Maria Aguero de Manunta is a local dietitian from Paraguay who previously worked for Neighborhood Health Center in Buffalo, New York.  As a Spanish-speaking dietitian, she is making significant progress in reaching our predominantly Spanish-speaking population in Buffalo related to nutrition care, specifically diabetes, weight management and heart disease.  Maria is currently serving as the Clinical Director for University at Buffalo's Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences.  Resources:Maria LifeStyle Nutrition

Jacob Bleasdale, MS is a fourth-year Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Community Health and Health Behavior at the School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo. His program of research seeks to understand the multi-level determinants of HIV prevention and treatment among communities most impacted by the HIV epidemic. Specifically, his dissertation work explores the complex relationships between food insecurity and engagement in the HIV care continuum. Read Jake's most recent publication discussed in the podcast here: Socio-Structural Factors and HIV Care Engagement among People Living with HIV during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study in the United States 

Last spring, our cohost, Dr. Tia Palermo, had the opportunity to travel to Tanzania and speak with Jennifer Matafu of UNICEF about a social protection intervention aimed to improve children's nutrition.  In this episode, we dive deep into the value of programs such as UNICEF's Productive Social Safety Net (PSSN) and learn why models such as these could be critical in eradicating poverty.  Jennifer Matafu has extensive experience working in the social-economic development sector. At UNICEF Tanzania, where she has worked for 5 years, she is leading the policy dialogue, advocacy and programming related to social protection. Prior to that, she worked with the Embassy of Sweden/Swedish International Development Agency Sida in Tanzania for 20 years, where she managed programs in the areas of social protection, local governance, democratic governance, public sector reform programs, and land governance tenure and natural resource management. She has led and coordinated policy dialogue both at national and community levels.Resources: Tanzania: Joint Programme to Support Tanzania’s Productive Social Safety NetCredits:Host/Writer/Researcher - Dr. Tia Palermo, PhDGuest - Jennifer MatafuAudio Editor - Omar BrownProduction Assistant - Sarah Robinson

The winning team for the Office of Global Health Initiatives Climate-Health Innovation Sprint (Dr. Saad Alasil, Tiffany Mai, Kayla Giglia) interviews Derek Nichols about the connection between climate change and health.  Derek Nichols is the Associate Director of Sustainability at the University at Buffalo where he works to change the culture and operations of campus to become better for the people and environment of our region. He is also an adjunct professor in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning where he teaches the Food Systems Planning class for graduate students. Prior to his time at UB, Derek spent four years working at Grassroots Gardens WNY helping communities steward vacant and underutilized spaces into community gardens. He is a Buffalo transplant from Vestal, NY, and loves every block of this city.Resources: UB's Climate Action PlanClean Air Coalition StudyPPG Redlining StudyGlobal Health Initiative's Virtual Innovation SprintCredits: Host/Writer/Researcher - Saad Alasil, PhD, MS, MPH | Tiffany Mai, MPH | Kayla Giglia Guest - Derek Nichols, MAAudio Editor - Omar BrownProduction Assistant - Sarah Robinson

Tobacco-related health disparities are a pressing issue in the area of tobacco prevention and cessation.  Schuyler Lawson sits down with Dr. Monica Webb-Hooper of the NIMHD to discuss the implications of tobacco on communities of color, and why these disparities exist in the first place.  Dr. Monica Webb Hooper is Deputy Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD).  She is an internationally recognized translational behavioral scientist and clinical health psychologist. She has dedicated her career to the scientific study of minority health and racial/ethnic disparities, focusing on chronic illness prevention and health behavior change. Her program of community engaged research focuses on understanding multilevel factors and biopsychosocial mechanisms underlying modifiable risk factors, such as tobacco use and stress processes, and the development of community responsive and culturally specific interventions. Her goal is to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge and disseminate findings into communities with high need.Teaching NotesResources:Engagement and short-term abstinence outcomes among African Americans and Caucasians in the National Cancer Institute’s smokefreetxt programAddressing underserved populations and disparities in behavior change CDC Tobacco-Related DisparitiesSmokefree Text Messaging ProgramsCredits: Host/Writer/Researcher - Schuyler Lawson, MA Guest - Dr. Monica Webb-Hooper, PhDAudio Editor - Omar BrownProduction Assistant - Sarah Robinson

