Have you wondered where the world is coming to with individuals who seem to be more and more denying science? Maybe its your relative who keeps posting things on social media such as “question everything” or perhaps a co worker who is fascinated with the latest conspiracy theory. Join our podcast today with Dr. Lee McIntyre as he talks about his new book How to Talk to a Science Denier. We will dive into the hard questions and help empower you to be a better health information consumer. 

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On this short episode, join me as I talk about the future of the podcast, when season 2 will begin and some personal information. 

In 2014 many individuals in West Africa found themselves at the center of an ebola outbreak. They watched in some cases nine out of ten individuals who got ebola die. The CDC and other public health organizations sent out emergency teams to help these countries contain the outbreaks and begin vaccine trials. Join us this week as we dive in with Dr. Jane Seward into the world of infections diseases and particularly the ebola outbreaks. Just a few months ago we are hearing about another outbreak happening in many of these countries again. Dr. Seward will provide us with insight into how the previous outbreaks are impacting the current outbreak. 

Dr Seward graduated with a medical degree from the University of Western Australia, did her training in clinical pediatrics at Tulane University in New Orleans and obtained her MPH in epidemiology at Emory University in Atlanta.  Her background includes experience in maternal and child health, global public health and viral diseases with a focus on vaccine preventable diseases, vaccine policy and evaluation.  She worked for UN agencies while she and her family resided in China for 5 years in the 1990s.  After returning to Atlanta in 1996, she joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where her work was primarily related to varicella, measles, mumps and other vaccine preventable diseases.  She has considerable experience in other viral diseases and in infectious disease outbreak control and emergency response.  During the 2014-2016 West Africa ebola epidemic, she worked on the CDC-sponsored Ebola vaccine trial in Sierra Leone spending 8-9 months in the country leading the CDC vaccine field team work and otherwise working on the trial from CDC headquarters in Atlanta.  After retiring from CDC in late 2016, she worked at the Task Force for Global Health for several years on global influenza including vaccine policy and pandemic preparedness.  She is now a guest researcher at CDC.  

In 2019, 6.9 million individuals in the United States identified as American Indian or Alaska Native. Many of these individuals are part of sovereign nations inside the United States' boundaries but governed by their tribal groups. Indian health service has been in the news these past few months for their work regarding COVID-19 vaccinations and the impact the disease has had on these sovereign nations. Today's podcast is with CAPT Thomas Weiser, MD, MPH, and Jillian Doss-Walker, MPH from the department. Join us as we explore deeper into Indian Health Service and its impact on sovereign nations. We also explore how these sovereign nations are taking it upon themselves to improve their own people groups' healthcare. At the end of the podcast, we provide practical ways for individuals, medical and non-medical, to become involved. Global health is at our doorsteps. 

 All referenced material can be found at www.annassmith.com/forum

Many parents around the world face the devastating effects that Malaria has on their children sometimes more than five times before the child turns 5 years old. Dr. Chandy John shares about his labs collaboration and work to reduce the burden that malaria can have on these families. We explore about sickle cells disease and traits specifically how they impact malaria. On a large scale we talk about how everyday individuals can help to improve the lives of those suffering through malaria and the prevention. We dive into the link between malaria and the CDC as well as so many other topics. This podcast helps broaden our horizons in global health and to hear about the work that everyday heroes are doing.  All podcast links can be found at https://www.annassmith.com/forum

Chandy C. John, M.D., M.S., holds the Ryan White Endowed Chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and is director of the Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health at Indiana University. Dr. John’s research focuses on malaria pathogenesis, immunology and epidemiology and infections in children with sickle cell disease. Key discoveries of his collaborative research team include: 1) the first prospective studies to establish that severe malaria is associated with long-term cognitive impairment in children, 2) identification of immunologic factors that increase risk of severe malaria and cognitive impairment after severe malaria; 3) determination of geographic and immunologic factors that affect risk of malaria in areas of unstable malaria transmission; and 4) pioneering studies on the efficacy, safety and optimal dosing of hydroxyurea for treatment of children with sickle cell anemia in malaria endemic areas.

Dr. John conducts research and training programs in Kenya in collaboration with colleagues at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, and in Uganda in collaboration with colleagues at Makerere University. He is the author of more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and 30 book chapters. Dr. John is co-chair of the Thrasher Research Fund Scientific Advisory Committee, a member of the NIH Fogarty International Center Advisory Board, and has served on or chaired numerous NIH and national and international study sections and review boards. Dr. John’s awards include the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Young Investigator Award (2004), and the Bailey K. Ashford Medal from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene for contributions to tropical medicine research (2011).

Dr. John is an active clinician, specializing in pediatric infectious diseases at Riley Hospital for Children. As an educator, Dr. John was director of global health residency tracks in pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University and the University of Minnesota. Dr. John served as president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 2019.

Everyday pregnant women struggle around the world with infectious diseases. Many of these diseases leave long term impacts on the baby and sometimes result in death for mother or baby or both. Maternal and fetal health are an important part of global health. Understanding how global health works outside of the United States is important to caring for our neighbors. When we learn how other families and communities have handled infectious diseases it connects us to others struggling through out the world. Come explore this week the depth of international health specifically Zika, Group B streptococcus and COVID-19. We will explore the lab of Dr. Kristina Adams Waldorf, MD. She will give us a front row seat to what its like to be an infectious disease researcher. Hint: it can involve not sleeping much for months on end. Are you ready for the challenge of entering this lab and learning how each of us can play a part in bettering global health? 

How to donate to Dr. Adams Waldorf's lab:

https://online.gifts.washington.edu/peer2peer/Campaign/protecting-maternal-fetal-health

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All referenced materials can be found at: https://www.annassmith.com/forum

Has there been a time in your life when you feel like spiritually and healthcare don’t or shouldn’t mix? Its not a feeling that you should feel alone about. This podcast dives deep with Dr. Kristin Collier, MD into the questions of whether they should mix? If they do mix what does that look like? Also we talk about a spiritual crisis and what that practically looks like in a patient. As with each podcast we provide practical tips on how to apply this immediately into your daily life. 

Social media places to engage in the podcast further

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Where to follow Dr. Collier

Dr. Kristin Collier Twitter

Are you struggling this beginning of the year to figure out how to improve your preventative health goals? You are not alone. In this episode we have three overarching health goals that anyone can work on. We also talk about practical ways to begin to work on these goals. Dr. Ryan Fowler is on the podcast to talk further about how to know when a health trend is a fad or evidence based. In this episode friend you can go from frustrated and overwhelmed to having the tools you need to continue or start your health journey. 

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Website https://www.annassmith.com/forum