demand newscast that covers the latest trends, news, and breakthroughs in public health throughout the states and territories.

On June 1, 2021, ASTHO and Lead For America announced the creation of Public Health Equity Corps, a new program for young leaders to help bolster our nation’s public health infrastructure and build healthy and resilient communities.

On May 19, 2021, ASTHO and Wanderly announced the launch of StaffUP, a new program for rapid, on-demand recruiting for governmental public health agencies.

On Nov. 22, 2021, ASTHO President Nirav Shah, MD was an invited speaker at a Public Health Community Appreciation Town Hall, organized by the White House. He gave brief remarks of appreciation for the entire public health workforce.

On Feb. 10, 2021 ASTHO and NACCHO announced the selection of 42 community multi-sector partnerships/coalitions across the country to receive over $2 million as a part of the Improving Social Determinants of Health–Getting Further Faster pilot project.

On March 18, 2021, ASTHO announced the election of its new president, Nirav D. Shah, MD, JD, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Anne Zink, MD, chief medical officer for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, will serve as president-elect.

On March 31, 2021, ASTHO hosted its inaugural TechXpo, the first national convening of state and territorial health officials with local and federal partners and private technology firms and tech entrepreneurs focusing specifically on the use of technology to support the COVID-19 response.

On April 6, 2021, ASTHO released a Board-approved policy statement addressing structural racism as a necessary component in achieving optimal health for all.

On Jan. 15, 2021, ASTHO released a statement of support for President-Elect Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan, noting that the organization is looking forward to working collaboratively with the new administration to achieve the public health goals set forth in the plan.

ASTHO Awards Public Health Leaders and Agencies for Service BETHESDA, MD—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) presented several awards during its 2019 Annual Meeting and Policy Summit this week to commend public health leaders and agencies for their service and dedication to improving our nation’s health. “We’re pleased to recognize this distinguished group of health professionals and agencies,” says Elke Shaw-Tulloch, state health officer at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, past ASTHO president, and chair of ASTHO's Nominations, Awards, and Membership Committee. “The excellence we highlight today touches millions of lives and represents just a small sample of our nation’s dedicated public health professionals, who continuously strive to promote the public’s health and well-being.” The 2019 ASTHO awardees include: John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH, Secretary of Health, Washington State Department of Health Arthur T. McCormack Award Dr. Wiesman has served as Washington state’s health official since 2013 and currently co-chairs the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. Under his leadership, the Washington State Department of Health is spearheading the End AIDS Washington program, developing the Healthiest Next Generation initiative, identifying and funding foundational public health services, implementing the governor’s executive order to reduce suicide and prevent firearm injuries and deaths, and addressing the public health impacts of climate change. Stephanie C. Williams, RNP, MPH, Senior Deputy, Arkansas Department of Health Noble J. Swearingen Award As deputy director for public health programs at the Arkansas Department of Health, Ms. Williams oversees and guides the work of the agency’s four operational centers: Health Advancement, Health Protection, Local Public Health and Public Health Practice. She also oversees the state public health laboratory and the state offices of Health Communication and Minority Health. Ms. Williams also advises and assists the state health official in setting policy and programmatic direction for the department and serves as state health official in his absence. Janae Price, MPH, Senior Epidemiologist, Illinois Department of Public Health State/Territorial Excellence in Public Health Award Ms. Price served the Illinois Department of Public Health from April 2016 to March 2019 as a member of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She led or co-led more than five nationally-funded statewide projects, ten committees or workgroups, and numerous complex multi-year projects. Price’s contributions led the health agency to strengthen its chronic disease epidemiology capacity by integrating evaluation and performance monitoring for chronic disease programs, developing critical partnerships, improving data collection and reporting quality, and using innovative methods to assess public health needs. Paul K. Halverson, DrPH ASTHO Alumni Award Dr. Halverson served as the state health official for the Arkansas Department of Health from 2005-2013. He oversaw the development of Arkansas’ statewide trauma system, which has become a model for other states, and he greatly enhanced the effectiveness of the Arkansas Public Health Preparedness Program and the Arkansas Public Health Laboratory. As a state health official, Dr. Halverson was a mentor to many new state health officials and a trusted colleague to his peers. After transitioning to his position as founding dean of the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, he has remained active as an ASTHO alumnus, serving as president of the ASTHO Alumni Society. Increasing Immunization Capacity in Texas Emergency Responder Facilities—Texas Department of State Health Services ASTHO Vision Award, First Place, Category A (Programs ≥ $250,000) ASTHO recognizes Texas Department of State Health Services for its work raising immunization rates for Texas emergency responders. Implementation of the New York State Prevention Agenda 2013-2018—New York State Department of Health ASTHO Vision Award, Second Place, Category A (Programs ≥ $250,000) ASTHO recognizes New York State Department of Health’s for its work developing a six-year state health improvement plan, which aims to make New York the healthiest state. Developed in collaboration with the Ad Hoc Committee to Lead the Prevention Agenda and more than 140 statewide organizations, the plan identifies New York’s most urgent health concerns and recommends ways statewide organizations and local health departments, hospitals, and partners from the health, business, education, and nonprofit sectors can work together to address them. Office of Grants Management—Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation ASTHO Vision Award, First Place, Category B (Programs less than $250,000) ASTHO recognizes the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation for establishing the Office of Grants Management to improve coordination of the administration of all of the health agency’s federal programs and external funds. The office was created to oversee the financial and record keeping aspects of the annual grant-making process for the corporation and its divisions for all grants received or awarded. It also collaborates closely with all program managers to streamline and improve grant applications, implementation, administration, compliance, performance, and reporting requirements on all grants. Local and Tribal Public Health System Improvement Program—Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services ASTHO Vision Award, Second Place, Category B (Programs less than $250,000) ASTHO recognizes Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services for its efforts to improve Montana’s local and tribal public health infrastructure. As part of this work, the health agency has strengthened partnerships between the healthcare sector and public health agencies; accelerated the use of the Public Health Accreditation Board’s national standards for public health practice by state, local, and tribal public health agencies; and strengthened local boards of health. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

The ASTHO-Mason Collaborative for Applied Public Health Practice will increase access to public health education and training through student fellowships, innovative curriculum, applied practice and policy research, and academic and continuing education programs for public health students and professionals.

