Health Voices

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Ryan Sutherland, Community Outreach Director of the Neighborhood Health Project (NHP), shares how his journey—from aspiring ethnomusicologist to public health advocate—shaped his passion for community-centered care. Since 2003, NHP has redefined healthcare access by offering free diabetes and hypertension screenings every Saturday at Loaves and Fishes food pantry in New Haven.

In this episode, Ryan explains how meeting patients where they are not only improves health outcomes but also rebuilds trust in a system that has often failed them. We dive into NHP’s unique model, where students across health disciplines provide compassionate care alongside partners offering everything from emergency contraception to mental health services.

We also explore how NHP’s philosophy—"nothing about us without us"—reshapes medical education by teaching future providers to view health equity as both a clinical and social justice imperative. Ryan’s story reminds us that global health starts in our own neighborhoods, and that real change begins by listening.

Follow NHP here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhp_yale/

Website: Welcome | Neighborhood Health Project

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Lorrice Grant, executive director of Loaves and Fishes, shares how her personal journey—losing her mother to diabetes at just 17—ignited a lifelong mission to make nutrition accessible and dignified for all. As New Haven’s largest food pantry, Loaves and Fishes distributes over 500,000 pounds of food annually, challenging the traditional charity model through client-choice shopping and culturally relevant food.

In this episode, Loris breaks down how nutrition impacts not just physical health but also emotional wellbeing and community resilience. We discuss the role of dignity in food assistance, the power of partnerships with healthcare and workforce development organizations, and how lived experience shapes effective community leadership. With many volunteers being former clients, Loaves and Fishes is rewriting what food justice looks like from the ground up.

We also explore the systemic inequities driving food insecurity—especially among working-class families and communities of color—and why rethinking assumptions about hunger is so critical. Loris’s story is a powerful reminder that behind every pantry line is a person with resilience, pride, and hope.

Want to support Loaves and Fishes?
Volunteer during weekly distributions on Saturdays at St. Paul Episcopal Church.

Instagram: Loaves and Fishes of New Haven (@loavesandfishesnh) • Instagram photos and videos

Website: Loaves and Fishes – Food, Clothing, and Community

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/loaves-and-fishes-nh

Follow us on Instagram: Loaves and Fishes of New Haven (@loavesandfishesnh) • Instagram photos and videos

Don't forget to leave us a review! If you have any questions or want to be featured on an episode, email us at [email protected]

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Zanajee Artis, co-founder and executive director of Zero Hour, shares how this youth-led climate justice organization evolved from organizing mass protests to fighting systemic environmental injustice. Inspired by the impact of Hurricane Sandy on his Conneticust coastal hometown, he co-founded the international organization Zero Hour in 2017. Through education, policy advocacy, and grassroots organizing, Zero Hour works to phase out fossil fuels while addressing the interconnected issues of environmental racism and corporate influence.

In this episode, Zanagee shares insights on how climate change intersects with social movements like Black Lives Matter, immigration rights, and the fight for democracy, emphasizing the systemic nature of the crisis. We discuss the role of youth activism, the importance of education in countering misinformation, and the current battles against liquefied natural gas (LNG) expansion, oil and gas subsidies, and corporate influence in government. With the stakes higher than ever, this conversation highlights why young people are uniquely positioned to lead the charge for a more sustainable future and how you can get involved in the movement. 

Follow Zero Hour and Zanagee here:

Instagram: Health Voices (@healthvoicespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos; Health Voices (@healthvoicespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn: (20) Zero Hour: Overview | LinkedIn

Website: Home - This is Zero Hour | A Youth-led Movement

Follow us on Instagram: Health Voices (@healthvoicespodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

Subscribe to the podcast! Watch the episode here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1h_cGcH1Uf4

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Today's guest is Samar Bajaj, an award-winning journalist and science writer whose work bridges the worlds of medicine and storytelling. Inspired by his uncle, a radiologist in the U.S. Air Force, Samar learned early on that medicine is ultimately about humanity—a principle that guides his reporting today.

