The lever arm of public health is prevention, and in this episode, Michelle explores why preventive care needs to be more of a legislative priority in Georgia. Joined by physicians and public-health experts, the conversation examines how prevention — from tobacco cessation to chronic disease management — improves health outcomes while reducing long-term costs to Medicaid and the workforce. This episode breaks down why investing in prevention is both smart health policy and sound fiscal policy.

Notes: The bulk of this episode was originally recorded on August 16th, 2025, eight days after a gunman opened fire at on the campus of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, killing Dekalb County Police Officer David Rose. It features the following distinguished physician-advocates:

Segment 1: Health Policy in Practice

Dr. Harry Heiman: Director of the DrPH Program at the Georgia State School of Public Health

Bio: https://publichealth.gsu.edu/profile/harry-heiman/

Dr. Heiman is Clinical Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences at the School of Public Health at Georgia State University. Prior to joining Georgia State, he served as Director of the Division of Health Policy at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine, where he was also Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, with more than 20 years of clinical practice experience. Leveraging his experience as a primary care physician and expertise and experience in health policy, Dr. Heiman’s work focuses at the intersection of health policy and health equity.

Dr. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber – Professor of Medical Education in Internal Medicine at the Augusta University / University of Georgia Medical Partnership

Bio: https://medicalpartnership.usg.edu/team_member/theresa-rohr-kirchgraber-md/

Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber is a professor of medicine and clinician educator who joined the faculty of AU/UGA Medical Partnership in March 2021. Her leadership positions have included 1st Hispanic president of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA), Vice-Chair of the American Medical Association (AMA) Women’s Physician Section, AMA Minority Affairs Governing Council and the Dissemination and Implementation Steering Committee for the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative with the American College of OBGYN. Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber is passionate about the need for increased diversity in healthcare. Her clinical expertise is in primary care for adults and adolescents, especially those with chronic conditions.

Segment 2: Prevention Under Pressure – CDC Insider Perspective

Dr. Barbara Marston: Former Deputy Director for Science and Program, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, CDC

Bio: Dr. Marston retired from CDC as the Deputy Director for Science and Program in the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria. Dr. Marston has worked on CDC's Ebola response, the Division of Global Health Protection's Health Recovery Branch, and CDC's response efforts in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. Dr. Marston received the Global AIDS Program Humanitarian Award and the Center for Global Health Director's Medal of Excellence in Global Health for her contributions to public health in Haiti.