EP173 Unlocking Opportunities in Oral Health Advocacy with Kiran Nagdeo
Release Date: 10/30/2025
EP174 Ten Years of Impact with Dean Melody Goodman and Founding Dean Cheryl Healton
I AM GPH
In this special 10th-anniversary episode, Dr. Melody Goodman, dean and professor of biostatistics, and Dr. Cheryl Healton, founding dean and professor of public health policy and management, reflect on the decade-long journey of the New York University School of Global Public Health. Dr. Healton shares the initial "spark" that led to the creation of the public health institute, the precursor to the school, and offers insights on identifying and cultivating leadership potential within an organization. Looking ahead, the Deans discuss preparing students for this "critical moment in public...
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EP173 Unlocking Opportunities in Oral Health Advocacy with Kiran Nagdeo
I AM GPH
In this episode, we're joined by Kiran Nagdeo, a doctoral student in the Epidemiology department with a background in dentistry. Kiran shares her journey from being a practicing clinician in India for eight years to a leader in public health research, and how the COVID-19 pandemic inspired her to shift her focus from one-on-one patient care to population-level health and advocacy. Kiran details her path to becoming a leader in organizations like the American Public Health Association and the World Federation of Public Health Associations. She emphasizes the crucial role of mentorship and the...
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EP172 From Anthropology to Advocacy with Katie Lynch
I AM GPH
In this episode, we speak with Katie Lynch, a doctoral candidate in Social and Behavioral Sciences at NYU GPH, whose work uniquely blends anthropology, public health, and community-based research. Katie discusses her academic journey, from her background in medical anthropology and role as a qualitative methods specialist to pursuing her dissertation. She explains how she brings a unique lens to public health by focusing on human stories and lived experience. She shares insights on her dissertation, which focuses on the intersection of climate change and public health, particularly the...
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EP171 Dean Melody Goodman on Purpose, Passion and Public Health
I AM GPH
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Melody Goodman, Dean of NYU's School of Global Public Health, Professor of Biostatistics and a leading research methodologist. Dean Goodman shares her inspiring journey from a career on Wall Street to finding her passion for biostatistics and her purpose at NYU, showcasing the many paths that lead to public health leadership. As a biostatistician, she discusses the power of data to create a narrative and highlights how her commitment to solving community problems directly informs her work at GPH. We delve into her unique, hands-on approach to research,...
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EP170 Building Career Momentum: Unlocking Your Professional Potential
I AM GPH
In this special episode we hear from the GPH Student Affairs team about the extensive career resources available to students. Angelica Tirro, Miguel Silva, and Erica Garnes introduce the "GPH career toolkit," a comprehensive set of programs and resources designed to support students from day one, or even before. Discover their unique partnership with the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development, which offers on-site and online career coaching for life. The team also highlights key initiatives like "Career Conversations" with alumni from different industry sectors, and "Learn Togethers"...
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EP169 Navigating the Data Revolution with Nate Maxey
I AM GPH
In this episode we speak with Nate Maxey (MS '25), whose career path reflects the versatility and adaptability of public health skills. Nate shares his journey, from being pre-med to falling in love with mathematics and ultimately, biostatistics, which he describes as learning to tell a narrative with data using complicated math. We explore Nate's diverse experiences from New York City's sodium regulation research to a marketing internship with Beats by Dr. Dre, where he conducted qualitative research presenting his findings to executives. Nate also discusses his work analyzing legal policy...
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EP168 The AGPHI Experience: Developing Public Health Leaders with Nene Uwaomah and Haya Srour
I AM GPH
In this episode, we meet Nene Uwaomah (MPH '25) and Haya Srour (MPH '25), who played key leadership roles in the Applied Global Public Health Initiative (AGPHI) during their time at NYU GPH. We track their academic and professional journeys, from their pre-public health backgrounds—Nene in pre-med and Haya as a dietician—to their hands-on work with communities around the globe. They discuss how AGPHI provides a platform to apply classroom knowledge to real-world projects, shaping global research in places like Zambia and the Middle East. Learn about their impactful work, including Nene's...
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EP167 The Social Context of Mental Health with Dr. Jonathan Purtle
I AM GPH
In this episode we speak with Dr. Jonathan Purtle, Associate Professor of Public Health Policy and Management at NYU GPH. Dr. Purtle discusses his career path from teaching second grade to becoming a mental health policy researcher. The episode explores mental health policy, implementation science, and the translation of research into effective policy. Specifically, it addresses the challenges of scaling up evidence-based practices and the importance of considering structural determinants like housing and education in mental health outcomes. Dr. Purtle also addresses the role of communication...
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EP166 Courtrooms to Classrooms: The Intersection of Law and Public Health with Jean Bae
I AM GPH
In this episode we speak with Jean Bae, Clinical Associate Professor of Public Health Policy and Management. She shares her journey from Harvard Law to shaping public health policy, tackling critical issues like the impact of the Hyde Amendment and evidence-based laws on public health outcomes. Jean provides valuable insights on the intersection of law and public health, the challenges of translating legal frameworks into actionable policies, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. From firearm regulations to abortion laws, she unpacks how policy shapes lives and offers advice...
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EP165 Designing Accessible Solutions for Well-being with Spandita Sarmah
I AM GPH
In this episode we explore the link between accessibility and public health with Spandita Sarmah (Tandon '23), a human-centered designer whose experience at Google, T-Mobile, and Deloitte focuses on creating a healthier world for everyone. This episode delves into Spandita's journey from software engineering, fine arts, and graphic design to her passion for user research and her advocacy for designing "with," not "for," users. Discover how her work, including the development of a hand gesture recognition system to aid individuals with fine motor impairments and her insights on tactile...
info_outlineIn this episode, we're joined by Kiran Nagdeo, a doctoral student in the Epidemiology department with a background in dentistry. Kiran shares her journey from being a practicing clinician in India for eight years to a leader in public health research, and how the COVID-19 pandemic inspired her to shift her focus from one-on-one patient care to population-level health and advocacy. Kiran details her path to becoming a leader in organizations like the American Public Health Association and the World Federation of Public Health Associations. She emphasizes the crucial role of mentorship and the simple but powerful act of "showing up" to unlock opportunities and accelerate one's professional growth. We also delve into her research at NYU GPH, including a systematic review on the PUFA Index for untreated dental decay and a project on ultra-processed food consumption and dental decay in pregnant females, using data from the NHANES dataset. This episode is a lesson in how passion, persistence, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone can open doors to a meaningful career in public health advocacy.
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.