Episodios

  • Resilience and Realignment:  Preventing Global Infectious Disease with AVAC’s Mitchell Warren 

    Resilience and Realignment:  Preventing Global Infectious Disease with AVAC’s Mitchell Warren 
    May 1 2025
    Mitchell Warren, AVAC's Executive Director, joins Ben to scope out a forward-looking infectious disease prevention strategy. It is urgently needed, amidst political and economic turmoil caused by the dismantling of US aid and declines in funding from European donors. With HIV as the poster child of what once was global health solidarity, it is an opportunity for a resurgent and resilient Global South to take the reins and set priorities in how to deploy new biomedical innovations, and protecting the rights of communities affected by HIV and other pandemics. Ben and Mitchell also delve into the various legal actions the public health community is taking against the current US administration's executive orders, asking the question - how to we prep for prevention at home and internationally? 00:00 Introduction and Current Challenges in Global Health 01:09 Welcoming Mitchell Warren and AVAC's Mission 01:43 The Evolution of HIV Prevention and AVAC's Role 03:17 Current Frustrations and Challenges in HIV Prevention 05:15 The Promise and Challenges of Lenacapavir 08:03 The Importance of Choice in HIV Prevention 10:22 Navigating Funding and Policy Obstacles 12:43 The Role of Donors and Ministries in HIV Prevention 14:56 The Urgency of Lenacapavir Approval and Implementation 20:52 Sustainability and Future Planning in Global Health 25:44 Legal Battle Against Government Orders 26:50 Temporary Restraining Order and Its Implications 27:14 Government's Slow Compliance and Ongoing Legal Struggles 28:38 Public Record and Whistleblower Revelations 30:56 Impact on American Influence and Global Health 33:45 Diplomacy and Foreign Assistance 35:04 Consequences of Policy Changes 40:01 Future Strategies and Targets for Global Health 45:51 Music and Reflections on Democracy 48:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 💬 Join the Conversation How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🔔Subscribe & Stay Updated Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health discussions – www.youtube.com/@shotarmpodcast
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    49 m
  • Kennedy vs. Braidwood: ACA Free Prevention Services Go Back to the Supreme Court

    Kennedy vs. Braidwood: ACA Free Prevention Services Go Back to the Supreme Court
    Apr 19 2025
    In this episode of A Shot in the Arm podcast, Ben Plumley discusses an ongoing potentially highly significant legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act with Eric Waskowicz, Senior Policy Manager at the United States of Care. The case involves a small group of employers in Texas seeking to eliminate mandates for free preventative services, positing both constitutional issues and religious objections. Eric explains the potential widespread impacts on access to healthcare if the Supreme Court rules against the ACA provisions. He emphasizes the importance of no-cost preventative services and the economic and social benefits of maintaining them. The conversation also highlights continued bipartisan support - even from the Trump administration - for these measures and the role of state-level advocacy in preserving access to comprehensive healthcare. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:17 The Curious Case of Legal Action in the US 01:04 Introducing Eric Kovi and United States of Care 04:49 Background on the Affordable Care Act and Preventive Services 06:46 The Impact of the Supreme Court Case 15:39 Mobilizing Support and Advocacy 22:49 Eric Kovi's Career Journey 27:22 Call to Action and Conclusion 💬 Join the Conversation How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🔔Subscribe & Stay Updated Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health discussions – www.youtube.com/@shotarmpodcast Youtube link https://youtu.be/32VDJese8nY
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    32 m
  • AI and the Future of Healthcare: Innovation and Transformation with Prof. Eyal Zimlichman

    AI and the Future of Healthcare: Innovation and Transformation with Prof. Eyal Zimlichman
    Apr 1 2025
    In this episode of A Shot in the Arm Podcast, Ben Plumley talks with Professor Eyal Zimlichman, Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Innovation Officer for the Sheba Medical Center in Israel. They discuss the transformative role of artificial intelligence in global healthcare, from innovations that reduce mortality rates to AI-driven diagnostic tools. Prof. Zimlichman shares insights on leveraging AI for efficiency, reducing healthcare costs, and driving economic growth by fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation. The conversation also delves into how developing countries can leapfrog traditional healthcare models using AI technology, and the importance of AI governance and validation across different populations.
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    39 m
  • Global Health Diplomats - Is Trump's Global Health Strategy Emerging?

