Public Health Epidemiology Conversations

Join Dr. Charlotte Huntley for a powerful conversation that connects purpose with public health, diving into the essential question: What is Public Health? 

This episode is designed to help professionals and leaders communicate the field's value without academic jargon and secure much-needed community buy-in. Featuring stories from the field told by professionals creating change beyond traditional roles, i...

In this solo episode, Dr. Charlotte Huntley revisits key conversations from the year to encourage public health professionals navigating uncertainty, workforce disruption, and rapid change. She weaves together guest insights on locking arms with like-minded colleagues, mastering plain-language communication, embracing innovation and new surveillance tools, being strategic about funding and career moves, staying civically engaged, a...

In this powerful episode, Milwaukee's Health Commissioner Michael Totoraitis joins Dr. Charlotte H. Huntley to share an insider's view of navigating a citywide public health crisis and the evolving realities of public health leadership in 2025. Mike recounts how discovering a severe lead crisis in Milwaukee's schools exposed systemic vulnerabilities while underscoring the urgent importance of community engagement, open information ...

In this insightful episode, Dr. Charlotte Huntley welcomes Elizabeth Green, Communications Director at the Big Cities Health Coalition, for a deep dive into the art and science of public health communication. Elizabeth brings a unique perspective with her background as a history of science professor and public health communications expert.

They explore how to tell compelling public health stories that conn...

In this roundtable discussion, Dr. Huntley is joined by Deborah Shomuyiwa and Jessie Meyer to answer a surprisingly complex but essential question: What is public health? Using plain language and relatable examples, they each break down how public health impacts our everyday lives. From drinking clean water and wearing seatbelts to shaping community policies and creating environments that support healthier choices.

Dr. Huntley welcomes back Dr. Kristi McClamroch, epidemiologist, entrepreneur, disruptor, and founder of Courageous Public Health. This episode dives deep into the power of courage—what it means, why it matters, and how public health professionals can lean on courage as a practice and pathway to resilience during times of uncertainty and upheaval. Drawing from her journey as a mom, scientist, leader, and ...

This episode features Dr. Tista Ghosh, a public health physician, epidemiologist, author, and senior VP for Employee Health at a global medical device company. Dr. Ghosh shares her journey from discovering public health late in medical school to her impactful roles at the CDC, state government, and private industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation highlights her book Before the Next Crisis, which captures frontline wo...

This insightful episode with Dr. Jimmie Hayes Smith explores his journey from clinical medicine to public health leadership, showcasing his dedication to community-centered healthcare, equity, and collaboration. As the administrator for Macon Bibb County Health Department in Georgia, Dr. Smith offers practical advice on navigating public health challenges, building partnerships, and empowering diverse com...

Today we continue our new series dedicated to answering a crucial question: "What is Public Health?" This series was created to energize and demystify a field that's often misunderstood, undervalued, and underfunded. Each episode features candid conversations with inspiring leaders, who use compelling storytelling and plain language to explain their focus areas, no heavy jargon allowed.

In this episode, Dr...

This episode marks the launch of our dynamic new series designed to answer one simple but crucial question: "What is Public Health?" This series was created to illuminate a field that is all too often misunderstood, undervalued, and underfunded. Inspiring leaders will join us to demystify public health by sharing their unique focus areas through compelling stories always in plain, engaging language with n...

This dynamic episode with Santiago Ojeda Sainz spotlights his journey as a Master of Public Health student and passionate advocate for social and behavioral sciences, immigrant health, and micro-mobility safety. Santiago's story, leadership roles, and future ambitions illustrate the new wave of public health professionals driving innovation and collaboration to address real-world challenges in diverse communities. The episode explo...

This episode features an engaging and heartfelt conversation between Dr. Charlotte Huntley and Parnia Roghani-Shareef, highlighting her inspiring career journey, leadership in public health, and commitment to workforce development and behavioral health. The discussion covers actionable strategies and personal insights about building resilience, combating burnout, and fostering collaboration across the public health sector. Listener...

Dr. Huntley sits down with Annee Morris Reed, Policy Director at the Funders Forum on Accountable Health and lecturer at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health. The conversation explores Anne's inspiring career spanning senior policy roles within the federal government, her dedication to community-driven, multi-sector partnerships, and the impact of landmark legislation like the 2025 Budget Reconcil...

This episode features an inspiring conversation between public health visionaries Dr. Charlotte Huntley and Dr. Marissa Levine, delving into the evolving landscape of public health leadership. Centered around the concept of regenerative leadership, the discussion explores how adaptive, systems-thinking approaches are transforming both individuals and organizations to better serve communities amid ongoing complexity. With decades of...

In this deeply moving and energizing episode, Dr. Huntley interviews Shanthi Hegde, a rare disease advocate, board leader, and soon-to-be public health student at Brown University. Shanthi shares her powerful journey as a young woman of color living with multiple rare bleeding disorders and an immune dysregulatory syndrome, and she details the systemic barriers patients like her face at every level of the healthcare sy...

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Huntley welcomes Robyn Bussey, a self-described "health equitist" and Health Equity Director at the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE). With deep roots in rural Georgia and a passion for amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, Robyn shares her personal journey from growing up as the daughter of a beloved rural public health nurse to leading innovative, community-driven healt...

Dr. Huntley sits down with Abby Tighe, a former CDC public health advisor and co-founder of the Fired by Fighting coalition. Together, they share an insider's look at the nationwide impact of the 2025 mass firing of thousands of CDC and HHS professionals and the dangerous dismantling of America's public health infrastructure. They also highlight how a grassroots movement is fighting back.

Abby details her ...

In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Dr. Huntley, shares her heartfelt journey one year after the tragic loss of her son, Nicholas, in a motorcycle accident. Dr. Huntley opens up about her struggle to channel her grief and frustration into meaningful action and advocacy, seeking the support, ideas, and expertise of the public health community and podcast listeners. The episode serves as a call to acti...

In this special episode of the PHEC Podcast, Dr. Huntley shares her experience moderating the American Public Health Association's (APHA) Policy Action Institute in Washington, DC, June 2025. She engaged with a multidisciplinary group of professionals including policymakers, legislators, lawyers, medical doctors, nonprofit leaders, and business owners, each contributing to a robust conversation at the intersection of public health ...