Joshua Sharfstein

Promo graphic for episode 959 of Public Health On Call podcast, titled The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life

Apprenticeships can be a useful public health intervention.

Maryland State Senator Cory McCray opens up about his own apprenticeship experience and how earn-while-you-learn opportunities can transform young people’s lives.

podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/959-the-appr...

Promo graphic for episode 958 of Public Health On Call podcast, titled The Executive Order on Homelessness

A recent executive order on homelessness focuses on “ending crime and disorder on America’s streets.”

@annymoliva.bsky.social of @naehomelessness.bsky.social discusses what this means for unhoused people and proven strategies for reducing homelessness.

podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/958-the-exec...

Does taking Tylenol during pregnancy cause autism in children?

@bklee.bsky.social and @lizstuart.bsky.social break down the science of causality on Public Health On Call 🎧 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/953-interpre...

Promo graphic for episode 951 of Public Health On Call podcast, titled Dr. Debra Houry on Her Decision to Leave the CDC

Last week, Dr. Debra Houry was testifying before Congress. This week, she’s talking with @drjoshs.bsky.social on Public Health On Call.

Dr. Houry reflects on her time at the CDC, how the agency has changed, and her “heartbreaking” decision to leave.

podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/951-dr-debra...

US Measles Cases Hit 1,514 on Fresh Outbreaks in Utah, Arizona Measles infections in the US have reached 1,514 this year, as outbreaks continue to spread and routine childhood vaccinations fall.

Measles infections in the US have reached 1,514 this year, as outbreaks continue to spread and routine childhood vaccinations fall.

AHIP Statement on Vaccine Coverage AHIP is the national association whose members provide health care coverage, services, and solutions to hundreds of millions of Americans every day. We…

Insurers to maintain vaccine coverage: www.ahip.org/news/press-r...

Child dies from rare measles-related complication, LA County health officials say Health officials reported the death of a Los Angeles County child from a complication of measles infection acquired during infancy.

Death from sub-acute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in a child in Los Angeles
SSPE is a rare sequel of #measles infection that appears years after the initial infection, and is uniformly fatal. So sorry for this family. As things are going on the US, we'll be seeing more of these cases.

Some unofficial advice from a longtime National History Day judge Since the year 2000, I have judged National History Day (NHD) district-level events—mostly in the documentary category—in Washington, DC; New York; and Virginia, and the national finals in College …

As students in grades 6-12 start school, I hope some of them are thinking about their National History Day projects. Here are some suggestions for making a compelling project. 🗃️
historyprofessor.org/miscellaneou...

Just received an advance copy of our new book *Information Sick*—
Coming in October.

As timely as ever.

World Health: The Magazine of the World Health Organization. May 1980. smallpox is dead!

#ThrowbackThursday: In 1980 the 🌍🌎🌏 was declared #smallpox free, thanks to mass vaccination efforts.

Smallpox was an acute contagious disease caused by the variola virus. It was one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity. #VaccinesWork

I am horrified by gunshots at the CDC. It’s time for everyone to support this critical agency and the amazing people who work there.

The Value of Engagement and Transparency in Public Health Policymaking This JAMA Forum discusses the importance of engagement and transparency in public health policy in the context of the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent dismissal of the Advisory Comm...

Is vaccine policy a chance for a do-over for public health organizations stung by accusations of not listening enough during the pandemic?

I think so. My thoughts in @jamahealthforum.com

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Thank you to Demi for such a powerful interview and such impressive advocacy for people with disabilities.

We are so fortunate she will be a doctoral student at @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social this fall.

Health officials confirm two more measles cases in Kent County, Michigan Health officials in Kent County, Michigan, announced on Wednesday that two more measles cases were detected, bringing the total to four in the county.

Health officials in Kent County, Michigan, announced on Wednesday that two more measles cases were detected, bringing the total to four in the county.

Progress under threat: The future of overdose prevention in the United States | Brookings Overdose prevention stands at an important crossroads as the Trump administration and Congress propose and implement policies that endanger recent progress.

New from @brookings.edu -- honored to collaborate with @reginalabelle.bsky.social on a look at current substance use policy issues:
www.brookings.edu/articles/pro...

Trump Isn’t Done Cutting Your Health Care Now it’s low-income kids that Republicans are targeting.

@citizencohn.bsky.social does an amazing job explaining how harmful a policy choice it was that the Trump Administration ended continuous coverage for babies and toddlers.

A truly terrible decision for America's families.

Trump Isn’t Done Cutting Your Health Care www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-isnt...

Who’s Policing Opioid Settlement Spending? A Crowdsourced Database Might Help - KFF Health News Billions in opioid settlement money was meant to be spent on treating and preventing addiction — but what happens if it’s misspent? Some advocates say attorneys general need to pay closer attention. I...

