Advocation - Change it Up!

This podcast episode focuses on what participants learned from the January 28, 2022 University of South Florida (USF) College of Public Health Activist Lab Bootcamp on mental health advocacy and strategies for change.  We welcome Dr. Jerome Galea, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, USF College of Behavioral and Community Sciences who shares his expertise on mental health research and outreach and two Bootcamp participants, Ivory Hayes and Jeanine Ashforth, who provide information on what their Bootcamp breakouts groups recommended for changes in the community and with veterans related to mental health, respectively.  Discussion also took place as to the importance of advocacy in mental health as mental health is public health!

Guests:  Dr. Jerome Galea, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, USF, and Jeanine Ashforth and Ivory Hayes, USF College of Public Health graduate students

Episode 4: This fourth episode of our podcast series on occupational health and safety welcomes Dr. Tammy Allen, Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Florida and Director of the Occupational Health Psychology Training Program.  This podcast focuses on Dr. Allen’s work in the areas of work and family balance, remote work, the changing culture of work, and more. Discussion also took place about how to advocate for positive changes in the workplace to improve employee’s wellbeing.

Guest, Dr. Tammy Allen, Distinguished University Professor,  University of South Florida

Episode 3:  This third episode of our podcast series on occupational health and safety welcomes Dr. Mindy Shoss, Associate Professor of Psychology in the Industrial/Organizational Psychology program at the University of Central Florida and also Director of the Sunshine ERC’s Targeted Research Training (TRT) program.  Discussion takes place about the important role of work in the hospitality industry, Dr. Shoss’s work within the TRT program and that of her students and colleagues, and the importance of advocating for positive change.  Discussion also took place about the role of COVID-19 on hospitality worker health, burnout, and more.

Guest, Dr. Mindy Shoss, Associate Professor, University of Central Florida

Episode 2:  

This second episode of our podcast series on occupational health and safety welcomes Dr. Mark Friend, Professor in the School of Graduate Studies in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Florida and Program Coordinator for the M.S. program in occupational safety management. Discussion takes place about the importance of occupational safety management as a field in preventing injuries and deaths in various industries.  Discussion also takes place about the importance of advocacy, safety management systems, including employees, and developing and maintaining safety management protocols/plans in businesses and organizations.

Guest, Dr. Mark Friend, Professor, Embry-Riddle University

Episode 1:  

This first episode of our podcast series on occupational health and safety welcomes Dr. Thomas Bernard, professor and Director of the Sunshine Education & Research Center (ERC) in the USF College of Public Health.  Discussion takes place about the roles and functions of the ERC and related research, including heat stress.  Discussion also takes place about the role for occupational safety and health among diverse populations and the need for advocacy to promote health.

Guest, Dr. Thomas Bernard, Professor, USF College of Public Health

In this podcast, discussion focuses on COVID-19 in terms of current morbidity, mortality and the new rise in infections and hospitalizations due to the Delta variant.  Discussion also takes place about mitigation efforts and communication strategies for those individuals who have not yet been vaccinated.  Emphasis is on advocating for change so all persons feel heard about mitigation and prevention concerns and how we can move forward.

Guest:  Dr. Jason Salemi, Associate Professor, USF College of Public Health

In this podcast, previous Environmental Health/Climate Change and Advocacy series’ presenters provide further discussion and input on how to build and improve the USF COPH Activist Lab’s Florida Environmental Health Plan.  The emphasis on equity and community engagement continues and will be paramount as potential solutions are created, implemented, and evaluated for sustainability.  Innovations are discussed along with the importance of education and communication/social marketing so that audiences are reached with messages that will resonate with them and the community.

Guests:  Dr. Amy Stuart, Professor, USF College of Public Health, Dr. Maya Trotz, Professor, USF College of Engineering, and Michelle Jenkins, Sustainability Coordinator and Kim Tapley, Senior Environmental Manager, Wetlands Division, Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County, Florida.

Description:  

In this fourth episode of the podcast series focused on environmental health, climate change, and advocacy, Representative Kathy Castor from the US Congress discusses the importance of the environment on public health for Floridians and all Americans, her role as chairperson of the federal Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, the components of the federal plan developed on Solving the Climate Crisis, how to successfully advocate for change, and more.

Guest:  

Representative Kathy Castor, U.S. Congress

Description:  

In this third episode of the podcast series focused on environmental health, climate change, and advocacy, representatives from the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County discuss the important role of the agency in protecting the health and safety of communities related to the environment.  The discussion includes agency responsibilities and divisions including air, waste, water, and wetlands, outreach mechanisms (including education and research) to help assure safe environments, the importance of education in environmental health and safety for present and future generations, and more.

Guests:  

Michelle Jenkins, Sustainability Coordinator, and Kim Tapley, Senior Environmental Manager, Wetlands Division, Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County, Florida

In this second episode of the Activist Lab’s podcast series focused on environmental health, climate change, and advocacy, issues related to water, water treatment, engineering and energy (including green energy) solutions, and the relationship of these issues to climate change are discussed.  Also highlighted are the important role for community involvement related to solutions, with strong consideration of structural racism as solutions are being developed.

Guests:  Drs. Jeffrey Cunningham, Associate Professor, and Maya Trotz, Professor, USF College of Engineering