    Global Health Diplomats - Is Trump's Global Health Strategy Emerging?
    Mar 28 2025
    Join Eric Goosby and Ben Plumley as they delve into the latest global health news coming out of Washington DC, including funding cuts from the US government to key international health programs, whether the administration will abide by the continuing resolution passed by Congress to fund all global health programs approved by Congress for 2025, and the implications for the UN, Gavi and US academic institutions. They also try to make sense of the significant job cuts announced by the administration to the Department of Health and Human Services today , and the continuing outbreak of measles in the US. These are hectic – if not entirely productive – times in the world of global health. But is a Trump administration strategy emerging from the chaos of executive orders, termination notices and the firing of so many key staff? 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 01:04 US Government Funding for International Development 01:49 Impact of Funding Cuts on Health and Human Services 02:12 The Growing Measles Crisis 02:36 Debate on Continuing Resolution and Budget Cuts 09:18 Termination of Funding to Gavi 13:25 Public Health Strategy and Administration Tactics 40:58 The Role of Individual Rights in Public Health 47:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 💬 Join the Conversation How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🔔Subscribe & Stay Updated Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health discussions – www.youtube.com/@shotarmpodcast
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    49 m
  • Impact of US Aid Cuts on South Africa's Healthcare

    Impact of US Aid Cuts on South Africa's Healthcare
    Mar 24 2025
    In this episode of A Shot in the Arm Podcast, hosts Yvette Raphael and Ben Plumley discuss the resilience of South Africa's healthcare system amidst U.S. aid cuts, particularly through USAID and PEPFAR. They highlight the devastating impacts on HIV treatment, TB care, and broader healthcare services due to the sudden cessation of funding. But the country is markedly more prepared than critics might have feared, to assume full responsibility for its infectious diseases strategies - including procurement and surveillance strategies that the US maintained control over in exchange for the aid. Their conversation extends to cover issues around mental health, future healthcare innovations like long-acting antiretrovirals, and the broader geopolitical implications of donor aid cuts. 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 00:33 Impact of US Aid Cuts on South Africa 03:08 Healthcare Challenges and Government Response 07:04 The Role of Civil Society and Future Preparations 10:21 Consequences of Sudden Aid Withdrawal 14:17 Future of HIV Treatment and Advocacy 16:55 The Threat of Drug-Resistant TB 17:35 Government Investment in Healthcare 19:01 Mental Health Crisis Among Youth 19:41 Impact of USAID Funding Cuts 20:57 Soft Power and International Relations 22:37 South Africa's Self-Reliance 26:43 Addressing Racism and Emigration 32:42 Parting Thoughts and Optimism 💬 Join the Conversation How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🔔 Subscribe & Stay Updated ✅ Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform ✅ Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health discussions - @shotarmpodcast⁩
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    35 m
  • Global Health Diplomats - The Fight to Keep Global Health Alive

    Global Health Diplomats - The Fight to Keep Global Health Alive
    Mar 8 2025
    Hosted by Ben Plumley & Professor Ambassador Eric Goosby Episode Summary In this episode of Global Health Diplomats, Ben Plumley and Eric Goosby take a hard look at the state of global health in the wake of major funding shifts and policy changes. With U.S. global health programs facing an uncertain future, can they be salvaged, or are we witnessing the dismantling of decades of progress? Ben and Eric discuss: ✔️ The impact of U.S. policy changes on PEPFAR, USAID, and global health funding ✔️ The realities of restarting health programs amid political roadblocks ✔️ How countries are shifting towards self-sufficiency in health systems ✔️ Lessons learned from HIV programs pivoting to COVID-19 responses ✔️ The role of European and global players—can they fill the funding gap? ✔️ The future of long-acting HIV treatments and barriers to adoption ✔️ The ethics of global health governance—are programs being abandoned? ✔️ The human cost of these decisions on communities and health professionals This episode is a must-listen for anyone engaged in global health, policy advocacy, and public health strategy. Timestamps for Key Moments 00:00 - Welcome & opening remarks: Ben and Eric set the stage for a critical conversation 00:38 - Is global health dead? A frank discussion on where things stand 02:31 - U.S. policy shifts & the fallout for global health programs 07:12 - Can shuttered programs be restarted? The logistical and ethical challenges 13:52 - Global health self-sufficiency: Are countries ready to take control? 17:23 - Can Europe or others step up? The feasibility of alternative funding sources 22:19 - What national programs must prioritize to survive funding cuts 26:29 - Procurement & supply chain challenges—what's at risk? 27:52 - Surveillance & monitoring—a critical piece of the puzzle 29:34 - Long-acting HIV treatments—revolutionary but at risk 32:37 - The politics of health funding—will programs be forced to regress? 36:32 - Clinical guidelines vs. financial and political realities—who decides? 37:55 - Key populations at risk: Why marginalized communities may suffer the most 40:02 - Beyond government funding: Can faith-based organizations & business leaders help? 41:06 - The personal toll on health professionals: How this crisis is affecting those in the field 44:32 - Global solidarity under threat: How shifting geopolitics impact health 47:16 - What happens next? Ben and Eric’s final reflections on the way forward Join the Conversation How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments! Subscribe & Stay Updated - Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform - Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health discussions Follow Us YouTube: @shotarmpodcast
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    49 m
  • Are We Living in a Coup Yet?

