Our guest on Episode 009 is Dr. Rajeev Ramchand. He joins Emily and Jason - after a decade lapse in contact - to help us understand the COVID-19 pandemic better using an epidemiological lens and to educate others about where we are and where we are going. Their conversation covers the basics of epidemiology, the data we have and how to make it better, historical comparisons, and what most concerns him moving forward - namely this is only a “trial run” pandemic and we need to shore up our public health infrastructure and personal communities to deal with the next ones. While he has a fairly different background than our previous guests, his passion of serving others with research and building stronger more inclusive communities, makes him a true Glorious Professional.

Dr. Ramchand holds a PhD in Psychiatric Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins, and studies mental health particularly in active military and veteran communities. He’s currently a fellow at the Bob Woodruff Foundation. With his “big brain” resume, he is finding fulfillment not only strengthening ties to his own communities but also using his deep knowledge combined with a love of performance to educate others through a series of YouTube Videos about epidemiology.

Links:

Dr Ramchand’s Epi Videos
Dr Ramchand’s COVID-19 and Veterans Paper
Johns Hopkins Map
COVID Tracking Project
Fivethirtyeight article on forecasting
Visual Guide of Pandemics Through History
“And the Band Played On” by Randy Shilts
New England Journal article of COVID-19 prevalence in pregnant women

009 - Dr. Rajeev Ramchand, Epidemiologist