Writing Public Health for the Public: Stories That Change Minds

Writing Public Health for the Public: Stories That Change Minds

University of Michigan School of Public Health faculty William Lopez and Paul Fleming have a candid conversation about their recently published books and what it means to communicate public health in an era of mistrust and misinformation. They explore how books can be a powerful way to share public health ideas beyond academia, offering space for storytelling, context, and connection. They also discuss the challenges of writing for public audiences, including ethical storytelling and translating evidence into clear language. Their conversation highlights lessons for students and practitioners, and why public health communication matters now more than ever. Links to the work discussed in this episode: * Imagine Doing Better: Why Policies Backfire and How Prevention Thinking Can Change Everything by Paul Fleming [https://pjfleming.com/imaginebetter] * Raiding the Heartland: An American Story of Deportation and Resistance by William Lopez [https://www.wdlopez.com/raiding-the-heartland] * Separated: Family and Community in the Aftermath of an Immigration Raid by William Lopez [https://www.wdlopez.com/separated] Meet the Speakers: * William Lopez [https://sph.umich.edu/faculty-profiles/lopez-william.html] * Paul Fleming [https://sph.umich.edu/faculty-profiles/fleming-paul.html] ----- Learn more about the University of Michigan School of Public Health: publichealth.umich.edu [https://publichealth.umich.edu] Follow us on social media: * Facebook | facebook.com/umichsph [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTRCWS1MZ3RCRER2QXVCdmlpeWM3aXdId2VKUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbDhQY3cxVlJ6MnpMQ2lHRUt6YmpzUjhvWkpVRVN4cVJGbWV4YVljY1Nhc2ZfSXNxZ3Y3N21VT01xV2ZfRm5CUUd2cWVKUUlnZ2FFdFFTVDZQUGtuTjVCVGFTREliWk8xbl91S0RCSG11SlYtWG96dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fumichsph%2F] * Instagram | instagram.com/umichsph [https://instagram.com/umichsph] * LinkedIn | linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan-school-of-public-health [https://linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan-school-of-public-health] * X | x.com/umichsph [https://x.com/umichsph] * YouTube | youtube.com/sphweb [https://youtube.com/sphweb] Discover Michigan Public Health's degree programs, sign up for our interest list [https://sph.umich.edu/prospective-students/index.html].

School Safety Drills and Student Well-Being: What the Research Shows

(00:00:00) School Safety Drills and Student Well-Being: What the Research Shows (00:02:17) What Are School Safety Drills and Why Do We Have Them? (00:04:40) Effectiveness & Impact of Drills (00:07:17) The Problem with a One-Size-Fits-All Approach (00:09:34) Short and Long-Term Health Impacts of Safety Drills (00:12:18) Improving Practice: What Works and What Needs Reform (00:15:58) Looking Forward: Policy, Practice, and Student Well-being Active shooter drills are now a routine part of school life in the United States, but what does the research actually say about their impact on students and school communities? University of Michigan public health researcherJustin Heinzebreaks down what we know about school safety drills: how they vary across districts, their intended goals, and the unintended mental health, psychological and emotional consequences they can have on school communities. Heinze also shared emerging best practices for schools looking to balance school safety preparedness with student well-being — and what policymakers, educators, and parents should know. ----- Learn more about the University of Michigan School of Public Health: publichealth.umich.edu [https://publichealth.umich.edu] Follow us on social media: * Facebook | facebook.com/umichsph [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTRCWS1MZ3RCRER2QXVCdmlpeWM3aXdId2VKUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbDhQY3cxVlJ6MnpMQ2lHRUt6YmpzUjhvWkpVRVN4cVJGbWV4YVljY1Nhc2ZfSXNxZ3Y3N21VT01xV2ZfRm5CUUd2cWVKUUlnZ2FFdFFTVDZQUGtuTjVCVGFTREliWk8xbl91S0RCSG11SlYtWG96dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fumichsph%2F] * Instagram | instagram.com/umichsph [https://instagram.com/umichsph] * LinkedIn | linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan-school-of-public-health [https://linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan-school-of-public-health] * X | x.com/umichsph [https://x.com/umichsph] * YouTube | youtube.com/sphweb [https://youtube.com/sphweb] Discover Michigan Public Health's degree programs, sign up for our interest list [https://sph.umich.edu/prospective-students/index.html].

