How can we capture complex social phenomena impacting health in research? Dr. Maria Glymour, Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health, has focused her research on the social factors influencing dementia and cognitive function in old age.

Salma and Maria analyze the dementia research landscape and discuss the key elements of the research process to capture complex social phenomena affecting health outcomes. From asking the right questions, to identifying appropriate methods and data, thinking about who the evidence will be useful for, and understanding the potential influences of funders, the conversation explores how research can help change policies. Maria breaks down the differences between causal inference, descriptive research, and associational research, using examples from her own work. She illustrates how these methodological distinctions depend on the questions that want to be answered and the intended audience.

Given it’s doctoral application season, Maria also reflects on some of the main questions for applicants to ask themselves and emphasizes the need for applicants to highlight the specific passions that make their applications unique. As she puts it: “How much of your essay do you think anyone else could write?”

Listen to discover how you can apply these principles to your own work and make a meaningful impact in health scholarship, regardless of the step you are at in your career.

Useful resources

• Berkman, Lisa F., Ichiro Kawachi, and M. Maria Glymour (eds), Social Epidemiology, 2 edn (New York, 2014; online edn, Oxford Academic, 1 Mar. 2015), https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780195377903.001.0001.
• Glymour, M. What to look for in an epidemiology PhD program: 1. top priorities. Published October 12, 2017. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-look-epidemiology-phd-program-1-top-priorities-maria-glymour/?trackingId=WDv%2BbYDyTDq3ln%2BF%2FJF32Q%3D%3D
• Glymour, M. What to look for in an epidemiology PhD program: 2. Epi in a Medical School or a School of Public Health? Published October 20, 2017. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-look-epidemiology-phd-program-2-epi-medical-school-maria-glymour/?trackingId=NgnbKtTMTwqcjl2T5fg03A%3D%3D
• Glymour, M. What to look for in a PhD program: 3. Will an interdisciplinary program make you an intellectual leader or an isolated dilettante? Published November 11, 2017. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-look-phd-program-3-pros-cons-interdisciplinary-programs-glymour/?trackingId=NgnbKtTMTwqcjl2T5fg03A%3D%3D
• Glymour, M. Epidemiology and why I love it: some advice for people considering graduate school. Published August 5, 2018. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/epidemiology-why-i-love-some-advice-people-graduate-school-glymour/?trackingId=NgnbKtTMTwqcjl2T5fg03A%3D%3D
• Glymour, M. Public Health Graduate Programs: What To Look For. Published October 9, 2023. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/public-health-graduate-programs-what-look-maria-glymour/?trackingId=NgnbKtTMTwqcjl2T5fg03A%3D%3D

Host: Dr. Salma Abdalla Editors: Catalina Melendez Contreras and Zachary Linhares Marketing: Kinkini Bhaduri Music: Eden Avery / Melting Glass from Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/2fqOXWpHab/

In this deeply challenging moment for global health and international relations, how do we navigate the public health challenges that transcend borders? Dr. Anders Nördstrom, program director of the Health Diplomacy Initiative at the Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm School of Economics has unique experience in working at the intersection of health, politics, economics, and international relations. He was the Interim Executive Director for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, acting Director of the World Health Organization, first ambassador for global health for Sweden, and head of the Secretariat for the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.

Salma and Anders discuss health diplomacy and global health leadership, highlighting the need for partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration. They explore the current global landscape and reflect on the progress that has been made since the establishment of the Millennium Development Goals. Progress has been made, though not at the pace we had hoped for. The conversation also explores three critical priorities: policies that promote healthier rather than solely longer lives, approaches that deliver co-benefits for climate and health, and the evolution needed in multilateral organizations across the global health landscape.

This episode invites listeners to think like a global health diplomat, examining why optimism is justified despite current challenges and what opportunities exist in moments of crisis. In this moment of change, what role could you play in building the health partnerships your community needs for future challenges?

Useful resources

Health Diplomacy Initiative: https://globalhealthdiplomacy.se

The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response: https://theindependentpanel.org/

Wong BLH, Nordström A, Piot P, Clark H; Global Health Diplomacy Partners. From polycrisis to metacrisis: harnessing windows of opportunity for renewed political leadership in global health diplomacy. BMJ Glob Health. 2024 Apr 18;9(4):e015340. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015340. PMID: 38637121; PMCID: PMC11029238.

Host: Dr. Salma Abdalla Editors: Catalina Melendez Contreras and Zachary Linhares Marketing: Kinkini Bhaduri Music: Eden Avery / Melting Glass from Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/2fqOXWpHab/

How do powerful industries shape what we believe about health risks—and what we don't? Dr. Nason Maani, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Inequalities and Global Health Policy at the University of Edinburgh, has spent years uncovering how commercial interests influence public health understanding.

Salma and Nason tackle the commercial determinants of health framework, moving beyond the typical focus on individual choices to examine the systems that shape those choices. They dig into Nason's "Manufacturing Doubt" paper, which investigated how industries weaponize uncertainty against public health evidence—using “alternative causation” arguments. The conversation explores the methodological challenges of researching corporate actors and the need to translate evidence about commercial influence into effective policy action.

This episode challenges listeners to consider whether our focus on individual behavior change might be missing the bigger picture of who benefits from keeping populations unhealthy. How have you seen commercial interests shape health discussions in your field?

Useful resources

• Maani N, Van Schalkwyk MCI, Filippidis FT, Knai C, Petticrew M. Manufacturing doubt: Assessing the effects of independent vs industry-sponsored messaging about the harms of fossil fuels, smoking, alcohol, and sugar sweetened beverages. SSM - Population Health. 2022;17:101009. doi:1016/j.ssmph.2021.101009
• Maani N, Petticrew M, Galea S, eds. The Commercial Determinants of Health. Oxford University Press; 2022. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-commercial-determinants-of-health-9780197578759?cc=us&lang=en&
• Money, Power, Health with Nason Maani (podcast):
  • https://anchor.fm/s/b50fce1c/podcast/rss
  • https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/money-power-health-with-nason-maani/id1667592518
  • https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Aa2qRUtfM0eVUYNxF6Bvf

Host: Dr. Salma Abdalla Editors: Catalina Melendez Contreras and Zachary Linhares Music: Eden Avery / Melting Glass from Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/2fqOXWpHab/