a moment in health with dr. ashish jha by Brown University School of Public Health

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha explains how 99% of new hepatitis B infections can be prevented with a universal newborn vaccine and critiques the recent ACIP decision to step away from that recommendation. He reviews a new New England Journal of Medicine study showing that one dose of the HPV vaccine is non-inferior to the traditional two-dose schedule, reducing barriers to protection. Dr. Jha is joined by Cate Ryan, Brown Class of 2021 and current Harvard public health student, who reflects on how reporting on science during the pandemic shaped her path in public health and how issues like housing stability continue to drive her work today.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights a striking new statistic: 40% of fully subsidized ACA enrollees had no insurance claims last year — a number far higher than the 15–20% typically seen in employer-based plans. He then reviews a major New England Journal of Medicine trial showing that a modified mRNA influenza vaccine reduced lab-confirmed flu infections by 35% compared to traditional flu shots, producing stronger immune responses with slightly more short-term reactogenicity. Associate Professor of the Practice Dr. Craig Spencer, emergency physician and public health leader, joins to discuss his experience attending the Children's Health Defense conference in Austin — unpacking the movement’s growing cohesion, the small but vocal anti-vaccine contingent, and why many attendees feel unheard by the health system.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights a striking data point: 13.1% of U.S. adolescents and young adults report using AI tools for mental health advice, with 93% saying the guidance was helpful. He reviews a 2022 study from Italy’s Marche region showing that improving ventilation in more than 10,000 classrooms reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission by nearly 80%, underscoring the enormous impact of better indoor air quality on respiratory infections. Georgia Lagoudas, Senior Fellow at the Pandemic Center, joins to explain why indoor air quality standards in the U.S. are outdated, the benefits improving indoor air quality can have and the progress we have made.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights a 24% decline in telehealth visits for Medicare beneficiaries following the October 1 government shutdown, driven by the sudden expiration of Medicare’s authority to pay for telehealth. He reviews a new JAMA randomized controlled trial on caffeinated coffee and atrial fibrillation. Dr. Stephanie Psaki, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Brown School of Public Health, joins to explain why declining fertility rates around the world matter and why supporting people’s family planning choices should be a core public health and policy priority.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights a troubling new data point: premature mortality among Americans ages 18 to 64 rose by 27.2% between 2012 and 2022, driven largely by opioid overdoses, early cardiovascular disease, violence, and the early COVID-19 years. He reviews a new Nature study showing that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines may boost the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy, finding that patients who received an mRNA vaccine within 100 days of starting treatment were twice as likely to be alive three years later, likely due to broad immune activation. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, former director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory, joins to discuss where Americans can turn for reliable, evidence-based public health information at a time when federal guidance has become less consistent.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights that 66% of U.S. physicians now report using AI in their clinical practice, reflecting the technology’s rapid adoption across billing, documentation, and patient care. He reviews a new JAMA Network Open study showing that people with type 2 diabetes and opioid use disorder who took semaglutide (Ozempic) had roughly half the risk of opioid overdose compared to those on other diabetes medications, adding to growing evidence that GLP-1 drugs may help reduce addictive behaviors. Dr. Brendan Saloner, Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice at the Brown University School of Public Health, joins to outline three key policy priorities for curbing opioid overdose deaths.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights that 70% of U.S. parents oppose removing public school immunization requirements, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation poll—even as Florida becomes the first state to end immunization requirements for public schools. He reviews a large French registry study published in JAMA Network Open finding no link between first-trimester COVID-19 vaccination and major congenital anomalies among more than 500,000 infants, reinforcing the safety of vaccination during pregnancy. Dr. Olivier Wouters, Assistant Professor at the Brown University School of Public Health, joins to unpack whether Americans truly gain faster access to new drugs—confirming that while the majority of medicines launch first in the U.S., complex barriers mean equitable access often comes much later than in other countries.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha spotlights a sobering data point: 40,000 estimated hepatitis A cases in Gaza since the start of the war in October 2023. He reviews a JAMA Network Open study on chronic disease care in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia, which found a dramatic decrease in the number of patients with conditions like diabetes who had access to treatment. Dr. Michael VanRooyen, Chair of Emergency Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and founding director of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, joins to outline what it takes to rebuild Gaza’s health system—beginning with stability and governance, clearing unsafe areas, sustaining emergency care, and gradually restoring long-term health infrastructure and workforce capacity.