How Medicaid Policy Shapes the Future of Rural Communities

Health policy researcher Michael Shepherd explores the importance of Medicaid in rural communities—not only for those who directly receive benefits, but for everyone who counts on having a local clinic, mental health provider, or hospital. Shepherd explains what major changes to Medicaid could mean for rural communities, and how every policy shift can have profound consequences for families, local economies, and entire regions. ----- Learn more about the University of Michigan School of Public Health: publichealth.umich.edu [https://publichealth.umich.edu] Follow us on social media: * Facebook | facebook.com/umichsph [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTRCWS1MZ3RCRER2QXVCdmlpeWM3aXdId2VKUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbDhQY3cxVlJ6MnpMQ2lHRUt6YmpzUjhvWkpVRVN4cVJGbWV4YVljY1Nhc2ZfSXNxZ3Y3N21VT01xV2ZfRm5CUUd2cWVKUUlnZ2FFdFFTVDZQUGtuTjVCVGFTREliWk8xbl91S0RCSG11SlYtWG96dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fumichsph%2F] * Instagram | instagram.com/umichsph [https://instagram.com/umichsph] * LinkedIn | linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan-school-of-public-health [https://linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan-school-of-public-health] * X | x.com/umichsph [https://x.com/umichsph] * YouTube | youtube.com/sphweb [https://youtube.com/sphweb] Discover Michigan Public Health's degree programs, sign up for our interest list [https://sph.umich.edu/prospective-students/index.html].

Preventing Intimate Partner Homicide with Red Flag Laws

Over half of all female homicide victims in the United States are killed with a gun, most often by an intimate partner. In this episode, University of Michigan School of Public Health researcher April Zeoli explores how firearm policy—specifically red flag laws and firearm restrictions as part of domestic violence protective orders—can play a crucial role in preventing domestic violence tragedies, particularly intimate partner homicide.  Zeoli explains Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) and Domestic Violence Protective Orders, how they work in practice when it comes to firearm violence prevention, and how proper implementation can make a life-saving difference. ----- Learn more about the University of Michigan School of Public Health: publichealth.umich.edu [https://publichealth.umich.edu] Follow us on social media: * Facebook | facebook.com/umichsph [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTRCWS1MZ3RCRER2QXVCdmlpeWM3aXdId2VKUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbDhQY3cxVlJ6MnpMQ2lHRUt6YmpzUjhvWkpVRVN4cVJGbWV4YVljY1Nhc2ZfSXNxZ3Y3N21VT01xV2ZfRm5CUUd2cWVKUUlnZ2FFdFFTVDZQUGtuTjVCVGFTREliWk8xbl91S0RCSG11SlYtWG96dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fumichsph%2F] * Instagram | instagram.com/umichsph [https://instagram.com/umichsph] * LinkedIn | linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan-school-of-public-health [https://linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan-school-of-public-health] * X | x.com/umichsph [https://x.com/umichsph] * YouTube | youtube.com/sphweb [https://youtube.com/sphweb] Discover Michigan Public Health's degree programs, sign up for our interest list [https://sph.umich.edu/prospective-students/index.html].

Vaccine conversations: Tools for building trust

(00:00:00) The Online MPH (ad) (00:01:41) Event Welcome & Introductions (00:07:13) Seasonal vaccine safety (00:10:23) Communication about vaccines (00:13:22) Federal message around autism and vaccines (00:20:49) Vaccine trust (00:27:26) Best practices for discussing vaccines (00:33:17) Working together: Public health & communities (00:37:13) Vaccine disparities (00:41:15) Academia's role in building trust Vaccine conversations don't have to be difficult. Whether you're answering questions from relatives, supporting hesitant friends, or simply want to better understand where we are today, this panel discussion helps you navigate the current vaccine landscape and have more productive conversations about vaccines. Recorded in front of a live audience at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, our expert panelists share insights on building trust and understanding when discussing vaccines with family, friends, and community members. ----- Learn more about the University of Michigan School of Public Health: publichealth.umich.edu [https://publichealth.umich.edu] Follow us on social media: * Facebook | facebook.com/umichsph [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTRCWS1MZ3RCRER2QXVCdmlpeWM3aXdId2VKUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbDhQY3cxVlJ6MnpMQ2lHRUt6YmpzUjhvWkpVRVN4cVJGbWV4YVljY1Nhc2ZfSXNxZ3Y3N21VT01xV2ZfRm5CUUd2cWVKUUlnZ2FFdFFTVDZQUGtuTjVCVGFTREliWk8xbl91S0RCSG11SlYtWG96dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fumichsph%2F] * Instagram | instagram.com/umichsph [https://instagram.com/umichsph] * LinkedIn | linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan-school-of-public-health [https://linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan-school-of-public-health] * X | x.com/umichsph [https://x.com/umichsph] * YouTube | youtube.com/sphweb [https://youtube.com/sphweb] Discover Michigan Public Health's degree programs, sign up for our interest list [https://sph.umich.edu/prospective-students/index.html].