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Scientista
The Scientista Podcast spotlights women (and allies!) reshaping business, politics, and culture.
Hosted by behavioral scientist Dr. Sweta Chakraborty and former Assistant Secretary of State Monica Medina, this show brings you candid conversations with changemakers and thought leaders from around the world.
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Scientista
Ashish Jha: What Happens When Women Are Left Out of Public Health
Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the Brown School of Public Health and former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, joins the Scientista Podcast to talk about what happens when women are left out of health research and policymaking—and why fixing that gap is critical for everyone’s well-being. From pandemic lessons to the future of public health, Dr. Jha shares candid insights on science, leadership, and how to build a system that works for all.
Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world
Dr. Ashish Jha has spent his career thinking about the health of nations. As White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, he guided the U.S. through one of the most complex public health crises in modern history. Now, as Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, he’s still focused on keeping people safe but with a deeper understanding of whose voices often get left behind.
On this episode of the Scientista Podcast, Dr. Jha joins us to reflect on how his experiences as a physician, policymaker, and immigrant have shaped his views on leadership and equity. And why ensuring women are at the table is not just the right thing to do, but essential for better health outcomes.
“If women aren’t part of the conversation, we miss critical solutions,” Dr. Jha tells us. “We’ve seen it again and again. Whether it’s in research design, policymaking, or understanding the real-world impact of health decisions, women bring perspectives that change the game.”
That absence, he warns, has real consequences. From the historical exclusion of women in clinical trials to the persistent gaps in mental health care for girls and women, structural barriers continue to limit both opportunity and impact. But Dr. Jha remains hopeful that change is possible.
At Brown, he has worked to increase the representation of women in senior leadership and foster an environment where health research reflects the needs of diverse communities. He believes other institutions must follow suit and that public health itself depends on it.
We also talk about the state of public health funding, the opioid crisis, and how to rebuild trust in science at a time when misinformation is rampant. But at the heart of the conversation is a simple message. If we want a healthier, more resilient society, women must be at the center of that work.
🎧 Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts, and discover more stories of women leading with science at scientista.world.
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