Health Officials Seek to Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences ARLINGTON, VA—At least five of the top 10 leading causes of death are associated with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), according to a new report released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ACEs, such as abuse, neglect, and witnessing violence or substance misuse in the home, can lead to increases in chronic disease, mental health issues, and socioeconomic hardship later in life. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and its members are committed to helping prevent ACEs to improve long-term health, access to life opportunities, and the overall health of Americans. According to CDC’s report, 61 percent of adults have at least one ACE and 16 percent of adults have four or more ACEs. Preventing ACEs before they occur could prevent up to 21 million cases of depression, up to 1.9 million cases of heart disease, and up to 2.5 million cases of obesity. State and territorial health departments can lead prevention efforts, including, improving health equity, and reducing health disparities among children and families, by bolstering protective factors. Focusing on community solutions, reducing stigma, and providing access to preventive services can reduce the risk of future ACEs from occurring and mitigate the impact of ACEs that have already transpired. "Childhood experiences can have a powerful and enduring impact on health and opportunity well into adulthood," says Nate Smith, ASTHO president and secretary of health at the Arkansas Department of Health. "We all know that children are our future. Fortunately, our communities can come together to prevent ACEs. We can provide to families the proper economic and social support to create safe and nurturing environments for society's most vulnerable. Protecting against violence and trauma and fostering secure and supportive relationships is how we build a strong foundation for our children and adults." For more information about ACES, access  ASTHO’s issue brief, Adverse Childhood Experiences: Primary Prevention. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Nation’s Public Health Officials Urge Americans to Stop Vaping ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) issued the following statement in response to the pulmonary illnesses associated with vaping. “We are alarmed by the current outbreak of severe pulmonary illnesses and deaths associated with vaping. This is a public health emergency with serious consequences. Until we know precisely what substances are causing these illnesses, we strongly urge all Americans to stop vaping immediately,” says Nathaniel Smith, MD, MPH, ASTHO president and secretary of health at the Arkansas Department of Health. “E-cigarettes are unsafe and unregulated. The FDA has never approved these devices for tobacco cessation. Given the highly addictive nature of these products, members of the public should discuss with their physicians the various FDA approved methods to assist with nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Some states have already acted by temporarily banning the sale of vaping products or banning the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. “We’re very concerned by the rapidly increasing rates of e-cigarette use by young people. This dramatic increase in youth vaping is being driven by fraudulent marketing practices that target young people with kid-friendly flavors. Federal, state, and local governments should take immediate action to address this epidemic by banning flavors, restricting marketing practices, raising taxes on tobacco products including e-cigarettes, supporting tobacco free air policies, expanding cessation programs, and raising the minimum age for tobacco purchases to 21.” 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 Launches National Campaign to Support Healthy Communities, Aligning with NACCHO and the U.S. Surgeon General ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) announced this week the launch of a multi-year initiative to build healthier and more resilient communities across the country. The challenge, “Building Healthy and Resilient Communities,” will be led by ASTHO’s president and director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, in partnership with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and aligned with the U.S. Surgeon General’s focus on community health and economic prosperity. The challenge calls on state, territorial, local, and tribal health officials to align strategic investments and promote community-driven, place-based solutions to empower communities to be as healthy as possible, reduce health disparities, and stimulate economic development. Examples of such initiatives include Rhode Island’s Health Equity Zones, Purpose Built Communities in Georgia, the Fort Worth Blue Zones Project, and Live Well San Diego. Activities to support the challenge will center on creating opportunities for health officials to mobilize community advocates and partners towards making lasting systems and policy changes that improve living conditions at the community level. Using this platform, ASTHO and its partners, along with NACCHO and the U.S. Surgeon General, will connect public health officials with business leaders, policymakers, and other cross-sector stakeholders to shift investments to promote sustainable, equitable community development. “Health officials have a critical role to play ensuring that everyone in every community has an equal opportunity to be as healthy as they can be, regardless of their zip code,” says Dr. Alexander-Scott. “My vision is for ASTHO, along with NACCHO and the U.S. Surgeon General, to empower all public health leaders to build stronger, more connected communities that have the assets and resources they need to create the conditions for success to be as healthy as possible. By funding and implementing sustainable strategies that are tailor-made for each community, we can amplify the community’s voice and transform public health for generations to come.” “America’s greatest assets are its communities, so we should turn to them more often,” says VADM Jerome Adams, MD, MPH. “We have the best healthcare system in the world, yet life expectancy in the United States is lower than in many other high-income countries. State and local health officials know their communities best and should be inspired to change the community environment to make sure that healthy behaviors are easy behaviors that are available to everyone.” “We’re pleased to lead this challenge with ASTHO and recognize there are great synergies between state and local health officials that will allow us to be successful in equipping and encouraging communities to think more strategically about health at the community level,” says Kevin Sumner, MPH, NACCHO president and health officer for the Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission in New Jersey. View ASTHO’s President’s Challenge for more information. 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