C2: Critical Conversations that Lie at the Heart of Health Justice

Across the country, immigrants contribute to the fabric of our society. Working essential jobs, raising families, and enriching our neighborhoods. When it comes to health care, however, many face barriers that go far beyond the doctor’s office: language obstacles, limited access to insurance, fear tied to immigration status, and cultural differences that can make navigating the system overwhelming...

Our discussion today focuses on Disability Justice, a movement that centers the voices and experiences of those most marginalized, recognizing that disability is not a single, isolated experience. Disability inclusion is vital for social justice. It is deeply interconnected with race, class, gender, and other systems of oppression. Their slogan ‘'Nothing About Us Without Us' is a powerful...

Fellowships are a wonderful way for students to pursue additional hands-on experience during their academic career. They’re defined as any amount paid or allotted to, or for the benefit of, an individual to aid such individual in the pursuit of study or research. There are two types of fellowships that the Center of Excellence offers: practice and research. Practice fellows work closely with commu...

There have been a lot of public health topics that have become widely discussed, dissected, and debated within public discourse: Vaccines, Climate Change, Nutrition, and especially Autism. Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnoses have increased in recent years, sparking a variety of positive, but also negative, responses. Over the years, increased research has led to more understanding about h...

I am joined by Dr. Uchenna Ndulue. Dr. Ndulue is a public health professional with over 30 years of experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating programs that support young people. He is the Bureau Director for the Child, Adolescent, and Family Health Bureau at the Boston Public Health Commission , the public health agency for the city of Boston, and provides oversight over programs that...

I’m joined today by Dr. Eugene Declercq, a Professor of Community Health Sciences here at BU SPH. He is the creator of the website www.birthbythenumbers.org , and a current member of the Massachusetts Maternal Mortality Review Committee. He is also one of the founders of the Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal data system that has linked vital statistics, hospital, and administrative data on more...

Midwifery is a practice that dates back centuries. For millennia, women relied on midwives to attend them before, during, and after childbirth. With the evolution of medicine over the years, the use of midwives has waned in developed nations, whereas many low and middle-income countries still rely on them. However, over the last few decades, there has been an increase in the use of midwives in cou...

The month of March is also known as Women’s History Month. As we take this month to reflect on the advances women have made, what they have achieved, and all of the amazing things women can do, it’s fitting then that today’s episode will also focus on the power of a woman’s body. Specifically, Breastfeeding and all the wonderful ways it can impact an infant’s health. I’m joined today by Emily-Swis...

Welcome to Season 4 of C2: Critical Conversations that Lie at the Heart of Health Justice! Zuri O'Balles introduces this season as the new host and shares what is to be expected from this upcoming season. We hope that these episodes will encourage listeners to engage in thoughtful discussions around Maternal and Child Health with their communities. Welcome back and thanks for tuning in! Please...

Menstrual equity is not a new concept to public health. But, besides cost and availability, have you ever considered safety as another dimension to period health? Alexandra Scranton from Women’s Voices of the Earth joins us to talk about the role of chemical exposures in menstrual products, their regulation/marketing, and the stigma that underlies the whole system.  Alexandra Scranton (she/her) is...

Money is a taboo subject in general, but it’s even more off-limits for women. How does the gendering of personal finance affect women’s financial and physical health? And, what roles do stigma and shame play in achieving financial wellness? Ariana Contreras from Women’s Money Matters joins us to answer these questions, as well as talk about her organization’s approach to a women centered and empow...

What do you get when you mix MCH students & early professionals, passion for advocacy and awareness, and an online platform to bring it all together? The answer looks something like the Maternal and Child Health National Network. MCHNN Leadership Board members Taylor, Tamya, and Alizah talk with us to explain what the MCHNN is, where it's going, and what it hopes to do for those interested in...

