PHEC 453: Public Health Is Political, With Susan Polan, PhD

In this episode of Public Health Epidemiology Conversations, Dr. Huntley sits down with Susan Polan, PhD, Associate Executive Director for Public Affairs and Advocacy at the American Public Health Association, for an inside look at what it means to fight for public health in today's political climate. From managing six simultaneous lawsuits, a historic moment for APHA, to navigating federal policy battles and protecting critical public health funding, Dr. Polan shares the realities of advocacy at the national level. She also discusses the growing need for public health professionals to step beyond research and into policy conversations that shape real-world outcomes. The conversation highlights APHA's Policy Action Institute, a training experience designed to help public health professionals translate science into messages that resonate with lawmakers and communities alike. Most importantly, Dr. Polan offers a powerful reminder: your voice matters more than you think. Every call, email, and conversation with policymakers counts and public health professionals have the expertise needed to influence the decisions that impact communities every day. If you've ever wondered how policy change really happens, and where you fit into the process, this episode offers both clarity and a call to action.   Resources ▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community ▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes ▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting

In this powerful episode of Public Health Epidemiology Conversations, Dr. Huntley speaks with Chicago's first Black woman health commissioner, Dr. Olusimbo "Simbo" Ige, about tackling one of the nation's most alarming health disparities. When Black residents in Chicago were dying 15 years earlier than their neighbors, Dr. Ige stepped into leadership determined to change the trajectory. Drawing on decades of experience across Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa, and New York City, she shares how global public health lessons are shaping bold, community-centered strategies in Chicago today. From a 38% reduction in opioid deaths to early signs that the city's life expectancy gap is finally narrowing, Dr. Ige offers a candid look at what it takes to drive meaningful change in complex systems. She also speaks openly about the deeper barrier to progress. Not a lack of data, but a divide in values around who deserves public investment. Along the way, she and Dr. Huntley explore the importance of plain language, trusted community messengers, and storytelling as essential tools for effective public health leadership. This conversation is both inspiring and grounding for anyone committed to improving health equity.   Resources ▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community ▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes ▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting

What happens when a lifelong storyteller turns her focus to artificial intelligence and public health communication? In this episode of Public Health Epidemiology Conversations, Dr. Huntley sits down with Dr. Kumba Sennaar, a health researcher, AI ethicist, and communication strategist whose work has been recognized by institutions like the National Academy of Medicine and the World Economic Forum. From early interests in health advocacy to leading HIV/AIDS policy work with the Infectious Diseases Society of America, Kumba shares how her journey through science, policy, and communication shaped her unique perspective on today's biggest challenges. The conversation explores why public health often struggles to tell its own story, how audience-centered communication can transform impact, and what it will take for the field to engage thoughtfully with artificial intelligence. If you've been unsure whether AI is a threat, a tool, or something in between, this episode offers a grounded and practical framework for thinking about privacy, trust, and the future of data in public health. Kumba also leaves listeners with a timely reminder for anyone feeling discouraged in the field: reconnect with your "why."   Resources ▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community ▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes ▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting  

Episode 450 is a milestone, and Dr. Huntley marks it with an honest, reflective solo conversation about the power of community. After one of the most challenging years of her life, she shares the 10 principles that now guide her work, her consulting firm, and the growing PHEC Podcast Community, showing why community isn't just a buzzword, but a strategy for resilience, leadership, and lasting impact. She also reflects on a powerful moment moderating a panel at the South Carolina Public Health Association's annual meeting, where leaders from the Catawba Nation and Gullah Geechee Nation joined community voices in an authentic dialogue about public health.   Resources ▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community ▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes ▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting  

Three public health professionals join Dr. Huntley for a conversation that starts with one of the questions we all get asked but don't always have a great answer for. When someone outside the field asks what public health actually is, what do you say? Alexandra Piotrowski, epidemiologist and founder of Piat Public Health, Dr. Sarah Hartzell, behavioral health researcher and advocate, and Michelle Alexander, public health advocate and quality compliance professional, each bring a distinct lens. Together they explore storytelling as a public health tool, the mental health workforce shortage, senior loneliness, and why arming people with the right language creates ripples far beyond the conversation.   Resources ▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community ▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes ▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting

