The GROklahoma Podcast Show

Jaclyn Huxford grew up in Goldthwaite, Texas: 38 classmates, 4-H projects, and a family that raised sheep. She learned early that if a baby lamb didn't get colostrum in the first twenty-four hours, it usually didn't make it. That wasn't a lesson. That was Tuesday. And it turns out, it was the beginning of a public health career. Today, she runs the Oklahoma Breastfeeding Hotline — 24/7, staffed on...

What if one of the most important investments you could make in your research career wasn’t a grant, a publication, or a promotion but a year that quietly rewires everything? Welcome to the first episode of 2026. I’m recording this from Seoul, South Korea, in the final months of my Fulbright U.S. Presidential STEM Scholar appointment. I came here to study cancer survivorship across cultures. What...

In this year-end episode, we sit down with Dr. Deirdra "Dee" Terrell, a Professor of Epidemiology at the Hudson College of Public Health at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, for a thoughtful conversation about what it really takes to do research that stays connected to people. Dr. Terrell reflects on her journey from growing up in a small rural town in Oklahoma to becoming a clini...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. David Bard, Professor, Children’s Health Foundation Endowed Research Chair in Pediatrics, and the Chief Research Informatics Officer at OUHS,  to unpack what it really takes to turn data into action in a state where health disparities run deep. Born in Oklahoma but raised across several states, Dr. Bard brings a uniquely flexible lens to his work at the interse...

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Courtney W. Houchen, George Lynn Cross Research Professor and Chair of Oncology at the OU Health Sciences Center. Dr. Houchen’s journey began in Brooklyn, where he was among the first children in the U.S. Head Start program. A love for math, science, and baseball led him to Howard and Atlanta University, where Nobel-trained mentors first introduced him to research....

In this episode, we sit down with Hope Reeves, a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma and a trainee in the American Cancer Society’s STRONG Program, an initiative designed to diversify the next generation of cancer researchers and healthcare professionals. Hope brings with her a powerful intersection of science and cultural insight, holding degrees in Human Health & Biology and Native...

In this episode, we sit down with Becky Mannel, a trailblazer in maternal and infant health whose journey began with a personal frustration: being a new mom struggling to breastfeed with no one around to help, not even in a hospital full of physicians. That experience lit a fire that would lead her to become a nationally recognized lactation advocate, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Mothers’ Mi...

What happens when a powerhouse in fintech and a molecular biologist walk into a PTA meeting? Magic, in the form of STEM nights, community grants, and generational impact. In this heartwarming episode, Dr. Lurdes Queimado (MD, PhD), a physician-scientist whose journey began in a rural Portuguese village under dictatorship rule, and Cheron Henry (MBA, MIS), a fintech leader and equity advocate born...

Continuing our exploration into Native American and American Indian health , this episode features Dr. Ashley Comiford, an epidemiologist at Cherokee Nation Health Services and a fierce advocate for equity. From a small Oklahoma town to leading research on cancer disparities, infectious disease, and tobacco-related illness, Dr. Comiford shares the powerful story of how her Cherokee identity shaped...

In this powerful episode, we explore how a federally funded initiative is shaping the future of healthcare across rural Oklahoma. Joining us are Dr. Susan Dresser, Regents Professor and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, OUHS, and three exceptional DNP students: Cody Bynum, Meagan Wright, and Debra Hawkins—each a recipient of the Oklahoma W...

Hope isn’t just a word—it’s action. It’s advocacy. It’s ensuring that no one has to choose between paying for cancer treatment and keeping a roof over their head. In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Michelle Fair, a dynamic leader in corporate philanthropy at the American Cancer Society (ACS), who has spent her career turning hope into tangible support for cancer patients. As Senior Direct...

The US, especially Oklahoma, is home to immigrants who play a vital role in shaping the healthcare landscape. Dr. Parisa Ghasemi is one such immigrant, making significant contributions to healthcare research. In this first episode of The GROklahoma Podcast for the year, we speak with Dr. Ghasemi, a physician, researcher, and lab administrator for The MORE Lab at the Health Promotion and Research C...