So much of our lives revolve around work. And in the U.S., so do our benefits. Drs. Pamela Joshi and Alison Earle join us to talk about how workplace policies affect women and their families. We explore work as a social determinant of health, the impact of caregiving on women, and international differences in paid leave policies.  Dr. Pamela Joshi is a senior scientist and the associate director o...

Maternal and Child Health is powered by academic and community perspectives. But what about the behind-the-desk outlook? On this special episode, we hear from four Boston University School of Public Health students and current MCH fellows through the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health as they share their stories, takeaways, and hopes for MCH’s future. Fiona Schicho is entering her f...

We often hear that kids today “are always on their phones”—but aren’t adults also spending increased amounts of time online? Dr. Monica Wang joins us to talk about how technology has changed lives across all generations and how it can be used to change our health (for better and for worse). We specifically explore digital redlining and health misinformation as two facets of technology that have an...

Sex education, colloquially referred to as “sex ed,” carries a variety of meanings depending on when and where you grew up in the United States. Why is there so much variance in what is taught and how does this affect young folks, especially those belonging to the LGBTQIA community? Dr. Sophie Godley joins us to answer these questions and more as we try to make sense of the good, the bad, and the...

In the second episode of this 2-part series, we continue our conversation with Dr. Lisa Erlanger. Join us as we explore the foundations of weight-inclusive primary care and “peel back the onion” that is diet culture. We also discuss how research and everyday discourse about weight can be misleading and what we can do to fix these misconceptions. Dr. Lisa Erlanger is a board-certified family physic...

You walk into a doctor’s office for an appointment, and what is the first thing you are asked to do? Step on a scale. For some, this experience or number fails to generate a heightened response. However, most of us have complicated and deeply personal relationships with our body and weight. Have you ever stopped to question why all doctor’s visits start this way? Or, have you ever wondered why you...

Welcome to Season 3 of C2: Critical Conversations that Lie at the Heart of Health Justice! Becca Rohac introduces the season as the new host and shares what listeners can expect from Season 3. We hope these episodes serve you in learning and carrying conversations around health justice issues with your peers, families, and communities. Hello again to those returning and welcome to those joining! W...

There exists an alluring public perception of substance misuse among young adults in high school and college. Drugs and alcohol are strategically marketed to adolescents, and this has profound public health consequences. Various examples from television, film, and social media highlight a glamorous and glorified portrayal of substance abuse. We welcome Dr. Noel Vest, PhD to the podcast to discuss...

Over the last two decades, there have been profound advancements in what we know about the implications of ancestral trauma on the health and wellbeing of future generations. The question we investigate today: how is intergenerational trauma relevant to public health? We welcome Dr. Alicia Mendez to help answer this question. Dr. Mendez is a research assistant professor at Boston University’s scho...

*Various sensitive topics that may be triggering for some listeners will be discussed in this production, so listener discretion is advised.* The topic of this month’s episode is sexual violence. Women in the United States suffer from sexual violence at alarming rates. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over half of women have experienced sexual violence involving ph...

This episode is the second part of our Season 2 Doula Series. Doula care has been proven to improve the health outcomes of birthing individuals, yet access to this service remains limited. We welcome Cara Safon, a fourth-year PhD candidate at BUSPH, to discuss the mechanisms behind the benefits of doula care and ways to improve accessibility to this type of care. Tune in as we continue our Doula C...

Doula care has been proven to improve the health outcomes of birthing individuals, yet access to these services remains limited. Birthing Gently recently partnered with Massachusetts General Brigham as part of its  United Against Racism Project . The goal of the program is to match Birth Doulas with low-income and at-risk patients. We welcome Katia Powell-Laurent, PhD to our podcast to discuss the...

The phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy has escalated significantly over the last decade. Skepticism surrounding immunization, however, is not a new reality in the United States. In Episode 4 of our second season, we welcome Professor Matthew Motta, PhD to the podcast as we trace vaccine hesitancy back to our nation's founding. We discuss the various triggers that have fueled anti-vaccination sent...