Advocation - Change it Up!

For this episode, the Activist Lab welcomes Mr. Victor Crist, Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, and prior Florida legislator, to discuss his background, career and how working together across the aisle and with communities can bring about lasting change. Guest:  Mr. Victor Crist, Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller

For our first podcast episode of 2025 the Activist Lab welcomes Dr. Sten Vermund, the new Dean of the College of Public Health, who discusses his background, reasons for relocating to Florida after serving as the Dean of the Yale School of Public Health, his vision for the future, the important role for advocacy for faculty, students, and staff, and more!  Guest:  Dr. Sten Vermund, Dean of the USF College of Public Health, Distinguished University Health Professor of Public Health and Pediatrics, Senior Associate Vice President, USF Health, and Director, Cancer Control Prevention and Epidemiology Program, Tampa General Hospital

This podcast episode focuses on the internship experience of Activist Lab Student Advisory Board Member, Jenny Ho.  She discusses the internship experience in terms of her overall responsibilities, what a typical day in the life of an intern looked like, and how this experience has enriched her advocacy pursuits.   Guest:  Ms Jenny Ho, Activist Lab Student Advisory Board Member and Undergraduate Student in the USF COPH.    

This podcast episode focuses on the Spring 2024 College of Public Health graduates who also served as the Activist Lab Student Board members during their time at the College. Each graduate discusses his/her academic and professional experiences in the College of Public Health and Activist Lab and their goals and advocacy work in the future.    Guests:  Mr. Amadeo Brandon, MPH, CPH, Ms. Kanika Chandra, MPH, CPH, and Ms. Kaylee Vallee, BS.

This special podcast episode features the keynote address given by national expert Marc Karver, PhD, Associate Professor, University of South Florida, Department of Psychology at the Activist Lab’s 6th Annual Bootcamp on January 25, 2024.   Dr. Karver provides information on the topic of suicide, various prevention and intervention strategies, and recommendations for improvement and growth leading to more effective research and practice.   The entire video of the Bootcamp with resources can be found at the Activist Lab website at https://usf.app.box.com/s/cgz513aczvxvuxeppk09ofen93jpemtt. We hope you enjoy!

This podcast episode focuses on climate change and climate justice in reference to Latino health, including cancer in this population. Drs. Calvo, Izurieta, and Grzywacz discuss this topic from their unique perspectives including the sociodeterminants of health, infectious diseases, and where Latinos live and work.  Strategies for change are discussed and how solutions will need to be community-driven and holistic.  Funding for this project was provided by the American Public Health Association’s Center for Climate, Health, & Equity. Guests:  Dr. Arlene Calvo, Associate Professor, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Dr. Ricardo Izurieta, Professor, University of South Florida College of Public Health, and Dr. Joseph Grzywacz, Associate Dean of Research and Faculty in the College of Health and Human Sciences at San Jose State University

This podcast episode focuses on strategies to prevent drownings, especially in young children.  Drs. Karch and Parvanta discuss efforts in drowning prevention led by the State of Florida and the University of South Florida College of Public Health through education involving a wide spectrum of partners and use of social marketing for communication strategies.  How communities and academia can work together to prevent this leading of death for children between the ages of 1and 4 is also discussed. Guests:  Dr. Robert Karch, Health Officer and Director of the Department of Health for Orange County, FL and Dr. Claudia Parvanta, Professor, University of South Florida College of Public Health  

Advocating for Keeping Individuals Enrolled in Medicaid After Continuous Enrollment Ended! Description:  This podcast episode focuses on how eligible individuals can maintain their Medicaid enrollment after March 31, 2023 when the COVID-19 continuous enrollment policy ended.  Also discussed are the important roles for advocacy, leadership, and the successful team of navigators led by national expert Ms. Jodi Ray, Program Director and Principal Investigator of Florida Covering Kids & Families Project.  Guests:  Ms. Jodi Ray, Instructor in the USF College of Public Health and Program Director and Principal Investigator of Florida Covering Kids & Families Project

This podcast episode focuses on injustices to marginalized groups (such as through hate crimes and victimization by extremist groups) and features leading academic and community advocates, Mr. Mike Deeson, Reverend/Dr. Bernice Powell-Jackson, and Dr. Jacob Glickman who provide historical significance, understanding of hate, and recommendations for change. Guests:  Mr. Mike Deeson, award winning investigative reporter and broadcast journalist and now founder of Deeson Media, Tampa, Florida; Reverend/Dr. Bernice Powell-Jackson, Pastor of the First United Church of Tampa, Tampa, Florida; and Dr. Jacob Glickman, clinical psychologist and licensed professional counselor in Philadelphia, PA.

This podcast episode focuses on the Salud Latina USF Initiative and features leaders Drs. Arlene Calvo and Abraham Salinas who discuss the activities of Salud Latina, its achievements, goals and directions for the future, and more! Guests:  Dr. Arlene Calvo, Associate Professor, USF College of Public Health, and Dr. Abraham Salinas, Assistant Professor, USF College of Public Health

This podcast episode focuses on the Center for Justice Research & Policy at the University of South Florida and features Center leaders Drs. Bryanna Fox and Edelyn Verona who discuss the development of the Center, examples of programs, future directions, how to advocate for change, and more! Guests:  Dr. Bryanna Fox, Associate Professor, Department of Criminology, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, and Dr. Edelyn Verona, Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida

This podcast episode focuses on the continued ramifications of climate change, the role for clean energy, discussion of the Supreme Court decision about the EPA and power plants, and how we can make change happen. We welcome Ms. Susan Glickman, a long-time climate and clean energy expert and Director of Florida Clinicians for Climate Action, who discusses her work and advocacy in this area and how we can successfully move forward! Guest:  Ms. Susan Glickman, Director of the Florida Clinicians for Climate Action

This podcast episode continues our occupational health and safety series and focuses on customer mistreatment of hospitality employees.  Dr. Kristin Horan from the University of Central Florida provides important information on the work she and colleagues are doing about this issue, the resources they have developed for employees, employers, and researchers and students, and strategies for change.  Discussion also took place as to the importance of advocacy in these efforts that includes behavioral and environmental components. Guest:   Dr. Kristin Horan, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Central Florida and Deputy Director of Program Administration for the Targeted Research Training Program of the Sunshine ERC.

This podcast episode focuses on what participants learned from the January 28, 2022 University of South Florida (USF) College of Public Health Activist Lab Bootcamp on mental health advocacy and strategies for change.  We welcome Dr. Jerome Galea, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, USF College of Behavioral and Community Sciences who shares his expertise on mental health research and outreach and two Bootcamp participants, Ivory Hayes and Jeanine Ashforth, who provide information on what their Bootcamp breakouts groups recommended for changes in the community and with veterans related to mental health, respectively.  Discussion also took place as to the importance of advocacy in mental health as mental health is public health! Guests:  Dr. Jerome Galea, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, USF, and Jeanine Ashforth and Ivory Hayes, USF College of Public Health graduate students

Episode 4: This fourth episode of our podcast series on occupational health and safety welcomes Dr. Tammy Allen, Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Florida and Director of the Occupational Health Psychology Training Program.  This podcast focuses on Dr. Allen’s work in the areas of work and family balance, remote work, the changing culture of work, and more. Discussion also took place about how to advocate for positive changes in the workplace to improve employee’s wellbeing. Guest, Dr. Tammy Allen, Distinguished University Professor,  University of South Florida