Going Viral: From Baltimore to the World

Institute of Human Virology

Every episode, we’ll take you inside the work, people, and impact of our team. From breaking research and faculty profiles to regional updates and behind-the-scenes stories, we’ll explore how our mission comes to life across communities and countries. www.ihv.org

Episodes

  1. May 27

    The STI Episode: Facts Over Fear

    In this episode, Walker Weinstein, RN of the Jacques Initiative, covers why some STIs show no symptoms at all, how regular testing should become as routine as a dental cleaning, and why sexual health conversations don’t have to be awkward. Whether you’re navigating dating, in a long-term relationship, or simply want to stay informed, this episode offers practical advice and a reminder that taking care of your sexual health is just another part of taking care of yourself. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute of Human Virology or the University of Maryland. This podcast is intended only for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance specific to your health needs.

    28 min

  2. Apr 24

    Bringing Health to Salons with Sierra & Rhonda

    What do barbershop bloodletting, salon gossip, and modern-day sexual health education have in common? More than you’d think. In this episode, we sit down with the team behind Tea Talks, a bold initiative from the Jacques Initiative that’s bringing sexual health education straight into beauty salons—because sometimes the best place to talk about protection comes with a manicure. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute of Human Virology or the University of Maryland. This podcast is intended only for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance specific to your health needs.

    35 min

  3. Jan 9

    No Borders in Care: Or How Global Health Lessons Travel Home

    What can global HIV care in Zambia teach us about building stronger health systems in Baltimore?In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Cassidy Claassen, an infectious disease and public health physician based in Lusaka, Zambia, whose work focuses on expanding HIV care in resource-limited settings through community-based interventions. Dr. Claassen shares insights from the front lines of HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa, discusses health system capacity-building, and reflects on how lessons learned abroad—from engaging key populations to training the next generation of clinicians—can inform and strengthen patient care at home. Cassidy W. Claassen : https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassidy-claassen/ https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/profiles/claassen-cassidy/ MKM Fellowship: https://www.ciheb.org/fellowships--scholarships/mkm/ Articles: https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/02/11/us-must-restore-vital-aids-relief-saving-lives-in-africa-guest-commentary/ https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/01/metro/malnutrition-cuts-usaid-impact-on-children/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute of Human Virology or the University of Maryland. This podcast is intended only for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance specific to your health needs.

    26 min

  4. 12/05/2025

    Commitment to Community Health: Or, Inside THRIVE’s Patient-Centered Care

    What does truly patient-centered HIV care look like in practice—and what drives the people who provide it every day?We sit down with THRIVE Program’s community outreach worker and Ryan White specialist Eric Anderson, and health program director Robyn Palmerio, for an inside look at how their team walks with patients from the very first step. From meeting people exactly where they are to creating a welcoming, judgment-free space, Eric and Robyn share how THRIVE builds trust and supports each person’s path to wellness. They also open up about the “why” behind their commitment—the purpose and passion that fuel their work and uplift Baltimore’s HIV community. This conversation reveals the heart of THRIVE: compassionate, community-driven care that helps people not just survive, but truly THRIVE. https://www.umms.org/midtown/locations/thrive-program https://www.facebook.com/THRIVEProgramBaltimore Phone: 410-225-8369 Midtown Outpatient Tower800 Linden Avenue7th floorBaltimore, MD 21201 Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute of Human Virology or the University of Maryland. This podcast is intended only for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance specific to your health needs.

    27 min

  5. 12/05/2025

    We're Still Here: Or, How the Urban Indigenous Bridge the Past and Present (PART II)

    What does it mean to be Indigenous in a modern American city? This episode, we continue our conversation with Kerry Hawk Lessard, Executive Director of Native American Lifelines, about the deep and often overlooked history of Baltimore’s Indigenous tribes — and the vibrant Urban Indigenous community that calls the city home today. From cultural preservation to health equity, Lessard shares how identity, tradition, and wellness intersect in urban spaces — and how Baltimore’s Indigenous voices continue to shape the city’s story. Guest: Kerry Hawk Lessard https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-hawk-lessard-4588465a/ Native American Lifelines: https://nativeamericanlifelines.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/native-american-lifelines-inc/posts/?feedView=all Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NativeAmericanLifeLines Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nativeamericanlifelines/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute of Human Virology or the University of Maryland. This podcast is intended only for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance specific to your health needs.