Recreational cannabis legalization in New York State comes with many questions.  This conversation between our cohost Schuyler Lawson and renowned researcher Dr. R. Lorraine Collins answers all of them.  Listen to learn more about the legalization process, regulatory issues, and social justice around cannabis legalization on this 4/20.  R. Lorraine Collins is a psychologist who has conducted NIH-funded addictions research for decades. The focus of her research has included: 1) emerging and young adults substance (alcohol, marijuana) use; 2) cognitive and behavioral approaches to the conceptualization, prevention, and treatment of addictive behaviors; 3) psycho-social issues (e.g., gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status) related to substance use and misuse; 4) research methods that use technology (e.g., ecological momentary assessment, smart phone apps) for assessment and intervention; 5) high-risk behaviors (e.g., intimate partner aggression, condom use) related to substance use.Teaching NotesResources:https://cannabis.ny.gov/adult-usehttps://cannabis.ny.gov/medical-cannabishttps://publichealth.buffalo.edu/community-health-and-health-behavior/faculty-and-staff/faculty-directory/lcollins.htmlCredits: Host/Writer/Researcher - Schuyler Lawson, MA Guest - Dr. R. Lorraine Collins, PhDAudio Editor - Omar BrownProduction Assistant - Sarah Robinson

Buffalo HealthCast co-host, Dr. Jessica Kruger, speaks with Dr. Sue Mann Dolce, who currently serves as the Associate Director of Accessibility Resources at the University at Buffalo.  In this conversation, we learn about the constantly evolving attitudes around disability, and what needs to change to ensure equitable treatment for all, regardless of ability.  Sue’s areas of interest and research include participation, disability studies and collaborative programming, as well as universal design and programming. She enjoys working with all members of the UB community to learn about, design and implement education and participation opportunities for everyone. Sue is also a Registered Yoga Teacher.    Teaching NotesResources: 1. Ableism by Michelle R. Nario-Redmond (Includes poem entitled "Ableism" by Maria Palacios, 2017)2. Disability Visibility Book and Podcast by Alice Wong3. Disability Justice Concepts (various online resources) by Mia Mingus, Patty Berne, and the late Stacey Milburn (Mia and Stacey have both presented at UB4. Crip Camp Documentary5. Being Heumann memoir by Judy Heumann (who is also in Crip Camp as a teenager)6. About Us, Essays from the Disability Series (2019) of the NYTs Edited by Peter Catapano and Rosemarie Garland-Thomson7. Representing Disability in an Ableist World (disability and the media) Beth Haller (2010)8. Paul K. Longmore Center on Disability at San Fran StateCredits:Host/Writer/Researcher - Dr. Jessica Kruger, PhD, MCHES Guest - Dr. Sue Mann Dolce, PhD, OTR/L, RYT, C-IAYTAudio Editor - Omar BrownProduction Assistant - Sarah Robinso

Buffalo HealthCast guest host and MS student, Kellen Montanye, speaks with Life and Transition Coach, LGBTQ Activist, and Motivational Speaker Landon McNee about transgender health services in the United States, and the barriers trans individuals often face when receiving healthcare. Teaching Notes Resources: LKM CoachingWNY ResourcesLocal HealthcareCredits: Host/Writer/Researcher - Kellen Montanye, MS Student Guest - Landon McNeeAudio Editor - Omar BrownProduction Assistant - Sarah Robinson   

Buffalo HealthCast co-host, Dr. Jessica Kruger, speaks with the CEO of Peaceprints of WNY, Cindi McEachon about incarceration and its effect on the health of those who were recently released from a justice setting, and what Peaceprints of WNY is doing to bridge the gap in disparities.  Teaching Notes More information on Peaceprints of WNY Credits:  Host/Writer/Researcher - Jessica Kruger, PhD, MCHESGuest - Cindi McEachon, MBAAudio Editor - Omar BrownProduction Assistant - Sarah Robinson

Buffalo HealthCast co-host and MPH student Rachel Wenner speaks with University at Buffalo PhD candidate Kate Rogers about gender-based violence among adolescents and the work that Crisis Services of Buffalo and Erie County is doing to combat this problem throughout Western New York.More information on Crisis Services can be found here.Credits: Host/Writer/Researcher - Rachel WennerGuest - Kate Rogers, MPHAudio Editor - Omar BrownProduction Assistant - Sarah Robinson