In this episode, we explore Samar’s journey to becoming a leading voice in health journalism. Through compelling storytelling, he sheds light on stigmatized diseases, healthcare biases, and the systemic barriers that shape public health. Hear how his investigative work has exposed disparities in medical technology, influenced policy discussions, and amplified the voices of marginalized communities.

Samar also shares the realities of freelancing, the obstacles he faced breaking into the field, and how persistence led to impactful reporting. From global health explorations to advocating for improved health literacy, his experiences highlight how journalism can be a catalyst for change in the public health spectrum.

Follow Simar Bajaj Here:
Instagram: Simar Bajaj (@simar.bajaj) • Instagram photos and videos
LinkedIn: LinkedIn
Website and Initiatives: Home | My Site


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https://www.instagram.com/healthvoicespodcast/

Subscribe to the podcast! Watch the full video episode here:  https://youtu.be/Q14nzdYG4h0

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Welcome back to Health Voices! Tune in as we kick off Season 2 with an inspiring conversation about empowering youth through health literacy. Meet Reyhan Haider, a high school senior from Northern Virginia, whose passion for public health, sparked by personal experiences, led him to create Health4Us. Learn how early health education can prevent disease, enhance well-being, and navigate the U.S. healthcare system, especially during COVID-19.

Discover Reyhan’s youth-led initiative connecting uninsured individuals to healthcare via a Google Maps-powered web app, with plans to expand services and introduce a public health pilot course for sixth graders. This episode tackles challenges faced by uninsured communities, ethical considerations, vaccine hesitancy in Northern Virginia's Muslim communities, and more.

Follow Health4Us Here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joinhealth4us/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/health4us1

Website and Initiatives: joinhealth4us.com

Check out his books here:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0D65KMYQG?ingress=0&visitId=00187ad0-6f06-48c3-977a-9876f938759c&ref_=ap_rdr

Subscribe to our show! Watch the full video episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnrX51huYMs&t=2s

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Public health is often discussed through the lens of pressing issues like alcoholism, traffic safety, and infectious diseases—but what about the people redefining the field? In the new season of Health Voices, we spotlight the changemakers and innovators who are transforming public health with creative solutions and inspiring initiatives.

Join us as we explore how public health challenges are being met with fresh ideas—from empowering students to pursue health journalism, to leveraging universities in advancing global health technologies in underserved regions, to building inclusive fitness spaces for individuals with disabilities. Discover how you, too, can contribute to shaping the future of health.

Season 2 launches in November 2024 with Episode 1, featuring high school senior Reyhan Haider. Subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform and be part of the conversation.

Check us out at our Instagram @healthvoicespodcast and if you're interested in being featured in an episode or want to join the team, email us at [email protected]

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America has a driving problem. 

Before COVID-19, the prevalence of crashes was decreasing as more Americans became more comfortable with driving behind the wheel. However, since 2020, driving has only increased as more than 30,000 Americans have died in car crashes; more specifically, more than 40,000 Americans died from car crashes in 2021. And the numbers seem to only be increasing even after the COVID-19 pandemic has begun to die down. So, despite drivers’ education, the many ads that tried to curb distractions during driving, and the policies put in place, do car crashes still happen? And what can the individual, organization, and government do to begin to effectively address this issue?

To help answer these questions, we talk with Dr. Kirsten Bechtel, professor of emergency medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, and the Yale Traffic Safety Subcommittee chair. 

[00:00-07:52] Introduction and the Role of the Yale Traffic Safety Subcommittee

[08:00-14:08]: Traffic Safety in Public Health

[14:09-18:40]: Distractions in Driving (Alcohol and Smoking)

(Look around 21st minute)

[18:41-26:13]: Road Infrastructure

[26:14-28:30]: Disparities in Traffic Safety

[28:31-33:20]: Traffic Safety and COVID-19

[33:21-35:00]: Automobile Industry

[35:00-37:23]: Conclusion

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How much do you think you know about vaping? Sure, you’ve heard it’s tasty, it’s better than smoking, and you may have tried it yourself. Vaping has become more common as people puff at hookah bars, take a sniff in between classes, etc. However, there’s still a gap in knowledge about the actual health associations of vaping.  And based on the knowledge medical professionals already have, vaping is discouraged. But why do people do it anyway?

