A conversation with Dr. David Fakunle who uses the art of storytelling to promote public health by listening, understanding, and addressing the personal, social, and structural factors that contribute to health disparities. He powerfully combines science with art and is transforming discussions about the role of storytelling in healing. Dr. Fakunle shares his personal story of growing up in a family deeply rooted in the arts, especially music and storytelling. His childhood was marked by significant cultural influences, such as his experiences at the Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore and his memorable encounter with renowned griot, Mary Carter Smith who with 2019 National Heritage Fellow Linda Goss co-founded the Association of Black Storytellers. Dr. Fakunle took these influences to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where he realized the deeper implications about the potential of storytelling in the realm of public health. Fakunle's innovative ideas were supported by the faculty, and upon graduation, he began teaching storytelling in the Mental Health Department at Hopkins, emphasizing the importance of effectively communicating scientific research through engaging narratives. Fakunle argues that the profound benefits of storytelling in health communication come from its ability to resonate with audiences but more importantly, authentic narratives and voices need to be central in discussions about health challenges

Dr. Fakunle also discusses his many years of work at WombWork Productions (where he is now executive director). WombWork is a social change performing arts company. Under his leadership, the company shifted its focus from implicit to explicit public health impact, tackling a range of serious topics such as HIV, gang violence, and child sexual abuse through art. Dr. Fakunle’s passionate belief that the creative process serves as a crucial part of the healing process is the thread that moves through all his work.

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