C2: Critical Conversations that Lie at the Heart of Health Justice

You walk into a doctor’s office for an appointment, and what is the first thing you are asked to do? Step on a scale. For some, this experience or number fails to generate a heightened response. However, most of us have complicated and deeply personal relationships with our body and weight. Have you ever stopped to question why all doctor’s visits start this way? Or, have you ever wondered why you have been made to feel so preoccupied with your body and size in the first place?

Dr. Lisa Erlanger joins us to help explore these questions and more in the Season 3 premiere. Dr. Lisa Erlanger is a board-certified family physician and Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Washington. She is a leader in the growing movement for weight-inclusive primary care and speaks nationally about anti-fat bias, weight-inclusive primary care, and eating disorders. Join us as we dive into weight stigma’s definition, history, and impact on marginalized populations in this first part of a 2-episode series. 

There exists an alluring public perception of substance misuse among young adults in high school and college. Drugs and alcohol are strategically marketed to adolescents, and this has profound public health consequences. Various examples from television, film, and social media highlight a glamorous and glorified portrayal of substance abuse. We welcome Dr. Noel Vest, PhD to the podcast to discuss the implications of substance use disorders on the development and well-being of adolescents. Dr. Vest is an assistant professor at the Boston University School of Public Health. As a formerly incarcerated scholar, Dr. Vest advocates for social justice issues and public policy concerning substance use disorder recovery and prison reentry. Join us as we discuss what puts adolescents at a heightened risk of developing a substance use disorder, what the current state of research is, and Dr. Vest’s personal and professional motivations for doing work in this field. 

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Over the last two decades, there have been profound advancements in what we know about the implications of ancestral trauma on the health and wellbeing of future generations. The question we investigate today: how is intergenerational trauma relevant to public health? We welcome Dr. Alicia Mendez to help answer this question. Dr. Mendez is a research assistant professor at Boston University’s school of social work. She studies child welfare and intergenerational trauma with a focus on mother-offspring relationships. Join us as we discuss what intergenerational trauma is, the current state of research in this field, and her own stories and motivations as to what encouraged her to perform her own research on this topic. 

*Various sensitive topics that may be triggering for some listeners will be discussed in this production, so listener discretion is advised.* The topic of this month’s episode is sexual violence. Women in the United States suffer from sexual violence at alarming rates. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over half of women have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetimes. We welcome Dr. Emily Rothman and Gina Scaramella MSW to the podcast to explore this public health concern. Join us as we discuss an important and sensitive issue that impacts the health of individuals, mothers, families, and communities.

This episode is the second part of our Season 2 Doula Series. Doula care has been proven to improve the health outcomes of birthing individuals, yet access to this service remains limited. We welcome Cara Safon, a fourth-year PhD candidate at BUSPH, to discuss the mechanisms behind the benefits of doula care and ways to improve accessibility to this type of care. Tune in as we continue our Doula Care Series which was inspired by the recent partnership between doula agency Birthing Gently and Massachusetts General Brigham as part of its United Against Racism Project.

Visit these websites for more information about doula care and to reference the information addressed in this episode:

Doula care has been proven to improve the health outcomes of birthing individuals, yet access to these services remains limited. Birthing Gently recently partnered with Massachusetts General Brigham as part of its United Against Racism Project. The goal of the program is to match Birth Doulas with low-income and at-risk patients. We welcome Katia Powell-Laurent, PhD to our podcast to discuss the forged partnership, the role of birth doulas on a collaborative care team, and general strategies for addressing maternal mortality.

The phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy has escalated significantly over the last decade. Skepticism surrounding immunization, however, is not a new reality in the United States. In Episode 4 of our second season, we welcome Professor Matthew Motta, PhD to the podcast as we trace vaccine hesitancy back to our nation's founding. We discuss the various triggers that have fueled anti-vaccination sentiments with a focus on parental and maternal immunization. Tune in to hear more about politics and motivated reasoning, federal versus state immunization legislation, the controversy surrounding the Gardasil vaccine, and more.

Gun violence poses profound threats to the health of children, women, mothers, and communities across the United States. In 2020 firearms became the leading cause of death among children ages 19 and below. Additionally, women in the United States who are pregnant or have recently given birth are more likely to die from murder than from obstetric causes. 68% of these homicides involved firearms. Michael Ulrich, professor at Boston University School of Law and School of Public Health, shares his academic expertise with us as we explore the scope and reality of gun violence in America. 

Visit these sources for more information about the statistics listed in the episode description and to learn more about the implications of gun violence: 

Individuals experiencing homelessness face worsened health outcomes in addition to social ostracization, lack of safety, and limited access to resources. Dr. Aura Obando, pediatrician and Family Team Medical Director at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, joins us to speak about her expertise and experience in caring for homeless families and youth. Tune in to our conversation as we explore a variety of topics related to homelessness prevention, substance use disorders, reproductive health care, and fostering the health of family units. 

Today’s conversation is with Jessie Colbert, the Executive Director of MASS PPD Fund. I talk with Jessie about the intersection of mental and maternal health and we dig deep into topics like Postpartum Depression and Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs).

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Merline Sylvain-Williams is a birth doula and owner and founder of Nurturing Babyhood N’ Beyond. She joins us to talk about the importance of doula care and its impact for birthing people and beyond.

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Dr. Amelia Wesselink is a Research Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH). She joins us to talk about the connection between climate change and reproductive health.

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Nicole Huberfeld the Edward R. Utley Professor of Health Law, Ethics & Human Rights at BU School of Public Health and Professor of Law at BU School of Law joins us to talk about the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overrule Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992).

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Food security continues to be a challenge for many households as the pandemic continues and inflation rates rise. Vivien Morris, Chairperson and Founder of Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition and Founder and Board Member of Boston Organization of Nutritionists and Dietitians of Color (BOND), joins us to talk about her work in the community focused lens on tackling food insecurity. 

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Catalina López-Ospina, the Vice President of Engagement at Project Bread joins us to talk about her work to increase food security for all, the current status of food insecurity in the U.S. and Massachusetts, and about causes and possible solutions.

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Marisa Pizii, the Deputy Director of Programs and Policy at Collective Power for Reproductive Justice and Co-chair of the Board of Directors of the Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massachusetts, joins us to dig deeper into this critical moment on the attacks on abortion and reproductive rights and what it means to be an activist working in this space.

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