Causes or Cures
"For the Nerds and the Nerd Nots"
Causes or Cures is a public health podcast hosted by Dr. Eeks (ErinKate Stair, MD, MPH). It's an independent, offbeat, grassroots show driven by curiosity and a passion for breaking down complex health topics into bite sized, easy to understand insights. There are no institutional affiliations.
Dr. Eeks is a public health professional specializing in applied epidemiology and health communication. She works on complex and timely national public health issues and is all about making the science relatable...often using a blue collar (probably irreverant) sense of humor to drive the message home.
She interviews experts from around the world—including physicians, researchers, public health professionals, authors, clinicians, and other fascinating guests—to make complex science understandable for the nerds and the nerd-nots.
The show also features recurring segments like Public Health is Weird, uncovering strange but true stories from public health history; WTF Health News, where Dr. Eeks breaks down bizarre or buzzworthy health headlines; and Eeks Speakeasy, a more personal space for thoughtful conversations about life, health, and whatever else deserves a drink and a discussion.
DISCLAIMER: Some topics are more controversial than others, so keep in mind that this is information only and not health advice. If you are battling an individual health issue, always check in with your doctor & don't run with anything on podcast as advice. Dr. Eeks doesn't endorse any of her guests' views, and despite a strict health routine, nor does she endorse any products, supplements, oils, magic socks or potions. (If an episode is sponsored or underwritten by a company she thinks is cool, she will say so in the show notes.) While she has a MD, she does not practice medicine (she's a full-time public health nerd), so she does not give out medical advice nor should you treat anything on this podcast as medical advice.
Causes or Cures is not a "news site." It's about having down-to-earth conversations, and Dr. Eeks is confident that she can have a respectful conversation with anyone, even people who think far differently than she does. At least that's been her experience at hole-in-the-walls & on sidewalks across the world.
The point is to not take anything here as Gospel.
Sometimes Dr. Eeks' dog Barnaby makes his opinion known, but the good news is that he's a smart dog.
Most importantly, she hopes this podcast encourages folks to stay curious, empathic, hopeful, compassionate, honest, open-minded, and engaged. Freedom of discussion is a beautiful thing, delightfully messy, and one that many take for granted.
*The views on this podcast do not reflect the views of anyone she contracts with or consults for on various public health projects.
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***Want to work together or share a thought? You can contact Dr. Eeks through her website, bloomingwellness.com.
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Causes or Cures
A mRNA vaccine for Lyme Disease is in the Works: With Dr. Erol Fikrig
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We have heard a lot about mRNA vaccines in relation to COVID-19, but researchers are studying the technology to see if it can be used to make vaccines for other diseases. Lyme Disease is one of the most prevalent vector-borne diseases in the US that can have both short-term and long-term consequences, like chronic fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, arthritis, kidney dysfunction, constant muscle pains and more.
In this episode Dr. Erol Fikrig, an infectious disease expert and professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Medicine who runs a lab studying vector-borne diseases, explains his preclinical research on an mRNA vaccine for Lyme Disease. He explains what is in the vaccine; how it works (differently than ANY other vaccine out there), results from his research conducted in animals, current studies and whether or not he sees this as something that might come to humans.
You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
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