I AM GPH

NYU School of Global Public Health
  • 4.9 (23)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

The I AM GPH podcast brings you community conversations from the New York University School of Global Public Health. From student internships to cutting edge faculty research, from alumni insights to the insider scoop on campus life… it's all right here on the I AM GPH podcast.

  1. APR 23

    EP181 The Nexus of Food, Water, and Climate with Dr. Abrania Marrero and Chloe Dourmashkin

    In this episode, we explore environmental public health with Dr. Abrania Marrero, a clinical assistant professor, and Master of Public Health student Chloe Dourmashkin. Both guests were drawn to NYU GPH for its interdisciplinary approach and its location in New York City, which offers access to major health organizations and diverse urban ecosystems. Dr. Marrero discusses her research on climate change and nutrition in small island states, specifically the Caribbean. She explains how the "nutrition transition"—a shift toward ultra-processed foods—interacts with climate volatility to impact cardiometabolic health. Chloe shares her path from anthropology to public health, a move inspired by meeting the whistleblower from the Flint, Michigan water crisis. The conversation highlights the teaching excellence at GPH, where students move beyond lectures to build in-demand professional skills. Chloe describes a course project using an "air quality calculator" to translate particulate matter data into the number of cigarettes a person effectively smokes, while Dr. Marrero emphasizes the importance of building conceptual frameworks to visualize complex health problems. By utilizing the diversity of backgrounds within the classroom, GPH prepares students to become effective science communicators who can advocate for policy changes and lead in a rapidly changing global environment. To learn more about the NYU School of Global Public Health, and how our innovative programs are training the next generation of public health leaders, visit http://www.publichealth.nyu.edu.

    36 min

  2. APR 9

    EP180 Service is Joy: Building a Career in Community Advocacy with Gail Viaje

    In this episode, we speak with Gail Viaje (MPH '24), an international student from the Philippines who shifted from a pre-med track at Fordham to Community Health Science and Practice (CHSP). Gail explains how the I AM GPH podcast served as her initial window into the program. She describes the benefit of GPH's teaching excellence, specifically how Dr. David Abrams and Dr. Joyce Moon Howard helped her translate classroom theory into professional practice. Gail highlights the unique "family" feel of her small cohort of 35 students, where peer-to-peer mentorship was common. Now working as a case manager, she applies the writing skills and needs assessment training from her grant writing and program planning classes to draft legal documentation and help families navigate complex resources. This conversation illustrates the student success found through the NYU network and Gail's personal philosophy that true joy is found through a career in service. To learn more about the NYU School of Global Public Health, and how our innovative programs are training the next generation of public health leaders, visit http://www.publichealth.nyu.edu.

    30 min

  3. MAR 26

    EP179 Policy Analysis for Community Benefit with Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford and Reilly Fitzpatrick

    In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford and Reilly Fitzpatrick (MPH/MSW '23) about the power of student-faculty connectivity. Reilly discusses her transition from a biology background and Peace Corps service in Zambia to NYU's dual-degree program, where she sought to combine clinical social work skills with the macro-scale impact of public health. Dr. Boufford, a practitioner with deep experience in government and nonprofit sectors, explains how their parallel career arcs led to a high-impact collaboration on New York State health policy. By engaging with Dr. Boufford's lab and the New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council, Reilly gained the training necessary to navigate complex public deliberations and state public health meetings. Reilly's story is a testament to how GPH's commitment to applied practice ensures alumni graduate with the technical skills and professional networks to lead meaningful change in the world. To learn more about the NYU School of Global Public Health, and how our innovative programs are training the next generation of public health leaders, visit http://www.publichealth.nyu.edu.

    32 min

  4. FEB 26

    EP178 Biostatistical Collaboration and Consultation Core (BC3) with Fred Lei and Kofi Agyabeng

    In this episode, we speak with PhD student Kofi Agyabeng and Master's student Fred Lei to discuss how they bring together the worlds of mathematics, economics, and public health. Kofi shares his journey from Ghana, where a national service posting at the University of Ghana School of Public Health served as an inflection point, leading him to realize he could impact population health through data without ever entering a clinical facility. Fred discusses his background in math and econometrics, explaining how a research assistant posting for Professor Alex Dahlen drew him into public health. Together, they detail their collaboration under Dr. Dahlen on a project analyzing changes in opioid overdose mortality and their work within the Biostatistical Collaboration and Consulting Core (BC3). BC3 supports researchers at every step—from the first spark of an idea and designing a study to checking data and creating clear charts. Kofi and Fred explain how mathematicians and economists are essential for measuring whether policies actually work and making sure limited resources are used where they can do the most good. This conversation highlights the power of numbers as a "translator" for human-oriented health issues and offers advice on finding your own community within NYU's vast, interdisciplinary landscape. To learn more about the NYU School of Global Public Health, and how our innovative programs are training the next generation of public health leaders, visit http://www.publichealth.nyu.edu.

