University Of Iowa College Of Public Health

What does a local health department actually do and how do they decide what matters most in a community? In this episode of Plugged In to Public Health, we sit down with Jamie Gade, Social Determinants of Health Coordinator at Johnson County Public Health, to talk about Healthy JoCo, the county’s community health assessment and improvement initiative. Jamie walks us through how public health teams combine national data sources with local surveys, focus groups, and lived experiences to understand what is really happening in their community. From measuring loneliness to assessing food insecurity, this work highlights how much nuance can be missed in large-scale data and why local insight is essential. We also explore how public health departments partner with organizations across sectors, including food systems, transportation, and libraries, to address complex challenges that no single group can solve alone. The conversation highlights the importance of storytelling alongside data, especially when communica

A Public Health Internship Abroad: In this episode of Plugged in to Public Health, Lauren speaks with University of Iowa public health student Jahanvi Chawla about her summer internship abroad in London. Through a hybrid program that combined coursework and hands on experience, Jahanvi worked with Healthwatch Enfield, a community organization that gathers local feedback on healthcare access and connects residents with resources. During the internship, Jahanvi helped develop a community mental health guide designed to support residents during long wait times for formal services. The project involved conversations with community groups, stakeholders, and local organizations to better understand barriers to mental health care. These experiences highlighted the role that culture, stigma, and community networks play in shaping how people seek support. The conversation also explores differences between the US and UK healthcare systems, what it means to do community centered public health work, and how studying ab

In this episode of Plugged into Public Health, host Lauren Lavin sits down with University of Iowa MHA alum Jim Skogsbergh to reflect on a 43 year career in healthcare leadership. Jim recently retired after more than two decades as a hospital CEO and shares what he learned about leadership, mentorship, and building strong teams in healthcare organizations. Jim discusses his early career path after graduating from the University of Iowa, including how his administrative residency helped launch opportunities that shaped the rest of his career. He also reflects on the importance of mentorship, explaining how senior leaders opened doors for him early on and how he now gives back through executive coaching and advising younger professionals. The conversation explores what makes a strong healthcare leader, how to build effective leadership teams, and why communication, humility, and resilience often matter as much as technical expertise. Jim also shares his perspective on leading through major healthcare changes,

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Gryzlak, Program Director at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, to talk about what it really takes to coordinate large multi-site epidemiological research. Brian directs Iowa’s participation in PCORnet, a national patient-centered clinical research network that standardizes healthcare data across institutions to support large-scale comparative effectiveness research. We discuss how data quality is maintained across dozens of sites, what it means to build trust across institutions, and why clear expectations are essential in complex research environments. Brian also reflects on his 20 year career in grant-funded research, sharing insights on leadership, infrastructure, and the importance of institutional knowledge. For students and early-career researchers, this episode offers practical advice on how to stand out in research roles, ask better questions, and contribute meaningfully to large collaborative studies. A transcript of this episode will be avail

In this episode of Plugged Into Public Health, three second-year MHA students reflect on their summer internship experiences and the lessons they are carrying forward into their administrative fellowships. Matt Mathew shares his experience at UCHealth in Colorado, where he worked across multiple service lines including trauma, oncology, cardiovascular, and neuro/spine. He discusses leading Lean Six Sigma process improvement efforts and learning to manage ambiguity in executive-facing projects. Hattie Dukes spent her summer at Allina Health in the Twin Cities, working in continuing care. Her projects ranged from writing a business plan for an inpatient rehabilitation expansion to exploring housing solutions for long-stay patients. She reflects on the importance of engaging frontline staff and advocating for her own learning. Meg Yellepeddi interned at Deloitte in Chicago, supporting a large-scale electronic health record implementation. She discusses project management in consulting, organizational change m

In this episode of Plugged Into Public Health, Lauren speaks with Dr. Jill Kolesar about ovarian cancer, precision medicine, and the challenges of translating scientific discovery into real-world care. Dr. Kolesar explains why ovarian cancer remains difficult to treat, including late-stage diagnosis and limited response to immunotherapy. She shares her team’s work on a novel cell-based therapy designed to convert “cold” tumors into ones the immune system can attack, with the goal of improving effectiveness while reducing toxicity. The conversation also explores molecular tumor boards, the role of pharmacists in precision oncology, and how collaboration and data sharing help bring innovation to community and rural settings. This episode highlights not only cutting-edge science, but the systems required to ensure that breakthroughs actually reach patients. A transcript of this episode will be available here soon. Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at CPH-Grad

What happens when accessing health care requires booking a flight instead of driving down the road? In this episode of Plugged In to Public Health, we talk with John Desfor, a University of Iowa MPH graduate now working in rural health research and policy in Hawaii. John shares what rural health looks like in one of the most geographically isolated regions in the United States and why transportation access is one of the most critical and overlooked barriers to care. We explore how inter-island travel for medical appointments leads to missed visits, delayed diagnoses, and worsening health outcomes, and why transportation should be treated as a core social determinant of health. John also walks us through policy solutions developed through community listening sessions and research, including insurance coverage gaps, emergency transport coordination, and innovative alternatives to traditional air travel. This conversation reframes transportation as a solvable policy problem with national relevance. A transcri

