If I Could Change One Thing

In this episode, James Romine speaks with Alzheimer's prevention advocate Dr. Phyllis Ferrell about her work with the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative—a global health organization dedicated to transforming Alzheimer's research, prevention, and care worldwide. Tune-in to hear about why Alzheimer's preparedness is so important and the many connections between Alzheimer's and Public Health policy, on this episode of If I Could Change One Thing, the Health Policy Podcast of San Diego State University.

Dr. Paula Stigler Granados, environmental health expert and Associate Professor at SDSU's School of Public Health, discusses her research on Chagas disease—an emerging public health threat in the United States that is typically transmitted by blood-sucking insects nicknamed kissing bugs. Additionally, Dr. Granados shares her expertise about the Tijuana River contamination crisis near the Mexico-US border.

In this episode, Jonathan Vasquez Ramirez and Roberto Santana, two recent graduates of the School of Public Health undergraduate program, talk about their current public health fellowships and how SDSU prepared them for success. Jonathan's fellowship is with the California academic health department residency program, placed at the San Diego County Public Health Services Administration; and Roberto's fellowship is with the CDC's CureTB program. Tune in to hear about how they chose their fellowships and how SDSU influenced their exciting career paths.

After serving as a US Army Officer for 14 years and completing 4 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Rich has worked as both a defense contractor for Northrop Grumman; as well as an Air Force Federal employee with the US Space Command's Academic Engagement Enterprise. On November 19, 2022, Rich and his family were at the scene of the Club Q mass shooting, where Rich was credited with helping subdue the gunman. For his efforts he's received numerous awards such as the 2023 Congressional Medal of Honor Society's - Citizen Honors Award for Valor; the VFW Life Saving Award for Valor;  and the Veteran of the year National Able Network award. Additionally, Rich works with his wife Jessica to operate their own brewery—Atrevida—in Colorado Springs. Atrevida's motto is “Diversity, it's on tap!” and Atrevida strives to demonstrate diversity in everything it does. Atrevida has won multiple awards such as the 2019 Colorado Governor's Minority Small Business of the Year award. Rich has his BA in Education from SDSU and earned his MBA from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in 2021. Above all Rich is committed to serving his family and community. The following conversation includes some discussion of violence and deep personal loss. Please engage with this content in a manner that's safe to you.

Dr. Wendi Gosliner works to improve population health and nutrition by eliminating health disparities and improving federal food programs. How did SNAP and WIC programs change during the COVID-19 pandemic? How do socioeconomic factors impact access to nutritious foods? What are common misperceptions about nutrition policy in the US? Find out, on this episode of If I Could Change One Thing, the Health Policy Podcast of San Diego State University.

Food insecurity is a major problem in the United States. How do public institutions such as food pantries and federal assistance programs relieve or exacerbate this problem? In what ways do food-insecure individuals experience stigma, and how do political-economic ideologies perpetuate that stigma? We discuss these questions and more with Dr. Rebecca de Souza, expert on the political-economics on food-access, health, and social wellbeing. 

While preventing an overdose death is possible if someone present knows how and when to intervene, there is often little knowledge about overdose first-aid, as well as limited access to the overdose-reversal medication called naloxone. Find out where to learn this live-saving skill, in this episode of If I Could Change One Thing, the Health Policy Podcast of the School of Public Health at San Diego State University.

Healthy communication between parents and adolescents is important for the well-being of young people, yet there is a shortage of research on ways to improve parental communication. In this episode, we ask Dr. Katrina Pariera--expert on sexual communication and family or interpersonal communication--about strategies for improving communication and ways to address this important Public Health topic.

One of the pioneering Public Health policy makers during his 40 years in the US Congress, Henry Waxman shares his insights as to how to get big policy changes enacted.  Learn about  important actions such as the Affordable Care Act and taking on Big Tobacco in this special episode.

Sleep deprivation affects performance in all aspects of life, including academics; operating cars, airplanes, and trains; in medical settings; in the workplace; and in athletics to name a few. How exactly does sleep deprivation affect our mental, emotional, and physical health? What is good sleep hygiene and how can we practice it in our own lives? What policy changes should be made on a societal level to promote proper sleep? In this episode, we discuss these sleep-related issues and more.  

We have come a long way in the COVID pandemic, and we've certainly learned from it. How can we apply this new knowledge to the next pandemic in order to reduce morbidity and mortality? SDSU School of Public Health researchers discuss the Communities Fighting COVID studies and projects, and explain how they are working to increase access to testing, treatment and vaccines. What if we could decrease regulations and oversight around testing in this country?  

