University Of Iowa College Of Public Health

This week on Plugged In to Public Health, Raj and Faith sit down with renowned biostatistician and public health researcher Bhramar Mukherjee following her Hansen Distinguished Lecture at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. Dr. Mukherjee shares her journey from studying mathematics in India to becoming a leading voice in biostatistics, epidemiology, and public communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, they explore the “four quadrants” that shaped her lecture and career: ethics, community engagement, communication, and capacity building. The conversation dives into some of the biggest questions facing public health today: -What responsibilities do statisticians have beyond the numbers? -How do we communicate uncertainty to the public? -What happens when politics shapes data collection? -How should researchers think about AI, privacy, and the future of education? -And why might friction, tension, and even mistakes be essential for growth and creativity? Dr. Mukherjee also reflects o