Health Snaps

In our final episode of the season, Professor Dara  Ford explains the growing attention around GLP-1 receptor agonists, how these medications work, and why they are reshaping conversations about diabetes, weight management, and public health.

Professor Anastasia Snelling  discusses how mentorship, hands-on learning, and real-world partnerships define the graduate experience in public health. She highlights how practice-based education equips students with the skills, confidence, and critical thinking needed to lead meaningful change in their communities.

Professor Dara Ford breaks down the purpose of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, explaining how they shape national nutrition policies and everyday food choices. She explores recent changes, controversies around the guidelines, and what evidence-based nutrition really tells us about building healthier diets

This episode explores how building meaningful partnerships with community organizations strengthens public health work. Professor Anastasia Snelling discusses why collaboration with local partners is essential for sustaining impactful programs and improving community health outcomes.

Professor Liana Petruzzi explores how community health workers and collaboration across healthcare teams improve maternal health outcomes, strengthen support systems, and help ensure healthier pregnancies and postpartum care for moms.

Professor Katie Holton  examines how nutrition can support veteran health, highlighting food-based strategies to improve physical, mental, and long-term well-being.

Professor Liana Petruzzi discusses postpartum mental health, highlighting the physical, emotional, and systemic supports new mothers need to recover, thrive, and stay healthy.

Professor Katie Holton  explains how nutrition supports brain health, revealing links between diet, cognition, and mental well-being through emerging nutritional neuroscience research.

Professor Gabriela Meltzer explores climate change as a threat multiplier intensifying health, equity, and policy challenges and explains why collective, cross-sector solutions are essential.

Professor Katie Holton explores nutritional neuroscience, how diet affects cognition and brain health, and the public health career paths connecting food, science, and population health.

Professor Melissa Hawkins discusses maternal health equity, pregnancy outcomes, and how public health systems and policy can better support mothers, babies, and families across communities.

Professor Jody Gan discusses American University's required Health Studies internship as a model of experiential learning that integrates academic preparation, professional partnerships, and applied practice to address complex public health challenges.

Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem solving that emphasizes empathy, experimentation, and collaboration. Professor Celeste Davis shares how design thinking at American University blends rigor, creativity, and ethics to prepare students for impact-driven careers. This episode highlights how design thinking equips public health students with practical, innovative skills combining evidence, empathy, and experimentation to design meaningful health solutions alongside communities.

Professor Caroline Kuo: In this episode of Health Snaps, we tackle sexual-assault prevention — a crucial public-health issue. Learn why early conversation about consent, respect, and boundaries matters — and how we can build safer communities together.Health Snaps⁠ is presented by the American University Department of Health Studies.

Professor Celeste Davis: The Public Health Scholars Program at American University offers cohort-based learning, personalized mentorship, accelerated or traditional tracks, and immersive hands-on experiences in the community that connect public health education directly to real-world practice.Health Snaps⁠ is presented by the American University Department of Health Studies.

Professor Gabriella Meltzer unpacks how climate change fuels extreme events, illness, and mental health strain, while offering clear, practical steps families can take to prepare, stay safe, and adapt to a warming world.Health Snaps is presented by the American University Department of Health Studies.

In this first episode of Health Snaps, discover how resilience transforms public health! Professor Caroline Kuo shares how focusing on strengths—not problems—empowers individuals and communities, shaping programs that build wellbeing and thrive in the face of adversity.Health Snaps is presented by the American University Department of Health Studies.