In this episode, we explore environmental public health with Dr. Abrania Marrero, a clinical assistant professor, and Master’s student Chloe Dourmashkin. Both guests were drawn to NYU GPH for its interdisciplinary approach and its location in New York City, which offers access to major health organizations and diverse urban ecosystems. Dr. Marrero discusses her research on climate change and nutrition in small island states, specifically the Caribbean. She explains how the "nutrition transition"—a shift toward ultra-processed foods—interacts with climate volatility to impact cardiometabolic health. Chloe shares her path from anthropology to public health, a move inspired by meeting the whistleblower from the Flint, Michigan water crisis. The conversation highlights the teaching excellence at GPH, where students move beyond lectures to build in-demand professional skills. Chloe describes a course project using an "air quality calculator" to translate particulate matter data into the number of cigarettes a person effectively smokes, while Dr. Marrero emphasizes the importance of building conceptual frameworks to visualize complex health problems. By utilizing the diversity of backgrounds within the classroom, GPH prepares students to become effective science communicators who can advocate for policy changes and lead in a rapidly changing global environment.
