University of Iowa College of Public Health

CPH Communications

The University of Iowa College of Public Health is a top-ranked school of public health, meeting the public health challenges of the 21st century through education, research, outreach, and community engagement.

  1. 21h ago

    Meeting Communities Where They Are: Zuli Garcia and Knock and Drop Iowa

    What does it look like to build public health programs around what a community actually needs? In this episode of Plugged into Public Health, Lauren talks with Zuli Garcia, founder and president of Knock and Drop Iowa. The organization began in Zuli’s garage during the COVID-19 pandemic as a culturally specific Latino food pantry and has since grown into a multicultural organization serving hundreds of Iowa households each week. Zuli shares why culturally appropriate food matters, how Knock and Drop Iowa grew from an emergency response into a nonprofit, and how food rescue and partnerships with local organizations help the pantry serve families across the Des Moines area. The conversation also explores Knock and Drop Iowa’s expansion into health education and vaccine access. Zuli discusses how her own experience with cervical cancer influenced her work around HPV education, screening, vaccination, and patient advocacy, and why making health information convenient, understandable, and culturally responsive is critical. Throughout the episode, Zuli explains how Knock and Drop Iowa has built trust by listening to communities, partnering with trusted local leaders, and bringing resources into existing events and spaces rather than expecting people to come to them. It’s a conversation about food insecurity, access to care, cultural responsiveness, community trust, and what it means to truly meet people where they are. Learn more about Knock and Drop Iowa: To learn more, get involved, request programming in your community, or support the organization: Email Zuli at zuli@knockndropiowa.org Call or text 515-330-6077 Visit the Knock and Drop Iowa website for information about volunteering and ways to donate. 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 this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #communityhealth #foodpantry #latino #culturalimportance #healthscreening #foodinsecurity #nonprofit #CEO #iowacity

    Meeting Communities Where They Are: Zuli Garcia and Knock and Drop Iowa

  2. Jul 24

    Meet the Host: Max's Journey from Master's to PhD

    What is graduate school really like, and how do you know whether a master's degree or PhD is the right fit? In this episode, we turn the microphone toward one of our own hosts, Max Hansen, as he reflects on his journey from undergraduate student to earning a Master of Science in Epidemiology at the University of Iowa and preparing to begin his PhD. Max shares how he discovered public health, why research became his passion, and what ultimately convinced him to continue his education. Along the way, we discuss the realities of graduate coursework, the value of research assistantships, writing a master's thesis, navigating literature reviews, choosing meaningful research questions, and building relationships with faculty mentors. Max also offers thoughtful advice for students considering graduate school and explains why curiosity and a genuine love of learning are more important than simply earning another degree. Whether you're exploring public health for the first time or wondering what comes after your bachelor's or master's degree, this episode provides an honest look at the graduate student experience from someone who has just lived it. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-whats-grad-school-really-like/ 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 this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthcare #graduateschool #mastersdegree #phd #research #continuingeducation #studentperspective #assistantships #iowacity

    Meet the Host: Max's Journey from Master's to PhD

  3. Jul 20

    Beyond the Sidelines: Understanding Youth Concussions and Recovery

    What happens after a child gets a concussion, and what does a safe return to school actually look like? In this episode of Plugged In to Public Health, Lauren sits down with Dr. Emily Carlson, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Iowa, to discuss youth concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and the growing field of concussion policy research. Dr. Carlson explains the difference between concussions and more severe traumatic brain injuries, dispels common myths about diagnosis and recovery, and discusses why today's treatment recommendations look very different than they did in the past. She also shares her research on "Return to Learn" policies, which are designed to help students transition back to the classroom after a concussion. The conversation explores why simply passing a law may not be enough, the importance of collaboration between healthcare providers and schools, and why implementation—not just legislation—is often the biggest challenge. Whether you're a parent, educator, coach, healthcare professional, or simply someone interested in brain health, this episode offers an accessible look at how public health research can improve outcomes for children recovering from concussion. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-understanding-youth-concussions-and-recovery/ 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 this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthcare #concussions #braininjuries #sportsinjuries #healthpolicy #research #youthsports #recovery #iowacity

    Beyond the Sidelines: Understanding Youth Concussions and Recovery

  4. Jul 2

    The Public Health Case for Period Products

    Period poverty affects millions of people, yet it remains one of the least discussed public health challenges. In this episode of Plugged into Public Health, Lauren sits down with Maanya Pandey, founder and president of Love For Red, to discuss how a nonprofit she started as a high school student has grown into a statewide organization working to improve menstrual product access across Iowa. Together they explore what period poverty actually means, why access is about more than affordability, and how stigma continues to shape conversations around menstruation. Maanya shares how Love For Red partners with schools and community organizations, the challenges of sustaining a grassroots nonprofit, and why advocacy has become a central part of the organization's mission. They also discuss ongoing efforts in the Iowa Legislature to improve menstrual product access in schools and why policy change is essential for creating lasting solutions. Whether you're interested in public health, nonprofit leadership, health policy, or simply learning more about an issue that affects millions of people every month, this conversation offers valuable insight into how local action can drive meaningful change. To learn more about Love For Red, request support, volunteer, or get involved, visit https://www.loveforred.org/ or follow @loveforredorg on social media. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-the-public-health-case-for-period-products/ 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 this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #womenshealth #menstrualhealth #menstrualproducts #nonprofit #healthpolicy #periodproducts #advocacy #endperiodpoverty #iowacity

