American Journal of Public Health Podcast

Submissions to AJPH related to the on-going pandemic reveal the disproportionate risks undergone by essential workers, minorities, incarcerated persons, immigrants, persons with disabilities, homeless persons, and other populations made vulnerable by their social and economic position and/or simply because they are discriminated against. So, are we really together in this pandemic? I explore this claim under four different angles: social, statistical, historical, and occupational. My guests are Chenjerai Kumanyika, Ayman El Mohandes, Amy Hillier, and Josi Kalipeni.

In this podcast, I review with Mitch Zeller (US FDA) what is the rationale underlying the guidance emitted by the FDA about vaping products. I then discuss with Dr. Rebekah Gee, (formerly Louisiana Health Department,) her concerns about the severity of the youth epidemic of vaping and finally with Tom Miller, (Attorney General of Iowa) I review how he can reconcile having been a prominent anti-tobacco actor in the litigation that led to the tobacco industry settlement of 1999 and now, 21 years later, defend the right of the industry which produces electronic cigarettes such as JUUL to sell their products.

Regional Editor of AJPH, Professor Stella Yu, reviews some articles recently published in the January and February issues of AJPH. This podcast focuses on two timely editorials on Covid-19, including an editorial from the ASTHO and one from RAND. The guest presentation features Professor Jennifer Bouey discussing the ‘Strengthening China’s Public Health Response System: From SARS to COVID-19’ editorial.

The May AJPH features occupational health and safety, an issue that is both timely and topical in the middle of the dreadful pandemic that is affecting the planet, but in particular workers, whose mission is to keep the economy and public health functioning. My guests are David Michaels (Former OSHA Assistant-Secretary), Peg Seminario (AFL-CIO) and John Howard (NIOSH DIrector). Their message is: Congress needs to quickly require OSHA to pass an infectious disease standard to protect health care and other workers exposed to Covid-19. A draft of the standard exists.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the launching of National Public Health Week (#NPHW)in 1995. Before NPHW there has been a 35 year-long National Negro Health Week (#NNHW), from 1915 to 1950. What was #NNHW? What did it achieve? Is there any link between #NNHW and #NPHW? I explore these questions with 3 guests: Pr Vanessa Gamble, from George Washington University, Prof Paul Braff, from Temple University and Dr Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of the APHA.

This podcast is about a supplement of the AJPH published in January 2020 and dedicated to the public health dimensions of mass incarceration. The supplement covers many intersections of mass incarceration and public health. In this podcast I focus on a rarely discussed and studied consequence of incarceration: its effect on the relatives of people with a history of incarceration. My interviewees are Lauren Brinkley and David Cloud, Guest Editors of the supplement. Lisa Bowleg, who was AJPH associate editor in charge of the supplement, and Martin Lajous, PI of a Mexican study about the health of the relatives of incarcerated people.

Regional Editor of AJPH, Professor Stella Yu, reviews some articles recently published in the November and December issues of AJPH, including: Shift work and mental health; and the series of articles focusing on the Supplemental Nutrition Program Assistance Program. The guest presentation features Professor Jun Zhang discussing the Preterm Birth in China article.

Is a revolution taking place in Sex Ed? The podcast focuses on one original experience that takes places in Boston which consists of developing a course for teenagers which uses pornography as a lead to prevent teen dating violence, promote healthy relationships and consent, and encourage critical thinking and healthy communication. My interviewees are Emily Rothman, Professor at the Boston University School of Public Health; Jess Alder, Director of Start Strong (Boston Public Health Commission), and, collectively, several peer leaders of the course.

A set of commissioned papers in the January issue discusses the public health initiative entitled "Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America." Here I interview Admiral Brett Giroir, the Assistant Secretary of Health, leader of the Plan, and ask questions regarding stakeholders, hard-to-reach populations, stigma against LGBTQ people and people who inject drugs, the obstacles of low insurance coverage and lack of Medicaid expansion.

This month, we review the history, politics, and public health implications of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, abbreviated as SNAP and formerly known as the food stamp program. With Joanna Simmons, who used food stamps herself, we see how the system works and whether it is useful. Then with Prof. Marion Nestle, we will review the history of SNAP, what he program has achieved, and whether it can be improved.