In this episode Nick interviews Rebecca Scranton, the Deputy Bureau Chief for the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Services at the Arizona Department of Health Services. Rebecca discusses her multifaceted role in managing infectious disease outbreaks, particularly syphilis and HIV, and the importance of collaboration with local health departments and tribal communities. She emphasises the need for effective communication, community engagement, and innovative testing strategies to combat rising infection rates.

Key takeaways:

• There is no typical day in public health management.
• Outbreak response requires long-term data analysis.
• Community awareness is critical for effective control measures.
• Collaboration with local health departments is essential.
• Tribal communities present unique challenges and opportunities.
• Testing access is a major barrier to outbreak control.
• Syndemic approaches can improve service delivery.
• Building relationships takes time and patience.
• Public health work is rewarding despite its challenges.
• Future efforts should focus on expanding testing in emergency and correctional settings.

The Stiix and Stones podcast brings together voices of people from across the globe who are changing the face of sexual health for the better. Find us on Twitter @stiix_sti

This podcast is hosted by Nick Malhomme, head of the STI International Exchange - or STIIX, sponsored by OraSure and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Dr. Patricia Kissinger is an infectious disease epidemiologist. She has worked both nationally and internationally for more than three decades in the field of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, and women’s reproductive health in Africa, Haiti, and the US.

She has been the PI on dozens of National Institute of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other federally funded research grants and has published over 160 manuscripts and numerous book chapters. Dr. Kissinger focuses on the dynamics of STI/HIV transmission, particularly among vulnerable populations, examining issues of HIV/STI partner notification, expedited partner treatment, sexual networks, substance abuse, pregnancy prevention, and repeat STIs. Dr. Kissinger is also on the editorial board of the Journal Sex Trans Dis, is a frequent reviewer for NIH, and an expert consultant for CDC.

The Stiix and Stones podcast brings together voices of people from across the globe who are changing the face of sexual health for the better. Find us on Twitter @stiix_sti

This podcast is hosted by Nick Malhomme, head of the STI International Exchange - or STIIX, sponsored by OraSure and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Professor Ali Shan Khan is a medical epidemiologist and Dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York and trained as a doctor in the US before joining the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 25 years with a focus on emerging infectious diseases. He worked on outbreaks all over the world, including ebola and anthrax, before leading CDC’s policy around malaria and infectious diseases and health security. He then moved to Nebraska where he enjoys doing global work around emerging infections alongside passing his wisdom to the next generation of doctors. He has a passion for bringing public health and medicine closer together in the US and he explained how this also applies to sexual health, and the challenges faced in this field in the state of Nebraska.

The Stiix and Stones podcast brings together voices of people from across the globe who are changing the face of sexual health for the better. Find us on Twitter @stiix_sti

This podcast is hosted by Nick Malhomme, head of the STI International Exchange - or STIIX, sponsored by OraSure and produced by Bird Lime Media.