University of Iowa College of Public Health

Lauren welcomes her guest, Dr. Steven Levy, to talk about the role of fluoride in public health and oral health and the controversy about a recent study making an association between fluoride exposure and children's IQ. They also touch on: The history and rationale behind water fluoridation as a key public health intervention to prevent tooth decay, including how it provides benefits across socioe...

Lauren welcomes 3 very special guests for this episode exploring leadership and building successful teams: Fran McCaffrey, the head coach of the University of Iowa men's basketball team; Dr. Matt Howard, Chief of Neurosurgery at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics; and Jon Darsee, Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Iowa and president of the Research Park Corporation. Key takeawa...

In this episode, Lauren welcomes a very special guest; Dr. Jim Yong Kim, partner, vice chairman, and Global Infrastructure Partners (a part of BlackRock) emerging markets chairman as well as former President of the World Bank Group and director of the World Health Organization’s HIV/AIDS department. Dr. Kim's background growing up in Iowa with Korean immigrant parents shaped his practical and mora...

This is part 2 of Lauren's conversation with Dr. Wang about his work in atmospheric science and implications for public health. Dr. Jun Wang's lab at the University of Iowa is developing innovative technologies for satellite remote sensing and low-cost environmental sensors to better understand and combat challenges like wildfires, air quality, and climate change. The satellite remote sensing allo...

This two-part episode of the "Plugged In to Public Health" podcast features an interview with Dr. Jun Wang, an accomplished scientist and professor in the field of atmospheric sciences at the University of Iowa. Dr. Wang grew up in a rural community in eastern China, where he developed a fascination with weather and climate from a young age. He was inspired by observing the daily changes in weathe...

Lauren's guest this week is Dr. Tamara Marcus. Dr. Marcus is a climate scientist and activist co-founding Empowered Solutions Collective, a sustainability consulting group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her journey began in undergraduate studies, where she pivoted from pre-med to climate research, working in diverse ecosystems around the world. As an activist, Dr. Marcus is committed to creating accessibl...

Halle Eisfelder, a senior environmental engineering student at the University of Iowa, shares her experiences working on clean water initiatives in rural India. Her journey highlights the critical importance of water access as a public health issue and the power of community-driven solutions. Halle describes the lack of running water and reliance on wells and water tankers in the rural communities...

Our guest this week is Kassie Owens, a master's student in health administration and health policy at the University of Iowa. She shares her unique journey that led her to explore healthcare policy and management. Kassie discusses her recent global health internship in Romania, where she worked with the local LGBTQ community on healthcare access and promotion initiatives. She highlights key lesson...

Lauren interviews Daniela Moga about her professional journey from medical training in her home country of Romania to pursuing degrees in public health and epidemiology at the University of Iowa to her current career in pharmacoepidemiology at the University of Kentucky. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-a-profes...

This week's episode features a discussion with University of Iowa College of Public Health Dean, Edith Parker. This year is the college's 25th anniversary and Dean Parker touches in some past accomplishments and milestones while looking ahead to future challenges and opportunities. She also talks about her personal journey to the field of public health. A transcript of this episode is available at...

New season, new name, new look, same great content. Get 'Plugged in to Public Health' with this terrific conversation about global health and the study abroad experience with epidemiology student Emily Jester, who spent time in Romania last summer working and learning about public health, violence, and injury prevention issues there. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-...

Part 2 of 2: Lauren and Josiah Rich continue their conversation about the current state of medical education and the opioid epidemic and touch on the history of the crisis, the challenges faced in addressing addiction treatment, and the need for improvements in medical school curriculums. Dr. Rich also highlights the dangers of contaminated illegal drugs, the importance of providing treatment for...

Part 1 of 2...Lauren welcomes guest Dr. Josiah Rich for a discussion on addiction treatment and public health, particularly in relation to the HIV epidemic and injection drug use in Rhode Island. He highlights the impact of a law outlawing the possession of a single syringe, which led to a decrease in HIV transmission. He also mentions the routine testing program in the Rhode Island Department of...

Dr. Elizabeth O'Neal, a transportation safety expert and professor at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, discusses her research on pedestrian safety, particularly in relation to driverless vehicles and children. She explains that her research uses virtual environments to study how children interact with traffic and make crossing decisions. She also discusses the implications of drive...

In this episode of "From the Front Row," the hosts say goodbye to two student podcasters who are graduating. They discuss the challenges they faced during their academic journey and offer advice to incoming students. The hosts also reflect on how hosting the podcast has influenced their perspective on their field of study and improved their communication skills. They discuss the most rewarding asp...

This episode features a panel discussion on rural healthcare, sponsored by the Student Association of Rural Health at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. The panelists emphasized the importance of relationships and community and discussed the need for rural primary care providers to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and knowing when to ask for help. They also highlighted the cha...

Dr. Sivakami, a professor at the Tata Institute of Social Science in India, discusses her background in population studies and her transition from quantitative to qualitative research methods. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration and international recognition in advancing research goals. Dr. Sivakami also discusses her work on menstrual hygiene management in India and the challenges face...

This week's episode is a panel discussion on rural pharmacies hosted by the University of Iowa's Student Association for Rural Health. The panelists included Erin Riffel, Pharmacist in Charge at Cornerstone Apothecary in Marengo, Iowa; Sarah Fitzpatrick, a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Washington County Hospital & Clinics; and Jeanine Abrons, a Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice a...

Lauren welcomes Dr. Mark Berg and Kaylin Campbell from the University of Iowa's Public Policy Center to talk about intimate partner violence (IPV) from sociological, psychological, and public health perspectives and how views and policies about IPV have been changing. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/from-the-front-row-intimate-partner-vio...

Dr. Marius Ungureanu, executive director of the Cluj School of Public Health in Romania and Dr. Radu Meza professor in journalism and media at Babeș-Bolyai University in Romania join Rasika and Victor for a conversation about the healthcare systems and public health issues in the US and Romania and how digital communications strategies play a role in communicating health information. A transcript...

Lauren welcomes Dr. Amy Ogilvie to the podcast for a discussion about her personal and professional interest in Huntington's Disease as well as her journey to earn a PhD in Epidemiology. A transcript of this episode will be available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/from-the-front-row-discussing-huntingtons-disease-with-amy-ogilvie/ Have an question for our podcast crew or an idea...

Michelle Miller from the UI's PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) Clinic joins Rasika for a great conversation about HIV prevention. Learn more about the PrEP Clinic at: https://uihc.org/services/prep-clinic A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/from-the-front-row-hiv-prevention-and-the-university-of-iowas-prep-clinic/ Have an question for our podc...

Rasika has a great chat with Dr. Ken Anderson about the creation of Cambus, the University of Iowa's free bus service, and how access to free, convenient public transportation benefits the larger Iowa City community as well. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/from-the-front-row-public-transportation-and-a-historical-look-at-cambus/ Have an q...

Enjoy this great chat with UI College of Public Health alumna and 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award recipient, Kelsey Feller. She is bureau chief of Data Sharing, Privacy and Open Records in the Division of Compliance at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (IDHHS) where she balances the importance of data security and privacy with facilitating the use of data for public health initiatives...

This week Lauren welcomes Carla Britton, lead epidemiologist/ deputy director of the Alaska Native Epidemiology Center in Anchorage and recipient of our 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award. The discuss Carla's non-traditional path to her current career as well as her work with Alaska's Native population and some of the challenges of public health work in Alaska. A transcript of this episode is available...