The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the health inequities that were already prevalent in the U.S. In this episode, host June Woo speaks with experts about the disproportionate effects of the pandemic, research on health inequities, and current medical education around health disparities and the social determinants of health.Featured guests include Janeria Easley, an assistant professor of African American Studies at Emory University, who teaches courses on racial and ethnic relations; Haile Cole, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Connecticut, who is conducting research on COVID-19 and Black maternal care; and Prue Nkansah, a junior biology major at Emory, who is interested in pursuing a career in bioethics.Student Highlight: June Woo is a junior at Emory University, majoring in biology and planning to pursue a career in medicine. About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health. Follow Us:Blog: Exploring HealthFacebook: @EmoryCSHHInstagram: @EmoryCSHHTwitter: @EmoryCSHH

Throughout the pandemic, people have spent more time indoors — and in limited locations — than ever before. This episode explores how our health and well-being are influenced by the built environment that we navigate in our daily lives. Experts discuss environmental psychology, biophilia, and a range of building types.Featured guests include Craig Zimring, an environmental psychologist and director of the SimTigrate Design Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology; Bonnie Casamassima, an adjunct professor of interior design at the Savannah College of Art and Design and founder of Interweave People Place in Atlanta; and Emily Anthes, an award-winning science journalist and author of the recent book, The Great Indoors: The Surprising Science of How Buildings Shape our Behavior, Health, and Happiness.Student Highlight: Catarina Sterlacci is a junior Human Health major at Emory University. She has a passion for how architecture, interior design, and the built environment influence and inspire our health. About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health. Follow Us:Blog: Exploring HealthFacebook: @EmoryCSHHInstagram: @EmoryCSHHTwitter: @EmoryCSHH

Colleges and universities faced tough decisions throughout 2020 when deciding how to handle pandemic precautions on campus. This episode zooms in on the factors at play underlying Emory’s decision to partially re-open in the fall semester of 2020, as well as the altered student experience on campus.Featured guests include Michael Elliott, Dean of Emory College of Arts & Sciences; Mikko Biana, a senior Emory student who serves as the vice president of the Student Government Association as well as a resident advisor for freshmen; and Neel Gandhi, an Emory University physician and public health expert who served on Emory’s COVID-19 Response Collaborative and COVID-19 Response and Recovery Plan.Student Highlight: Andrew Spencer is a junior psychology major at Emory University. He is interested in public health and mental health advocacy, and he ultimately hopes to pursue a career in clinical psychology. About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health. Follow Us:Blog: Exploring HealthFacebook: @EmoryCSHHInstagram: @EmoryCSHHTwitter: @EmoryCSHH

The pregnancy experience shifted rapidly during the pandemic, with new and soon-to-be mothers asking questions about delivery, breastfeeding and coronavirus safety measures around newborns. This episode highlights three different perspectives to bring a well-rounded view of what it means to be pregnant or delivering babies during a global pandemic.Featured guests include Scott and Aliza Leighton, first-time parents in New Jersey who delivered their baby girl in May with a unique pregnancy and birth experience; Karla Riley, a doula in the greater Atlanta area, who operates under the moniker Atlanta Christian Doula and crafts birth experiences catered to mothers and their newborns; and Clark Andelin, an Emory alum and OBGYN in Illinois, who serves rural communities where mothers often travel long distances to receive care.Student Highlight: Madeleine Nuebel is a senior Human Health major in Emory’s College of Arts and Sciences. Maddie is interested in obstetrics, gynecology, and women’s health. About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health. Follow Us:Blog: Exploring HealthFacebook: @EmoryCSHHInstagram: @EmoryCSHHTwitter: @EmoryCSHH

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected people of color, particularly the Black community. This episode centers around the stories of three Black women who have encountered events that are directly consequential to the health of Black women at large. They shed light on the country’s healthcare system through the lens of policy advocacy, cancer survivorship and the birthing process.Featured guests include Mariah Knight, an advocate and volunteer for Girls Going Global; Marjorie Jackson, an educated writer and mother who has experienced birthing while Black; Lisa Kirk, an English professor and educator of nearly 20 years who rebuilt her life after stage 3 breast cancer.Student Highlight: Bryson Jones is a graduating senior in the Center for the Study of Human Health. A Black man himself, Jones has been painfully aware of the health disparities plaguing Black women as he conducts more research and talks candidly with Black women in his life. About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health. Follow Us:Blog: Exploring HealthFacebook: @EmoryCSHHInstagram: @EmoryCSHHTwitter: @EmoryCSHH

States have used different strategies to mitigate the spread and health impacts of the pandemic. In this episode, host Preye Jituboh speaks with experts in public health, healthcare delivery and hospital operations and management about the tactics that Georgia and New York have used during the past year.  Featured guests include Chris O’Brien, the senior director of financial operations for Long Island Jewish Valley Stream, a 284-bed community hospital in New York; Justin Wright, an Emory alum and administrative manager for Medstar Medical Group’s anesthesia departments; and Ellen Idler, a professor in Emory’s epidemiology and sociology departments and director of the Religion and Public Health Collaborative.Student Highlight: Preye Jituboh is a senior at Emory University studying Human Health and Health Innovations. Hailing from New York City and Nigeria, she has prominent interests in the field of public health, with specific goals of working in healthcare policy, health disparities, and reproductive health.About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health. Follow Us:Blog: Exploring HealthFacebook: @EmoryCSHHInstagram: @EmoryCSHHTwitter: @EmoryCSHH

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health in various ways, particularly during widespread lockdowns and quarantine periods. Host Abel Girma talks with experts about the sociopsychological effects that have developed during the past year, including increases in substance use in the U.S.Featured guests include Muhammad Mukarram, a senior Human Health major from Atlanta, who shares his perspective on mental health challenges during the pandemic; Bryan Stephens, executive director of the Atlanta Detox Center through October 2020 and now executive director of Tangu Recovery in Marietta; and Charles Raison, a psychiatrist and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Emory University, who has been recognized as one of the most influential researchers in the world for his work on the biology and treatment of depression.Student Highlight: Abel Girma is a senior Human Health major at Emory University who aspires to become a public health specialist, with a particular focus on epidemiology and infectious diseases. About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health. Follow Us:Blog: Exploring HealthFacebook: @EmoryCSHHInstagram: @EmoryCSHHTwitter: @EmoryCSHH

Social media use increased during the pandemic, which has exacerbated the mental health effects already seen in teens and young adults. Host Edie Bates and guests discuss how online schooling may negatively affect mental health and take away from the in-person learning experience.Featured guests include Craig Klugman, a professor of Bioethics and Health Humanities at DePaul University and a member of DePaul University’s COVID response task force; Ilyssa Salomon, an assistant professor of psychology at Elon University who focuses on the impact social media has on the emotional and social development of adolescents; and several Emory students who discuss their personal experiences with social media use during the pandemic.Student Highlight: Edie Bates is a junior at Emory University majoring in Human Health and minoring in Anthropology. She has a strong interest in social media, mental health effects, and usage among teens and young adults today.About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health. Follow Us:Blog: Exploring HealthFacebook: @EmoryCSHHInstagram: @EmoryCSHHTwitter: @EmoryCSHH

The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide-ranging effects on food systems across the world, particularly in Africa. This episode of The COVID Chronicles explores insights from academics, sustainability experts and residents in Ghana to form a holistic view about barriers during lockdowns, initiatives to stabilize food systems and what to anticipate next.Featured guests include Ines Gonzalez, an assistant professor at the Indiana University of Bloomington School of Public Health; Heidi Newton King and Rirhandzu Marvate, sustainability professionals who work at the Spier Farms in South Africa; and Lucy Wiafe, a Ghanaian wife, mother and preschool teacher who has been a frequent consumer of the local Ghanaian market produce for a number of years.Student Highlight: Yadah Ampofo, a junior majoring in Human Health and minoring in Global Health, is a Ghanaian girl at heart who would love for everyone to experience Africa. About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health. Follow Us:Blog: Exploring HealthFacebook: @EmoryCSHHInstagram: @EmoryCSHHTwitter: @EmoryCSHH

During the pandemic, video gaming has become a valuable form of entertainment that has seen exponential growth as an industry. More and more people are playing games, and the way games are being viewed by society is shifting to a more positive perspective and potentially life-saving resource during this time. The GAP explores the growth of video games as an industry, in media, and among American society.Featured guests include Daniel Reynolds, an assistant professor at Emory University’s Film and Media Studies Department and the Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in Humanistic Inquiry at Emory; Tanine Allison, an associate professor in the Film and Media Studies Department who introduced the university’s first courses on Video Games and Digital Media and Culture; and Robert Song, a senior biology and statistics major at Emory University who shares his personal perspective about gaming during the pandemic for connection and stress relief.Student Highlight: Nathan Yang is a junior studying Human Health with a minor in Anthropology. He hopes to pursue an MPH after graduation and address health inequities in underprivileged communities around the world. During his free time, he enjoys playing video games with friends and building models.About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health. Follow Us:Blog: Exploring HealthFacebook: @EmoryCSHHInstagram: @EmoryCSHHTwitter: @EmoryCSHH