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights that 51% of U.S. adults—about 125 million people—are overweight or obese with one or more chronic conditions. He reviews a new study examining the lifetime health effects and cost-effectiveness of GLP-1 drugs tirzepatide (Zepbound) and semaglutide (Ozempic). Dr. Andy Ryan, Professor of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, joins to discuss how to meaningfully reduce U.S. healthcare spending, emphasizing the need for a national strategy that aligns coverage and pricing with value and ensures that Americans get the greatest health benefit for the dollars spent.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights that private equity firms have invested an estimated $1 trillion into U.S. healthcare acquisitions over the past decade. He then reviews a new Annals of Internal Medicine study showing that private equity hospital buyouts are linked to staffing cuts in ICUs and emergency departments, with a 13% rise in mortality among Medicare patients. Dr. Yashaswini Singh joins to outline policy strategies to curb harmful effects of private equity in healthcare — calling for stronger transparency, updated guardrails for patients and workers and targeted antitrust enforcement.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights that about two-thirds of pregnant women report taking Tylenol during pregnancy, reviewing a large 2024 JAMA study from Sweden which found no meaningful association between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability. Dr. Elizabeth Langen, professor of obstetrics at the University of Michigan, joins to share a practical framework for advising patients in pregnancy: weighing the risks of uncontrolled disease against the potential risks of medication and emphasizing the need for stronger, prospective research before considering changes to clinical guidance.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights a sobering figure: 91,000 premature deaths in the U.S. each year are tied to air pollution from burning oil and gas—roughly 3% of all annual deaths. He then revisits a 2019 study that followed seniors with diabetes after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, finding a 40% spike in mortality in the month after the storms and lingering risk for years due to disrupted care. New York Times health policy correspondent Margot Sanger-Katz joins to reflect on what feels different about covering health policy under the second Trump administration: an unprecedented volume and pace of policy shifts, the challenge of helping readers navigate overwhelming change and the role of journalism as both analyst and explainer.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights a major shift in U.S. food safety: federal surveillance of foodborne pathogens is being scaled back from eight to just two, raising concerns about missed threats from oysters, raw milk, and other emerging risks. He then examines a new BMJ study on the No Surprises Act, which finds patients’ out-of-pocket costs dropped by an average of $567 per year after the law took effect. Finally, Dr. Jha is joined by Melissa Ponce, a first-year MPH student at Brown University, who reflects on her path into public health, her commitment to health equity and what inspires her to pursue change through policy and practice.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha spotlights a striking new number: a 15% expected median increase in ACA health insurance premiums by 2026, with even steeper out-of-pocket costs if enhanced federal subsidies expire. He then reviews a study on California’s transition to zero-emission vehicles, showing real-world health benefits of electric cars. Dr. Shankar Sundaram, Director of the Bioresiliency Incubator at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, joins to explore the convergence of AI and biology, supercharged by advances in computing, as well as the associated benefits and risks.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights increasing denial rates by health insurers for drug prescriptions, a sharp rise driven in part by expensive GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and weight loss. He then unpacks a JAMA study tracking U.S. healthcare spending by condition and county, with wide geographic spending variations driven as much by prices as by disease burden. Distinguished Senior Fellow Nikki Romanik joins to discuss the concept of a BioRadar system — city-level pilots integrating environmental, clinical, and behavioral data to establish biological baselines and detect unknown threats early.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha spotlights a major shift in Medicare Advantage: UnitedHealth Group plans to drop 600,000 enrollees amid financial pressures, raising questions about the program’s size, costs, and overpayments. He then examines a new JAMA study on the VA Mission Act and its effects on access and quality of care for veterans. Dr. Richard Besser, pediatrician and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, who served as CDC Director during the H1N1 pandemic, joins to reflect on the once-bipartisan spirit of public health and the challenges of rebuilding trust after COVID-19’s politicization.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha shares a striking data point: 46% of Americans believe a recent federal health bill will hurt them and their families. He then spotlights a new New England Journal of Medicine study showing that ivermectin reduced malaria infections by 26% in Kenyan children, underscoring its value for parasitic diseases. Chair of Health Services, Policy and Practice Dr. Ateev Mehrotra joins to discuss why telemedicine has fallen short of expectations and how changes to incentives and regulations could help it deliver on its promise of improved access and lower costs.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha shares a striking data point: 6.8 million veterans receive care each year through the VA Health System. He highlights a systematic review comparing the quality of care in VA versus non-VA settings, finding that VA care is generally as good or better compared to non-VA care. Senior Adviser to the Brown Pandemic Center Beth Cameron joins to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic and rapidly advancing technologies like AI and synthetic biology have elevated the urgency of biosecurity. She warns that despite the increasing risks of large-scale biological events—whether natural, accidental, or deliberate—the U.S. still lacks a cohesive, long-term strategy to address these threats.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha unpacks the projection that the United States will spend $64.9 trillion on healthcare between 2025 and 2033. He highlights a major Danish study showing no link between aluminum in childhood vaccines and chronic diseases. Professor Erin Fuse Brown joins to explore whether the corporatization of healthcare—through private equity and profit-driven consolidation—can truly reduce costs without sacrificing care quality.