As 2025 wraps up, we're looking back on some of the most important public health topics from the past year, from nutrition to AI to insurance. Go beyond the headlines with these episodes of Public Health On Call that dig into the complex issues that led the news. 🎧 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu

Could a case of norovirus or chicken pox change your life forever? @viraldrmaggie.bsky.social talks about how viruses can hide and linger in the body, prompting immune responses and even chronic illness later on. 🔗 youtu.be/n0M3B2iP5Ug

Cozy up this winter with book recommendations from Public Health On Call 📚 Fourteen authors joined the podcast in 2025 to talk about their public health-related books. Hear episodes with all these authors 👇 open.spotify.com/playlist/5Bo...

Pickleball offers tremendous health benefits, but it can also lead to injuries like calf strains, eye injuries, and fractures. Dr. Eric Bowman joins Public Health On Call to talk about what exactly causes pickleball injuries and how to prevent them. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/989-a-sharp-...

Between 2017 and 2022, sports medicine experts saw a seven-fold increase in pickleball injuries. Orthopedic surgeon Eric Bowman explains what’s driving these injuries, who’s most at risk, and how players can stay healthy. 🎧 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/989-a-sharp-...

Dr. Paul Locke was recently on episode 988 of the @publichealthpod.bsky.social as a guest to discuss new approach methodologies and what regulators can do to take charge of the transition to these innovative methods. Link to the full episode here: publichealth.jhu.edu/headlines/pu...

For decades, animal testing has been used to assess product safety for humans. Today, more ethical and accurate alternatives are poised to improve this process. Lawyer and scientist Paul Locke discusses new technologies replacing lab animals. 🎧 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/988-an-end-t...

Understanding today’s health news can be challenging. The Public Health On Call podcast from @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social is your resource for accessible, evidence-based conversations on the most important topics in public health. Available wherever you get your podcasts 🎙️

Attacking health care facilities and providers is becoming a standard strategy of war. Health and human rights lawyer Leonard Rubenstein discusses these disturbing trends and what it would take to see meaningful progress. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/987-the-dist...

In the 1970s, an unusual number of children in Woburn, MA, fell ill with leukemia. Two experts in disease clusters join Public Health On Call to explain what this case highlights about unusual patterns of cancer. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/985-how-to-i...

We talked about our book “Information Sick” - how the decline of media and the rise of misinformation harm our health- on the Public Health on Call podcast . Asked about where all the misinformation is coming from, the first thing I thought of was that movie- Everything, Everywhere All At Once!

The decline in journalism and explosion of social media are exposing millions to misleading health information. @joannekenen.bsky.social, @lymarimorales.bsky.social, and @drjoshs.bsky.social talk about the diagnosis of "information sick". podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/986-informat...

Cancer clusters—increased incidences of cancer within a certain region—can be challenging to investigate. Two experts in disease clusters explain how cancer clusters should be studied, using a case study from the 1970s. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/985-how-to-i...

Measles is one example of a virus that can linger in the body after an individual recovers from an initial infection. It can then re-emerge years later potentially fatal consequences. @viraldrmaggie.bsky.social explains why and how this happens on Public Health On Call. 🔗 youtu.be/n0M3B2iP5Ug

Viruses like the flu and mononucleosis can hide in our bodies for years and reemerge, wreaking havoc on the immune system. @viraldrmaggie.bsky.social discusses post-acute infection syndrome and what’s needed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. 📺 youtu.be/n0M3B2iP5Ug

Injuries represent the leading cause of death for people ages 1 through 44. The CDC's Injury Center, which spearheads prevention, is losing resources to continue its work. Injury prevention expert Natalie Draisin discusses what's happening to this lifesaving work. 🎧 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu

Whether it’s claims that CBD oil can cure cancer or a very convincing AI video of a dog driving a semi-truck, falsehoods abound in our lives. @matthewfacciani.bsky.social details the psychological biases that make us vulnerable to misinformation. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/983-why-do-w...

That’s a wrap! Thanks for tuning in, learning, and laughing with us this year More dropping soooon

Injury prevention—a field focused on preventing falls, choking, car crashes, and other incidents—saves lives and money. Natalie Draisin, an injury prevention expert, details the lifesaving work at risk with cuts to CDC funding and personnel. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/982-an-uncer...

As Maine's largest ever HIV outbreak rages on, reasons for hope emerge. @aneripattani.bsky.social discusses her reporting on the story for @kffhealthnews.org on Public Health On Call. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/981-maines-l...

For over two years, the city of Bangor, ME, has been in the throes of a serious HIV outbreak. @aneripattani.bsky.social discusses the challenges of tracking transmission and treating those infected, and how harm reduction measures could turn the tide. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/981-maines-l...

An uptick in peanut allergies in children around the turn of the century prompted parents to avoid peanut exposure. But updated research showed that early introduction is both safe and effective at reducing allergies. 🎙️ @drdavidhill.bsky.social 🎧 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/980-why-earl...

I really enjoyed speaking with Stephanie on Public Health On Call. Please help to get the word out that early allergen introduction is safe and effective!

Official recommendations encourage introducing peanuts to children’s diets at around 4 to 6 months old. @drdavidhill.bsky.social explains how early introduction has reduced peanut allergies. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/980-why-earl...

As hesitancy about human vaccines rises, so too does skepticism of routine pet immunizations. Two veterinarians join Public Health On Call to explain what’s behind growing anti-vaccine sentiment among pet owners. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/979-why-are-...

A 1998 article first suggested that vaccines cause autism. The article was retracted, but that theory has persisted. Dan Salmon, director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Vaccine Safety, details the rigorous studies that debunk this claim. 🔗 publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/vaccine...

