Shiny Epi People

After 40 episodes, Season 1 is a wrap! In this short episode, I share thoughts I have about the experience of launching a podcast during a pandemic, what I have learned about myself and people in public health, what I will be doing until Season 2, and where I want to go with the show. Thanks to all of the listeners who have trusted me to put together a show every week that teaches them, makes them feel and develop empathy, and adds humor and connection to their lives. Thanks to the patrons who have donated actual money to help fund this. Thanks to my amazing guests. All of you have made this show what it is. I am so overwhelmed by your love and support! Thank you!

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Ken Rothman, DrPH is arguably one of the most influential living epidemiologists. Ken has been in the field for almost 50 years, conducting research, writing, and teaching. He co-authors two of the most used textbooks in epidemiology: Modern Epidemiology and Epidemiology: an Introduction. He is the founding editor of Epidemiology, a leading journal in our field. He talks with me about his ambition, his status as a 'legend' in the field (spoiler alert: he says that is patently false), writing, an award lecture gone awry, sailing, being detained by the Colombian police, "Baby Rothman," and much more!

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Kemi Doll, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and an adjunct assistant professor of Health Services at the University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Public Health.  She is a practicing gynecologic oncologist and health services researcher, and has her own career coaching business that helps Women of Color take control of their careers. Kemi has a new podcast called Your Unapologetic Career. Kemi tells me about the advice she gives coaching, finding the career that nourishes us, how our uniqueness is our strength, leading while learning, romance novels, pause button on life, and more. She is a powerhouse!

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Bonnie Swenor is an epidemiologist and associate professor at The Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute and the Epidemiology Department at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is the founder and director of the Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center, which addresses health inequities for people with disabilities. Bonnie's career is motivated by her personal experience with visual impairment, and today she shares with me how her visual impairment has shaped her personal and professional lives, how we can avoid erasing disabled people, the social model of disability, veggie party trays, being on the college boxing team, and more!

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John Pamplin, PhD, is an epi postdoc at NYU who studies the consequences of structural racism and systemic inequity on mental health and substance use. John earned his bachelor's degree at Morehouse College, one of the a historically Black colleges and universities in the US. John talks about how his experience at Morehouse allowed him to explore his racial identity and experience the type of mentorship he couldn't at a majority white institution. John also tells me how mentors shaped his life, and how he gives back by mentoring. We discuss John's days on his college step team, doing conferences "right" (read: having fun), gymnastics, crunchy peanut butter, and more! 

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Jae Downing, PhD is an assistant professor in Oregon Health and Science University - Portland State University School of Public Health. Their research explores how policies and social safety nets shape healthcare for gender and sexual minority populations.  Jae tells me how they protect research time by setting boundaries on service, the challenges and exciting aspects of studying sexual and gender minority populations, becoming a parent in the pandemic, lessons Jae and their wife learned about second-parent adoption of their son, love of rom-coms, Bridgerton, Brene Brown, and more! 

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Marcia Pescador Jimenez, PhD is currently a postdoc in Epidemiology at Harvard, and will be transitioning to assistant professor at Boston University. Her research focuses on spatial determinants of health through the lifecourse. Marcia is originally from Mexico City, and talks about challenges of writing in English and negotiating a job offer in the US. She tells me how she puts together cold emails to other researchers to ask for help, despite her imposter syndrome. We laugh a lot in this episode, including about confusion over honeydew vs. Mountain Dew, Jane the Virgin on loop, scented candles, high-waisted pants, and more!

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Mercedes Carnethon, PhD, a chronic disease epidemiologist, is Vice Chair and Professor of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University. One of Merci's favorite things about her job is helping people navigate difficult conversations and mediating those conversations. She talks about how she approaches such conversations, including how to talk with an underperforming trainee or employee. From Merci's years as NIH review panel chair and standing member, she is an expert in grant writing, and offers tips from the reviewer's perspective. We also laugh about Zoom school, RoomRater, black licorice, the Krebs Cycle, and more!

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Noah Kreski, MPH trained at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and now serves as Kerry Keyes' data analyst at Columbia working on projects relating to depressive symptoms, suicidal behavior, and substance use among adolescents. Noah is also very interested in LGBTQ health justice and anti-violence. Today, Noah talks about their choice to earn their master's degree and hold off on a doctoral degree.  Noah wanted to share the feelings of how academia does not always make them feel safe and welcome, and ways that might change for the better. We discuss Noah's passion for making theater and table gaming, as well as our favorite drag names, playing Golden Girls Clue, and competitive gardening.

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