Shows
Utano Public Health ChatsEpisode 2-Interview with Dr. Nikki KayIn this episode we talk with Dr. Nikki Kay a specialist Public Health physician currently based at the Duke-NUS Medical School Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE) and SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI) in Singapore.
We discussed:
Her 16 year career in public health medicine starting from her background and what motivated her to want to work in public health
Her experience taking care of family during the peak of the AIDS pandemic in Zimbabwe and similarities of the HIV pandemic with COVID for health care workers
The decision to pursue medicine and what she enjoys about be...2022-05-2553 min
Global Health VoicesProf Hannah Kuper – Bridging research and practiceProf Hannah Kuper echoes key points made by previous speakers and emphasises the importance of creating inclusive systems, be they in education or health. Such systems not only cater to people living with disabilities, they are also more responsive and increase accessibility for all populations. She also reaffirms the importance of ensuring a seat at the table for people living with disabilities in relation to agenda setting, interventions and research efforts. Hannah gives practical advice on structuring each component of the health system to ensure that each part is inclusive to people living with disabilities. 2022-05-1825 minGlobal Health VoicesPATHS LESS TRAVELLED: Mr Suporntum Mongkolsawadi - Positive role modelThe conversation with Mr Mongkolsawadi is infused with the power of positive thinking and being proactive in enacting change. His life-long work to promote the employability of people living with disabilities and his experiences as a medal winning Paralympian are compelling examples of the value of role models. Additional reading resources can be accessed here: https://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/allnews/sdghi-podcast-series-2-paths-less-travelled 2022-03-3122 minGlobal Health VoicesPATHS LESS TRAVELLED: Dr Shubha Nagesh – Championing for gender equityDr Shubha Nagesh has a lifetime of being a strong advocate for children and adolescents living with disabilities. She combines her research interest on gender and disability with a strong commitment to work closely with communities. She stresses the need for every individual to contribute to achieve the shared vision of an inclusive and fair world and points to the importance of having people with disabilities in leadership roles. Additional reading resources can be accessed here: https://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/allnews/sdghi-podcast-series-2-paths-less-travelled2022-02-2822 minGlobal Health VoicesPATHS LESS TRAVELLED: Dato Dr Amar Singh - Advocate for children living with disabilitiesDato Dr Amar’s measured tones belie his strong and lifelong passion advocating for the rights of children living with disabilities. His work includes building communities, developing national programmes and changing mind sets to create a more conducive space for children living with disabilities. He recognises the importance of children’s right to play and the positive impact of an inclusive environment for ALL children.Additional reading resources can be accessed here: https://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/allnews/sdghi-podcast-series-2-paths-less-travelled 2022-01-3130 minGlobal Health VoicesTRAILBLAZERS: Dr Renzo Guinto - Planet doctorAn energetic and enlightening conversationalist, Dr Renzo Guinto doesn’t shy away from the big issues when it comes to the most pressing challenges to planetary health and its spillover on human health outcomes. Dr Guinto highlights three key areas: food systems transformation, the impact of urbanisation and, most importantly, the need to redesign our global economy. He points to how the trend of endless consumption is destroying our planet while at the same time widening inequalities between and within countries. On the topic of decolonising global health, he is pragmatic and emphasises capacity building as the central tenet fo...2021-08-2634 minGlobal Health VoicesTRAILBLAZERS: Dr Mukesh Kapila - Human rights crusaderDr Kapila’s many years of experience in tough and, at times, disheartening situations have not diminished his passion for ‘doing the right thing’. He stands by his principles and urges us to re-evaluate the corporatisation of humanitarian and health discourses. He points out how globalisation has created interconnected dependencies that undermine agency of people, weaken communities and hollow out countries – which in turn erode multi-lateral systems. Similarly, he highlights the bureaucratisation of health systems strengthening is engendering an ecosystem that is inefficient, unresponsive and controlling. He urges people to have the courage to follow their own cooperative and supporti...2021-08-1330 minGlobal Health VoicesTRAILBLAZERS: Dr Leena Menghaney – Global activistDr Menghaney’s commitment to articulating and advocating for marginalised groups rings through every conversation with her. In this podcast, she links the role of the Indian pharmaceutical industry to the global movement on enabling access to HIV/AIDS drugs. She explains how the proposed waiver of intellectual property rights for COVID-19 related products seeks to correct for monopoly generated pricing and facilitate access to essential vaccines and therapeutics for all populations. In closing, she points to the power of collaborative action. 