To help us fill the gap of knowledge we have on vaping, we will talk with Dr. Stephen Baldassarri, an associate professor of medicine at Yale whose research focuses on the mechanisms of addiction. We talk about marijuana vaping, mental health’s correlation with vaping, vaping economics, and so much more. 

[00:00-01:36]: Introduction 

[01:36-07:22]: The Basics of Addiction and Vaping

[07:22-12:59]: The Complexity of Vaping Culture and Vaping History

[13:00-21:09]: How to Discourage Vaping and Vaping Research

[21:08-23:21]: The Particulars of Vaping Instruments

[23:22-26:02]: The Socioeconomic Indicators of Vaping 

[26:03-30:58]: Relationship between Smoking and Vaping & Vaping Risks

[30:59-39:08}: Government’s Role in Vaping and Vaping Treatment

[39:10-44:10]: Conclusion

Link to Dr. Baldassari's Profile: https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/stephen-baldassarri/?tab=bio

Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions or want to be featured in an episode. Follow us on social media at https://www.instagram.com/yalephc/ and https://www.instagram.com/yphcpodcast/. And please subscribe to our show. 

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When friends or family feel down or worse at a particular time in the year, people wave them off and don’t recognize the actual health issue. However, seasonal depression is a legitimate mental health condition. 

At least 5% of Americans face this depression every year, but the majority of Americans don’t take it seriously and stigmatize the condition. 

With Dr. Paul Desan, an associate professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and head of the Winter Depression Clinic, we discuss the importance of legitimizing seasonal depression.

We specifically talk about the what and how of seasonal depression, seasonal depression’s relationship with pandemics, treatments of seasonal depression, and summer depression.

[00:00-02:02]: Intro

[02:02-07:03]: History of Seasonal Depression

[07:04-13:59]: Risk factors and symptoms of seasonal depression  

[14:00-17:04]: Pandemics’ and Climate Relationship with seasonal depression

[17:04-27:50]: Treatments for seasonal depression and research about seasonal depression

[27:51-29:51]: Treatment and symptoms of summer depression

[29:51-32:39]: The future of seasonal depression

[32:40-34:02]: Government’s role in seasonal depression

[34:-03-37:42]: Conclusion

Link to Paul Desan Profile: https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/paul-desan/

Link to Article about Seasonal Depression that Desan is Featured in: 

https://www.nytimes.com/article/seasonal-depression-what-to-know.html

Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions or want to be featured in an episode. Follow us on social media at https://www.instagram.com/yalephc/ and https://www.instagram.com/yphcpodcast/. And please subscribe to our show. 

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What do you think environmental health means?

According to the American Public Health Association, most Americans can’t give an accurate answer for it’s one of those underrated yet complex fields of public health. With Yiqun Ma, a pre-doctoral fellow at the Yale School of Public Health concentrating in climate change and health, we discuss the importance of environmental health.

We specifically talk about how a particular aspect of public health, the air, correlates with adverse temperatures, wildfires, and racial disparities.

• Link to Yiqun Ma Profile: https://ysph.yale.edu/profile/yiqun-ma/?tab=bio
• Link to Article about her Wildfire Research: https://ysph.yale.edu/news-article/canadian-wildfire-smoke-associated-with-increased-asthma-cases-in-nyc/

Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions or want to be
featured in an episode. Follow us on social media at https://www.instagram.com/yalephc/ and https://www.instagram.com/yphcpodcast/. And please subscribe to our show. 

00:00: Intro
2:07: Definition of Environmental Health and Climate Change
5:55: Jiangsu Province Research on Adverse Temperatures
10:32: Wildfires
14:31: Racial Disparities and Air Pollution
22:32: Yale’s and Government’s Role in Bolstering Enviornmental Health
26:30: Conclusion