New York State Department of Health Promotes Season Two of New York Public Health Now Podcast

Listen to the New Season and Catch Up on Season One here

ALBANY, N.Y. (February 27, 2024) - The New York State Department of Health announces the start of the second season of the New York Public Health Now podcast. The podcast examines the critical issues, innovations, and initiatives that shape the health and well-being of New Yorkers. Episode three of season two, "The Promotion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Public Health and at DOH," is dropping today.

"I am delighted to join my Department colleagues and outside experts on our new season of the New York Public Health Now podcast as we provide information on a host of public health topics," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "I hope you'll give it a listen, perhaps during your daily commute, while you are preparing a meal, or while you relax after the end of a long day—you will likely learn something new, and it may even put a smile on your face."

The series, hosted by Dr. McDonald and Executive Deputy Commissioner Johanne Morne, kicked off season two by welcoming Commissioner Kerri Neifeld of the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities for a discussion about priorities and initiatives for 2024.

Episode 3 features Dr. Cord Stone, Director of the Department's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, discussing Black History Month, with a look at health disparities through a lens of systemic racism. In Episode 2, Amir Bassiri, the Department's Medicaid Director, explains how the Medicaid 1115 Waiver will specifically address social determinates of health by expanding coverage to include services like nutritional assistance, transitional housing support, and care coordination.

Episodes from the first season include:

  • COVID testing, vaccines, and variants with Wadsworth Center Virologist Dr. Kirsten St. George.
  • Wadsworth Center's in-house coronavirus expert, Dr. Paul Masters, discusses why New York State was uniquely positioned to lead the nation in clinical COVID specimen and antibody testing during the critical first few weeks and months of the pandemic.
  • What you need to know about RSV with Dr. Emily Lutterloh.
  • World AIDS Day and the Ending the Epidemic (ETE) Summit with Joe Kerwin and Stephanie McHugh from the Department's AIDS Institute.
  • A discussion about the State's historic investment in hospital cyber security with NYS Chief Cyber Officer Colin Ahern, Drew Hatchett, the Department's Chief Health Information Officer, and Matt Wiley, Manager of Emergency Preparedness and Response.
  • All things flu with Department infectious disease expert Bryon Backenson.
  • A look at the stellar career of Dr. John Morley, who retired after 18 years with the Department.

All recordings are available on the DOH website here, where they can also be downloaded by clicking on the up arrow in the lower right corner of each episode.

The podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and many other listening platforms.

Future topics include a look at Long COVID, and April's solar eclipse.