EP162 Healing Communities and Transforming Systems with Toluwalase Akinluyi
Release Date: 03/13/2025
EP188 Adventure Is in His DNA: Dr. William Rom’s Legacy in Public Health and Environmental Advocacy
I AM GPH
In this episode, we speak with Dr. William Rom, Research Professor and Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and faculty at the NYU School of Global Public Health, about his extraordinary career spanning pulmonary medicine, environmental science, and climate policy. Dr. Rom shares how a childhood spent in nature, wilderness guiding in Minnesota's Boundary Waters, and a 1,517-mile canoe expedition across Canada laid the foundation for his life's work in environmental health. He reflects on key milestones in public health history, including organizing a symposium...
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EP187 Rebuilding Maternal Care Infrastructure in Senegal with Ami Fall
I AM GPH
In this episode, we speak with Ami Fall (MPH '26) about her work in Senegal and her focus on equity-driven maternal and child health solutions. Ami details her Applied Practice Experience in the district of Kébémer, Senegal, where she partnered with the Baobab Institute for Health and Development and leveraged the Changemaker Fellowship to assess and support the Diokoul Diawrigne Health Post. Rooted in ties to her community, Ami collaborated directly with local leaders, midwives, and neighboring villages to identify infrastructure, supply chain, and transportation barriers. Working alongside...
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EP186 Centering Community Voices in Public Health with Gurvir Singh Sidhu
I AM GPH
We speak with Gurvir Singh Sidhu, a Master of Public Health and Master of Public Administration dual-degree student, about his journey from grassroots organizing to high-impact health policy advocacy. Gurvir shares how his early work with a tobacco prevention coalition in Bakersfield, California, sparked a passion for health education, city council advocacy, and built-environment policy. He discusses his transition to New York to leverage NYU GPH's global health program, connections with the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and proximity to major global health and policy entities in...
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EP185 Investigating Chemical Exposures in Nail Salons with Brooke Rezvani and Annabelle Swigert
I AM GPH
In this episode, we speak with Brooke Rezvani (BS '26) and Annabelle Swigert (BS '26) about their interdisciplinary research project, "Chemical Exposures in Nail Salon Workers in the US". Brooke and Annabelle detail their fieldwork investigating the occupational hazards faced by salon workers across local New York City neighborhoods, focusing on volatile organic compound (VOC) exposures, and examine the long-term health outcomes of these exposures, ranging from respiratory irritation to reproductive health risks and miscarriages. Their research also highlights the systemic barriers that leave...
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EP184 Fieldwork in Action: Addressing Flood Risks in Queens with Cheyenne Sewell
I AM GPH
In this episode, we speak with Cheyenne Sewell (MPH '25) about the power of interpersonal communication and qualitative research in public health. Cheyenne discusses her transition from an anthropology background into community health science, highlighting how public health extends beyond the numbers to embrace human stories and build rapport with local populations. During her fieldwork in Dr. Moon Howard’s Assessing Community Health Needs course, she collaborated with the Southeast Queens Residential Environmental Justice Coalition (SQREJC) to conduct door-to-door surveys on ongoing...
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EP183 Navigating the Ethics of Technology in Public Health with Dr. Daniel Fogal
I AM GPH
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Daniel Fogal, Assistant Professor of Bioethics at NYU GPH, about his course Advanced Introduction to The Ethics of Technology. Dr. Fogal shares his journey from a philosophy undergraduate degree to joining the NYU Center for Bioethics, mapping how the discipline has expanded beyond traditional doctor-patient relationships and research ethics to address broader population-level challenges. We dive into complex global issues, including the allocation of scarce medical resources and the modern ethical implications brought on by the rise of social media and...
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EP182 Fast-Track to Impact: Navigating the 4+1 Program with Nehanda Akili and Anthony Escamilla
I AM GPH
In this episode, we explore the power of the 4+1 Program at NYU GPH, an accelerated pathway that allows students to earn both their undergraduate and master’s degrees in just five years. We are joined by Nehanda Akili, an MS Biostatistics student, and Anthony Escamilla, a pre-PA undergraduate at Gallatin who is on track to pursue the Community Health Science and Practice concentration during the MPH year of the program, to discuss how this program provides a competitive edge for future healthcare leaders. Nehanda shares her journey from NYU Gallatin’s individualized study-where she...
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EP181 The Nexus of Food, Water, and Climate with Dr. Abrania Marrero and Chloe Dourmashkin
I AM GPH
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...
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EP180 Service is Joy: Building a Career in Community Advocacy with Gail Viaje
I AM GPH
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...
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EP179 Policy Analysis for Community Benefit with Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford and Reilly Fitzpatrick
I AM GPH
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...
info_outlineIn this episode we speak with Toluwalase Akinluyi, known as LA, an MPH student studying Public Health Management. We explore her journey from physiotherapy in Nigeria to public health leadership at New York University. LA shares how she transitioned from clinical practice to policy and advocacy, her passion for healthcare management, and the pivotal moments that shaped her career. As Vice President of the African Graduate Student Association at NYU, she discusses mentorship, community-building, and championing diversity in global health. We also dive into her experiences as an international student navigating NYU, her perspective on health equity, and how she is leveraging public health policy to create lasting change. Join us for an inspiring conversation on breaking barriers, leading with impact, and transforming public health from the ground up.
Connect with Toluwalase Akinluyi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toluwalaseakinluyi/
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.