The Necessity of Friction: Dr. Bhramar Mukherjee on Courage, Data, and Public Health

This week on Plugged In to Public Health, Raj and Faith sit down with renowned biostatistician and public health researcher Bhramar Mukherjee following her Hansen Distinguished Lecture at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. Dr. Mukherjee shares her journey from studying mathematics in India to becoming a leading voice in biostatistics, epidemiology, and public communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, they explore the “four quadrants” that shaped her lecture and career: ethics, community engagement, communication, and capacity building. The conversation dives into some of the biggest questions facing public health today: -What responsibilities do statisticians have beyond the numbers? -How do we communicate uncertainty to the public? -What happens when politics shapes data collection? -How should researchers think about AI, privacy, and the future of education? -And why might friction, tension, and even mistakes be essential for growth and creativity? Dr. Mukherjee also reflects on the courage required to communicate science publicly during moments of crisis, the importance of community trust in research, and why foundational skills matter more than chasing every new technological trend. This episode is thoughtful, timely, and deeply relevant for anyone interested in science, leadership, ethics, education, or the future of public health. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-dr-bhramar-mukherjee-on-courage-data-and-public-health/ Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected] You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthcare #data #statistician #biostatistician #artificialintelligence #healtheducation #research #HansenDistinguishedLecture #iowacity