Impact In Progress

Kimberly Eck
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Society & Culture

Impact In Progress is a podcast of Emory University’s Office of the Senior Vice President for Research, where we talk about Emory’s research, scholarship, and creative activity and the impact it’s having on the world around us in Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and beyond. Created and hosted by: Dr. Kimberly Eck with Victor Zamora, Dena Reinoso, Erica Pitre, and Chat With Leaders Media.

  1. 1h ago

    Understanding and Decreasing Barriers to Accessing HIV Prevention

    Episode Notes Despite dramatic advances in HIV prevention, administrative, social, and economic barriers continue to prevent life-saving medications from reaching the individuals who need them most. Host Dr. Kimberly Eck sits down with Dr. Jason Schneider and Jendayi Griggs from the Emory School of Medicine and Grady Health System to examine clinical and community-based strategies for overcoming healthcare friction. Drawing from their work in urban safety-net clinic environments, Schneider and Griggs discuss practical solutions to improve PrEP uptake, reduce medical mistrust, streamline clinic workflows, and expand culturally affirmative care across Metro Atlanta. Key Takeaways: Safety-Net Care Innovation: Lessons learned from delivering HIV prevention in high-volume public health settings like Grady Health System. Reducing Administrative Barriers: Streamlining prescribing protocols and patient navigation to maintain care engagement. Community-Centered Trust: Building clinical spaces that prioritize health equity, cultural humility, and patient dignity. Resources: View Dr. Schneider’s Faculty Profile: https://med.emory.edu/directory/profile/?u=JSSCHNE Institutional Partners: Emory University School of Medicine: https://med.emory.edu/  Grady Health System: https://www.gradyhealth.org/  Awareness Month Note: Lead up to World AIDS Day on December 1, 2026. Call to Action: To stay updated on the latest research and impact at Emory, follow Impact in Progress on your favorite podcast platform, and if you are an Emory researcher interested in being featured, please reach out to Dr. Kimberly Eck at researchdevelopment@emory.edu. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  2. Oct 27

    Energy Regulation and Data Centers

    Episode Notes As artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure expand exponentially, energy consumption and regional power grid demands have become central policy challenges. In this episode, host Dr. Kimberly Eck welcomes environmental anthropologist Dr. Kristin Phillips to discuss her research on energy regulation, utility policy, and the rapid expansion of data centers across Georgia and the American South. Dr. Phillips examines the intersection of corporate energy demands, environmental sustainability, and consumer utility costs. Airing right ahead of key state and federal election cycles, this discussion illuminates how regulatory bodies like public service commissions balance economic development with environmental justice, resource conservation, and community health. Key Takeaways: Infrastructure & Energy Grids: Understanding the massive power and water requirements of modern data center infrastructure. Regulatory Governance: How utility commissions and state policy shape clean energy transitions and consumer rate structures. Civic Engagement & Energy: The importance of public awareness around utility decisions leading into upcoming election cycles. Resources: View Dr. Phillip’s Faculty Profile: https://anthropology.emory.edu/people/bios/phillips-kristin.html  Call to Action: Explore research at the intersection of environmental anthropology and policy by visiting the Emory Department of Anthropology. Stay informed on local utility decisions in your community! To stay updated on the latest research and impact at Emory, follow Impact in Progress on your favorite podcast platform, and if you are an Emory researcher interested in being featured, please reach out to Dr. Kimberly Eck at researchdevelopment@emory.edu. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  3. Oct 20