How can we reduce preventable deaths on a population level? What are health outcomes research, precision population health, and big data; and how can we utilize these to improve the public's health? What do we hope to learn from the Yale Paxlovid for Long COVID Trial, and how will the finidngs improve patients' lives in real-time? How much of a problem is health misinformation and what can we do to reduce it? We discuss these topics and more with Dr. Harlan Krumholz, Professor and Director of the Yale Center for Outcomes Research & Evaluation (CORE).    

Could more lives have been saved in Uvalde? Emergency medical response and planning can benefit from the visual forensic reporting of the Uvalde mass shooting by the Washington Post team. We explore how this tool can provide information for evidence-based policymaking. 

How does modern wastewater surveillance compares to that of the previous time periods? What is PCR technology and how has it evolved the tool of wastewater surveillance? What are some of the viewpoints of an infectious disease physician? We consider all of these questions and more in our latest podcast episode with Dr. John Malone, an Infectious Disease physician

Asylum seekers have unique health needs. We explore the public health and other barriers for those seekers to enter the US in this episode.

How did public health measures play a role in quickly containing the Monkeypox epidemic? We look at not only public health policy but also why the Smallpox vaccine is so effective in preventing the spread of Monkeypox as part of this episode.

Investigative journalism and accountability reporting shed new light on public health issues especially in responding to a pandemic. We delve into one journalist's work uncovering new insights into the fragile public health infrastructure as well as the issue of health equity.

California Correctional Health Care Services is emerging from a decade of federal oversight. We talk with the Federal Receiver about the healthcare needs of inmates and the goals set by the federal courts for serving incarcerated individuals. 

Is 3D printing the next level of innovation for hospitals an d surgeons? Is 3D printing science, art, or a combination of many disciplines? In this episode we sit down with Dr. Justin Ryan, the director of 3D Innovations Lab at Rady's Children's Hospital. Dr. Ryan talks about what it looks like to introduce these new technologies to such settings, and how they connect with pediatric care. 

In this episode, we explore the California Master Plan of Aging, and its goals and objectives to benefit the growing aging population in California. Our guest, Sarah Steenhausen, is the Deputy Director of Aging Policy, Reasearch, and Equity at the California Department of Aging. We discuss the kind of impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had on this plan, and the growing needs of older adults.

In this episode, we focus on the status of healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured. Katie Heidorn is the Executive Director of Insured the Uninsured Project, and we will discuss the implications of theCal-AIM project in the recently approved Medi-Cal waiver. 

SDSU faculty members are engaged in research regarding the health needs and community access issues of individuals experiencing homelessness. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Jerel Calzo and Dr. Jennifer Felner, and discuss the stigmatization of individuals experiencing homelessness. Additionally, we talk about the issue to access of public restrooms. 

In this episode, we will take a look at an international perspective to the COVID-19 pandemic with Israel's Dr. Nadav Davidovitch. Dr. Davidovitch is an expert in health policy research and epidemiology. During the pandemic, he has served on the national cabinet for the COVID-19 response in Israel. We talk about how the pandemic exposed the country's health inequities, and Israel's rapid response to COVID-19. 

We've had many interesting guests and stimulating discussions over the past semester. Our listener's have wanted to know more about the many topics we've covered. So our team has picked out a few of your questions and consulted with our guests to answer them. 

For over ten years, the State of Reform has brought healthcare leaders together on a regional basis to discuss pressing healthcare policy questions. Recorded at the State of Reform Southern California Conference, we talk with the founder of the organization about how its approach helps bring diverse interests together working on behavior health system improvement, planning for the new Medi-Cal Waiver and other pressing issues. 

The VA Health System is one of the largest integrated health systems in the United States. Our hosts talk about how access to care for veterans has changed both before the pandemic and now during the pandemic. The discussion also delves into the health inequities experienced by some portions of the veteran's community. And finally, the discussion touches on the Tour4Diversity program, an effort to attract more prospective healthcare professionals from underrepresented communities. 

In this episode, we are joined by Joseph Payne, Founder and CEO of Arcturus Therapeutics. We discuss the vaccine approval process, the many pathways to vaccine evaluation, and the successful technology behind the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. 

In this episode, we talk with the team leading the COVID Recovery Program at Scripps Health. The San Diego based health system is one of the leaders responding to the needs of those with lingering COVID symptoms. Even individuals with mild COVID symptoms could develop long-lasting symptoms. Learn about Scripps Health research into this syndrome. 

