In this episode of the AdvoSci Health Podcast, we speak with Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, one of the world’s leading voices in global maternal and child health.

From South Asia’s remarkable progress to the persistent inequities facing women and children globally, Dr. Bhutta shares insights on bridging research and policy, strengthening health systems, and mentoring the next generation of leaders.

🎧 Hosted by Omar & Ali — AdvoSci Health Podcast

Global health is facing a reckoning. A new Health Policy Watch article — Global Health Leaders Urge Fewer Agencies Amid Funding Crisis — reveals a 21% drop in global development assistance for health and a 67% cut in U.S. funding, totalling more than $9 billion.

In this episode we scroll through the article in real time and unpack what these numbers really mean — for HIV programs, child mortality, and the very architecture of global health itself. Are there too many agencies? Or is the system simply too fragmented to survive another funding shock?

#GlobalHealth #HealthPolicy #FundingCrisis #PublicHealth #HealthEquity #GlobalAid #GlobalDevelopment #GlobalHealthGovernance #ASHPodcast #WHO #GlobalFund #Gavi #HealthEconomics #InternationalAid #AdvoSciHealth

In this episode of The Rare Tapes, we explore three moments when patients are forced to fill the cracks in a system that should support them. From families stepping in as untrained interpreters, to patients turning to “Doctor Google” for answers, to those left adrift after rehab with little help to rebuild their lives — these stories reveal how easily care can stop short of compassion. Join Ali and Omar as they break down what went wrong, what these experiences say about healthcare today, and how small changes could make a world of difference.

#AdvoSciHealth #TheRareTapes #PatientExperience #HealthEquity #HealthcareAccess #DoctorGoogle #MedicalInterpreter #RehabilitationCare #HealthcareSystem #HealthPodcast #PublicHealth #MedicalHumanities #PatientCenteredCare #HealthCommunication

In September 2025, world leaders endorsed the first-ever UN political declaration integrating noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, a milestone that could reshape how governments, donors, and institutions prioritize funding, accountability, and national health strategies. In this episode, I explored and gave my opinion on what the declaration says, why it matters, which commitments are likely to become reality, and what lessons from past NCD efforts reveal about the challenges ahead.

If you enjoyed this episode then please like, share, and comment whether we should continue focussing on more global topics.

Links to respective documents:

WHO Press Release
UN Assembly Declaration letter

#GlobalHealth #NCDs #MentalHealth #UNDeclaration #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #Podcast #AdvoSciHealth

In this episode of the ASH Podcast, Ali and Omar unpack the lasting effects of COVID-19 on healthcare systems worldwide. From staff shortages and surgical backlogs to rising mental health concerns among healthcare workers, the pandemic reshaped how care is delivered — and many systems are still struggling to catch up. We explore what recovery looks like, why challenges persist, and what lessons can guide us in building stronger, more resilient healthcare systems for the future.

#Healthcare #COVID19 #PandemicImpact #PublicHealth #HealthcareWorkers #HealthPolicy #GlobalHealth #MedicalPodcast #ASHpodcast #advoscihealth #advocacy

In this special episode of the ASH Podcast, we sit down with Abdullah Haris: a fellow incoming med student at TMU- as he shares his story of living with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) for the very first time publicly. Abdullah opens up about being recently declared legally blind, navigating stigma, and finding strength in visibility. We also dive into what RP is, the importance of advocacy, and the hope emerging from new research. This conversation isn’t just about a diagnosis. It’s about resilience, identity, and the future of medicine through a more inclusive lens.

In our latest Rare Tapes episode of the ASH Podcast, we step into the everyday frustrations patients face in the healthcare system; from endless hold lines, to referrals lost in the “black hole,” to appointments suddenly rescheduled months away.

Through immersive storytelling and sound design, we bring these experiences to life, then break them down to uncover the real impact on patient safety, trust, and outcomes.

Hosted by Omar and Ali, this episode dives into why these cracks in the system matter and explores what changes could actually make care more accessible and humane.

In this episode of the ASH Podcast, Omar and Ali break down the growing concerns around where Canadian health data is stored - and who really has access to it. From U.S.-based cloud servers to billion-dollar contracts with tech giants, we explore how health data storage impacts privacy, innovation, and rare disease care. What are the tradeoffs between progress and sovereignty? And how can we protect patient trust in a digital age? Tune in as we unpack the hidden systems behind your scans, symptoms, and stories - and why now is the time to demand transparency and action.

In this episode, we are fortunate to have another guest, Amal Qazi. Amal is the Managing Director of the "Medical Innovations and Global Health" (MIGH) Association part of the graduate school at McMaster University. MIGH is an interdisciplinary future-thinking association that is about to celebrate its 1 year anniversary, and we were fortunate to learn more about how the association was created and what it has to offer the graduate students at McMaster University.

In this episode we introduce a new format called "The Rare Tapes".

In the first iteration of "The Rare Tapes" we go through 3 different scenarios focussing on doctor-patient interactions concerning symptom explanations and being believed, while also discussing the ramifications of these instances and our personal experiences.