    How Race, Place, and Class Shapes Who Gets Ahead

    Episode Notes What does it truly mean to "get ahead" in America, and how do your family's background and neighborhood shape your economic destiny? Dr. Kimberly Eck sits down with sociologist Dr. Janeria Easley to explore intergenerational social mobility. Dr. Easley breaks down her research using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), combining five core factors—income, wealth, occupation, education, and neighborhood context—to create a holistic picture of origin and destination profiles across generations. The conversation addresses stark nationwide racial disparities in mobility and examines why Atlanta recently ranked at the bottom of major metropolitan areas for upward mobility. Dr. Easley also shares how her team uses structural equation modeling and AI coding tools to push the boundaries of sociology, as well as how these findings can inform policy around student debt, school funding, and community investment. Key Takeaways: Beyond Income: Why evaluating social mobility requires looking simultaneously at wealth, education, occupation, neighborhood context, and income. Racial Disparities & Atlanta: Understanding the structural "stickiness at the bottom" and why Atlanta faces unique challenges in intergenerational mobility for Black families. Translational Sociology: Presenting findings directly to first-generation college students living out social mobility in real time. Resources: View Dr. Janeria Easley’s Faculty Profile: https://aas.emory.edu/people/bios/faculty/easley-janeria.html  Data Resources: Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID - University of Michigan): https://psidonline.isr.umich.edu/  Opportunity Insights Data: https://opportunityinsights.org/  Call to Action: To learn more about Dr. Janeria Easley's research and publications, visit her Emory Faculty Profile Page. Learn more about research initiatives across campus at https://research.emory.edu/research.emory.edu. To stay updated on the latest research and impact at Emory, follow Impact in Progress on your favorite podcast platform, and if you are an Emory researcher interested in being featured, please reach out to Dr. Kimberly Eck at researchdevelopment@emory.edu. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  4. Oct 13

    Navigating Complex Ethical Issues

    Episode Notes From pandemic response protocols to end-of-life care decisions, bioethics provides the essential compass for navigating medicine's most difficult choices. Host Dr. Kimberly Eck speaks with Kathy Kinlaw, Associate Director for the Center for Ethics at Emory University, who has spent over 30 years helping clinicians, patients, and policymakers address complex ethical challenges. Kinlaw reflects on the Center's public health ethics work during COVID-19, including a major survey of over 1,300 healthcare providers evaluating moral distress and resource constraints. Kinlaw also discusses her instrumental role co-chairing the Georgia House of Representatives round table that drafted the state's statutory Advanced Directives legislation in 2007. She shares current efforts with the Georgia Department of Public Health to establish a state-wide electronic registry for advanced directives and PULST forms, ensuring patient values and treatment choices are honored across all points of care. Key Takeaways: Ethics in Practice: How bioethics builds habits that strengthen moral behavior in clinical settings and public health policy. Advanced Care Planning: Why every adult 18 and older should document their healthcare preferences before a health crisis occurs. State-Wide Registry Efforts: How uploading advanced directives to an accessible digital registry ensures physicians can access critical patient directives instantaneously. Resources: Free Advanced Care Planning Guide: https://hcethics.org/ Learn more about the Center for Ethics: https://ethics.emory.edu/ Learn more about the other Partner Organizations mentioned in this episode: Georgia Department of Public Health: https://dph.georgia.gov/ Healthcare Ethics Consortium: https://hcethics.org/ Georgia POLST: https://www.gapolst.org/ Call to Action: Download the free Georgia Advanced Care Planning Guide developed by the Center for Ethics, Georgia Health Decisions, and its partners at hcethics.org. Connect with the Center for Ethics at https://ethics.emory.edu/ethics.emory.edu. To stay updated on the latest research and impact at Emory, follow Impact in Progress on your favorite podcast platform, and if you are an Emory researcher interested in being featured, please reach out to Dr. Kimberly Eck at researchdevelopment@emory.edu. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  5. Oct 6

