Public Health Finds a New Beat

Getting public health messaging right isn’t easy. With trust in institutions on the decline and misinformation on the rise, even life-saving information often fails to reach the people who need it most. So what kinds of messages actually get through?

In this episode, podcast host Michael Sparer sits down with Dr. Jide Williams, a neurologist and Vice Dean of

Community Health at Columbia University. After watching stroke patients arrive too late for effective treatment, Jide partnered with hip hop artist Doug E. Fresh to create a music-driven approach to stroke education. That effort grew into Hip Hop Public Health, a broader model that uses music and storytelling to teach kids about everything from healthy eating habits to the importance of cancer screenings. Jide also explains why music is such a powerful learning tool and what it takes for doctors to rebuild trust with the communities they serve. 

The Center for Public Health Systems at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health conducts needed research, facilitates public discussions, develops policy proposals and provides educational programs, all with the goal of encouraging a better, more efficient and more equitable public health system. This work builds on the recognition that the nation’s public health system is currently under-resourced, under-paid and under-valued, and that a stabilized and strengthened system would benefit all of us.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.