Contagious Conversations

When Dr. Evelyn McKnight was battling breast cancer in 2002, the last thing on her mind was hepatitis C. So when she and her husband Thomas learned she had contracted the virus from unsafe injection practices during her treatment, they were shocked. Now she's sharing the story of how she turned this tragic event into an ongoing campaign for patient safety. Dr. Evelyn McKnight, an audiologist and mother of three, is a nationally recognized patient safety advocate and survivor of one of the largest viral outbreaks in American healthcare history. For more information and full episode transcription go to Contagious Conversations.   Key Takeaways: [1:16]  What drew Dr. McKnight to her career as an audiologist. [4:01] Dr. McKnight shares her journey battling a recurrence of breast cancer and learning she had been infected with hepatitis C while receiving treatment. [6:03] Dr. McKnight talks about receiving the diagnosis of hepatitis C. [7:33] Dr. McKnight describes the climate at the moment she and her husband, Thomas, formed the HONOReform Foundation. [9:33] There are still unsafe injection practices out there in America. [10:44] How would Dr. McKnight assess the evolution of patient advocacy, both in terms of awareness and resources for patients? [12:39] Dr. McKnight's story has helped provide many resources for many people. [13:58] We still see lapses in infection control practices even today. How often do we see these lapses in the United States overall? [16:41] Patients need to be empowered and need to be engaged as members of their healthcare team. [17:01] Dr. McKnight talks about where these lapses might occur if someone is getting treatment like chemotherapy or maybe having surgery. [17:57] Dr. McKnight shares her work in helping start the Safe Injection Practices Coalition with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the CDC Foundation, and she also talks about the impact it has had on patient safety. [19:33] Who are some of the stakeholders that were engaged in the overall success of the coalition? [21:49] Dr. McKnight talks about her new fund, the Evelyn and Thomas McKnight Family Fund for Patient Safety. [22:27] Who is the first recipient of the McKnight Prize for Healthcare Outbreak Heroes? [24:55] Dr. McKnight shares her thoughts about how far she's come since 2002. [26:03] As a patient, what can we do to protect ourselves when we are having medical treatment? [28:16] Dr. McKnight gives her advice for the future public health leaders of America.   Mentioned in This Episode: Injection Safety @ CDC.gov One and Only Campaign CDC Foundation Visit CDC.gov for detailed information about COVID 19

After a career in pediatrics and both public and private health leadership, Dr. Lauren Smith is now stepping into the new position of chief health equity and strategy officer at the CDC Foundation. In this episode, she discusses the perspectives on health equity, systemic racism and community resiliency that she's bringing to the role. Dr. Lauren Smith is the chief health equity and strategy officer for the CDC Foundation. In her new role for the foundation, Dr. Smith partners with senior leaders to develop and drive strategic efforts to embed health equity across COVID-19 response activities. For more information and full episode transcription go to Contagious Conversations.   Key Takeaways: [1:40] Dr. Smith shares her motivation to work as a pediatrician and how that choice shaped her career. [3:57] Dr. Smith talks about the impact of public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. [7:08] Dr. Smith explains why trust and credibility are part of the core mission of public health. [8:20] Dr. Smith talks about health equity and how it impacted her work. [10:40] Is there a greater awareness about the role racism plays in public health than before the pandemic? [12:40] COVID-19 has worked as a catalyst to bring racism and inequality to light. [14:05] Dr. Smith shares the topics she wants to address in her new position at the CDC Foundation. [17:10] Who are the key partners Dr. Smith is looking for? [18:56] What are the main messages to get out to the public about ways in which they can engage in the mission of public health? [21:00] Dr. Smith shares key tools to make sure important public health messages are communicated in accessible ways to communities. [23:22] What are the greatest challenges and opportunities to serve populations at risk? [26:25] What role should equity play in how the vaccine is rolled out? [28:20] How can the concerns of populations at risk be alleviated? [30:30] Dr. Smith talks about the different sectors of public health coming together to address the challenges presented by the current pandemic. [32:50] Dr. Smith talks about the involvement of the private sector. [34:08] What advice does Dr. Smith have for the future public health leaders of America?   Mentioned in This Episode: CDC Foundation Visit CDC for detailed information about COVID 19