    29 min

  6. 11/06/2025

    We're Still Here: Or, How the Urban Indigenous Bridge Past and Present (PART I)

    What does it mean to be Indigenous in a modern American city? This episode, we speak with Kerry Hawk Lessard, Executive Director of Native American Lifelines, about the deep and often overlooked history of Baltimore’s Indigenous tribes — and the vibrant Urban Indigenous community that calls the city home today. From cultural preservation to health equity, Lessard shares how identity, tradition, and wellness intersect in urban spaces — and how Baltimore’s Indigenous voices continue to shape the city’s story. Guest: Kerry Hawk Lessard https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-hawk-lessard-4588465a/ Native American Lifelines: https://nativeamericanlifelines.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/native-american-lifelines-inc/posts/?feedView=all Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NativeAmericanLifeLines Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nativeamericanlifelines/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute of Human Virology or the University of Maryland. This podcast is intended only for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance specific to your health needs.

    29 min

  7. 10/30/2025

    Tuberculosis: Or How We Learned to Outlive the White Plague

    Can a disease shape the modern world? This episode explores the medical and social legacy of tuberculosis, once known as the “White Plague.” Dr. Paul Saleeb discusses how scientific progress, public health innovation, and community partnerships have helped overcome one of humanity’s oldest and deadliest infections. Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute of Human Virology or the University of Maryland. This podcast is intended only for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance specific to your health needs.

    14 min

  8. 10/21/2025

    The Hardest Fix: Or How We Learned to Fight a Crisis with Compassion

    What does it really take to heal a city in crisis? In this episode, we sit down with a frontline worker and a resident in long-term recovery to talk about the opioid epidemic from both sides of the fight. Together, they share hard truths about stigma, survival, and the everyday acts of compassion that are transforming how communities confront addiction. Guest: Candy Kerr LinkedIn Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition, Inc. Website Facebook Instagram Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute of Human Virology or the University of Maryland. This podcast is intended only for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance specific to your health needs.

    29 min

  9. 09/17/2025

    From Clinic to Community: Or How We Learned Health is More Than Healthcare

    What does it mean to truly meet patients where they are? And how can care rooted in compassion transform health outcomes? In this episode, Baltimore native and nurse Walker Weinstein shares how IHV’s Jacques Initiative provides status-neutral HIV and hepatitis services, gender-affirming care, and community outreach that puts dignity first. Guest: Walker Weinstein, RN https://jacques.ihv.org/ Testing, Outreach, and Linkage to Care JACQUES Journey Center 520 W. Fayette St. Suite 140, Baltimore, MD 21201 410-706-6410 to speak with a team member Clinical Program University of Maryland, Institute of Human Virology 725 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201 410-706-4091 to schedule a clinic appointment Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute of Human Virology or the University of Maryland. This podcast is intended only for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance specific to your health needs.

    20 min

  10. 09/02/2025

    Organ Transplants: Or Ways to Predict, Prevent, and Pursue Post-Transplant Infections

    You got the call. The transplant was a success. Now what? For thousands of people, receiving a new organ is just the start of the journey—not the end. In this episode, Dr. Kapil Saharia, an infectious disease expert, pulls back the curtain on what happens next: the hidden battle to protect that new organ from infections while keeping the immune system in check. Learn why post-transplant care is a high-stakes balancing act—and how doctors are working to keep patients thriving long after surgery.

    20 min

  11. 08/19/2025

    HIV and Aging: Or What Happens When a Crisis Becomes a Chronic Condition

    What happens when a once-fatal diagnosis becomes a lifelong condition?In this episode, Dr. Poonam Mathur joins us as we dive into the changing landscape of treatment of HIV – how it’s evolved from a health crisis into a chronic, manageable disease—and what that means for a generation now aging with the virus. Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute of Human Virology or the University of Maryland. This podcast is intended only for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance specific to your health needs.

    23 min

  12. 08/05/2025

    Opioid Epidemic in Baltimore: Or How the Cure Became the Crisis—and What We’re Doing About It

    You’ve seen the headlines. Overdose numbers. A city in crisis. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Kattakuzhy, Associate Director of the Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine and Co-Director, Research Initiative on Infectious Disease and Substance Use Disorder, takes us inside Baltimore’s opioid epidemic. From the tangled roots of addiction to the real-world impact of harm reduction strategies. It’s a candid look at the crisis beyond the numbers—and the people fighting to turn the tide. Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute of Human Virology or the University of Maryland. This podcast is intended only for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance specific to your health needs.

    30 min
  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Every episode, we’ll take you inside the work, people, and impact of our team. From breaking research and faculty profiles to regional updates and behind-the-scenes stories, we’ll explore how our mission comes to life across communities and countries. www.ihv.org

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