    Making HIV Research More Impactful

    Episode Notes Behind every landmark scientific breakthrough and published medical trial is a dedicated team of clinical research coordinators, nurses, regulatory specialists, and community engagement officers. In this episode, Dr. Kimberly Eck welcomes Tanisha Sullivan, a 25-year Emory veteran who coordinates the Emory HIV Clinical Trials Unit (CTU). Sullivan highlights Emory's role as a leading enrollment site in global research networks like HPTN, ACTG, and HVTN, including the landmark HPTN 083 study that proved long-acting injectable PrEP is more effective than daily oral pills. Sullivan shares her personal journey from regulatory coordinator to senior leadership, emphasizing how health equity drives her passion. She discusses localized efforts at the Hope Clinic and Ponce de Leon Center to address high HIV rates in Fulton County and Atlanta, while expanding clinical trial access to rural communities, Latinx populations in Georgia, and international partner sites in Mexico and the Philippines. Key Takeaways: The Workforce Behind Discovery: Recognizing clinical trial staff as the essential "connective tissue" translating laboratory science into community healthcare. Impact Beyond Publications: How expanding access to long-acting prevention options directly changes lives in heavily impacted regions like Atlanta and the American South. Building Mentorship Pipelines: Growing diverse clinical research professionals from entry-level roles into future study leaders. Resources: Learn about the Hope Clinic of Emory Vaccine Center: https://hopeclinic.emory.edu/ Learn about the Ponce Clinical Research site : https://www.instagram.com/emory_ponce_crs/ and Ponce studies: https://linktr.ee/PONCECRS?utm_source=linktree_profile_sharesid=d50b1fc4-2c45-4720-b1dd-3610fc402f8e Learn more about the Global Networks discussed in this episode: HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN): https://www.hptn.org/   Advancing Clinical Therapeutics Globally (ACTG): https://actgnetwork.org/   HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN): https://www.hvtn.org/ Call to Action: Learn more about ongoing clinical research and trial opportunities at the Emory Hope Clinic by visiting hopeclinic.emory.edu or reaching out to researchdevelopment@emory.edu. To stay updated on the latest research and impact at Emory, follow Impact in Progress on your favorite podcast platform, and if you are an Emory researcher interested in being featured, please reach out to Dr. Kimberly Eck at researchdevelopment@emory.edu. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  6. Sep 29

    Tiny Systems: Small, Low-Cost Devices for Molecular Testing

    Episode Notes What if receiving a rapid, high-accuracy molecular diagnostic test didn't require driving to a major hospital or waiting days for specialized lab equipment? Host Dr. Kimberly Eck connects with biomedical engineer Dr. David Myers to discuss how his lab is decentralizing molecular testing. By developing low-cost, simplified sample preparation cartridges that isolate and preserve genetic material without refrigeration, Dr. Myers, in collaboration with Dr. Jesse Waggoner, is bridging the gap between complex diagnostic machinery and the patients who need them most. Key Takeaways: Removing the Sample Prep Bottleneck: Why sample preparation and purification—rather than the test itself—is the primary barrier to point-of-care testing. The Joint BME Advantage: How shared biomedical engineering spaces between Emory and Georgia Tech foster fast, interdisciplinary innovation. Universal Testing Access: Pushing toward a world where the question isn't "Can we test for this here?" but simply "Can we test?" Resources: David Myers’ Faculty Profile: https://med.emory.edu/directory/profile/?u=DMYERS3   Learn about Water Bear Bio: https://www.waterbearbio.com/   Listen to Dr. Myers' feature on Emory's Holy Shift podcast: https://bme.gatech.edu/news/myers-talks-about-science-small-things-0   Call to Action: Explore cutting-edge engineering work in the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at bme.emory.edu. Check out Dr. Myers' episode on Emory's Holy Shift podcast! To stay updated on the latest research and impact at Emory, follow Impact in Progress on your favorite podcast platform, and if you are an Emory researcher interested in being featured, please reach out to Dr. Kimberly Eck at researchdevelopment@emory.edu. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  7. Sep 22

    Expanding HIV Prevention Services Through Pharmacies

    Episode Notes With 95% of Americans living within five miles of a pharmacy, community pharmacists represent one of our most accessible healthcare resources. In this episode, Dr. Kimberly Eck sits down with implementation scientist Dr. Natalie Crawford to discuss breaking down structural barriers in HIV prevention. Dr. Crawford examines stark racial disparities in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) usage, where despite representing a majority of new diagnoses in the South, only 13% of Black individuals who need PrEP are currently prescribed it, compared to over 90% of White individuals. Dr. Crawford details Georgia's Senate Bill 195, which empowers trained pharmacists to prescribe PrEP directly without a prior physician visit. Through the Rx for Change partnership, her CORE lab works alongside community organizations using a "train-the-trainer" model to educate local pharmacists on sexual health advisory, stigma reduction, and direct prescribing protocols. Key Takeaways: Pharmacies as Stigma-Reducing Spaces: Utilizing neutral retail environments to increase access to HIV prevention and screening. Bridging the Implementation Chasm: Why passing state legislation is only the first step and how community organizations are training pharmacists to utilize their new prescribing authority. Lessons from COVID-19: Recognizing the proven capacity of pharmacists as front-line public health providers. Resources: View Dr. Natalie Crawford’s faculty profile: https://sph.emory.edu/ National PrEP Locator Tool: preplocator.org Partner Organizations: AIDS United, Black Public Health Academy, National Pharmaceutical Association, Emory COMPASS Center. Community Event: Join community efforts around the AIDS Walk Atlanta taking place on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Call to Action: To find PrEP providers and accessible pharmacy locations near you, visit preplocator.org. Learn more about public health initiatives at https://sph.emory.edu/sph.emory.edu. To stay updated on the latest research and impact at Emory, follow Impact in Progress on your favorite podcast platform, and if you are an Emory researcher interested in being featured, please reach out to Dr. Kimberly Eck at researchdevelopment@emory.edu. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  8. Sep 15