Meet the man whose discovery has made it possible to save millions of lives. In this episode, Dr. Harvey Alter shares the story of his 50-plus year career and how his research led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus. Dr. Harvey J. Alter is a Senior Scholar at the National Institute for Health and was just named the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work in discovering the hepatitis C Virus. Dr. Alter's research focused on patients who developed chronic hepatitis from an unknown agent during blood transfusions. Dr. Alter was also the recipient of the 2015 CDC Foundation Fries Prize for Improving Health, which is an award that recognizes an individual who has made major contributions to improve health. For more information and full episode transcription go to Contagious Conversations.   Key Takeaways: [1:35] Dr. Alter shares how he received the news about receiving the Nobel Prize in Medicine. [2:47] What drew Dr. Alter to the field of health research? [6:40] Dr. Alter talks about his career. [10:51] Dr. Alter shares his Aha! moment. [16:26] Dr. Alter talks about the moment when he realized he was on the cusp of something big. [18:38] Dr. Alter shares the lessons he learned in times of COVID-19. [22:45] Dr. Alter talks about the importance of organizations like NIH and CDC. [25:27] Dr. Alter talks about the main challenges in developing a vaccine for hepatitis C. [30:18] What is next in Dr. Alter's career trying to eradicate hepatitis C? [32:35] What advice does Dr. Alter have for the future public health leaders of America?   Mentioned in This Episode: CDC Foundation Visit CDC.gov for detailed information about COVID-19

In Season 6 of Contagious Conversations, you'll hear what it was like to discover Hepatitis C from recent Nobel Prize winner Dr. Harvey Alter, learn about the latest strategies for tackling health equity and systemic racism during the COVID-19 pandemic from Dr. Lauren Smith, and find out how advocates like Dr. Evelyn McKnight are working to save lives by preventing unsafe injection practices.

Chief Lynn Malerba has served as a registered nurse, as director of Cardiology and Pulmonary Services at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, as chairwoman of the Tribal Council and now as the first female Chief of the Mohegan Tribe. And she's now drawing on this full history as the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps disproportionately through the Native American population. For more information and full episode transcription go to Contagious Conversations (www.cdcfoundation.org/conversations). About Chief Malerba: Chief Lynn Malerba the first female Chief in the modern history of the Mohegan Tribe, a sovereign, federally-recognized Indian tribe with a reservation in Southeastern Connecticut. Prior to becoming Chief, Malerba served as chairwoman of the Tribal Council and served in Tribal Government as executive director of Health and Human Services. Preceding her work for the Mohegan Tribe, Malerba had a lengthy career as a registered nurse and as the director of Cardiology and Pulmonary Services at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital. Malerba is chairwoman of the Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee of the Federal Indian Health Service, a member of the Justice Department's Tribal Nations Leadership Council, a member of the Tribal Advisory Committee for the National Institute of Health and a member of the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee.   Key Takeaways: [1:55] What led Chief Malerba to the field of nursing earlier in her career? [4:12] Chief Malerba talks about how she became the Director of Cardiology and Pulmonary Services at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital. [5:19] Chief Malerba shares how she became Chief. [7:47] Chief Malerba talks about her main responsibilities as Chief. [10:24] You have to raise your voice for the ones you are advocating for. [11:13] Chief Malerba talks about the impact of COVID-19 on her community. [13:17] Chief Malerba shares the existing health challenges for Native Americans prior to the pandemic. [18:46] How has the budget process contributed to the health iniquities Native Americans face? [21:29] How did COVID-19 add to the already existing health challenges of Native Americans? [22:37] Do certain cultural traditions of tribes present potential challenges during this time of coronavirus? [25:29] Chief Malerba talks about ways that tribal nations have previously worked with the U.S. during public health emergencies. [27:59] Chief Malerba talks about tribal nations and their work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in providing preparedness and response resources for tribal leaders. [30:35] How has COVID-19 impacted Chief Malerba's ability to do her work? [31:50] How are rural tribal communities overcoming challenges to ensure good information is shared with their citizens? [33:27] Chief Malerba talks about the best approaches for those in public health to reach tribal nations. [35:58] Chief Malerba shares the story she wants people to know about public health and tribal nations. [38:51] Chief Malerba gives her advice to the future public health leaders of America.   Mentioned in This Episode: CDC Foundation Visit CDC.gov for detailed information about COVID 19