In honor of Black History Month, The Health Advocates welcome Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association (APHA). Dr. Benjamin shares his journey from emergency medicine to public health leadership, offering insights on health equity, community-based advocacy, and the ongoing challenges in public health. He discusses critical topics such as health care access and the importance of listening to communities to drive meaningful change.

Tune in for an insightful conversation about advancing public health for all.

Among the highlights in this episode:

02:08: Dr. Benjamin shares how his initial interest in molecular genetic research shifted toward emergency medicine and public health leadership

03:49: Dr. Benjamin discusses key challenges he has faced, from the HIV/AIDS epidemic to natural disasters and bioterrorism events

05:52: Dr. Benjamin highlights APHA’s focus on health insurance access, food insecurity, climate change, gun violence, reproductive rights, and vaccine advocacy

06:37: Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF, brings up the challenge of proving public health successes, noting that prevention often goes unnoticed

07:21: Dr. Benjamin explains how public health efforts prevent crises, using measles and vaccine hesitancy as examples

08:39: Zoe asks about the role of partnerships in public health, and Dr. Benjamin emphasizes collaboration as a key strategy

09:50: Dr. Benjamin shares personal experiences and the importance of diverse voices in decision-making

13:02: Zoe asks how public health programs should be evaluated, and Dr. Benjamin explains the importance of listening to communities before implementing solutions

14:45: Dr. Benjamin provides an example of how addressing social determinants of health, like safe neighborhoods, can make healthier choices more accessible

15:27: Dr. Benjamin shares his key takeaway: public health professionals must listen more than they talk

15:49 – Zoe and Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, reflect on Dr. Benjamin’s insights, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in public health

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF: zrothblatt@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this timely episode, The Health Advocates break down the recent Senate hearings for HHS nominee Robert Kennedy Jr.. They discuss the critical role of the HHS Secretary in shaping public health policy and managing key agencies like the FDA and CDC. The hearings exposed Kennedy’s controversial views on vaccines, concerns over scientific integrity, and notable missteps in understanding health policies.

Tune in to hear what this means for patients and what happens next in the confirmation process.

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF: zrothblatt@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, our hosts break down the executive actions taken during the early days of President Trump's second administration. They discuss the wave of executive orders impacting health care, including changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), prescription drug pricing, and federal health agency communications. Our hosts also explore what these changes mean for patients and what to expect in the coming months.

Among the highlights in this episode:

00:49: Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, notes that 23 executive orders have been signed so far, with a significant number impacting health care policy

01:27: Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF, explains the difference between executive orders, general statements, and legislation, clarifying what executive orders can and cannot do in shaping policy

02:08: Steven defines executive orders, explaining that they carry the force of law but cannot override congressional legislation or violate the Constitution

03:54: Zoe discusses the rescinding of a Biden-era executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug costs, highlighting the uncertainty about future drug pricing policies

05:10: Zoe reassures that key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), such as the $35 insulin cap and Medicare drug price negotiations, remain in effect

06:20: Steven explains how Trump’s reversal of Biden-era Affordable Care Act (ACA)-related executive orders removes provisions that expanded eligibility, particularly for families

07:09: Zoe highlights that expanded ACA enrollment under Biden led to 24 million sign-ups, and that reversing these policies could impact future enrollment

08:38: Steven discusses the administration’s directive to pause external communications from federal health agencies, including the CDC, FDA, and NIH

09:06: Zoe explains that such pauses aren’t unprecedented during government transitions

10:21: Steven questions the rationale behind pausing all health-related communications rather than maintaining continuity while reassessing policies

11:47: Steven addresses the removal of federal guidance on diversity in clinical trials, which could impact efforts to ensure equitable research representation

12:41: Zoe highlights how removing diversity-focused resources could discourage participation from historically marginalized groups in medical research

13:18: Steven explains the importance of diversity in clinical trials beyond symbolism, emphasizing its role in ensuring effective treatments for all populations

14:04: Zoe notes that additional resources, such as Spanish-language content and LGBTQ+ health materials, have also been removed from federal websites

14:27: Steven signals that there are more major health care policy changes ahead, including the U.S. withdrawing from the World Health Organization

15:11: Zoe encourages listeners to get involved in advocacy efforts through GHLF’s 50-State Network

Join GHLF’s 50 State Network, share your story, and get involved in advocacy to make a difference, email us at advocacy@ghlf.org

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF: zrothblatt@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.