On this episode of STEM Essential, Jeff Weld chats with Ken Sharp, division director of Acute Disease Prevention, Emergency Response and Environmental Health at the Iowa Department of Public Health. 

2:23 Ken Sharp discusses the influences from his K-12 education that set him on a STEM path. 

5:05 Ken Sharp discusses his unlikely career path and offers advice for others who wonder where their path could take them. He started in environmental science and ended at the Iowa Department of Public Health.

8:42 Ken Sharp describes the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in his position. His team started to learn about the pandemic in December 2019.

11:11 Ken Sharp discusses the need for adaptability in the face of the pandemic.

13:00  Ken Sharp discusses the System Development Efforts for Time-Critical Conditions.

17:44 Ken Sharp discusses the challenges of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine in Iowa.

22:45 Ken Sharp talks about the prioritization strategy for vaccine distribution in Iowa.

31:04 Ken Sharp talks strategy for future pandemics or variations of the current virus.

33:30 Ken Sharp gives advice for STEM students who are interested in pursuing STEM careers.