What happens when pollution, poverty, and health challenges collide in the same neighborhoods? Dr. Kristie Ellickson calls it cumulative impact, and it reveals which communities shoulder the heaviest environmental burdens. In this episode, Dr. Ellickson shares how her decades of work, combining rigorous science with lived community experience, has transformed environmental health research. From mapping pollution to co-creating tools that empower residents, she shows why community-led science is not just more accurate, but more actionable. She also tackles the current attacks on federal environmental science and explores how public health professionals can defend evidence-based protections. If you care about the intersection of science, justice, and public health, this conversation is essential listening.   Resources ▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community ▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes ▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting

After more than 600 media interviews in five years, Catherine Troisi learned a powerful truth: in public health, clarity beats credentials every time. In this compelling episode, Dr. Troisi returns to the podcast six years later to reflect on what it really means to communicate science in a politically charged world. From managing jail health programs and serving as Incident Commander during Hurricane Katrina and the H1N1 pandemic at the Houston Health Department, to navigating pandemic-era media scrutiny, she shares hard-earned lessons on translating complex epidemiology into language that resonates beyond academia. This conversation goes deeper than communication. It's about rebuilding public health at a time when systems feel fragile. It's about daily, strategic advocacy, including calling elected officials, writing consistently, and playing the long game. It's about finding hope in unexpected places, like the overwhelming public support she witnessed at the first-ever March for Public Health during the American Public Health Association conference. If you've ever wondered how to use your voice more effectively, how to advocate without burning out, or how to make your science matter in real communities, this episode will challenge and inspire you. Press play and discover why plain language may be your most powerful public health tool.   Resources ▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community ▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes ▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting

What if the people already doing public health just don't know it yet? In this energizing conversation, Dr. Huntley sits down with Keisha Long and Jessica Seel of the South Carolina Public Health Association to explore why public health is far broader and more personal than most people think. From environmental health to behavioral health coalitions, their journeys reveal a powerful truth: if you brushed your teeth or flushed a toilet today, you've already experienced public health in action. At a time of politicization and workforce challenges, this episode is a timely reminder that plain language, cross-sector collaboration, and bold leadership, highlighted in the vision for the upcoming conference featuring leaders like Dr. Nandi Marshall, are exactly what the field needs. If you've ever questioned where you fit in public health, this conversation will remind you: you belong. Resources ▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community ▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes ▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting

"I don't feel seen when I'm here." When a Native Hawaiian elder says this during a diabetes appointment, it exposes what data alone can never capture. In this episode, Kandis Draw, Nina Lopez, and Dr. Augustina Mensa-Kwao challenge the textbook version of public health. From end-of-life planning in Chicago to community-led research in Hawai'i and youth mental health in Baltimore, they show what happens when we stop leading with programs and start leading with listening. This conversation is about trust before interventions, dignity alongside outcomes, and recognizing that communities have always practiced public health even when systems failed to acknowledge it. If you're ready to rethink what public health really looks like, this episode is for you.   Resources ▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community ▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes ▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting

What if we've been getting peanut allergies wrong all along? For years, parents were told to avoid peanuts. Schools banned them. Fear shaped policy. What if one of the most common childhood allergies could actually be prevented, with the right timing? In this powerful episode, Markita Lewis, registered dietitian and leader at the National Peanut Board, reveals the surprising science behind early peanut introduction and why most families still haven't heard the message. Despite strong evidence that introducing peanuts around four to six months can dramatically reduce allergy risk, the gap between research and real-world practice remains wide. We also unpack a controversial question: Do peanut bans in schools actually make kids safer, or do they create a false sense of security? This episode challenges long-held assumptions, connects agriculture to public health innovation, and may completely change how you think about prevention. If you work in public health, pediatrics, policy or you simply care about evidence-based prevention, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.   Resources ▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community ▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes ▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting