01/26/2024

Friends of Franz Podcast S3 E8: Cease and Disease with Dr. Katrine Wallace (Epidemiologist Kat)

Disease. Sickness. Malady. These are words that can truly send a chill down the spine as they bring us to the reality of the fragility of life and our proximity to the brink of death. Greek physician Hippocrates, known as the "father of medicine" from the 4th century BC, was the first known person to investigate the reasoning behind disease and its relationship with environmental factors. What exactly is a disease? Is there a common denominator of why they happen? Is there a way to evade sickness and possibly attain everlasting life? In this episode, we investigate the science and nature of sickness with a disease scientist, specifically in light of the current novel coronavirus pandemic.

We are joined today by Dr. Katrine Wallace, also known as Epidemiologist Kat, a scientist with expertise in epidemiology, research methodology, biostatistics, and science communication. She currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and also been Certified in Public Health by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. During the commencement of the 2019 pandemic, she provided public education and health misinformation debunking online, tackling the novel coronavirus, contagion data, and masking and immunization efforts.