    Building Digital Twins For Expert Decision-Making

    Episode Notes https://goizueta.emory.edu/ While mainstream artificial intelligence relies on scraping vast databases to predict outcomes, what if AI could instead capture, preserve, and scale individual human wisdom? Organizational psychologist Dr. Karl Kuhnert joins host Dr. Kimberly Eck to explain how he builds "digital twins" of domain experts. Through structured 90-minute elicitation interviews and interactive scenario testing, Dr. Kuhnert models how seasoned specialists—such as pulmonologists deciding on lung transplants under intense **60-**minute time constraints—make high-stakes choices. Dr. Kuhnert highlights the critical distinction between generic Large Language Models (LLMs) and sourced, transparent decision twins. He details how these models capture "tacit knowledge"—the unconscious, lived experienced-based insight that distinguishes true experts from novices—and discusses how scaling human judgment can transform clinical training, business continuity, and professional mentorship. Key Takeaways: Preserving Tacit Knowledge: Capturing the "how" behind decision-making before senior leaders and master clinicians retire. Sourced vs. Anonymous AI: Why decision twins offer auditable, trusted, and transparent logic compared to broad database scraping. Wiser People, Not Just Smarter AI: Utilizing technology to l earn from human judgment rather than replace human judgment. Resources: View Dr. Karl Kuhnert’s faculty profile: https://goizueta.emory.edu/faculty/profiles/karl-kuhnert Learn more about Emory Goizueta Business School: https://goizueta.emory.edu/   Carl Wocke-CEO, Merlynn Intelligence Technologies: merlynn-ai.com https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fsafety%2Fgo%2F%3Furl%3Dwww.merlynn-ai.com%26urlhash%3DfWP4%26mt%3DRtQ0YDjcKd8ZmWGhAZx7ys6AbC2oJCYrYOsZGIrsescHh3wVskqGKc1gZYAa7llLBqmlVyVpg2oI4i-S2ozysSHvoQ%26isSdui%3Dtrue\&data=05%7C02%7Ckimberly.jo.eck%40emory.edu%7Ce8e358b1cc2d418dccd908df0ea32c15%7Ce004fb9cb0a4424fbcd0322606d5df38%7C0%7C0%7C639245766262635850%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C\&sdata=H6NE%2Fh8Ew1iXBs6NwNLZsx75l7lJWrqJaom2N%2FXRgKU%3D\&reserved=0 Mark Keith, AI Consultant— Mark Keith. mark@tmarkkeith.com Call to Action: Discover leadership programs and faculty research at Emory’s Goizueta Business School by visiting https://goizueta.emory.edu/goizueta.emory.edu. To stay updated on the latest research and impact at Emory, follow Impact in Progress on your favorite podcast platform, and if you are an Emory researcher interested in being featured, please reach out to Dr. Kimberly Eck at researchdevelopment@emory.edu. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

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Impact In Progress is a podcast of Emory University’s Office of the Senior Vice President for Research, where we talk about Emory’s research, scholarship, and creative activity and the impact it’s having on the world around us in Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and beyond. Created and hosted by: Dr. Kimberly Eck with Victor Zamora, Dena Reinoso, Erica Pitre, and Chat With Leaders Media.

Information

  • Creator
    Kimberly Eck
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026
  • Show Website
    Impact In Progress