Billions in opioid settlement money was meant to be spent on treating and preventing addiction — but what happens if it’s misspent? Some advocates say attorneys general need to pay closer attention. If they don’t, a new tool might empower the public. kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

FDA publishing the reasons why drugs are not approved is supported by ---86.2%--- of the US population.

Count this as a step forward for FDA -- and it would be even better for FDA to release all of these moving forward in real time.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Public Health On Call: 598 - A Court Decision Reducing Access to Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act A U.S. district court in Texas issued a ruling limiting the scope of the Affordable Care Act’s requirements for coverage of preventive services. On today’s podcast, Joe Palmore, a former assistant to ...

SCOTUS has decided to uphold an Affordable Care Act provision requiring health insurers to cover certain preventive services, such as cancer screenings and PrEP.

@drjoshs.bsky.social‬ spoke with @mofollp.bsky.social’s Joe Palmore about this case in 2023👇 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/598-a-court-...

Chronic Absenteeism Is a Vital Sign for Kids’ Health. New Framework Seeks a Cure Sharfstein & Choucair: Health & education professionals can boost attendance with community-driven approach focused on data, partnerships, prevention.

How can a public health approach improve school attendance?

Some thoughts with Bechara Choucair of @kaiser-permanente.bsky.social

www.the74million.org/article/chro...

Medicaid cuts: What’s at stake | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Harvard Chan School's Benjamin Sommers and Adrianna McIntyre discuss how proposed cuts to Medicaid could impact tens of millions of low-income adults and families, people with disabilities, pregnant p...

Harvard Chan School's Benjamin Sommers and Adrianna McIntyre discuss how proposed cuts to Medicaid could impact tens of millions of low-income adults and families, people with disabilities, pregnant people, and seniors.

The Biggest Rollback in Federal Support for Health Care Ever Republicans are not talking about repealing and replacing the ACA anymore, and the budget reconciliation bill doesn't do that, at least not directly. However, the bill would restrict health insurance ...

I did the arithmetic. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act would cut federal spending for Medicaid and the ACA by just over $1 trillion over a decade.
www.kff.org/quick-take/t...

Cassidy, Van Hollen Introduce Life-Saving Hepatitis C Legislation | U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced life-saving legislation to cure low-income and hard-to-reach Americans with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Cassidy...

New today: Senator Bill Cassidy + Senator Chris Van Hollen introduce legislation to cure >1 million Americans with hepatitis C & save taxpayers *billions* -- according to the Congressional Budget Office (!).

Lives + money + bipartisan = can we do this?

www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...

Deep cuts erode the foundations of US public health system, end progress, threaten worse to come Americans are losing an array of people and programs dedicated to keeping them healthy.

Cutting public health makes us all worse off.

Terrific reporting by @lauraungar.bsky.social @mrsmithap.bsky.social of the Associated Press on the consequences of massive federal changes and cuts.

apnews.com/article/publ...

Secretary Kennedy's announcement that COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women could reduce vaccine access for millions of Americans.

IDSA urges insurers to maintain coverage for COVID-19 vaccines: bit.ly/4jjmwPV

ACOG is deeply disappointed by HHS’s move to drop COVID-19 vaccine recommendations in pregnancy. The science is clear: COVID-19 remains dangerous in pregnancy and vaccination protects both patients and newborns. The vaccine is safe and protects families. Read our full statement: buff.ly/OGue7sO

The recent MAHA Commission called kids in America "the sickest generation in American history in terms of chronic disease"

It failed to mention the HUGE progress we have made in childhood mortality over the past 50 years

Deaths for every age group of kids down 50-75%

Here's CDC's Data

Public Health On Call: 899 - Pediatric COVID Vaccines About this episode: The approval of pediatric COVID vaccines during the height of the pandemic brought reassurance to many parents and pediatricians who were caring for children with severe infections...

Should parents vaccinate their children against COVID-19?

Dr. Erica Prochaska, who cares for children critically ill from Covid or its aftermath, has a view.

Hear her thoughts @publichealthpod.bsky.social

johnshopkinssph.libsyn.com/899-pediatri...

Public Health On Call: 894 - Is There an Autism Epidemic? About this episode: Diagnoses of autism are on the rise, but is this the result of more children being affected by the condition, or is more of a consequence of broader criteria and more screening? In...

Is there an epidemic of autism?

I spoke to one of the top researchers studying the diagnosis of autism, on the @publichealthpod.bsky.social

johnshopkinssph.libsyn.com/894-is-there...

Public Health On Call: 898 - The Measles Response in Lubbock, Texas About this episode: A look inside the ongoing public health response to measles outbreaks in Lubbock, a city in West Texas. Guest: is the director of in West Texas. Host: is vice dean for public he...

What's it like when measles shows up in your city ... and you run the health department?

My interview with Katherine Wells of Lubbock Public Health, on the @publichealthpod.bsky.social

johnshopkinssph.libsyn.com/898-the-meas...