    The Public Health Case for Period Products

  5. Jun 12

    Measuring What Matters: Supporting Rural Dementia Caregivers

    What does support really mean for caregivers? In this episode, Lauren sits down with Emily Killian, a PhD candidate in Community and Behavioral Health at the University of Iowa, to discuss her research on caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Emily shares how her interest in aging and caregiving led her to study social support networks, particularly among caregivers in rural communities. The conversation explores the realities of caregiving, the unique challenges faced by rural families, and why traditional measures of social support may not fully capture caregivers' experiences. Emily also explains how researchers use cognitive interviewing to improve survey tools and ensure that the voices of caregivers are reflected in public health research. Whether you have experience caring for a loved one, work in healthcare, or are simply interested in how research shapes public health programs and policy, this episode offers valuable insights into the importance of listening to the people most affected by the issues we study. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-supporting-rural-dementia-caregivers/ 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 this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthcare #communityhealth #behavioralhealth #caregivers #dementia #alzheimersdisease #research #support #iowacity

    Measuring What Matters: Supporting Rural Dementia Caregivers

  6. Jun 5

    Aging in Rural America: What Happens When Nursing Homes Disappear?

    As America's population ages, access to long-term care is becoming an increasingly urgent issue, especially in rural communities. In this episode, Lauren sits down with Dr. Hari Sharma to discuss the growing challenge of nursing home closures in rural America and what those closures mean for patients, families, and communities. While nursing homes have always opened and closed over time, recent years have seen an overall decline in the total number of facilities nationwide, creating new concerns about access to both post-acute and long-term care services. Dr. Sharma explains how researchers measure access to care, why rural communities are particularly vulnerable when facilities close, and what happens when older adults are forced to seek care farther from home. The conversation explores the financial pressures facing nursing homes, workforce shortages, Medicaid reimbursement challenges, and the growing gap between the care rural residents need and the services available to them. The episode also examines potential solutions, including expanding home-based care, investing in assisted living and adult day programs, and reimagining how rural nursing home facilities can serve multiple community needs. Whether you're caring for aging parents, working in healthcare, or simply interested in the future of rural health, this episode offers valuable insight into a challenge that will affect more and more families in the years ahead. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-aging-in-rural-america-what-happens-when-nursing-homes-disappear/ 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 this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthcare #nursinghomes #medicaid #ruralhealth #nursing #assistedliving #agingparents #research #iowacity

    Aging in Rural America: What Happens When Nursing Homes Disappear?

  7. May 29

    The Law of Pregnancy and Parenthood with Professor Katharine Baker

    In this episode of Plugged Into Public Health, Lauren sits down with Professor Baker from the University of Iowa College of Law to unpack the complicated legal framework surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, parental leave, and workplace protections in the United States. Together, they explore how pregnancy became treated primarily through discrimination law, why the U.S. differs so dramatically from many other industrialized countries on paid parental leave, and how policies like the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) came to exist in their current form. The conversation digs into the tension between gender equality and biological reality in public policy, including whether treating everyone “the same” under the law always leads to equitable outcomes in practice. Professor Baker also explains how unpaid leave disproportionately impacts lower-income workers and single mothers, why many employers structure leave policies the way they do, and what realistic policy reforms could look like in the future. Throughout the episode, listeners are reminded that public health is shaped not only by healthcare systems, but also by labor policy, economics, law, and the broader social supports available to families. This episode offers a thoughtful and accessible look at an issue that affects millions of Americans, while also showing just how unusual the United States is compared to much of the rest of the world when it comes to supporting pregnancy and early parenthood. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-the-law-of-pregnancy-and-parenthood-with-katharine-baker/ 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 this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthcare #familyandmedicalleaveact #fmla #collegeoflaw #pregnancy #parentalleave #publicpolicy #genderequality #childbirth #iowacity

    The Law of Pregnancy and Parenthood with Professor Katharine Baker

  8. May 22

    The Necessity of Friction: Dr. Bhramar Mukherjee on Courage, Data, and Public Health

    This week on Plugged In to Public Health, Raj and Faith sit down with renowned biostatistician and public health researcher Bhramar Mukherjee following her Hansen Distinguished Lecture at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. Dr. Mukherjee shares her journey from studying mathematics in India to becoming a leading voice in biostatistics, epidemiology, and public communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, they explore the “four quadrants” that shaped her lecture and career: ethics, community engagement, communication, and capacity building. The conversation dives into some of the biggest questions facing public health today: -What responsibilities do statisticians have beyond the numbers? -How do we communicate uncertainty to the public? -What happens when politics shapes data collection? -How should researchers think about AI, privacy, and the future of education? -And why might friction, tension, and even mistakes be essential for growth and creativity? Dr. Mukherjee also reflects on the courage required to communicate science publicly during moments of crisis, the importance of community trust in research, and why foundational skills matter more than chasing every new technological trend. This episode is thoughtful, timely, and deeply relevant for anyone interested in science, leadership, ethics, education, or the future of public health. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-dr-bhramar-mukherjee-on-courage-data-and-public-health/ 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 this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthcare #data #statistician #biostatistician #artificialintelligence #healtheducation #research #HansenDistinguishedLecture #iowacity

    The Necessity of Friction: Dr. Bhramar Mukherjee on Courage, Data, and Public Health
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The University of Iowa College of Public Health is a top-ranked school of public health, meeting the public health challenges of the 21st century through education, research, outreach, and community engagement.

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