Robotic telesurgery allows providers to conduct minimally invasive surgeries across long distances, reaching remote communities. Binita Ashar of @socroboticsurg.bsky.social discusses the revolutionary role this technology can play in medicine. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/978-advancin...

Public Health On Call has won two Anthem Awards in the Health category, celebrating mission and purpose-driven work 🎉 🥇The show won gold for Podcasts and Audio 🥈Our special episode “The Fight for A Swimmable Harbor” won silver for Podcasts and Audio 🔗 www.anthemawards.com/winners/list...

Updated research unravels claims about alcohol’s potential health benefits and links drinking at any amount with increased cancer risk. @drjthrul.bsky.social shares how these findings can help people make their own decisions about drinking. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/977-the-heal...

This week on Public Health On Call, @irwinredlener.bsky.social discusses the urgent challenges faced by children living in conflict zones. Hear more 🎧 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/974-caring-f...

A court case in North Carolina is holding skilled nursing facilities accountable to adopt anti-discrimination policies for those with a history of substance use. Sally Friedman of the Legal Action Center explains why it could set a national precedent. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/976-champion...

Between lawsuits, layoffs, and lags in funding, NIH has undergone significant changes in how it reviews and approves grant proposals for critical research. @jeremymberg.bsky.social talks about what’s changed and what’s to come. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/974-a-tumult...

As the conflict in Ukraine nears its fourth year, what help is available for vulnerable children caught in the crossfire? @irwinredlener.bsky.social discusses how he’s operationalizing care for children’s medical, psychological, and educational needs. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/974-caring-f...

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is taking a public health approach to reducing gun violence. So far, the city has seen an unprecedented reduction in the number of homicides and other violent crimes. He discusses this progress on Public Health On Call 🎧 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/973-baltimor...

The expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies is setting higher premiums and pushing coverage out of reach. Gerard Anderson discusses the political battle behind rising insurance costs and ripple effects across the health care system. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/972-inside-r...

Dr. Meghan Curry O’Connell returns to give an update on the syphilis outbreak in the Great Plains region. She explains how a collaborative team has been able to overcome obstacles to reduce the region’s 2,000% increase in transmission. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/971-an-updat...

What to make of the Trump administration's new policy on IVF? This @publichealthpod.bsky.social episode w/ @drjoshs.bsky.social is a great explainer podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

Dr. Alba Azola lays out the research on long COVID, including the new diagnoses she’s seeing in patients after multiple COVID infections and how clinicians are approaching treatment. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/970-what-we-...

IVF has helped millions of parents have children, but high costs and a lack of coverage options push it out of reach for many. @seantipton.bsky.social of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine discusses new policies seeking to expand access. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/969-access-t...

ASRM Chief Advocacy & Policy Officer Sean Tipton joined the JHU @publichealthpod.bsky.social to discuss IVF access and the White House IVF policy announcement. Listen here: publichealth.jhu.edu/headlines/pu...

Public Health On Call has won two Signal Awards 🎉 🥈"The Fight for a Swimmable Harbor in Baltimore" in the Science & Education category for Individual Episodes 🥉Our Vaccines 101 series in the Science & Education category for Limited Series and Specials 🔗 tinyurl.com/yd6mpama 🔗 tinyurl.com/2c2thask

The USDA is ending the Household Food Security Report. Maureen Black, whose career in nutrition spans decades, explains why losing the annual report could set back nutrition efforts as millions of Americans struggle to access healthy food. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/968-an-end-t...

ICYMI: Yolanda Jacobs, president of AFGE Local 2883, addressed the mounting pressures on CDC workers following a year of personnel and funding cuts, escalating violence, and a government shutdown at the @americanhealth.bsky.social Summit. Hear more 🎧 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/966-cdc-is-a...

For our upcoming 1,000th episode, hosts @drjoshs.bsky.social, @sdesmon.bsky.social, and @lindsaysmithrogers.bsky.social are answering YOUR questions on the podcast. 🎙️Email your question as a voice memo to [email protected] by Oct. 31.

Had fun thinking out loud about the Baltimore harbor's huge, maybe historic? pistachio tide with Lindsay Smith Rogers at Johns Hopkins. A year ago, Lindsay did a deep dive into Baltimore's progress toward a swimmable harbor. Things have felt different the last few weeks...

In a new piece for @statnews.com, @lizstuart.bsky.social explores the challenges of studying cause and effect. She recently joined us for a related conversation on causal relationships between Tylenol and autism 👇 🎧 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/953-interpre... ✏️ www.statnews.com/2025/10/23/c...

A year after our episode on the fight to make Baltimore’s harbor safe for swimming, the harbor is recovering from “the ecological equivalent of a heart attack”. @thebaltimorebanner.com’s @adampwillis.bsky.social gives an update on the "pistachio tide". podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/967-an-updat...

After months of personnel cuts, funding terminations, and escalating violence, CDC employees face new hurdles with the government shutdown. Yolanda Jacobs, president of AFGE Local 2883, shares how those of us outside the CDC can offer support. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/966-cdc-is-a...

CDC is the nation's leading public health agency, but it's been a very tough few months for those who work there. An interview with Yolanda Jacobs, AFGE chapter president. johnshopkinssph.libsyn.com/966-cdc-is-a... @publichealthpod.bsky.social

Prescribing medicine to address fever or pain in pregnancy needs to consider both potential benefits and risks. Obstetrician Angie Jelin shares how she discusses Tylenol use with expectant parents in light of recent news from the federal government. podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/965-weighing...