In this episode we find out how a pediatrician uses his experiences to inform health policy in the California State Legislature. We talk about what must be done to assure that people can obtain vaccinations at public events without being subjected to harassment or being bullied. How did other previous events inform policy making around vaccines and the abuse of medical exemptions? Dr. Richard Pan has devoted his career to health and helping the community. He is a practicing pediatrician, former UC Davis educator, current State Senator for California District 6 and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health. 

How does a health system prepared for natural disasters make the shift towards preparing its staff for a pandemic? How can you build resiliency in a workforce? What considerations do healthcare leaders take into account when designing a vaccine super-station? We consider all of these questions and more in our latest podcast episode with Chris Van Gorder, CEO of Scripps Health.  ¿Cómo hace un sistema de salud el cambio hacia la preparación de su persona para una pandemia? ¿Cómo puede desarrollar resiliencia en una fuerza laboral? ¿Qué consideraciones tienen en cuenta los líderes de la salud al diseñar una superestación de vacunas? Consideramos todas estas preguntas y más en nuestro próximo episodio con Chris Van Gorder, CEO de Scripps Health.

In this episode, we discuss three hot public health topics: mask mandates and when they may go away, the effect of the new variants on herd immunity, and the case of Johnson & Johnson and the spoiled batch of vaccines. We discuss these issues and more with Dr. Monica Gandhi, Professor of Medicine and Associate Division Chief of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, at UCSF/San Francisco General Hospital.   En este episodio, discutimos tres temas de salud pública: los mandatos de máscara y cuándo pueden ser descontinuados, el efecto de las nuevas variantes sobre la inmunidad colectiva , y el caso de Johnson & Johnson. Discutimos estos temas y más con la Dra. Monica Gandhi, Profesora de Medicina y Jefa asociada de la División de VIH, Enfermedades Infecciosas y Medicina Global en el Hospital General de San Francisco/UCSF.

En nuestro primer episodio en Español, entrevistamos a Roberto Alcantar de Chicano Federation de San Diego y vocero de la Coalición de Salud Latina de San Diego.  Donde discutimos el tema de la equidad en la salud y hablamos sobre la creación de la Coalición de Salud Latina de San Diego y el trabajo que están haciendo para una de las comunidades de San Diego más afectadas por COVID-19.

In our first-ever dual-language episode, we interview Roberto Alcantar of the San Diego Chicano Federation and spokesperson for the San Diego Latino Health Coalition. Where we discuss the issue of health equity and talk about the creation of the San Diego Latino Health Coalition and the work they are doing for one of San Diego's communities hit hardest by COVID-19.

We've had many interesting guests and stimulating discussion over the past year.  Our listeners have wanted to know more about many of the topics that we've covered.  So our team has picked out a few of your questions and consulted with our guests to answer those follow up questions.  Listen in to learn more!

County Public Health Officers have been thrust into the public limelight during the pandemic.  Our host Gary Rotto invited one of the key Public Health Officers to discuss this important and very public role.  Dr. Erin Gustafson, the interim Public Health Officer for the County of San Bernardino virtually comes to Montezuma Mesa to discuss how public health orders are shaped as well as how the orders are enforced.  Learn about the Education and Enforcement team of San Bernardino by listening to their discussion!  What do you think is the most important recommendation that any of the Public Health Officers have made over the past 9 months? *** Los funcionarios de Salud Pública del Condado han sido empujados al centro de atención pública durante la pandemia. Nuestro anfitrión Gary Rotto, invitó a uno de los oficiales clave de Salud Pública a discutir este tema tan importante y público. La Dra. Erin Gustafson, Oficial interina de Salud Pública del Condado de San Bernardino, viene virtualmente a Montezuma Mesa para discutir cómo se configuran las órdenes de salud pública y cómo se hacen cumplir. ¡Aprenda sobre el equipo de Educación y Cumplimiento de San Bernardino escuchando su discurso! ¿Cuál cree que es la recomendación más importante que ha hecho alguno de los funcionarios de salud pública durante los últimos 9 meses?

This week we on @sdsu.changeonething, we had the opportunity to speak with Dr. “Davey” Smith, head of the division of infectious diseases and global public health at UCSD. In this episode, we address the role that San Diego has assumed as a headquarters for COVID-19 response, the framework behind Operation Warp Speed, and the roles that research, funding, and advocacy have played in the global response to COVID-19. ... Esta semana en @sdsu.changeonething, hablamos con el Dr. "Davey" Smith, cabeza de la división de enfermedades infecciosas y salud pública global en UCSD. En este episodio, habalamos sobre el rol de San Diego como centro de respuesta al COVID-19, el trabajo detrás de la operación Warp Speed, y la importancia de la investigación de fondos y avogancía en la respuesta global al COVID-19.