2021-07-3023 minGlobal Health VoicesTRAILBLAZERS: Dr Ann-Marie Chacko – Passion personifiedThe conversation with Dr Chacko is always dynamic, always engaging. Her work is evidence of the power of multi-disciplinary efforts. In this episode, she emphasises the importance of translating scientific breakthroughs to practical, and even commercial, applications. She also reflects on the challenges of being a woman in a male dominated sphere and advises young women to “find their voice”.2021-07-1621 minGlobal Health VoicesTRAILBLAZERS: Dr Jetsumon Prachumsri - Breaking down barriersDr Prachumsri outlines the very complex pathway to developing a vaccine to protect against the Plasmodium Vivax malaria parasite. This conversation takes on greater poignancy in the context of the discussions around COVID-19 vaccines. In response to the question on promoting Asian perspectives in research, she talks about the importance of advocating for oneself as well as the role institutions can play in enabling a culture of diverse representation.2021-07-0125 minGlobal Health VoicesTRAILBLAZERS: Prof Martin Bloem – Systems thinkerIn this wide ranging conversation, Professor Martin Bloem pulls together different themes and disciplines to reflect on how we can respond to and examine underlying factors contributing to both acute crises and long term conditions. This viewpoint is grounded in his deep expertise as a medically trained nutritionist and public health practitioner. His central message is that we live in a complex world for which linear solutions are inadequate. The need to apply holistic, systems perspectives is essential, as is the imperative to work effectively together.2021-06-1729 minGlobal Health VoicesTRAILBLAZERS: Dr Nandini Oomman – The power of storytellingThe passion for prompting women’s voices and creating opportunities for dialogue is evident throughout the conversation with Dr Oomman. She emphasises the need for greater integration of gender and intersectional perspectives into global health discourse and interventions. She cites compassion and competency as two essential characteristics for effective leadership. Importantly, she urges women to be bold and ambitious. 2021-06-0430 minGlobal Health VoicesTRAILBLAZERS: Prof Linfa Wang - Pandemic learnings from the 'Batman'Drawing from his many years of experience tracking down bat viruses, Prof Wang identifies some of the factors that led to the current global pandemic. He stresses that the exit strategy should be science based, while acknowledging political considerations must be taken into account. He cautions that no exit strategy can be risk free and we must learn to adjust and adapt. Finally, he emphasises the importance of using a One Health approach to better recognise and prevent the next pandemic. 2021-05-1428 minGlobal Health VoicesTRAILBLAZERS: Dr Malabika Sarker and Dr Sabina Faiz Rashid - A remarkable partnershipHearing Dr Malabika Sarker and Dr Sabina Faiz Rashid trace the evolution of their public health careers to their current leadership positions with the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health is an enlightening experience. They engage in a lively discussion about the need to have local, practical solutions developed in partnership with communities – who are not the recipients of global health interventions but really are the leaders of global health change. 2021-04-2933 minGlobal Health VoicesTRAILBLAZERS: Dr Najla Al-Sonboli – Tenacity of spiritDr Najla brings to light the harsh realities of working in one of the toughest settings – in the midst of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The questions and concerns she raises highlights the importance of global health and the compelling need for global solidarity. This episode is an emotional rollercoaster: on the one hand she paints a bleak picture of the dire state of children’s health in Yemen, with unacceptably high malnutrition rates and death from common treatable diseases like diarrhoea and measles, while on the other hand she embodies the tenacity and strength of the human spirit to w...2021-04-1518 minGlobal Health VoicesTRAILBLAZERS: Dr Joanne Liu – Lucid leadershipIn this episode, Dr Joanne Liu shares her thoughts about the centrality of each person contributing to tackling global health issues from their own perspective and grounding. She points to how crises generate a continuum of difficult choices – and how lucid leadership means picking imperfect solutions, while not losing the imperative to continuously strive for improvement. 2021-04-0823 minGlobal Health VoicesTRAILBLAZERS: Prof Michael Merson - Lessons from the pastAs Professor Michael Merson reflects on his years with the World Health Organization’s Global Program on AIDS, he draws lessons that are still pertinent today, in particular the need for political leadership, global solidarity and community mobilisation. He illustrates changing demographic and health challenges, emphasising the need to shape solutions for the future by incorporating voices from low and middle income countries.2021-03-1618 min