In this episode, Lauren welcomes a very special guest; Dr. Jim Yong Kim, partner, vice chairman, and Global Infrastructure Partners (a part of BlackRock) emerging markets chairman as well as former President of the World Bank Group and director of the World Health Organization’s HIV/AIDS department.

Dr. Kim's background growing up in Iowa with Korean immigrant parents shaped his practical and moral approach to tackling complex global challenges.

His dual MD-PhD training in medicine and anthropology allowed him to bridge the social sciences and practical applications, leading him to co-found the groundbreaking organization Partners in Health.

At Partners in Health, Dr. Kim emphasized the importance of accompaniment and community health workers in providing equitable, effective care for the world's poorest populations.

After serving as President of Dartmouth College, Dr. Kim was nominated by President Obama to lead the World Bank, where he applied his on-the-ground experience and commitment to moral leadership.

Dr. Kim emphasizes the value of lifelong learning, humility, and learning from others as key aspects of effective leadership.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-reflections-on-40-years-in-global-health-with-dr-jim-yong-kim/

Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected]

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This is part 2 of Lauren's conversation with Dr. Wang about his work in atmospheric science and implications for public health.

Dr. Jun Wang's lab at the University of Iowa is developing innovative technologies for satellite remote sensing and low-cost environmental sensors to better understand and combat challenges like wildfires, air quality, and climate change.

The satellite remote sensing allows them to extract 3D information about smoke layers and fire lines, providing critical data to predict air quality and support firefighting efforts.

The low-cost "iCanopy" and "iAir" sensors measure air and soil conditions at a neighborhood scale, helping to address environmental justice issues and inform decision-makers about resource allocation.

Dr. Wang's lab is leading an interdisciplinary project to study how severe weather and climate change are affecting rural communities, using sensor networks to collect high-resolution data and make it accessible to local citizens.

The research aims to provide tangible, data-driven solutions to help rural communities better prepare for and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-under-the-weather-atmospheric-science-and-public-health-pt-2/

Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected]

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This two-part episode of the "Plugged In to Public Health" podcast features an interview with Dr. Jun Wang, an accomplished scientist and professor in the field of atmospheric sciences at the University of Iowa.

Dr. Wang grew up in a rural community in eastern China, where he developed a fascination with weather and climate from a young age. He was inspired by observing the daily changes in weather and its impacts on agriculture in his hometown.

After completing his bachelor's degree in atmospheric science in China, Dr. Wang pursued a master's degree and then a Ph.D. in the United States, where he specialized in satellite remote sensing and atmospheric chemistry.

Dr. Wang's research combines satellite data and chemistry transport models to investigate critical topics such as air quality, wildfires, and the interactions between aerosols, clouds, and the land-atmosphere system.

He has contributed to 10 satellite missions and holds numerous prestigious awards and accolades.

In the interview, Dr. Wang discusses the collaborative, interdisciplinary nature of atmospheric research, as it intersects with fields like public health, agriculture, and renewable energy. He also provides insights into the accuracy and challenges of numerical weather prediction models.

The second part of the interview will explore Dr. Wang's latest research projects, the future of remote sensing, and the next big challenges in atmospheric science.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-under-the-weather-atmospheric-science-and-public-health/

Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected]

You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks.

Lauren's guest this week is Dr. Tamara Marcus.

Dr. Marcus is a climate scientist and activist co-founding Empowered Solutions Collective, a sustainability consulting group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her journey began in undergraduate studies, where she pivoted from pre-med to climate research, working in diverse ecosystems around the world.

As an activist, Dr. Marcus is committed to creating accessible, equitable sustainability projects that address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. Her work with Empowered Solutions Collective focuses on providing tailored solutions and community-informed initiatives, from resilience hubs to food access projects.

Dr. Marcus emphasizes the importance of self-care and staying encouraged in this challenging work, stressing that solutions require collective, relationship-building efforts rather than just data or infrastructure alone. She advocates for more activist approaches in local government to drive urgent climate action.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-climate-change-and-impacts-on-vulnerable-populations/

Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected]

You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks.

Halle Eisfelder, a senior environmental engineering student at the University of Iowa, shares her experiences working on clean water initiatives in rural India. Her journey highlights the critical importance of water access as a public health issue and the power of community-driven solutions. Halle describes the lack of running water and reliance on wells and water tankers in the rural communities she visited. She details how the SM Sehgal Foundation worked to install check dams and rainwater harvesting systems to improve water quality and access. Halle emphasizes the value of open-mindedness and simple but creative solutions in international development work. She encourages students and young professionals to seek out opportunities to gain global experiences and contribute to sustainability efforts.

Read more about Halle's work in India at https://tinyurl.com/bde6nsdp

A transcript of this episode is available at https://tinyurl.com/4vtjyvb4

Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected]

You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks.

Our guest this week is Kassie Owens, a master's student in health administration and health policy at the University of Iowa. She shares her unique journey that led her to explore healthcare policy and management. Kassie discusses her recent global health internship in Romania, where she worked with the local LGBTQ community on healthcare access and promotion initiatives. She highlights key lessons from her experience, including the universality of healthcare challenges such as funding and staffing issues, the importance of language accessibility, and the value of immersing oneself in different cultures to gain new perspectives. Kassie's insights underscore the applicability of healthcare management and public health knowledge globally, and her passion for improving healthcare equity is inspiring.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-student-kassie-owens-perspective-on-public-health/

Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected]

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Lauren interviews Daniela Moga about her professional journey from medical training in her home country of Romania to pursuing degrees in public health and epidemiology at the University of Iowa to her current career in pharmacoepidemiology at the University of Kentucky.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-a-professional-journey-with-dr-daniela-moga/

Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected]

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This week's episode features a discussion with University of Iowa College of Public Health Dean, Edith Parker. This year is the college's 25th anniversary and Dean Parker touches in some past accomplishments and milestones while looking ahead to future challenges and opportunities. She also talks about her personal journey to the field of public health.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-reflecting-on-the-colleges-25th-anniversary-with-dean-parker/

Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected]

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New season, new name, new look, same great content.

Get 'Plugged in to Public Health' with this terrific conversation about global health and the study abroad experience with epidemiology student Emily Jester, who spent time in Romania last summer working and learning about public health, violence, and injury prevention issues there.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/podcast-public-health-and-the-global-learning-experience/

Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected]

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Part 2 of 2: Lauren and Josiah Rich continue their conversation about the current state of medical education and the opioid epidemic and touch on the history of the crisis, the challenges faced in addressing addiction treatment, and the need for improvements in medical school curriculums. Dr. Rich also highlights the dangers of contaminated illegal drugs, the importance of providing treatment for opioid use disorder, and the need to reduce stigma surrounding addiction.

A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/from-the-front-row-addiction-treatment-and-public-health-part-2/

Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected]

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