Joshua Sharfstein: Policy and Health

Howie and Harlan are joined by Joshua Sharfstein, a longtime public health official in federal, state, and local government, to discuss the state of the opioid epidemic, lessons from the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and our readiness for a bird flu outbreak. Harlan reports on the summer surge in COVID-19; Howie remembers his mentor Gail Wilensky, a health economist who directed Medicaid and Medicare programs and led many other organizations over a 50-year career.  Links: COVID-19 Update CDC: COVID Data Tracker CDC: COVID-19 Current Wastewater Viral Activity Levels Map "What to Know About COVID FLiRT Variants" Joshua Sharfstein Joshua Sharfstein: The Public Health Crisis Survival Guide: Leadership and Management in Trying Times Joshua Sharfstein: The Opioid Epidemic: What everyone needs to know" "How Can Over-the-Counter Naloxone Prevent Opioid Overdose Deaths?" CDC: H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation"Millions of US Children Experience Range of Long COVID Effects" Joshua Sharfstein: "The Role for Policy in AI-Assisted Medical Diagnosis""External Validation of a Widely Implemented Proprietary Sepsis Prediction Model in Hospitalized Patients" "Epic's overhaul of a flawed algorithm shows why AI oversight is a life-or-death issue" Podcast: "Baltimore cut infant mortality and helped moms thrive, too" Remembering Gail Wilensky "In Remembrance Of Gail Wilensky" "Gail Wilensky, Former CMS Administrator, Dies at 81" "In Memoriam: Gail Wilensky, Renowned Health Economist & NORC Trustee"Gail Wilensky: "The Health Care Quality Improvement Initiative" Learn more about the MBA for Executives program at Yale SOM. Email Howie and Harlan comments or questions.