Scientific discovery doesn’t begin in the lab; it begins with people. Who sees themselves as a scientist, who feels prepared to pursue and sustain a career in STEM, and how communities engage with and trust science all shape the future of health care.

In this episode, host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, speaks with Melissa McCartney, PhD, and Jennifer Surtees, PhD, about how education, identity and community engagement influence the scientific workforce and its connection to society.

Dr. McCartney, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology, studies how students develop scientific identity and career readiness — and why belonging, confidence, and skill development are critical to who enters and remains in STEM fields. Dr. Surtees, professor and chair of biochemistry and associate dean for undergraduate education and STEM outreach, leads innovative efforts to bring authentic, inquiry‑based science into classrooms and communities through initiatives such as UB’s Genome, Environment and Microbiome (GEM) Community of Excellence.

Together, they explore how early experiences shape whether students see a place for themselves in science, why hands‑on and community-connected learning is essential, and how educators can better align training with the realities of today’s scientific careers. The conversation also highlights how community-engaged research can strengthen public understanding of — and trust in — science, particularly when it reflects the health and environmental concerns of local populations.

Through their work, Drs. McCartney and Surtees are helping to build a more inclusive, prepared, and community-connected scientific workforce, one that is essential to advancing health care innovation and equity in Western New York and beyond.

Out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States. More than 350,000 Americans experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital each year, yet survival remains near 10 percent, despite strong evidence that immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival.

Western New York reflects these national trends, with significant disparities in CPR access and training across communities. But through sustained, community‑driven outreach, the region is emerging as a model for improving cardiac emergency readiness, particularly in historically underserved neighborhoods where the need is greatest.

In this episode, host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, speaks with Leslie J. Bisson, MD, and Karen Bisson, BSN, a dedicated CPR/AED outreach program coordinator at UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, about their leadership in advancing community CPR readiness across Western New York. The conversation explores how grassroots education, lived experience, and public engagement can strengthen the fabric of community health—and why CPR literacy is one of the most powerful, achievable public health interventions today.

Dr. Bisson and Karen are founders and lead instructors of UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine’s CPR/AED Outreach Program, through which they have delivered more than 300 Hands‑Only CPR and AED training sessions and empowered more than 32,000 Western New Yorkers. Their work emphasizes equitable access to lifesaving skills in neighborhoods where bystander CPR rates have historically been lowest. In recognition of their impact, the Bissons received the 2024 Partnership of the Year Award from Buffalo Black Nurses, Inc.

The discussion also reflects on how nationally visible events, such as the 2023 cardiac emergency involving Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, have renewed urgency and momentum around CPR education in Western New York and beyond.

The addiction crisis continues to evolve rapidly The drug supply is growing increasingly unpredictable, with potent synthetic opioids and adulterants like xylazine and medetomidine contributing to overdose risk across populations.

Western New York remains profoundly affected. Erie County reported nearly 400 overdose deaths in 2023, making it the deadliest year on record, with nearly one person dying every day. While deaths began declining through 2024 and into 2025, nonfatal overdoses remain steady — and likely underreported — showing that risk remains high even amid slight improvements.

In this episode, host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA welcomes two experts in addiction and emergency medicine to discuss how emergency medicine–led innovations — including Emergency Department-initiated treatment, medication-assisted treatment pathways, and the MATTERS network — are reshaping access to care at a moment when both national trends and local realities demand urgent, coordinated response.

Joshua J. Lynch, DO, is a nationally recognized leader in emergency department-initiated medication-assisted treatment, he founded the MATTERS network in 2016, which links patients from emergency departments, jails, and community organizations to rapid-access treatment across New York State, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Brian Clemency, DO, professor of emergency medicine, is an authority in EMS and prehospital care. He has helped modernize overdose response protocols at a time when synthetic opioid potency and polysubstance involvement continue to intensify nationally and in Western New York.