What is Public Health with Dr. Kee Chan

2025 was loud. The headlines were heavy. But underneath the noise, public health was doing what it always does best: protecting us in ways we rarely see. In this episode, Dr. Kee Chan breaks down the biggest 2025 health stories in plain language, shares a personal milestone of finishing her textbook, and looks ahead to what to watch in 2026, including AI, medtech, healthy aging, mental health, and wellness trends.

In this episode, we cover

- The public health story underneath major 2025 headlines

- A behind the scenes look at finishing Public and Population Health Perspectives for Health Systems Management

- What’s coming in 2026: AI, regulation, equity, aging, and mental health access

- A simple holiday framework to protect your health and your peace: Me, We, World

Connect with Dr. Kee Chan
Website: keechanphd.com
Follow and connect on LinkedIn: Dr. Kee Chan

I’m your host, Dr. Kee Chan. This is What Is Public Health? Stay curious, stay well, and remember: public health is all of us, for all of us.

Burnout has become the silent epidemic within our healthcare system — draining energy, compassion, and billions of dollars every year. In this episode, Dr. Kee Chan unpacks the real cost of clinician burnout and reveals why prevention isn’t just good medicine — it’s good economics.

Drawing from her textbook Public and Population Health: Perspectives for Health Systems Management, she introduces the Social Return on Investment (SROI) model and shows how design thinking and systems thinking can reframe workforce well-being as a measurable strategy, not an afterthought.

Listeners will learn:

• Why clinician burnout is a systems failure, not a personal flaw
• How prevention yields measurable financial and human ROI
• What healthcare leaders can do to redesign workplaces for resilience and retention
• Why investing in the people who care for us is the smartest, most sustainable public-health strategy of all

“When we design systems that care for caregivers, we don’t just heal burnout — we heal healthcare itself.”

Resources: 

Public and Population Health: Perspectives for Health Systems Management (American College of Healthcare Executives)

Tags / Hashtags:
#PublicHealth #HealthcareLeadership #Burnout #WorkforceWellness #HealthcareInnovation #DesignThinking #SystemsThinking #ROI #SROI #Nursing #PhysicianBurnout #Wellness #HealthcareStrategy #KeeChanPhD #WhatIsPublicHealth

In this episode, Dr. Kee Chan explores how screens are shaping childhood today—and what parents, educators, and communities can do to foster balance and well-being.
We often hear about the harms of technology, but there are also real opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection. What does the science say about early screen use, attention, and social development? How can families find balance in an age of constant connectivity?

Key Points:

• How childhood has changed in the digital era

• What research says about screen time and child development

• The mental, social, and physical impacts of excessive screen use

• The benefits of technology for learning and creativity

• Practical strategies to guide children toward healthy tech habits

Takeaway:
Raising healthy kids in a screen-filled world isn’t about eliminating technology—it’s about helping children use it with awareness, curiosity, and purpose.

We’re excited to share our latest What is Public Health? episode featuring Dr. Jim Kaput, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Vydiant Inc.

In this episode, we explore:

• The science and story behind OneHealth Pro, a platform mapping over 7,000 evidence-based health relationships
• How systems biology and nutrigenomics are redefining our approach to malnutrition and chronic disease
• The role of AI and digital tools in creating personalized yet equitable health solutions
• Jim’s insights from decades at the FDA, Nestlé, and in global nutrition science

If you’re curious about the future of health tech, personalized medicine, or just love hearing from brilliant minds at the intersection of science and public impact—this one’s for you.
Learn more: www.vydiant.com

#Podcast #PublicHealth #DigitalHealth #PersonalizedMedicine #Nutrigenomics #SystemsThinking #AIinHealthcare #WhatIsPublicHealth

Welcome to Season 3 of the What is Public Health? podcast!

This season, we’re exploring the future of health — and what it means for both communities and individuals. From groundbreaking innovations in public and population health to the rise of personalized medicine, nutrition, and wellness, we’ll bring you conversations that connect science, practice, and everyday life.

What you can expect this season:

• The latest issues shaping public health and health equity

• Insights into personalized health, precision medicine, and nutrition

• How data, design thinking, and systems approaches are transforming healthcare

• Practical takeaways for personal wellness and community well-being

You’ll hear from researchers, innovators, and thought leaders who are reimagining health — bridging the gap between big-picture policy and personal everyday choices.

Whether you’re a public health professional, a student, or simply curious about how health touches every part of life, this season offers something for you.

Subscribe now and join us as we rethink what health means for all of us!

In this timely episode, the host of "What is Public Health" podcast, Dr. Kee Chan unpacks the recent changes to the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations—particularly the shift from a strong recommendation to a more neutral “may get vaccinated” stance for healthy children and pregnant women. But what’s raising eyebrows is that this shift was publicly announced first by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., before the CDC’s advisory panels weighed in.

We explore:

• ​What the policy change says and why it matters
• ​The science behind vaccine efficacy and herd immunity
• ​The implications of political announcements overriding scientific process
• ​What individuals and families should do in light of these updates

Key Takeaways:

• ​Understand how vaccines work and why herd immunity matters
• ​Learn how political interference may impact science-based recommendations
• ​Get tips on how to make informed decisions for yourself and your family

Referenced News & Resources:

• ​CDC’s Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance – May 2025
• ​HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s May 2025 Announcement
• ​Washington Post: Tensions Between CDC and HHS on Vaccine Policy
• ​American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Statement on Maternal Vaccination
• ​KFF: Vaccine Hesitancy and Political Messaging

Subscribe, rate, and share! If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

From brain berries to mushroom powders, today’s smoothie comes packed with promises: sharper focus, better memory, and even protection against dementia. But are these claims backed by science—or just wellness marketing with a green glow?

