In this episode we are joined by David Duest, David is the Director of the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Boston MA. DIWTP is the 2nd largest wastewater treatment plant in the United States servicing over 2.3 million people and 43 different communities. It boasts several innovative technologies that are used as models around the world and here in the US. In this episode we discuss the amazing capabilities of the plant including innovative methods of waste removal and using the byproducts to create clean energy to fuel the plant and improve the environment. We also discuss the utility of wastewater surveillance, how and when it was introduced to the treatment plant, and current monitoring. From stool to fuel and beyond, you won't want to miss this very informative episode!

In this episode we are joined again by Tropical and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Davidson Hamer. We discuss Arboviruses, what they are, how they are spread, and what kinds of illnesses they can cause. We talk in depth about the current Dengue spread and what may be driving the historic increase in cases and what to expect in the coming months to years. We also discuss West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and the current situation here in the New England area,

Dr. Hamer is a Professor of Global Health and Medicine at the Boston University School of Public Health and Chobanian & Avesidian School of Medicine, he is also an Adjunct Professor of Nutrition at the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. He is a specialist in infectious diseases with a particular interest in tropical infectious diseases and has extensive field experience in neonatal and child survival research including studies of micronutrient interventions, maternal and neonatal health, malaria, pneumonia, and diarrheal diseases.

For over 20 years, he has supervised and provided technical support to numerous studies in developing countries that evaluated interventions for improving neonatal survival, integrated community case management (iCCM), improving access for pregnant women to emergency obstetrical care, treatment and prevention of malaria, HIV/AIDS, micronutrient deficiencies, diarrheal disease, and pneumonia.

Dr. Hamer is also the Surveillance Lead for the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network, a global network of 70 sites in 31 countries that conducts surveillance of emerging infectious diseases using returning travelers, immigrants, and refugees as sentinels of infection (https://geosentinel.org).

He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and the International Society of Travel Medicine and has been published in hundreds of medical journals including; Journal of American Medicine, Journal of travel medicine, Journal of Global Health, International Journal of Infectious Disease, and many, many more.

In this episode we are joined by Microbiologist and phage enthusiast Dr. Sian Owen to discuss exactly what phages are, how they work, and the latest in phage research that may yield new tools in the fight against antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Dr. Owen recently finished her post doctoral research as a Fellow In the department of Biomedical Informatics and the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology at the Baym Laboratory at Harvard Medical School. and will soon be heading her own lab at the Wadsworth Center in Albany New York. She has also completed research at the Jay Hinton Laboratory in Liverpool England and is an expert in the field of bacteriophages and has been using experimental evolution and computational approaches to study the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Dr. Owen's discoveries have been published in Nature, Nature Microbiology, Science and The Journal of Molecular Science just to name a few. Dr. Owen is a lover of all things phages and is an avid Mushroom hunter when not discovering new ways to aid in the fight against MDROs.

In this episode we are joined by Elko NV police office Jake Ballensky. Officer Ballensky is a US national Guard Veteran having served tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan and has experience as a police officer working for the Las Vegas Metro Police Department and Elko NV police department. Today he joins us to discuss police and their roles as first responders, the stress and burnout that comes with the job, PTSD and how police practice has changed during his time serving the public.

In this episode we are joined by Pulmonologist and Critical Care physician Dr. Brandon Pang. Brandon is a Physician at Boston Medical Center specializing critical care and pulmonology. He takes us through his journey from undergraduate, to medical school, to his Internship, Residency and Fellowship, and exactly what this entails. He also discusses his next role as an Attending of Critical Care Hematology and Oncology at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center. We also discuss A.I. in medicine and what the future may hold, and even get him to sing a verse of his favorite karaoke song. You won't want to miss this informative and in depth conversation about the medical profession, and what it takes to become a physician!

In this episode we speak to Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Davidson Hamer and explore the current H5N1 spread among US cattle and if there is potential for spread to humans, and if so, could this cause the next great pandemic due to such high mortality rates and airborne spread. Dr. Hamer is board certified in infectious diseases and is a Professor at Boston University as well as Tufts University in Boston MA.

Dr. Hamer is also the Surveillance Lead for the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network, which is a global network of 70 sites in 31 countries that conducts surveillance of emerging infectious diseases using returning travelers, immigrants, and refugees as sentinels of infection.

He has extensive field experience in neonatal and child survival research , maternal and neonatal health, with focuses on studies of micronutrient interventions as well as malaria, pneumonia, and diarrheal diseases.

In this episode we have a special guest. Recently published, Integrative Nursing Fellow Timothy Murphy joins us to discuss the role of integrative nursing in medicine. He explains what it is, how it can aid in reduction of pain, anxiety and need for pharmacological interventions, and how it is now being more widely accepted in hospitals due to the evidence based data that supports its use. You won't want to miss this informative and uniquely interesting episode!!!

In this episode we welcome Allison K., an ICU Nurse Educator at a level one trauma center in Boston MA. Allison is here to discuss the roles, responsibilities, and future of nursing education. As well as the challenges post pandemic, and possibility of A.I. in nursing. You won't want to miss this very educational episode!!!