Joining Commissioner McDonald and Executive Deputy Commissioner Morne is Brown University's School for Public Health Dean Dr. Ashish Jha. They discuss Dr. Jah's strategies to "departisanize" public health and reach out to communities that feel disaffected, emphasizing the importance of understanding diverse perspectives in addressing current and future public health challenges.

Hear Dr. Jha's personal story, from his initial aspirations to become a journalist to his transition into medicine and his influential role at the federal level assisting the Biden administration as White House COVID-19 response coordinator and most recently as the Dean of Brown University's School of Public Health.

Dr. Jha shares his innovative approaches to public health education, including his focus on diversifying the student body, not just along racial lines, but also socio-economic and political, and his focus on integrating new voices and perspectives while preparing students for the evolving challenges and media landscape facing the next generation public health workforce.

If you have an idea for topics we should discuss, please let us know: PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov

In this episode, Commissioner Dr. Jim McDonald and Executive Deputy Director Johanne Morne sit down with Dr. Nick Mantis, a Research Scientist and Principal Investigator at the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center, to explore the vital role of microbiology research in improving public health outcomes. Discover how Dr. Mantis and his team's discoveries are paving the way for more effective vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments for a wide range of infectious diseases.

From investigating the immune response to Lyme disease to tackling the rise of drug-resistant fungal infections, this episode delves into the critical work that is shaping the future of public health.

Find out more about the work being done at the Mantis Laboratory: https://www.wadsworth.org/research/laboratories/mantis

If you have an idea for topics we should discuss, please let us know: PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov

Dr. Geeta Sood joins Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald and Executive Deputy Commissioner Johanne Morne to discuss the growing public health concern of Long COVID, highlighting the need for comprehensive care and ongoing research.

They explore the diverse range of symptoms associated with Long COVID, from brain fog to POTS, and the need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to management and care. The conversation also covers the effects of vaccination and antiviral therapies, such as Paxlovid, in helping to reduce the risk of developing Long COVID after a COVID-19 infection.

The Department of Health will also be holding a Commissioner's Medical Grand Rounds on Long COVID on October 13, 2024 at noon - you must register to attend: https://forms.office.com/g/Eus28gsTfk

If you have an idea for topics we should discuss, please let us know: PublicHealthNowPodcast@health.ny.gov