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Artwork for Who the Health Cares?

Who the Health Cares? with Prof Michael Sparer

Center for Public Health Systems
Public Health
Health Departments
Public Health Departments
Epidemics
Medicaid
Healthcare System
Sanitation
Public Health Funding
Artificial Intelligence
Public Health Systems
Community Health Workers
Federal Funding Cuts
U.S. Constitution
Local Government
History Of Medicine
Social Determinants Of Health
American Medical Association
Hip Hop Public Health
Vaccination
New York City

America has 3,300 local health departments. They are the backbone of our public health system, yet they are agencies most of us never think about. Until there's a crisis. They respond to disease outbreaks, inspect restaurants, ensure safe drinking water, and coordinate emergency responses. Yet their work remains invisible, their budgets are perpetually squeezed, and their authority is increasingly... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes10Founded8 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Who the Health Cares?

Latest Episodes

Public health funding is often discussed as a matter of budgets and policy. But the real story is about politics, relationships and power. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, states across the country received an unprecedented influx of federa... more

Public health officials are navigating an increasingly complicated landscape defined by shrinking resources and political polarization. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is transforming how health systems collect information, manage care and respond... more

The work of public health often becomes most visible when our systems are under the greatest strain. From hurricanes to pandemics, crises test not only our ability to respond, but also the strength, flexibility and fairness of the systems we rely on ... more

The work of the U.S. public health system is invisible to many of us. That’s why public health guidance is often misunderstood – and ultimately mistrusted – by Americans on both sides of the political aisle. And in times of uncertainty, when clear gu... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Sparer
Professor; researcher focusing on Medicaid, public health funding, and implementation of health policy
Columbia University; Center for Public Health Systems
Episode: Public Health, Politics, and Money: Lessons from Kentucky and Indiana
Umair Shah
Chief Medical Officer of Family Health and former Health Commissioner of Washington State and Harris County, Texas
Family Health (AI-powered health care platform)
Episode: Former Health Secretary Umair Shah on AI, MAHA and Leadership Lessons
Mitch Stripling
Executive Director of the Pandemic Response Institute
Pandemic Response Institute (PRI)
Episode: How Decisions Get Made During Public Health Disasters
Chelsea Cipriano
Managing Director of the Common Health Coalition
Common Health Coalition
Episode: Public Health, Lost in Translation
Jide Williams
Neurologist and founder of Hip Hop Public Health
Hip Hop Public Health
Episode: Public Health Finds a New Beat
Rebecca Sale
Head of strategy and partnerships for the Center for Public Health Systems at Columbia University
Columbia University
Episode: The Hidden Cost of Cutting Medicaid

Host

Michael Sparer
Host of Who the Health Cares?; Director of the Center for Public Health Systems at Columbia University

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 29 ratings
  • BESTTTTT

    Being there felt like going back to those days sitting in the front row of Dr. Sparer’s classroom. He paced the stage from left to right without a single slide or note in hand. I always walked out with five full pages of notes and already looking forward to the next class. Hands down, the BEST professor I’ve ever had.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CCYNTHIAAAA
    United States6 months ago
  • An amazing podcast

    Dr. Sparer knocks this out of the park and tells us history in an essential and engaging way

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mobemt
    United States7 months ago
  • Great listen

    Fascinating and so informative!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tess8362
    United States7 months ago
  • Super-accessible & fascinating intro to our public health system

    So much in here I didn’t know, delivered in a friendly, clear, accessible way. Really interesting, and really important! Looking forward to more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    artemisbee
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thoughtful, data-driven discussions that stay practical.
Clear, engaging explanations of complex public health topics.
Host makes history and policy accessible without fuss.
Accessible and fascinating intro to the public health system.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#246
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#242
Ireland/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Public Health, Politics, and Money: Lessons from Kentucky and Indiana
Q: Becky: How did Indiana's approach differ from Kentucky's?
Indiana crafted an opt-in, county-directed funding strategy with a statewide commission, strong political champions, and endorsements from local governments and business groups, aiming to keep control at the local level and distribute money directly to counties to build local capacity.
Public Health, Politics, and Money: Lessons from Kentucky and Indiana
Q: Becky: Why Kentucky? What prompted their reforms?
Kentucky faced a pension crisis, a shift away from clinical services, and a fiscal imperative that made it necessary to design a funding mechanism that ensures local departments have the staff and resources to operate, with a mandatory, county-driven model and a funding formula baked into law.
Public Health, Politics, and Money: Lessons from Kentucky and Indiana
Q: Becky: So what did you learn from following the money across these five states?
The trajectory shows a large gap between legislation and on-the-ground implementation, with local coalitions and strategic lobbying shaping how money actually reaches public health departments, and where political crises can both enable and undermine funding.
Former Health Secretary Umair Shah on AI, MAHA and Leadership Lessons
Q: Hi, Umair. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Excited to be here. Thanks for having me.
Public Health, Lost in Translation
Q: What can leaders do to demonstrate the value of public health and secure funding beyond traditional ROI metrics?
She suggests embracing broader value concepts, using tangible, everyday public health actions as examples (like inspections and access to services), and exploring innovative financing and partnerships that show downstream benefits to payers and communities.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Who the Health Cares?

What is Who the Health Cares? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Narrowly focused on the public health ecosystem, the show explains how local health departments operate, their funding constraints, and their role in shaping population health. Across episodes, the conversations illuminate funding disparities, governance challenges, and the fragile infrastructure that underpins disease control, health equity, and preventive services. Noteworthy angles include historical context for local public health power, critiques of federal funding shifts, and practical examples from states and communities that reveal how policy decisions trickle down to everyday health outcomes. The format tends to be accessible, data-informed, and geared toward policymakers, health professionals, and listeners who want to understand ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Who the Health Cares??

These podcasts share a similar audience with Who the Health Cares?:

1. The Daily
2. Up First from NPR
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Slow Burn
5. Public Health On Call

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Who the Health Cares? launched 8 months ago and published 10 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Who the Health Cares??

Recent guests on Who the Health Cares? include:

1. Michael Sparer
2. Umair Shah
3. Mitch Stripling
4. Chelsea Cipriano
5. Jide Williams
6. Rebecca Sale

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