If I Could Change One Thing

If I Could Change One Thing: Tomás Aragón on Leadership and Decision-Making in Public Health

On this episode of If I Could Change One Thing, our host Dr. Brittnie Bloom and student co-hosts Yucef Bouzina and Sophia Valdez welcome Dr. Tomás Aragón to discuss leadership and innovation in the field of public health. Dr. Aragón reflects on his experience serving as the Director of the California Department of Public Health and his efforts in transforming the department into a learning and impactful organization. This conversation centers on his idea of Decision Intelligence, a model designed to improve strategic decisions and balance human values. Dr. Aragón explains the integration of artificial intelligence with this framework while ensuring that community needs and empathy remain at the core. We also explore the importance of "servant leadership" and how cognitive diversity can help navigate the uncertainties of public health. Listen to this week's episode for an insightful discussion on how learning, healing, and impact can empower the next generation of public health professionals! For More Information, Please Visit These Links: https://teampublichealth.substack.com/p/decision-intelligence https://bsky.app/profile/tomasaragon.bsky.social/post/3mh6z4ta6ec2y

If I Could Change One Thing: SDSU MPH / MS Students on the Future of Public Health

On this episode of If I Could Change One Thing, our host Dr. Brittnie Bloom takes a step back and lets the students take over! Our talented co-hosts are Lesly Lopez and Katherine Campion, graduating undergraduates in SDSU's School of Public Health who are joined by SDSU Masters of Public Health and Masters of Science students Kitiara Cox, Chris Cellini, and Olivia Pugsley. Our panel of public health peers discuss their various academic paths and what led them to public health. We get their insight into applying to masters programs, how they selected their public health concentration, and their future career paths. Whether you're a current or future student, a faculty member, or a fan of public health - this episode is a way to get connected and stay informed on the current attitudes and values of public health students.

If I Could Change One Thing: Dr. Amanda Miller on Human First Global Health

In this episode of If I Could Change One Thing, Dr. Brittnie Bloom and co-host Grana Safi speak with Dr. Amanda Miller, a tenure-track professor at San Diego State University and recipient of a prestigious NIH career development award, to explore what it really means to do global health research with integrity and intention. Dr. Miller reflects on a career that didn't follow a straight path. From studying anthropology and nannying in San Francisco to earning her doctorate and leading community based research in Uganda and South Africa, Dr. Miller makes a compelling case that the "messy" parts of our journeys are often some of the most formative experiences. She breaks down the critical intersection of mental health, substance use, and infectious disease prevention by sharing details of some of her groundbreaking work to reduce perinatal alcohol use and better support expectant fathers living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. The conversation also turns to the current challenges facing global health funding and why building equitable, locally led partnerships has never felt more urgent.

If I Could Change One Thing: Cara Mears and Ending Homelessness One Name at a Time

In this episode of If I Could Change One Thing, Dr. Brittnie Bloom and podcast team member Alexis Greenfield sit down with Cara Mears, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations at the San Diego Rescue Mission (SDRM), to explore innovative and compassionate approaches to addressing homelessness. Cara shares her powerful career journey, from decades in sales to answering a personal calling sparked by a life-changing encounter with a man experiencing homelessness. She explains the SDRM's holistic model, which prioritizes rehabilitation, mental health, sobriety, job training, and community connection, resulting in an 85% long-term success rate for graduates of their residential program. Throughout the conversation, Cara challenges stigma, reframes common misconceptions about homelessness, and reminds listeners that sustainable change happens when communities come together with time, talent, and heart. To learn more about the San Diego Rescue Mission, please check out their website here: https://www.sdrescue.org/

If I Could Change One Thing: Robert Browning and Sheva Carr on The Heart of Healing

If I Could Change One Thing host Dr. Brittnie Bloom and co-host Lesley Lopez welcome Robert Browning and Sheva Carr to the podcast for a conversation on heart intelligence, healing, and human caring. As Co-Directors of Healthcare and Senior Master Trainers at HeartMath, Robert and Sheva bring more than three decades of experience working in healthcare, education, public policy, and global peacebuilding. Their work spans major health systems including Kaiser Permanente, Stanford, and the VA, as well as global initiatives with the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Together, they explore how heart-based practices can strengthen resilience, prevent burnout, support trauma-sensitive care, and cultivate sustainable leadership in times of crisis and change. From healthcare systems to global policy reform, they share how cultivating physiological coherence and heart-centered awareness can transform individual well-being as well as institutions and communities. This conversation covers how emotional regulation, hope, and leadership can reshape healthcare, mental health, and public health systems. Whether you're a student, clinician, policymaker, or even someone who is just seeking steadiness in uncertain times, this episode offers practical tools and insight into caring for ourselves while caring for others. To access resources mentioned in this episode check out the following websites: https://www.heartmath.com/ https://www.heartmath.org/ heartambassadors.com https://www.fyera.org/team/ La presentadora de "If I Could Change One Thing", la Dra. Brittnie Bloom, y la co-presentadora Lesley Lopez, dan la bienvenida a Robert Browning y Sheva Carr al podcast para conversar sobre la inteligencia cardíaca, la sanación y el cuidado humano. Como Co-Directores de Atención Médica e Instructores Principales en HeartMath, Robert y Sheva aportan décadas de experiencia trabajando en la intersección de la atención médica, la educación y la consolidación de la paz global, desde sistemas hospitalarios como Kaiser Permanente, Stanford y el Departamento de Asuntos de Veteranos (VA), hasta iniciativas internacionales en las Naciones Unidas. Juntos, comparten cómo las prácticas basadas en el corazón pueden fomentar la resiliencia, la atención sensible al trauma y el liderazgo sostenible en momentos de agotamiento y cambio. Exploramos cómo cuidarnos a nosotros mismos mientras cuidamos a los demás, y cómo cultivar la coherencia interna puede generar relaciones y comunidades más saludables. Escuche el episodio de esta semana para una conversación profunda que vincula la ciencia con el poder transformador del corazón.