In this episode, the host, Dr. Kee Chan breaks down the most talked-about “brain foods” like MCT oil, turmeric, lion’s mane, and collagen through the lens of nutritional neuroscience and public health.

You’ll learn:

• What the latest research really says about these trendy ingredients

• Why individual superfoods aren’t magic—but daily habits might be

• How public health reframes brain health as a collective issue, not just a consumer choice

• What smoothies reveal about equity, access, and health misinformation

Spoiler alert: That $14 smoothie might taste amazing—but it’s not your brain’s entire wellness plan.

Tune in if you’ve ever wondered:

• Is this actually helping my brain—or just making my wallet lighter?

• What’s hype and what’s evidence when it comes to cognitive health and nutrition?

• How can we make brain health accessible, inclusive, and supported by systems—not just supplements?

Public Health Takeaway:
Smoothies are fine. But systems matter more. Brain health is about policy, prevention, and daily practices that work for everyone—not just those who can afford tasty magic .

In this episode, we explore the power of music as a tool for emotional healing and developmental support in childhood. I’m joined by two remarkable guests: Dr. Nicole St. Jean and Dr. Sarah Bartolome, who are co-leading of the Music for Childhood Well-Being Initiative (MCWI) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Together, they bring deep experience in education, public health, and the healing arts.

Dr. Nicole St. Jean is an educator, counselor, and advocate for trauma-informed practices in schools. Dr. Sarah Bartolome is a music educator and researcher whose work bridges music, identity, and child development. Together, they share the vision behind MCWI and how music can be integrated into the lives of children to support their mental health and emotional growth.

Key takeaways from this conversation:

• Music is more than art—it's a therapeutic tool that can promote regulation, resilience, and connection, particularly for children who have experienced trauma.
• The Music for Childhood Well-Being Initiative (MCWI) is creating new models that blend public health, education, and music to meet the emotional needs of children where they are across the globe.
• Healing through music often happens without words. It creates a safe space for children to express what they may not yet be able to say.
• Supporting children's well-being requires collaboration across disciplines—and a willingness to listen, adapt, and lead with empathy.

Whether you’re an educator, health professional, or parent, this conversation offers powerful insights into how music can be used to support the whole child.

Resources:

https://buffett.northwestern.edu/research/global-working-groups/trauma,-music,-and-the-breath-working-group.html

Featured articles from Northwestern:

https://buffett.northwestern.edu/documents/buffett-brief-trauma-music-and-the-breath.pdf

https://music.northwestern.edu/news/2024/music-childhood-well-being

https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/05/01/campus/music-for-childhood-well-being-initiative-uses-music-to-support-childrens-well-being-worldwide/

#MusicForWellbeing #ChildhoodMentalHealth #MCWI #PublicHealth #TraumaInformedCare #ArtsInHealth #WholeChildDevelopment

In this solo episode, the podcast host, Dr. Kee Chan shares the inspiration, framework, and real-world applications behind her new textbook, Public and Population Health: Perspectives for Health Systems Management, published by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

Drawing from years of teaching public health management at the University of Illinois Chicago alongside co-author Richard Sewell, Dr. Chan highlights why design thinking and systems thinking are essential to solving today’s “wicked” health problems. This episode is both a behind-the-scenes look at the book and a conversation about why leadership, empathy, and strategic thinking are critical for the next generation of public health professionals.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- Why design thinking belongs in public health classrooms and leadership circles.

- What makes this textbook different from traditional public health texts.

- How students and instructors can use the book to bridge theory and practice.

- Key topics and tools from Chapter 2: Design Thinking for Population Health.

- Why blending public health and population health perspectives is necessary in today’s systems.

Who this episode is for:

- Public health, healthcare administration, and nonprofit management students.

- Faculty seeking practical, case-based curriculum aligned with CEPH and CAHME competencies.

- Practitioners moving into leadership roles in health systems, community organizations, or policy.

- Anyone looking to integrate innovation, equity, and systems change into their work.

Resources Mentioned:

- Order the textbook: www.ache.org/learning-center/publications/books/2529I

- Request an exam copy or instructor materials: [email protected]

- Learn more about Kee Chan: www.keechanphd.com

- Explore ACHE Learn digital platform: www.ache.org/learning-center

Share this episode with:A colleague teaching public health leadership, a student looking for real-world tools, or anyone rethinking how we design and manage health systems.

Connect with the host, Dr. Kee Chan, on LinkedIn:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/keechan

#designthinking #systemthinking #publichealth #populationhealth

In this powerful episode of What is Public Health Podcast, we sit down with Nicole Hurd, a passionate advocate and entrepreneur who created the EmpowHer app after her own experience navigating the emotional challenges of postpartum life.

We explore how the app is addressing a long-overlooked public health crisis: the maternal mental health gap. From prenatal anxiety to postpartum depression, far too many mothers face these struggles in silence. Nicole shares her journey and how EmpowHer is building digital bridges to connection, self-care, and support.

In this conversation, we discuss:

- Why maternal mental health is a critical part of public health

- The inspiration behind the EmpowHer app

- How digital tools can support emotional well-being for new moms

- The power of peer connection and community during early motherhood

Learn more about EmpowHer: https://empowherio.com

#MaternalHealth #PublicHealth #DigitalHealth #PostpartumSupport #EmpowHer #MentalHealthAwareness #WhatIsPublicHealth #MomsMatter