As a longtime sargent college faculty member, Karen Jacobs is immersed in the groundbreaking research and clinical work of the school’s faculty, staff, and students. But the clinical professor of occupational therapy wanted to bring that work to a broader public audience, so she launched a podcast—and she’s not the only Sargent professor doing so.
Jacobs, the college’s associate dean for digital learning and innovation, created HealthMatters@BUSargent, a 20-minute podcast that provides a window into the college’s interdisciplinary research and clinical expertise.
“It’s about everybody’s work and for listeners to really understand what our college is like,” Jacobs says. In addition to groundbreaking research in the fields of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, language, and hearing sciences, global health, neuroscience, and nutrition, Sargent is a hub for research on health outcome disparities related to factors such as gender, race, wealth, and zip code, as well as the chronic challenges that come with aging and child development.
The podcast’s themes range widely. The inaugural episode featured a conversation about the origins of dyslexia and the role of evolution in brain development. For a June episode, three occupational therapy students discussed dismantling institutional racism.
Jacobs plans on broadening the scope of the podcast, using it as a catalyst to foster collaboration between Sargent and other colleges on campus.
Preceding Jacobs into the podcast studio was another Sargent professor hoping to make a difference—clinical professor of nutrition Joan Salge Blake. Each year, Salge Blake says her students have more questions than ever about topics not covered in the textbook. That’s why she launched her podcast, Spot On!, in January 2019 and began its fourth season in September.
Salge Blake focuses on health and wellness stories in headlines and students’ social media feeds, offering research-based health information that helps listeners separate fact from the fiction that bombards them online. She encourages students to think critically—and reminds them that a keto diet cookie can’t replace the joy of meals with friends or foods that remind them of home.
“Do you really want to get your health and wellness information from ‘Dr. Kardashian’?” she asks.
HealthMatters@BUSargent and Spot On! are available on multiple podcast platforms. Visit anchor.fm/healthmatters and anchor.fm/spoton for more information.