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha explains the significance behind the largest U.S. measles outbreak in 25 years, with 1,288 confirmed cases as of last week. He then highlights a major new study tracking two decades of U.S. childhood health trends and rising deaths due to firearms, substance use and suicide. Senior Adviser to the Pandemic Center and former South African Member of Parliament Wilmot James joins to share his perspective on America’s retreat from global health leadership, the erosion of soft power and the risks of being seen as an unreliable partner.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights the steep administrative costs of Medicaid work requirements and breaks down a new study estimating that U.S. foreign aid programs via USAID have saved 90 million lives in the past two decades, with an additional 14 million lives at stake by 2030 if funding cuts persist.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha illustrates the economic benefits of health insurance coverage and a new study linking adjuvanted vaccines for shingles and RSV to a lower risk of dementia. Senior Adviser to the Pandemic Center and former Gavi CEO Dr. Seth Berkley joins to discuss the consequences of the recent U.S. withdrawal of funding for Gavi, noting the cost-effectiveness of vaccines and the loss of vaccinations for 75 million children.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha discusses the effects of potential new rural hospital closures and a new study on an oral weight loss drug in patents with diabetes. Director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute Michael Cannon joins to examine whether expanding Medicaid actually improves health outcomes in the population — and why he believes the evidence is more uncertain than many might assume.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha analyzes new data on measles vaccination rates in U.S. counties and a new study evaluating the impact of air pollution on fetal brain development. Professor of the Practice and former Florida State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees joins to discuss the role states should play in ensuring access to vaccines, noting the erosion of public trust in vaccination and warning against the politicization of public health measures.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha breaks down new data showing how many Miami-Dade County residents get their health insurance through Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act and what proposed federal cuts could mean for them. He also discusses a new study on claim denials from Medicare Advantage patients. Behavioral scientist Dr. Sweta Chakraborty joins to explore how we can better communicate risk in public health—from pandemics to raw milk—and why who delivers a message can be just as important as the message itself.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha explores the global reach and safety of COVID-19 vaccines and reviews a new study on the consequences of removing fluoride from U.S. public water systems. He then answers a pressing question on why the U.S. should continue developing an mRNA bird flu vaccine, warning that abandoning such efforts may leave us dangerously unprepared for a future pandemic.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha discusses the rapid growth of private equity ownership in U.S. hospitals and highlights a study on the promise of gene editing to treat a rare genetic disease. 2025 School of Public Health Commencement speaker and CEO of SaveLIFE Foundation Piyush Tewari joins to underscore the need for multi-stakeholder coalitions, data-driven solutions and community engagement to reduce road fatalities.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha discusses the role Medicaid plays in treating adults with opioid use disorder and a new study comparing GLP-1 drugs tirzepatide and semaglutide. Graduating student commencement speakers Aliza Kopans and Akashleena Mallick join to reflect on entering a career in public health, exploring the mix of excitement, responsibility and hope they feel at this pivotal moment.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha discusses the worst flu season for kids in 15 years and highlights a new study showing how Medicaid has saved lives. Professor of Epidemiology and director of the Pandemic Center Jennifer Nuzzo joins to explore how we can rebuild trust in health by putting the public back in public health — through listening and community engagement.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha emphasizes the impact that Medicaid has on American children and discusses a new study detailing trends in maternal mortality. Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice Irene Papanicolas joins to explore the factors behind increased life expectancy in Europeans compared to Americans and the relationship between wealth and health.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights the importance of community health centers in serving 1 in 10 Americans and a new study modeling the impact of declining vaccination rates on measles and other preventable diseases. 2025 Barnes Lecturer and Arnhold Distinguished Fellow at Conservation International Monica Medina joins to explore how connecting environmental action to human health can strengthen both movements and inspire broader public engagement.

In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights the impact of the Affordable Care Act's preventive services provision and a 2020 study linking proximity to major roadways to higher asthma rates in children. Academic Dean and Professor of Epidemiology Francesca Beaudoin joins to assess national progress in fighting the opioid pandemic and discuss policy recommendations to support those suffering with addiction.

In the inaugural episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha highlights two compelling public health studies: one showing that wealthy Americans have no survival advantage over poor Europeans, and another suggesting a link between shingles vaccination and reduced dementia risk. Distinguished Senior Fellow Stephanie Psaki joins to discuss how recent cuts to the U.S. health infrastructure threaten national security by weakening preparedness for biological threats.