Welcome to A Shot In The Arm Podcast, where we take a deep dive into the heart of global health. Since our launch in 2019, we've released over 150 episodes that illuminate the intersection of innovation and equity in healthcare. Join me, your host Ben Plumley—a global infectious disease strategist and passionate HIV advocate, along with our expert team of co-hosts, as we engage in compelling, character-driven conversations with a diverse array of guests from around the world. Together, we explore the intricate connections between everyday lives and biomedical research, tackling pressing issues like pandemic preparedness, climate disruption, and the impact of conflict. Tune in as we uncover the stories and insights that shape our collective health narrative, making complex topics both entertaining and accessible. Let's embark on this journey to improve lives, one episode at a time!
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Welcome to A Shot In The Arm Podcast, where we take a deep dive into the heart of global health. Since our launch in 2019, we've released over 150 episodes that illuminate the intersection of innovation and equity in healthcare. Join me, your host Ben Plumley—a global infectious disease strategist and passionate HIV advocate, along with our expert team of co-hosts, as we engage in compelling, character-driven conversations with a diverse array of guests from around the world. Together, we explore the intricate connections between everyday lives and biomedical research, tackling pressing issues like pandemic preparedness, climate disruption, and the impact of conflict. Tune in as we uncover the stories and insights that shape our collective health narrative, making complex topics both entertaining and accessible. Let's embark on this journey to improve lives, one episode at a time!
To End a Plague… Again: A Conversation with Emily Bass
A Shot in the Arm Podcast
1 hour 13 minutes
3 months ago
To End a Plague… Again: A Conversation with Emily Bass
In this episode of A Shot in the Arm Podcast, host Ben Plumley engages in a comprehensive discussion with journalist and author Emily Bass about the current state of global health, specifically focusing on HIV/AIDS. Recorded in sunny Sacramento, they reflect on the extraordinary events of the past few months and assess the alignment of innovation and equity in global health. Their conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the importance of community-based care and accountability, the evolving role of international NGOs, and the critical nature of differentiated service delivery in HIV treatment. They also discuss the geopolitical uncertainties affecting global health funding and the influence of recent political changes in the US on the future of the global HIV response. They touch upon the significant role of entities like PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and UNAIDS, and the necessity for national contributions and regional procurement in sustaining HIV programs. Emily emphasizes the need to preserve community-based accountability and the value of innovative, country-led solutions for delivering healthcare. They conclude with a commitment to delve deeper into HIV prevention in a future episode, recognizing the ongoing challenges and opportunities in achieving global HIV/AIDS objectives.
Emily’s book:
To End a Plague: America's Fight to Defeat AIDS in Africa
https://www.amazon.com/End-Plague-Americas-Defeat-Africa/dp/1541762436
Emily’s recent essay in the New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/opinion/pepfar-hiv-foreign-aid.html
Emily’s Substack:
https://substack.com/@emilysbass
Ben’s Substack:
https://substack.com/@benplumley1
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome
00:36 Guest Introduction: Emily's Expertise
02:26 Global Health Check-In
03:11 Humanitarian Crises and HIV
05:00 Impact of Global Health Policies
06:44 HIV Treatment Challenges
08:57 Sustainability and Ownership in HIV Response
12:47 Global Health Architecture and Funding
16:33 The Role of PEPFAR and Global Fund
22:25 Future of Global Health Initiatives
38:25 Global Fund's Role in Procurement and National Contributions
40:33 US Congress and Global Health Budget
42:15 Innovation in Global AIDS Response
49:30 The Importance of Differentiated Service Delivery
01:00:58 Community Accountability in Public Health
01:09:38 Challenges and Future of HIV Prevention
Join the Conversation!
How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health discussions: www.youtube.com/@shotarmpodcast
A Shot in the Arm Podcast
Welcome to A Shot In The Arm Podcast, where we take a deep dive into the heart of global health. Since our launch in 2019, we've released over 150 episodes that illuminate the intersection of innovation and equity in healthcare. Join me, your host Ben Plumley—a global infectious disease strategist and passionate HIV advocate, along with our expert team of co-hosts, as we engage in compelling, character-driven conversations with a diverse array of guests from around the world. Together, we explore the intricate connections between everyday lives and biomedical research, tackling pressing issues like pandemic preparedness, climate disruption, and the impact of conflict. Tune in as we uncover the stories and insights that shape our collective health narrative, making complex topics both entertaining and accessible. Let's embark on this journey to improve lives, one episode at a time!
