Salma Abdalla

Complicating The Narrative

Science EN ↓ 30 episodes

In this podcast, hosted by Dr. Salma Abdalla—Assistant Professor and Director of the Healthier Futures Lab at Washington University in St. Louis—we provide rigorous, evidence-based analysis of complex population health challenges. In a time of social, economic, and political upheaval—marked by eroding public trust, polarized narratives, and growing uncertainty—this podcast aims to challenge oversimplified narratives about the forces that shape the health of populations. Salma engages guests from across disciplines in rigorous, evidence-based conversations that challenge conventional wisdom. Th...

Author

Salma Abdalla

Episodes

Uncertainty in epidemiology with Dr. Matthew A. Fox 16.09.2025 1:14:40

What is epidemiology and how do we ensure that research is done right in this field? Dr. Matthew A. Fox, Professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Global Health at Boston University School of Public Health, has dedicated his career to ensuring that epidemiologists get it right. In this episode, Salma and Matt explore what epidemiology actually is, and is not, and discuss the importance of f...

Curiosity and careful thinking about research can help change the world with Dr. Maria Glymour 02.09.2025 1:01:14

How can we capture complex social phenomena impacting health in research? Dr. Maria Glymour, Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health, has focused her research on the social factors influencing dementia and cognitive function in old age. Salma and Maria analyze the dementia research landscape and discuss the key elements of the research p...

Health diplomacy in an evolving global health landscape with Dr. Anders Nördstrom 19.08.2025 59:33

In this deeply challenging moment for global health and international relations, how do we navigate the public health challenges that transcend borders? Dr. Anders Nördstrom, program director of the Health Diplomacy Initiative at the Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm School of Economics has unique experience in working at the intersection of health, politics, economics, and international rel...

Manufacturing Doubt: the commercial determinants of health with Dr. Nason Maani 05.08.2025 1:08:52

How do powerful industries shape what we believe about health risks—and what we don't? Dr. Nason Maani, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Inequalities and Global Health Policy at the University of Edinburgh, has spent years uncovering how commercial interests influence public health understanding. Salma and Nason tackle the commercial determinants of health framework, moving beyond the typi...

Rethinking Public Health with Dean Sandro Galea 21.07.2025 51:03

As public health faces mounting challenges, what does meaningful progress actually look like? This inaugural episode features Sandro Galea, Margaret C. Ryan Dean and Eugene S. and Constance Kahn Distinguished Professor at Washington University's newly established School of Public Health. Salma and Dean Galea dive deep into his concept of "consequential epidemiology"—the idea that research should d...