How do global public health leaders stop the spread of bloodborne viruses? In this episode of the Inspired To Heal podcast, host Dr. William Trick sits down with Dr. Yvan Hutin from the World Health Organization (WHO) to expose how unsafe injection practices—like reusing syringes and sharing contaminated medication vials—drive global Hepatitis B and C transmission. Discover how a strategic public health campaign to improve injection safety developed through insights from the WHO and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) improved the safety of healthcare, preventing transmission of hepatitis and HIV, and hear about Dr. Hutin's impact evaluation of hepatitis B immunization to prevent cirrhosis and cancer for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) in China.

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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Pauline "Polly" Thomas, who began her career with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in New York City in 1981—the exact year the HIV/AIDS crisis first surfaced in public health reports.

As one of the world's first medical field investigators, Dr. Thomas worked on the front lines to identify how the virus spread. Her evaluations were instrumental in proving that HIV was transmitted via blood and body fluids rather than casual contact. She was in the field for critical early investigations identifying transmission by intravenous (IV) drug use, heterosexual contact, mother-to-infant transmission, and blood transfusions. She also evaluated a possible link to alkyl nitrites ("poppers") and the controversial classification of Haitian nationality as a risk factor.

Most importantly, Dr. Thomas's persistent research proved that HIV could not be transmitted through casual contact, a discovery that fundamentally protected human rights and combated global stigma.

While the world has seen tremendous progress in HIV prevention and treatment, these life-saving advancements now face threats, from underutilized pre-exposure prophylaxis to the withdrawal from the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the program launched by President George W. Bush in 2003 that has saved millions of lives worldwide.

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Dr. Steven Aks led the Toxicology Division and served as a physician in the legendary Emergency Department at Cook County Hospital—the real-life Pitt. As the frontline expert for life-threatening poisonings, he managed fentanyl overdoses, rat poison laced synthetic cannabinoids, and accidental ingestion of puffer-fish (Fugu). Human curiosity, thrill-seeking, and desperation continually fueled new threats, many of which uncovered larger outbreaks solved through investigations by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Illinois Department of Health.

Additional guest information & links to podcast platforms are available at www.inspiredtoheal.net. Please like and follow us on your favorite platform.

Contact us with feedback and suggestions through the website.