In this episode of Plugged In to Public Health, we sit down with James Byrne, assistant professor of radiation oncology and biomedical engineering at the University of Iowa, to explore how interdisciplinary science is reshaping cancer care. Dr. Byrne shares his path through MD-PhD training and explains how his work bridges medicine, engineering, and biology to address some of the biggest challenges in oncology. From oxygen-delivering foams inspired by everyday tools to radiation-protective proteins borrowed from extremophile organisms, this conversation highlights how surprisingly simple concepts can lead to powerful clinical innovations. We also discuss why curing cancer is no longer the only goal. As survival rates improve, protecting patients’ long-term quality of life has become just as critical. Dr. Byrne explains how his lab is working to prevent the lasting side effects of cancer treatments, not just treat the disease itself. This episode also offers practical insight for students and early-career r

In Part Two of our conversation on yoga and addiction recovery, we continue our discussion with Noelle, a trauma informed yoga teacher whose work bridges holistic practice, recovery support, and community healing. This episode moves beyond introduction and into impact, exploring what healing can look like over the long term and why recovery is about far more than willpower alone. Noelle shares insights on relapse, nervous system regulation, and the challenges individuals face when transitioning out of structured treatment and back into everyday life. We discuss how yoga can support the brain and body during recovery, how somatic practices complement medical and behavioral health interventions, and why compassion, safety, and dignity are essential components of effective recovery systems. Listeners will also hear powerful reflections from individuals who participate in Recovery Yoga, offering firsthand perspectives on what it means to reconnect with the body, feel safe again, and experience moments of ease w

In this first episode of our two part series on yoga and addiction, we sit down with Noelle, a trauma informed yoga teacher who leads Recovery Yoga in Iowa City. Her work brings movement, breath, and community into addiction treatment settings, creating a space where people can reconnect with their bodies and experience healing without judgment. Host Lauren, a yoga teacher of nine years, reflects on attending one of Noelle’s Tuesday night classes and witnessing firsthand how intentionally crafted the environment is. The conversation explores Noelle’s path into yoga, the experiences that shaped her interest in addiction and trauma, and the unique role yoga can play for individuals in recovery. Listeners will hear about what yoga looks like inside treatment programs, why safety and choice are essential, and how even simple practices like breathwork can begin to shift long standing patterns of disconnection. Part Two continues next week with a deeper look at trauma, healing, and long term recovery through yoga

How we talk to older adults matters more than we think. In this episode of Plugged into Public Health, host Lauren Lavin talks with Dr. Claire Shaw, assistant professor at the University of Iowa College of Nursing, about her research on dementia care and the communication patterns that shape it. Dr. Shaw explains what elderspeak is, why it often appears in caregiving settings, and how even well-meaning speech can unintentionally trigger stress, confusion, or care refusal in people living with dementia. Drawing from her work in nursing homes and hospitals, Dr. Shaw breaks down how communication can influence patient behavior, why certain caregiving habits persist, and how small changes in tone, wording, and approach can lead to better outcomes. She also shares practical tools for both healthcare professionals and families who want to communicate more respectfully and effectively with loved ones experiencing cognitive decline. This conversation offers a thoughtful look at the intersection of language, dignity

In this episode, Lauren talks with second year MHA students Hayden Malven and Gracie Petersen about their summer internships and the lessons they carried forward from those experiences. Hayden spent her summer working in finance and service line strategy at University of Iowa Health Care, while Gracie completed an operations internship at UNC Children’s in North Carolina. They share how they chose their placements, what surprised them once they arrived, and how stepping into real health systems helped them connect classroom theory with day to day leadership challenges. The conversation covers everything from navigating uncertainty on large projects to discovering leadership styles they admire and hope to emulate. Hayden reflects on gaining confidence through early trust from her preceptor and finding meaning in work she never expected to enjoy. Gracie describes the value of being welcomed into a leadership culture that views interns as contributors and how intentional mentorship shaped her understanding of e

In recognition of National Injury Prevention Day on November 18, this episode takes a closer look at pediatric agricultural injuries and what prevention looks like in real farm communities. Host Lauren sits down with Dr. Jenna Gibbs from the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital and Libby Richie from the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health to discuss the risks children face on farms, how those risks develop, and the practical steps families can take to keep kids safe. Dr. Gibbs and Libby share years of experience in injury prevention, farm safety, and youth agricultural work guidelines. Together they break down why falls, lawnmower incidents, and ATV crashes remain leading causes of severe injury for kids, why certain tasks are not safe until age ten or older, and how parents can balance tradition with evidence based safety practices. Learn more about National Injury Prevention Day at nationalinjurypreventionday.org. A transcript of this episode will be avaiable here soon. Have a que

