The interview with our featured guest, Dr. Kyu Rhee, was conducted in April ’21. Data referenced during this conversation will have changed since the recording.   So, we know that inequality exists. But, do we think the government can fix it? Or can private enterprise step in to lend data, insights and financial muscle toward the problem? This week’s episode of Contakt World dives into the hot button issues of data collection, medical trends, big business, and minority populations, as well as...

We’re preparing for the next threat … with lessons from the last one. But when it comes to COVID, what have we really learned? Join our hosts Justin Beck, Catherine Delcin and Deepti Pahwa, as they speak with Dr. Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease epidemiologist and senior infection preventionist at the University of Arizona. Together, they’ll discuss how health care systems can do to boost disease response, and how we can keep from being crippled by the next COVID – whatever that is. Will...

How do we improve community health, when community health statistics are completely ignored? American Indian and Alaska Natives are experiencing the disproportionate impact of COVID in their populations. Can we draw attention to this? And how can we empower people? Join our hosts Justin Beck, Catherine Delcin and Deepti Pahwa, as they speak with Abigail Echo-Hawk, Chief Research Officer at Seattle Indian Health Board and the Director of the Urban Indian Health Institute. Together, they’ll...

What if segregation didn’t actually end? And instead, American cities have become drawn along racial lines – exacerbating economic issues AND fueling the COVID pandemic? Join our hosts Justin Beck, Catherine Delcin and Deepti Pahwa, as they speak with Dr. Lawrence T. Brown, founder and director of the Black Butterfly Project. As a group, they’ll discuss the policies, practices, systems and budgets discussed in his new book, “The Black Butterfly: The Harmful Politics of Race and Space in...

Who’s right? And furthermore, who decides what is right? It’s the fundamental question of our times, not only in terms of ethics, but also systems of information. In this age of COVID, misinformation and social media, there’s a lot to contend with. So, how do we navigate it? Join our hosts Justin Beck, Catherine Delcin and Deepti Pahwa, as they speak with Dr. Seema Yasmin, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, poet, medical doctor and author who discusses the direct effects of Facebook on public...

It’s undeniable at this point – we were unprepared for a pandemic. But how can we protect our most valuable assets, medical professionals, in this time of crisis? This week’s episode of Contakt World dives into the hot button issues of race, hospital capacities, pandemic plans and the determinants of public health – specifically through the lens of Dr. Paul Bajwa, an emergency physician who’s practiced in Florida and also Canada. Join our hosts Justin Beck, Catherine Delcin and Deepti Pahwa,...

Did we not know that the big bug would hit? Or did we? Did our trusted officials just kick the can down the road? Or does the problem lie with the general public – and their unwillingness to listen to expert opinion and information? This week’s episode of Contakt World dives into the hot button issues of race, misinformation systems, pandemic plans and the politics of public health – specifically, through the lens of Dr. Oscar Alleyne, epidemiologist and chief program officer for NACCHO, The...

Every day, cities and states are breaking records for COVID cases. Governments are scrambling to take the right measures at the right times. And the news is reporting all of it. But some of us still seem unaffected. Why is this? What will make us stop and think? Or, at the least, feel something? This week’s episode of Contakt World dives into the hot-button issues of race, privilege and the politics of health – specifically, through the lens of Fiana Tulip, a grieving daughter who lost her...

Who’s affected most by COVID and why? Who deserves to receive care? And how can we treat everyone equally – both in society and in the hospital? This week’s episode of Contakt World dives into the hot-button issues of race, equal access to healthcare, and the political determinants of health – specifically, how historic inequities in our health system have never been more apparent. As COVID disproportionately affects communities of color, we talk with national health equity leader Daniel E....

What happens when a world-renowned scientist, vaccine expert and “OG Villain” (according to RFK Jr.) Dr. Peter Hotez, is allowed to speak his mind on issues surrounding a highly politicized and unprecedented pandemic? Join our hosts Justin Beck, Catherine Delcin and Deepti Pahwa as they explore the hot-button issues surrounding COVID-19 and other public health issues of our time. In this first episode of Contakt World, our hosts talk with Dr. Hotez, and explore his thoughts on the pandemic,...