Who the Health Cares? with Prof Michael Sparer

Center for Public Health Systems

Topics: Government · Society & Culture · Health & Fitness

No. 61 in Government▼8

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 questioned. Host Michael Sparer traces how we built this fragmented public health infrastructure, from Constitutional debates to 1866 garbage collection to today's vaccine controversies. He examines why healthcare spending dwarfs public health investment, why public health agencies vary so...

Latest episodeWhy Public Health Is Inescapably Political With Professor Larry BrownOctober 27, 2026 · 30 min

0:0029:44

1×

Latest episodes

1. Why Public Health Is Inescapably Political With Professor Larry BrownOctober 27, 2026 · 30 min
2. Former CDC Director Mandy Cohen on the Politics of Public HealthOctober 13, 2026 · 44 min
3. Public Health, Politics, and Money: Lessons from Kentucky and IndianaJune 2, 2026 · 45 min
4. Former Health Secretary Umair Shah on AI, MAHA and Leadership LessonsMay 19, 2026 · 25 min
5. How Decisions Get Made During Public Health DisastersMay 5, 2026 · 32 min
6. Public Health, Lost in TranslationApril 21, 2026 · 31 min
7. Public Health Finds a New BeatApril 7, 2026 · 31 min
8. The Hidden Cost of Cutting MedicaidMarch 26, 2026 · 23 min
9. Ep3-Who Knew? What Health Departments DoNovember 25, 2025 · 14 min
10. Ep2-Five Trillion on Medical Care, Pennies on Public HealthNovember 25, 2025 · 18 min

Today's places

Also on: Apple Podcasts · Podcast website