This is a special edition Contagious Conversations podcast in conjunction with Public Health On Call, a podcast from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

This special edition features a discussion between CDC Foundation President and CEO Judy Monroe, MD, and Joshua Sharfstein, MD, vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Sharfstein and Dr. Monroe discuss the importance of state public health and the future of public health in our nation.

For a full episode transcript, visit cdcfoundation.org/conversations.

Key Takeaways:

[1:10] Dr. Monroe provides information about her background.

[2:15] Dr. Monroe was asked by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb to co-chair a commission looking at the public health system in the state of Indiana and making recommendations for future policies.

[4:46] Dr. Monroe discusses how this public health commission is structured in Indiana and what they are tasked with.

[7:00] Dr. Sharfstein asks about the state of the public health workforce in Indiana.

[9:48] Dr. Monroe explains that we need to get to people in ways that they will be receptive to information about public health.

[11:40] Dr. Sharfstein asks Dr. Monroe if anything has surprised her with this public health commission process.

[14:04] How do we assess the challenge of the future of public health in America?

[14:21] Dr. Monroe discusses the Lights, Camera, Action National Summit Series.

[18: 40] One challenge with public health is that it is often invisible.

[19:22] Dr. Monroe asks Dr. Sharfstein about the role of public health schools in this landscape.

[20:12] Dr. Monroe says it is incumbent on all of us to give our best in this moment and to work together.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• CDC Foundation
• Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Contagious Conversations
• Public Health On Call