Today, we're honored to host not one, but two powerhouse leaders in health promotion and cancer research: Dr. Darla Kendzor and Dr. Michael Businelle, the dynamic duo behind the TSET Health Promotion Research Center (HPRC) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Not only are they co-directors dedicated to advancing research and reducing health disparities, but they’re also partners i...

In this episode of the GROklahoma Podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Karla Finnell, an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health. Dr. Finnell shared her inspiring journey from growing up in Comanche, Oklahoma, where her father worked in the oil fields and served as a rodeo judge, to her transformative experience in education when a professor’s...

Welcome (back) to the GROklahoma Podcast, we are honored to feature Dr. Adam Alexander, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and Faculty at the TSET Health Promotion Research Center. Dr. Alexander brings his unique blend of empathy, cultural competence, and cutting-edge research to the table. A native of Memphi...

This episode of the GROklahoma Podcast features Darbi Crist, a dedicated nurse educator and Oklahoma native with a rich background in postpartum care. Darbi shares her inspiring journey from aspiring sports trainer to becoming a third-generation nurse, reflecting on how her Guyanese roots have shaped her global perspectives and commitment to personal growth. She also talks about the fulfillment sh...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Natasha Bray, the Campus Dean at OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, OK. Dr. Bray shares her journey from medical student to dean, her passion for health equity, and her leadership in medical education. She discusses her early life in Oklahoma and how her father’s medical practice influenced her commitment to healthcare and...

In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Sarah Borengasser, an Associate Professor specializing in endocrinology and diabetes at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Borengasser shared her journey from being adopted from Korea and growing up in Mason City to becoming a distinguished researcher in obesity, nutrition, and exercise science, driven by her passion for running and exercise....

In this episode of the GROklahoma podcast, we're thrilled to have Margaret Robinson, the Senior Associate Director for the OUHSC Office of Interdisciplinary Programs, as our guest. Margaret's journey from rural Los Angeles, CA to Oklahoma is extraordinary, and she brings a wealth of expertise in fostering interdisciplinary learning experiences and facilitating faculty development. With a keen focu...

In this episode of GROklahoma podcast, we are honored to host Dr. James Mold, the George Lynn Cross Emeritus Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at OUHSC. Dr. Mold's journey from rural Ghana to Oklahoma is nothing short of extraordinary. His dedication to healthcare, particularly in geriatrics, has left an indelible mark on the field. The episode explores Dr. Mold's upbrin...

In our previous episode , we delved into an insightful conversation with Dr. Sydney Martinez and Dr. Corcoran, exploring their impactful work in community-engaged research inspired by their children’s battle with intestinal malrotation. For those just joining us or needing a refresher, we highly recommend revisiting that enlightening discussion as it perfectly sets the stage for today's exploratio...

Being a new mom is tough but imagine having a newborn with health challenges beyond the ordinary. Today, we introduce you to Dr. Sydney Martinez and Dr. Katie Corcoran, two moms and researchers deeply immersed in unraveling the complexities of intestinal malrotation. Dr. Sydney Martinez, an Assistant Professor in Epidemiology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and Dr. Katie Corc...

Welcome to another episode of the GROklahoma Podcast! In this edition, we are delighted to host Dr. Amanda Janitz, an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Hudson College of Public Health, OUHSC. Dr. Janitz's journey into epidemiology and public health was profoundly shaped by personal experiences, including the loss of a family member to leukemia and her husband's battle with cancer. Her pas...

In this episode, we're honored to have Dr. Natasha Mickel, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, Assistant Director for Faculty Development, and the Director of the Oklahoma Center for Mentoring Excellence (OCME) at OUHSC, showcasing her adept collaboration skills within diverse learning communities. From a fortuitous encounter with Dr. Valerie Williams to a...

Dr. Kelly Standifer, a distinguished neuropharmacology professor at the University of Oklahoma, brings to light her groundbreaking research on neuropeptides, particularly opioid peptides, and their pivotal role in pain management and brain injury recovery. Her passion for this field was sparked by a deeply personal experience—a near tragedy in her family that ignited her path toward studying pain...