Going Viral: From Baltimore to the World

A tick bite may seem like a minor inconvenience, but for thousands of people each year, it can lead to a complex illness with symptoms that range from a rash and fever to chronic fatigue, joint pain, and neurological complications. In this episode, Kalpana Shere-Wolfe, MD , Assistant Professor of Medicine, discusses Lyme disease—from how it's transmitted and why early diagnosis matters to the...

In this episode, Walker Weinstein, RN of the Jacques Initiative, covers why some STIs show no symptoms at all, how regular testing should become as routine as a dental cleaning, and why sexual health conversations don’t have to be awkward. Whether you’re navigating dating, in a long-term relationship, or simply want to stay informed, this episode offers practical advice and a reminder that taking...

What do barbershop bloodletting, salon gossip, and modern-day sexual health education have in common? More than you’d think. In this episode, we sit down with the team behind Tea Talks , a bold initiative from the Jacques Initiative that’s bringing sexual health education straight into beauty salons—because sometimes the best place to talk about protection comes with a manicure. Disclaimer: The vi...

What can global HIV care in Zambia teach us about building stronger health systems in Baltimore? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Cassidy Claassen, an infectious disease and public health physician based in Lusaka, Zambia, whose work focuses on expanding HIV care in resource-limited settings through community-based interventions. Dr. Claassen shares insights from the front lines of HIV treatme...

What does truly patient-centered HIV care look like in practice—and what drives the people who provide it every day? We sit down with THRIVE Program’s community outreach worker and Ryan White specialist Eric Anderson , and health program director Robyn Palmerio , for an inside look at how their team walks with patients from the very first step. From meeting people exactly where they are to creatin...

What does it mean to be Indigenous in a modern American city? This episode, we continue our conversation with Kerry Hawk Lessard, Executive Director of Native American Lifelines, about the deep and often overlooked history of Baltimore’s Indigenous tribes — and the vibrant Urban Indigenous community that calls the city home today. From cultural preservation to health equity, Lessard shares how ide...

What does it mean to be Indigenous in a modern American city? This episode, we speak with Kerry Hawk Lessard , Executive Director of Native American Lifelines , about the deep and often overlooked history of Baltimore’s Indigenous tribes — and the vibrant Urban Indigenous community that calls the city home today. From cultural preservation to health equity, Lessard shares how identity, tradition,...

Can a disease shape the modern world? This episode explores the medical and social legacy of tuberculosis, once known as the “White Plague.” Dr. Paul Saleeb discusses how scientific progress, public health innovation, and community partnerships have helped overcome one of humanity’s oldest and deadliest infections. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts...

What does it really take to heal a city in crisis? In this episode, we sit down with a frontline worker and a resident in long-term recovery to talk about the opioid epidemic from both sides of the fight. Together, they share hard truths about stigma, survival, and the everyday acts of compassion that are transforming how communities confront addiction. Guest: Candy Kerr LinkedIn Baltimore Harm Re...

What does it mean to truly meet patients where they are? And how can care rooted in compassion transform health outcomes? In this episode, Baltimore native and nurse Walker Weinstein shares how IHV’s Jacques Initiative provides status-neutral HIV and hepatitis services, gender-affirming care, and community outreach that puts dignity first. Guest: Walker Weinstein, RN https://jacques.ihv.org/ Testi...

You got the call. The transplant was a success. Now what? For thousands of people, receiving a new organ is just the start of the journey—not the end. In this episode, Dr. Kapil Saharia, an infectious disease expert, pulls back the curtain on what happens next: the hidden battle to protect that new organ from infections while keeping the immune system in check. Learn why post-transplant care is a...

What happens when a once-fatal diagnosis becomes a lifelong condition? In this episode, Dr. Poonam Mathur joins us as we dive into the changing landscape of treatment of HIV – how it’s evolved from a health crisis into a chronic, manageable disease—and what that means for a generation now aging with the virus. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and...

You’ve seen the headlines. Overdose numbers. A city in crisis. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Kattakuzhy, Associate Director of the Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine and Co-Director, Research Initiative on Infectious Disease and Substance Use Disorder, takes us inside Baltimore’s opioid epidemic. From the tangled roots of addiction to the real-world impact of harm reduction strategies. It’s a c...