Episode #429 Bridging Science and Society
- Laura Hollabaugh
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
In this roundtable discussion, Dr. Huntley is joined by Deborah Shomuyiwa and Jessie Meyer to answer a surprisingly complex but essential question: What is public health? Using plain language and relatable examples, they each break down how public health impacts our everyday lives. From drinking clean water and wearing seatbelts to shaping community policies and creating environments that support healthier choices.
Together, they highlight how public health is often quiet when it’s working well, why it’s different from medicine, and how personal experiences in pharmacy, emergency medical services, and advocacy can all tie back to broader population health. This episode underscores the need to better communicate, celebrate, and “sell” public health so the public can recognize its value long before a crisis hits.
Meet Our Guests
Deborah Shomuyiwa
Deborah Shomuyiwa is a doctoral student in Health Promotion and Behavior at the University of Georgia, where her research focuses on reproductive, maternal and child health, health equity, and HIV prevention. With a background in pharmacy and experience in community-centered development, she integrates behavioral science, technological translation, and community engagement to advance equitable health solutions.
Jessie Meyer
Jesse Meyer is an aspiring public health professional and second-year Master of Public Health student at the University of Florida specializing in social and behavioral sciences. Drawing on her background in emergency medicine as an EMT transporter and her experience as a responder for a mobile medication-assisted treatment team, Jesse is passionate about expanding access to care. She works within community organizations such as Peaceful Paths, Remote Area Medical, and Comfort Zone Camp to support her local communities.
Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Conversation Highlights
Public health is everywhere in daily life: clean water, food safety, handwashing, traffic safety, and more.
Unlike medicine, which treats individuals, public health takes an upstream approach to protect entire populations.
When public health is working, it often goes unnoticed—but its absence becomes glaring during crises like COVID-19.
Equity and access are core to the field: bridging gaps between rich and poor, individuals and systems, and science and society.
Communicating the value of public health in plain language is vital to rebuilding trust and inspiring future workforce development.
Small, grassroots actions—like sharing condoms in a community or making checklists for patients—are equally as important as large-scale interventions.
Public health needs to be celebrated not just as a service, but as a respected career path worthy of recognition.
“When public health works, it is very quiet. There’s so much noise about public health when it’s not working.” – Deborah Shomuyiwa
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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.