PHEC 426: Building Better Health Departments with Jimmie Smith, MD, MPH
Public Health Epidemiology Conversations
Release Date: 10/14/2025
BONUS: How Community Saved Us
Public Health Epidemiology Conversations
2025 was one of the hardest years of my life, professionally and personally. But one decision turned everything around. In this bonus episode, I'm sharing my Word of the Year for 2026 and why it became the strategy that saved my business when everything felt like it was falling apart. If you want to know what actually works when systems fail and how to position yourself for growth in uncertain times, this episode is for you.
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PHEC 438: The Connection They Couldn’t See
Public Health Epidemiology Conversations
A wellness director at a university saw an opportunity that should have been obvious. A major public health conference was coming up, complete with a wellness section, yoga sessions, and holistic health programming. Her institution's public health department already had a booth reserved. The connection was clear: wellness is public health, and she could bridge both departments while expanding student awareness of career pathways. But when she proposed attending the conference, her boss dismissed the idea immediately. The message was clear: wellness and public health are separate fields. The...
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PHEC 437: Meeting People Where They Are
Public Health Epidemiology Conversations
How do you explain the invisible work of public health to your friends and family without using academic jargon? In this engaging installment of the "What Is Public Health?" series, Dr. Charlotte Huntley welcomes Ashley Harris, a recent MPH graduate and health advocate, and Dr. Eboni Haynes, CEO of The Mahogany Group, to discuss the art of plain-language communication and the vital importance of community buy-in. Moving beyond textbook definitions, the guests share relatable metaphors to demystify the field: Ashley describes public health as a "multifaceted superhero" working quietly in the...
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PHEC 436: When Cities Lead On Health, With Edward Johnson, MS
Public Health Epidemiology Conversations
Join host Dr. Charlotte Huntley for a compelling conversation with Edward Johnson, Assistant Health Commissioner at Columbus Public Health, who proves that public health pathways are rarely linear. With a background in philosophy, politics, and economics, Edward brings a unique lens to the field, discussing how data modernization must go beyond cold numbers to harness the power of storytelling—evidenced by the transformative "Life Expectancy in Columbus Story Map" that secured cross-sector community buy-in. The discussion dives into real-world applications of public health leadership, from...
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PHEC 435: Knowing When to Walk Away
Public Health Epidemiology Conversations
In this solo episode, Dr. Charlotte Huntley shares a deeply personal and practical conversation about navigating public health discussions with family, friends, coworkers, and communities without burning out. Grounded in her own complex grief journey and her work leading an epidemiology consulting firm, she offers a clear five-question framework to help listeners decide when a conversation is worth having, when to proceed with caution, and when to walk away. She connects the timing of this episode to the holiday season, when public health topics tend to surface more often amid gatherings...
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PHEC 434: Gaslit by Corporations, Ignited by Community with Vinu Ilakkuvan, DrPH
Public Health Epidemiology Conversations
In this conversation, Dr. Charlotte Huntley welcomes back Dr. Vinu Ilakkuvan, founder and principal consultant at Pop Health and creator of Gaslit by Corporations, to explore what it really means to go “further upstream” in public health. Vinu shares how years of working with coalitions and systems-change efforts led her to focus on power—who has it, how it’s used, and why communities must reclaim it to advance health. She explains why she chose the bold framing “Gaslit by Corporations, Ignited by Community” to translate the academic idea of the commercial determinants of health...
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PHEC 433: Building Bridges Through Clear Communication
Public Health Epidemiology Conversations
Join Dr. Charlotte Huntley for a powerful conversation that connects purpose with public health, diving into the essential question: What is Public Health? This episode is designed to help professionals and leaders communicate the field's value without academic jargon and secure much-needed community buy-in. Featuring stories from the field told by professionals creating change beyond traditional roles, including: Megan McCarthy, who defines public health as the vital "bridge between science and communities" and discusses her work in nutrition access (WIC/SNAP); Jennifer...
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PHEC 432: Real-World Strategies for Today’s Public Health Leaders
Public Health Epidemiology Conversations
In this solo episode, Dr. Charlotte Huntley revisits key conversations from the year to encourage public health professionals navigating uncertainty, workforce disruption, and rapid change. She weaves together guest insights on locking arms with like-minded colleagues, mastering plain-language communication, embracing innovation and new surveillance tools, being strategic about funding and career moves, staying civically engaged, and protecting mental health through boundaries and vulnerability. Throughout, she calls listeners to “find your lane,” recognize their own power, and use their...
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PHEC 431: Milwaukee's Fight For Its Children, With Micheal Totoraitis, PhD
Public Health Epidemiology Conversations
In this powerful episode, Milwaukee’s Health Commissioner Michael Totoraitis joins Dr. Charlotte H. Huntley to share an insider’s view of navigating a citywide public health crisis and the evolving realities of public health leadership in 2025. Mike recounts how discovering a severe lead crisis in Milwaukee’s schools exposed systemic vulnerabilities while underscoring the urgent importance of community engagement, open information sharing, and cross-sector partnerships. Their conversation highlights lessons learned from the frontlines, both in leading crisis response and in the broader...
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PHEC 430: Communicating Public Health with Elizabeth Green, PhD
Public Health Epidemiology Conversations
In this insightful episode, Dr. Charlotte Huntley welcomes Elizabeth Green, Communications Director at the Big Cities Health Coalition, for a deep dive into the art and science of public health communication. Elizabeth brings a unique perspective with her background as a history of science professor and public health communications expert. They explore how to tell compelling public health stories that connect emotionally and intellectually with audiences, overcome jargon and misinformation, and advocate effectively for funding and policy. Elizabeth shares real-world examples like Milwaukee’s...
info_outlineThis insightful episode with Dr. Jimmie Hayes Smith explores his journey from clinical medicine to public health leadership, showcasing his dedication to community-centered healthcare, equity, and collaboration. As the administrator for Macon Bibb County Health Department in Georgia, Dr. Smith offers practical advice on navigating public health challenges, building partnerships, and empowering diverse communities across county and regional lines. His warm stories and thought-provoking tips provide inspiration to listeners at any stage of their public health careers.
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