In this second episode of our two-part series on trade and economics, Plugged into Public Health host Lauren Lavin continues her conversation with Dr. Anne Villamil, professor of economics at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business. Dr. Villamil breaks down what tariffs really mean, such as who pays for them, how they influence industries like manufacturing and agriculture, and why trade wars can have lasting effects on local communities. She also explains how tariffs tie into larger issues like global competition with China, inequality in the U.S., and the challenge of making sound policy in a changing world. This episode offers a clear, accessible look at how economics, politics, and public health intersect, and why thoughtful trade policy matters for everyone. A transcript of this episode will be available here soon. Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at CPH-GradAmbassador@uiowa.edu You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing th

Trade policies shape everything from the price of goods to the stability of global economies, but how do they actually work? In part one of this two-part series, Plugged into Public Health host Lauren Lavin sits down with Dr. Anne Villamil, professor of economics at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, to unpack the history and complexity of international trade. Dr. Villamil shares her experience working at the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office in Washington, D.C., and explains how trade institutions like the World Bank and World Trade Organization came to exist after World War II. Together, they explore how trade agreements are negotiated, what lessons past trade wars can teach us, and why tariffs are back in the spotlight today. Tune in next week for part two, where Dr. Villamil breaks down how tariffs work in the modern U.S. economy. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-understanding-global-trade-and-tarif

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world, but why? In this episode of Plugged In to Public Health, host Maxwell Hanson talks with Dr. Patrick Sinn, a pediatric pulmonologist and researcher at the University of Iowa, whose work has reshaped how scientists understand measles transmission. Dr. Sinn’s lab made a surprising discovery that challenged decades of assumptions about how the virus infects airway cells, revealing new insights into why measles spreads so efficiently. Together, they explore what makes measles different from other respiratory viruses, how vaccine hesitancy has fueled recent outbreaks, and why effective communication remains a cornerstone of public health. Dr. Sinn also shares how moments of unexpected results in research can lead to major scientific breakthroughs. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-the-science-of-measles-and-what-makes-it-so-contagious/ Have a question for our podcast

Ticks, mosquitoes, and climate change are shaping the future of infectious disease and public health. In this episode, host Lauren Lavin talks with Dr. Kathryn Dalton, a veterinarian turned researcher and assistant professor at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, about the rise of vector borne diseases. Dr. Dalton explains how environmental changes are expanding the reach of ticks and mosquitoes, what that means for both people and pets, and how the One Health approach connects human, animal, and environmental well-being. Together, they explore simple ways to prevent exposure, why farmers and outdoor workers face unique risks, and how collaboration across disciplines can help protect communities from emerging health threats. It is a reminder that public health begins in the spaces we live, work, and play every day. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-understanding-vector-borne-disease-with-dr-kathryn-dalton/ H

When a mumps outbreak hits a small progressive school in Berkeley, California, parents who once agreed on everything find themselves suddenly divided. Eureka Day, a play by Jonathan Spector, uses humor and heart to explore the messy intersection of personal choice, public health, and community trust. In this episode of Plugged into Public Health, we talk with Kathleen Johnson, Director of Outreach and Education at Riverside Theatre and the director of Eureka Day in Iowa City. Kathleen shares how the production connects with real-world public health issues—especially vaccine hesitancy and communication across different beliefs—and why theater can sometimes say what data alone can’t. From PTA politics to social media comment sections, this conversation dives into how we navigate disagreement, how empathy shapes public dialogue, and what it means to keep communities healthy and connected. Show link: https://riversidetheatre.org/eurekaday/ A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health

Pregnancy pain is common, often dismissed, and rarely easy to manage. At the same time, recent headlines have stirred anxiety by suggesting that acetaminophen (Tylenol) use in pregnancy may be linked to autism. These claims spread quickly online, leaving many parents-to-be with more questions than answers. In this episode of Plugged into Public Health, host Lauren Lavin talks with Dr. Julie Vignato, assistant professor at the University of Iowa College of Nursing and a leading researcher on pain in pregnancy. Dr. Vignato brings both professional expertise and personal insight as a mother, helping us unpack what the science actually says, where misinformation creeps in, and how healthcare providers and public health communicators can share clearer messages. Topics discussed include: -Why pregnancy pain is too often under-treated and misunderstood -What the evidence shows about acetaminophen and NSAIDs during pregnancy -How a large Swedish “sibling study” helps rule out Tylenol as a cause of autism -The role

Part 2: Care-giving, Innovation, and Lessons from Older Adults: what does it take to age well in practice—and what can younger generations learn from those who’ve gone before us? In Part Two, we continue our conversation with Jennifer Jones and Angela Charsha-Harney to look at the realities of care-giving, promising practices like age-friendly health systems, and the power of inter-generational connection. You’ll hear stories from the nonprofit thinkJOY, lessons Jennifer and Angela have learned from working closely with older adults, and reflections on why joy, dignity, and storytelling are vital for public health. This episode is packed with insights for anyone—whether you’re caring for aging parents, thinking about your own future, or curious about how public health can shape healthier communities for all ages. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-aging-joy-and-changing-the-narrative-part-2/ Have a question for our podcas