T3, the Test, Trace and Treat program, seeks to provide a robust response to monitoring and addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Corinne McDaniels-Davidson, who leads this joint County-University program about both T3 as well as the larger "Communities Fighting COVID" study. *** El Programa T3 "Test, Trace, and Treat", busca proveer una respuesta robusta al monitoreo y la conversación de la pandemia del COVID-19. En este episodio, hablamos con la Dra. Corinne McDaniels-Davidson, quien dirige este program creado en conjunto por la Universidad y el Condado, sobre T3 y el estudio sobre la lucha de las comunidades contra el COVID.

In this episode, host Gary Rotto speaks with Dr. Andrea Dooley, Associate Vice President for student affairs and campus diversity at San Diego State University. This week, we explore SDSU’s leadership response to COVID-19 and how policies are created and communicated to the campus community. We also discuss services available to students and faculty impacted by COVID-19. *** En este episodio, nuestro moderador, Gary Rotto, habla con la Dra. Andrea Dooley, Vicepresidenta Asociada de Asuntos Estudiantiles y Diversidad del Campus en San Diego State University. Esta semana, exploramos la respuesta y liderazgo de SDSU respecto al COVID-19, cómo se han creado y comunicado las políticas sobre esto con la comunidad del campus. También discuten los servicios disponibles para el cuerpo estudiantil y facultad que se han visto afectados por el COVID-19. 

Our host, Gary Rotto, has a detailed discussion with San Diego’s congressional representative, Scott Peters. Congressman Peters discusses his role on the Energy and Commerce Committee which entails the process of creating public health policy. The episode details the congressional issues faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health policies, telemedicine and more!

As part of the border region, San Diegans know that heath care does not stop at artificial borders.  The situation in San Diego influences what is happening in Baja California and visa versa.  In this episode, we will talk with infectious disease physician Dr. Christian Ramers working with his colleagues in Baja on Covid-19 response.  Dr. Ramers, in his role with Family Health Centers of San Diego, is also one of the leaders in providing services those who are homeless in San Diego. He'll detail the programs provided for those previously unsheltered in San Diego as well as discuss the successes and challenges of providing services at the Convention Center for this population as part of the region's response to the pandemic.

Dr. Lauren Brown is a Health Disparities an incoming Assistant Professor at SDSU and she is the guest speaker of this episode. The Black Lives Matters movement has refocused societal attention on social justice especially for the Black community. There is a growing awareness that Social Justice should impact more that just criminal justice reform. Societal changes are shining a light on Health Disparities. One area that requires more attention is the health risk for seniors in the community, especially in the Black community, due health disparities. We'll talk about these issues in this episode.

The two largest districts in California announced that the school year will begin online. In this podcast, Our host, Gary Rotto, and our team member Carolina López Rivera, talked with the Vice President of the Board of Education for San Diego Unified School District about this situation and addressed how the district has handled the pandemic in a constant pace as it evolves, always putting the student's wellbeing as priority.

In this episode, Gary Rotto talks with Herb Schultz! Schultz is the president of HKS Strategies, former Regional IX Director for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and Advisor to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius.  Learn about how one engages stakeholders in Health Policy development in the field, how the secretary's office relate to travel governments in the need of American stakeholder groups, and much more in this episode!

Our host, Gary Rotto, discusses the impacts of COVID-19 regarding food insecurity with CEO of Feeding San Diego, Vince Hall. Learn about insights of how Feeding San Diego is responding to COVID-19 in this episode and how food insecurity affects health outcomes and is a key Social Determinants of Health.

Our guest in this episode is Dr. Christopher Foltz! He is the Incident Commander of Covid-19 Response and Infectious Disease Physician with the Desert AIDS Project.

As Chair of the Family Medicine Department with the Riverside University Hospital System, Dr. Geoffrey Leung has always been passionate about Public Health and improving care for underserved populations.  But during the COVID-19 pandemic, he has also become one of the leaders in the “Inland Empire” for testing and interpreting models to advise health policy in the region.  Dr. Leung helps our listeners to demystify modeling as well as look to the “post-pandemic, pre-vaccine world” in which we will live.

Imagine growing up in the Coachella Valley before the City of Coachella was known as it is today.  How have things changed?  How do you fight for better health for the underserved in the community?  Now taking on the role of Chairman of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and trying to govern during a pandemic. Victor Manuel Perez talks about Coachella, COVID-19 and providing steady, consensus but data driven leadership during these unsettling times.

We kick off the podcast by welcoming guest speaker, Dr. Hala Madanat! Thank you to Audionautix's Jason Shaw for the music.