    34 min

  5. FEB 12

    EP177 Building Research Skills for Community Impact with Whitney Rigodon

    In this episode we speak with Whitney Rigodon, an MPH student specializing in Community Health Science and Practice. Whitney's path began in Brooklyn, where observing high rates of premature death and chronic illness within her local community sparked a desire to address non-communicable diseases and the social determinants of health. She explains how she applies her anthropology background and ethnographic skills—such as analyzing neighborhood dialects and social dynamics—to conduct deep community needs evaluations. Whitney discusses her extensive research involvement at NYU GPH, maximizing her time in the program, including her work with the Applied Global Public Health Initiative (AGPHI) and the Health in All Policies Network. She shares insights from her time as a research coordinator for Safe Futures, focusing on the prevention of child maltreatment. By utilizing the mentor-mentee program and the Resource Expo Fair, Whitney built a technical skillset designed for real-world impact. Ultimately, she shares her dream of creating a future where health resources empower every individual to feel hopeful about tomorrow. To learn more about the NYU School of Global Public Health, and how our innovative programs are training the next generation of public health leaders, visit http://www.publichealth.nyu.edu.

    30 min

  6. JAN 22

    EP176 Tanzania Fieldwork: Climate Change and Systems Thinking with Bethel Abraham and Sona Fall

    In this episode, we speak with Master of Public Health students Bethel Abraham and Sona Fall about their study abroad course in Tanzania, which focused on low-cost strategies for waterborne diseases and waste management. We explore their journeys from pre-med backgrounds to public health—Sona's pivot occurred after realizing she could impact lives outside a clinic, while Bethel moved toward systemic change after witnessing the political and healthcare systems affecting children in emergency units. They share how their work with the Applied Global Public Health Initiative (AGPHI) led them to Dar es Salaam. Bethel and Sona detail their work alongside UNICEF and the Ministry of Health, describing an environment where health officials took time off their jobs to learn as equals with students. They discuss the "unlearning" required after their initial focus on malaria and cholera shifted; upon arriving at the Azimio Ward, they found their bus blocked by a massive puddle of standstill water and realized residents prioritized waste management over disease data. By using systems mapping to visualize community outcomes, they pivoted their interventions to address the lack of infrastructure. This episode is a lesson in grounding strategy in empathy and recognizing community members as the experts. To learn more about the NYU School of Global Public Health, and how our innovative programs are training the next generation of public health leaders, visit http://www.publichealth.nyu.edu.

    40 min

  7. 12/04/2025

    EP175 Lead, Literacy, and Livelihoods: Environmental Health Education with Kate Porterfield

    In this episode, we speak with Kate Porterfield (MPH '22), an NYU double-graduate in Global Liberal Studies and Environmental Public Health Sciences, who has navigated a unique career from teaching fifth grade to leading international research. Kate shares powerful stories from her work with Pure Earth, including an investigation into lead poisoning in Ghana, where she details the toxic reality of the Agbogbloshie e-waste dumping ground. This experience, she explains, was the pivotal moment that drove her from desk research to pursuing a Master's of Social Work in clinical practice. She argues that Public Health and Social Work are deeply intertwined. The conversation closes on her core philosophy: that education can be used as a tool for public health by teaching the foundational skill of empathy to achieve meaningful behavioral change. This perspective ensures that every person is seen not as a statistic, but as an individual that matters. To learn more about the NYU School of Global Public Health, and how our innovative programs are training the next generation of public health leaders, visit http://www.publichealth.nyu.edu.

    37 min

  8. 11/20/2025

    EP174 Ten Years of Impact with Dean Melody Goodman and Founding Dean Cheryl Healton

    In this special 10th-anniversary episode, Dr. Melody Goodman, dean and professor of biostatistics, and Dr. Cheryl Healton, founding dean and professor of public health policy and management, reflect on the decade-long journey of the New York University School of Global Public Health. Dr. Healton shares the initial "spark" that led to the creation of the public health institute, the precursor to the school, and offers insights on identifying and cultivating leadership potential within an organization. Looking ahead, the Deans discuss preparing students for this "critical moment in public health," emphasizing the need for innovation and flexibility. Dean Goodman shares her priorities for the next decade, focusing on curriculum review and enhancing educational offerings. The conversation closes with advice for future leaders and students, stressing the importance of passion and taking advantage of GPH's unique benefits of being situated in New York City. To learn more about the NYU School of Global Public Health, and how our innovative programs are training the next generation of public health leaders, visit http://www.publichealth.nyu.edu.

    15 min
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4.9
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

The I AM GPH podcast brings you community conversations from the New York University School of Global Public Health. From student internships to cutting edge faculty research, from alumni insights to the insider scoop on campus life… it's all right here on the I AM GPH podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    NYU School of Global Public Health
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    I AM GPH

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