What happens when a lifelong storyteller turns her focus to artificial intelligence and public health communication? In this episode of Public Health Epidemiology Conversations, Dr. Huntley sits down with Dr. Kumba Sennaar, a health researcher, AI ethicist, and communication strategist whose work has been recognized by institutions like the National Academy of Medicine and the World Economic Forum.

From early interests in health advocacy to leading HIV/AIDS policy work with the Infectious Diseases Society of America, Kumba shares how her journey through science, policy, and communication shaped her unique perspective on today's biggest challenges. The conversation explores why public health often struggles to tell its own story, how audience-centered communication can transform impact, and what it will take for the field to engage thoughtfully with artificial intelligence.

If you've been unsure whether AI is a threat, a tool, or something in between, this episode offers a grounded and practical framework for thinking about privacy, trust, and the future of data in public health. Kumba also leaves listeners with a timely reminder for anyone feeling discouraged in the field: reconnect with your "why."

Resources

▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community

▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes

▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting

Episode 450 is a milestone, and Dr. Huntley marks it with an honest, reflective solo conversation about the power of community.

After one of the most challenging years of her life, she shares the 10 principles that now guide her work, her consulting firm, and the growing PHEC Podcast Community, showing why community isn't just a buzzword, but a strategy for resilience, leadership, and lasting impact.

She also reflects on a powerful moment moderating a panel at the South Carolina Public Health Association's annual meeting, where leaders from the Catawba Nation and Gullah Geechee Nation joined community voices in an authentic dialogue about public health.

Resources

▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community

▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes

▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting

Three public health professionals join Dr. Huntley for a conversation that starts with one of the questions we all get asked but don't always have a great answer for. When someone outside the field asks what public health actually is, what do you say? Alexandra Piotrowski, epidemiologist and founder of Piat Public Health, Dr. Sarah Hartzell, behavioral health researcher and advocate, and Michelle Alexander, public health advocate and quality compliance professional, each bring a distinct lens. Together they explore storytelling as a public health tool, the mental health workforce shortage, senior loneliness, and why arming people with the right language creates ripples far beyond the conversation.

Resources

▶️ Join the PHEC Podcast Community

▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes

▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting