Public Health Insight

What happens when scientists try to advise policymakers and decision-makers about a significant threat to public health and they fail to act? What if you then found out that not only did these decision-makers fail to act, but instead chose to exploit the situation for economic gain?

While this sounds like an all too familiar present-day scenario, this story is captured in the fictional Netflix film titled, “Don’t Look Up”, where two astronomers identify a catastrophic comet heading towards earth and the fate of humanity is left in the hands of politicians and some of the world’s richest people.

In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we explore some key questions:

• Do scientists and public health professionals need communication or media training as part of their education?
• How important is the credibility of the messenger in science communication for the general public?
• Should astronomers, physicists, and other disciplines have a more prominent role in public health?
• Will the fate of the planet be determined by corporate/political greed or a failure of science?

Spoiler Alert: This episode contains spoilers and will almost certainly ruin the movie for you, so come back to this after you’ve had a chance to watch it. If you’ve heard of the movie and haven’t yet been convinced to watch, keep listening. It will be worth your while. For those who’ve already watched it, enjoy the ride.

Podcast Hosts

• Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®
• Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP®
• Purva Mehta, BMSc, MSc
• Hassan Shaban, HBAS
• Bindra Shah, BMSc, MPH

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Ever since humans transitioned from an animal hunting society into agriculture and husbandry, epidemics and pandemics have been close companions in our development right until this day and age. These pandemics ravaged several countries and regions around the globe, partly because there was less knowledge about the causes of these diseases, how they spread, and how to treat them. March 11th, 2021, marks a grim milestone, being exactly one year since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we talk about how and why pandemics, epidemics, endemics, and zoonosis occur.

Podcast Host

• Sulaiman Alhalbouni, BMSc, MPH
• Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®
• Ben Umakanthan, HBSc, MPH
• William Wang, BA, MPH
• Linda Holdbrook, BSc, MPH
• Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, CAPM®

References for Our Discussion

• Geo History: Major epidemics and pandemics
• Visual Capitalist: Visualizing the History of Pandemics

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Music Credits

The following tracks were used to produce this podcast episode:

• Twin Musicom - Dual M
• Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik
• Kevin MacLeod - Village Consort
• Habanero - Carmen
• Beethoven - Fur Elise

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In the period between 2016 and 2021, more than 19,000 Canadians have died of overdoses related to the toxic street supply of drugs. Opioid-related deaths have further increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of a variety of factors, such as disruptions in wrap-around support services, reallocation of resources, and challenges to overall mental health and well-being. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Andrea Sereda joins us to talk about:

• The causes of the current drug poisoning crisis and similarities to the alcohol prohibition period in the 1920s;
• Some factors that contribute to the likelihood of people using opioids or substances;
• Distinction between problematic substance use, addiction, and similar concepts; and
• How the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted opioid poisonings and harm reduction services.

Podcast Guests

• Dr. Andrea Sereda

Podcast Hosts

• Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®
• Ben Umakanthan, HBSc, MPH

References for Our Discussion

• London InterCommunity Health Centre: Safer Opioid Supply Program
• Opioid Crisis: The Other Pandemic

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A career in public health can be fulfilling but it's more of a journey than a destination, and along that journey, we're often faced with questions like what should I do after finishing my Bachelor's Degree, is an undergrad sufficient to get me the job I want, and how will the MPH help me achieve my career goals? In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we answer these questions and some other frequently asked questions, such as how to get job opportunities after graduation with little experience and stay tuned until the end where we share some pro tips if you want to go one step further to stand out in the job market.

Podcast Hosts

• Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®
• Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP®

Other Episodes You Should Check Out

• 67: Continuing Education in Public Health and Global Health: What You Need to Know About Doing a PhD, DrPH, and an MPH
• 68: Finding Job Opportunities After Completing Your Public Health Program: How to Get Experience Without Experience
• 96: What You Should Consider Before Applying to MPH Programs
• 97: What You Might Be Doing Wrong On Your MPH Applications
• 100: Top 5 Certifications You Should Pursue to Advance Your Public Health Career
• 102: 7 Core Competencies You Need to Excel in Public Health

Subscribe to the Newsletter

What if there was an easy way to receive timely information about public health and global health right to your inbox? Subscribe to the newsletter to stay in the loop about the latest news, live events, jobs, and professional development opportunities. Subscribe to ensure you don’t miss out: https://thepublichealthinsight.com/subscribe/.

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If you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people.

Office Hours

Looking for some additional support and guidance? Check out our previous podcast episodes and feel free to reach out to us by sending us an email to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Office Hours’.

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The Doctor of Public Health, DrPH, is the most advanced professional degree in public health, and despite being around for over 100 years, it is not well known to the general public, or even to public health professionals. The DrPH is considered a terminal professional degree in the field of public health it takes a step further in depth, complexity, and leadership preparation relative to an MPH degree.

In the next few episodes of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we will take a deep dive to learn more about this degree. In this episode, we will learn about the professional journeys of two individuals, one who is currently pursuing a DrPH and one who has already completed the degree. You will also learn more about the DrPH Coalition (now known as the National Association for Doctors of Public Health (NADrPH)) and its mission, vision, and goals.

Podcast Guest

◼️Lauren Junge-Maughan, MPH, PMP◼️Dr. Marissa Robinson, DrPH, MPH, RPCV

References In Our Discussion

◼️ DrPH Coalition - now known as the National Association for Doctors of Public Health (NADrPH)

Podcast Hosts

◼️ Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP®◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®

Podcast Producers:

◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP®◼️ Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, PMP®

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