Episode
Why Public Health Matters Most When You Don’t See It with Dr. Rochelle Walensky
- Podcast
- Turn on the Lights Podcast
- Published
- May 1, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2806
- Processing state
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Summary
Public health is easiest to overlook when it is doing its job well, and hardest to defend when uncertainty is unavoidable. In this episode, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, former CDC Director and infectious disease physician, reflects on the leadership challenges, pressure, and public scrutiny she faced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She discusses the difficulty of communicating evolving science in real time, preparing for congressional hearings, and rebuilding morale within an agency under intense strain. Dr. Walensky also highlights lesser-known public health efforts, including the CDC’s work to prevent measles spread during the Afghan evacuation. She shares her perspective on the agency’s current challenges and emphasizes the importance of relationships, workforce trust, modern data systems, and her ongoing work with the Vaccine Integrity Project. Tune in to hear why rebuilding trust in public health will require not only better systems, but better storytelling. Resources Follow Dr. Rochelle Walensky on LinkedIn. Explore the CDC’s role in public health preparedness and response here. Read about the Vaccine Integrity Project here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices