Episode #424 Rethinking Public Health for a Connected World, With Allie Murphy
- Laura Hollabaugh
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
This episode marks the launch of our dynamic new series designed to answer one simple but crucial question: “What is Public Health?” This series was created to illuminate a field that is all too often misunderstood, undervalued, and underfunded. Inspiring leaders will join us to demystify public health by sharing their unique focus areas through compelling stories always in plain, engaging language with no heavy scientific jargon.
In this premiere episode, Dr. Huntley sits down with Allie Murphy, Masters of Public Health student at the University of Texas Medical Branch, to unpack the real meaning of public health in a globalized world. From the triumphs and challenges of infectious disease control to the essential role of empathy and collaboration, this conversation turns public health from an abstract concept into an accessible and actionable force for every community. Get ready to be inspired, informed, and empowered as we kick off a series committed to making public health relevant for everyone.
Meet Allie Murphy
Allie Murphy is a Master of Public Health candidate in Epidemiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Allie received her Bachelors of Science in Public Health from the University of Texas at Austin. Her work spans global and domestic public health initiatives, including program evaluation for a non-profit in Cambodia, maternal health research for parents in Bangladesh, nutritional analysis for malnourished children in Guatemala, and STD surveillance in Texas’s LGBTQIA+ community. Allie recently received a Fulbright Scholar to conduct teen pregnancy research in El Salvador. She also serves as the Sisters in Public Health Galveston Chapter Chair and a This is Public Health Ambassador.
Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Conversation Highlights
Public health is a global issue, not limited by borders, nationality, or geography.
Infectious diseases have been deprioritized in the U.S. due to successful eradication campaigns, but this has led to increased complacency and vaccine hesitancy.
Globalization connects people—and pathogens—more than ever, increasing the risk for rapid disease spread worldwide.
Non-communicable and infectious diseases are interlinked, and both must be addressed collectively for truly effective public health.
Empathy and intergenerational conversations can bridge the knowledge gap for younger generations unfamiliar with the reality of past epidemics.
Visual and personal storytelling, including historical family experiences, can motivate action around vaccination and disease prevention.
Disease prevention and control require robust funding, a collaborative global approach, and a willingness to dissolve silos between sectors and disciplines.
Every person has a role and responsibility in fostering public health, as “it’s not a them problem, it’s an us problem”.
“Infectious disease doesn't really care about citizenship, passports, or borders. We're all global citizens.”— Allie Murphy
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Public Health Consulting To Support You
DrCHHuntley LLC is a public health consulting firm that specializes in epidemiology consulting, supporting large nonprofit organizations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida that serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We also provide nationwide public health consulting and epidemiology consulting support to BIPOC organizations across the United States.