What is Global Health?

In this episode of What is Global Health? Bowei Li from our Online Division interviews Dr. Ana Navas-Acien, chair of Environmental Health Sciences at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. Centered around Dr. Navas-Acien’s path from a medical student to pursuing  environmental epidemiology, they discuss the nuances of a career in public health as well as the complementary aspects…

A big part of feeling healthy, or on the way to feeling healthy, is simply understanding a condition and feeling supported throughout the care process. In this interview with Dr. Juan Manuel Schvartzman, physician scientist at the Columbia Medical Center, we chat about the intricacies and importance of effective science communication in healthcare settings. Specializing…

In this episode of What is Global Health, Eliana Weinsaft speaks with Barnard student Jem Hanan and The Cooper Union School student Joseph Hedaya on factors that make it difficult to eat food due to dietary restrictions and meal plan regulations on college campuses. College students were interviewed for this podcast to hear their thoughts…

Professor Bill Bower Image credit: https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/profile/bill-bower-mph In this episode of “What is Global Health,” Kyle Tong speaks with Professor Bill Bower about the training of lay health workers, the current Tuberculosis landscape, and Bower’s extensive experiences in global health.  Professor Bill Bower is a Special Lecturer in Population and Family Health at the Columbia University Mailman…

Professor Rachel Austin Image Credit: https://barnard.edu/profiles/rachel-narehood-austin In this episode of “What is Global Health,” Eliana Weinsaft (BC’27) spoke with Professor Rachel Austin from Barnard College’s Chemistry Department about her research journey, and what students should keep in mind if considering a career in science or research. Professor Austin gives insight into opportunities within the institution and…

This episode is a continuation of the last episode. Lucia Arico-Muendel speaks with Dr. Valerie Flaherman more about her research on infants in low- to middle-income countries, focusing on ethical considerations, COVID complications, results and next steps.  Dr. Flaherman is a pediatrician and global health researcher at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research…

In this episode of WiGH, Lucia Arico-Muendel speaks with Dr. Valerie Flaherman about her research on how breastfeeding and formula-feeding regimens affect infant growth during the first month of life, mainly in low-income countries such as Guinea Bissau and Uganda. Dr. Flaherman is a pediatrician and global health researcher at the University of California, San…

In this episode of “What is Global Health,” Monica Manmadkar spoke with Dr. Mary Beth Terry from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health on the malaria epidemic. Dr. Terry gives insight into how data science is being used increasingly in public health analyses and research.  Dr. Terry is a professor at the Mailman School…

In this episode of “What is Global Health,” Madeleine Hum (CC’24) spoke with Dr. Patrick Kachur from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health on the malaria epidemic. Dr. Kachur gives insight into traditional prevention and treatment solutions used to combat malaria and explains the significance of the new malaria vaccine that has been approved and recommended by the World Health Organization. Dr. Patrick Kachur is a professor at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University Medical Center.

Dr. Patrick Kachur is a professor at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University Medical Center. He directs the Advancing Research on Comprehensive Health Systems (ARCHes) program in the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health which focuses on designing and testing health systems interventions at scale and driving evidenced-based improvement of these initiatives. Dr. Kachur is also a faculty member of the Program on Forced Migration and Health which develops evidence-based approaches to humanitarian response and in training the next generation of global leaders. 

His research focuses on experimental and observational epidemiology and health systems studies examining the effectiveness and equity of malaria and child health interventions, with an emphasis on real world research that shapes policies and programs. He contributed to interdisciplinary research establishing the efficacy of insecticide-treated nets in western Kenya and the feasibility and impact of routine use of artemisinin-based combination therapy in Tanzania. For much of his career, he was based at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where he held leadership roles in the Malaria Branch and Center for Global Health. He currently serves on the World Health Organization’s Malaria Policy Advisory Group.

Transcript (via Sonix)

Madeleine Hum: [00:00:07] Hello, everyone, welcome to this episode of the podcast of “What is Global Health?” My name is Madeleine Hum Humm, and on today's episode, we are going to talk with Dr. Patrick Kachur about the malaria epidemic and the new milestone to fighting malaria with a groundbreaking malaria vaccine that has been recently recommended by the World Health Organization. Our guest today, Dr. Kachur, is a public health physician with 30 years of experience in global health practice. He completed his clinical and residency training at the Mary Imaging Bassett Hospital and Johns Hopkins University, and a community health fellowship at the University of Ilorin in Nigeria. For much of his career, he was based at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he held leadership roles in the malaria branch and Center for Global Health, receiving the agency's highest service award. His research and scholarship have focused on experimental and observational epidemiology and health system studies that examines the effectiveness and equity of malaria in child health interventions, with an emphasis on real world research that shapes policies and programs. He contributed to interdisciplinary research establishing the efficacy of insecticide treated nets in western Kenya and the feasibility and impact of routine use of artemisinin-based combination therapy in Tanzania. Dr Kachur joined the faculty at the Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in Twenty Eighteen, where he coordinates implementation science partnerships with a focus on expanding access to quality global health programs and services. He now serves on the World Health Organization's Malaria Policy Advisory Group. Hello, Dr. Kachur. Thank you for joining me on this episode. We are happy to have you with us and hear more about your research and malaria expertise to get us started. Can you tell us how you became interested in studying the malaria epidemic and your journey from a practicing physician to a malaria expert and researcher?

Dr. Patrick Kachur: [00:01:59] Sure. I grew up just west of

In this episode of “What is Global Health,” Bowei Li (CC’26) spoke with Dr. Bradley Pitcher from Columbia University on the risks associated with volcanoes. Dr. Pitcher explains the health consequences that volcanoes induce and the tradeoffs that communities make in living near them. He also gives insight into future trends in volcanic activity in…