    Are We Living in a Coup Yet?
    Feb 9 2025
    Hosts: Ben Plumley, Yvette Raphael Guest: Gregg Gonsalves Recorded in: Tembisa Mall, Greater Johannesburg, South Africa & New Haven, Connecticut, USA Welcome to the first A Shot in the Arm podcast of 2025! In this powerful episode, Ben Plumley is joined by co-host Yvette Raphael and Yale professor & activist Gregg Gonsalves to unpack critical global health and equity issues amidst the shifting political landscape. From the unraveling of public health commitments to rising misinformation, we ask: Are we living in a coup yet? Our guests reflect on the past, draw lessons from the HIV/AIDS movement, and strategize about the road ahead in fighting for public health and human rights. Key Topics: [00:00] Welcome & Introductions [00:50] The US’s commitment to global health: Is it unraveling? [02:00] Yvette’s 50th birthday & 25 years of living with HIV [04:00] Misinformation, stigma, and fear in HIV advocacy today [06:45] The US’s attack on LGBTQ+ health and the implications for global funding [10:30] RFK Jr. and the growing anti-science movement [15:40] Is there a method to this madness? Or just chaos? [22:15] Lessons from the HIV/AIDS movement: How activists fought back [30:00] The collapse of USAID and its impact on African healthcare [38:30] Mobilizing the private sector & faith-based organizations [41:00] The power of digital activism: TikTok, Instagram & misinformation [45:00] Protest & activism: What tactics work in 2025? [50:00] Final thoughts: Solidarity, hope & making “beautiful trouble” Takeaways: The rollback of global health initiatives, including HIV/AIDS funding, could have devastating effects worldwide. History has shown that activism works—we must organize, mobilize, and push back. The fight for public health is interconnected with the fight for democracy and human rights. Digital media and grassroots organizing will be key tools in countering misinformation and mobilizing support. Now is the time for action, unity, and resistance. Join the conversation: What are your thoughts on the current state of public health? Subscribe & share this episode to keep the movement strong! Follow & Connect: YouTube: www.youtube.com/@shotarmpodcast Bluesky: @ashotinthearm.bsky.social @ben-plumleybsky.social Instagram: @ashotinthearmpodcast TikTok: @ashotinthearmpodcast Links: Youtube: www.youtube.com/@ledbydonkeys Bluesky: @gregggonsalves.bsky.social #GlobalHealth #PublicHealth #HIVAdvocacy #Activism #Podcast #AShotInTheArm #HealthEquity #HIV #LGBTQHealth #USAID #ScienceMatters
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    49 m
  • Global Health Diplomats | Two weeks of Trump: Our Reaction

    Global Health Diplomats | Two weeks of Trump: Our Reaction
    Feb 1 2025
    Global Health Diplomats | Two weeks of Trump: Our Reaction Welcome to Global Health Diplomats, a special project of A Shot in the Arm Podcast, brought to you with the support of the John Martin Foundation. Host Ben Plumley joins Ambassador Eric Goosby to discuss the shocking recent announcements from the U.S. administration regarding foreign aid, global health funding, and the withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). With sweeping stop-work orders on PEPFAR, USAID, and State Department programs, the global health community is in turmoil. How will these changes impact HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and global health diplomacy? Can we find a path forward, or is this a wholesale dismantling of decades of U.S. leadership in global health? Ben and Eric also discuss the domestic implications of the administration’s controversial policies, including temporary disruptions in federally funded healthcare programs, attacks on transgender rights, and the controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Episode Highlights & Timestamps [00:00:15] Introduction from the Mall of Africa, South Africa [00:01:42] Uncertainty and anxiety over U.S. foreign aid decisions [00:02:36] The importance of U.S. global health funding—how much influence does it really have? [00:03:45] Is there a method to the madness, or is this a chaotic approach to policy? [00:06:40] PEPFAR’s funding threat: How a stop-work order could dismantle 23 years of progress [00:09:15] The attack on "soft power"—is the U.S. retreating from global leadership? [00:12:40] Will the Trump administration engage in dialogue, or is this a unilateral shift? [00:14:55] The devastating consequences of withdrawing from the WHO [00:19:06] The impact on partner countries—will they be left to pick up the pieces? [00:22:22] The chaos surrounding U.S. domestic health programs [00:28:53] The rollback of transgender rights and its broader implications [00:34:59] HHS nominee RFK Jr.—a deeply controversial choice [00:41:55] What’s next? A call for pragmatic dialogue and action The stakes for global health, HIV/AIDS funding, and human rights have never been higher. What can advocates, organizations, and individuals do in the face of these challenges? Listen in as we break it all down. 🔔 Subscribe for More Global Health Insights! 📌 Follow us wherever you get your podcasts 📌 Like & Subscribe on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@shotarmpodcast 🎥 Produced & Directed by Erik Espera of NewsDoc Media 🎙 Supported by The John Martin Foundation Imara Jones on MSNBC - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8YRnAyU #GlobalHealth #PEPFAR #PublicHealth #HIV #WHO #USPolitics #ForeignAid #TrumpAdministration #LGBTQRights #TransRights #HHS #AIDSPolicy #HealthDiplomacy
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    46 m
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