Join Eric Goosby and Ben Plumley as they delve into the latest global health news coming out of Washington DC, including funding cuts from the US government to key international health programs, whether the administration will abide by the continuing resolution passed by Congress to fund all global health programs approved by Congress for 2025, and the implications for the UN, Gavi and US academic institutions. They also try to make sense of the significant job cuts announced by the administration to the Department of Health and Human Services today , and the continuing outbreak of measles in the US. These are hectic – if not entirely productive – times in the world of global health. But is a Trump administration strategy emerging from the chaos of executive orders, termination notices and the firing of so many key staff?
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
01:04 US Government Funding for International Development
01:49 Impact of Funding Cuts on Health and Human Services
02:12 The Growing Measles Crisis
02:36 Debate on Continuing Resolution and Budget Cuts
09:18 Termination of Funding to Gavi
13:25 Public Health Strategy and Administration Tactics
40:58 The Role of Individual Rights in Public Health
47:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Join the Conversation
How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Subscribe & Stay Updated
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform
Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health discussions – www.youtube.com/@shotarmpodcast
March 28, 2025
Featuring articles on intensive blood-pressure control in patients with diabetes, IgG4-related disease, severe chronic rhinosinusitis, advanced breast cancer, and vaccinating against C. difficile infection; a review article on chronic cough in adults; a case report of a man with hepatocellular carcinoma; an editorial on order out of chaos; and Perspectives on health care bridges, on partnerships between pharmaceutical and telehealth companies, and on the definition of failure. Supplement to the New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 392, No. 12.
March 26, 2025
In this episode of A Shot in the Arm Podcast, hosts Yvette Raphael and Ben Plumley discuss the resilience of South Africa's healthcare system amidst U.S. aid cuts, particularly through USAID and PEPFAR. They highlight the devastating impacts on HIV treatment, TB care, and broader healthcare services due to the sudden cessation of funding. But the country is markedly more prepared than critics might have feared, to assume full responsibility for its infectious diseases strategies - including procurement and surveillance strategies that the US maintained control over in exchange for the aid. Their conversation extends to cover issues around mental health, future healthcare innovations like long-acting antiretrovirals, and the broader geopolitical implications of donor aid cuts.
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene
00:33 Impact of US Aid Cuts on South Africa
03:08 Healthcare Challenges and Government Response
07:04 The Role of Civil Society and Future Preparations
10:21 Consequences of Sudden Aid Withdrawal
14:17 Future of HIV Treatment and Advocacy
16:55 The Threat of Drug-Resistant TB
17:35 Government Investment in Healthcare
19:01 Mental Health Crisis Among Youth
19:41 Impact of USAID Funding Cuts
20:57 Soft Power and International Relations
22:37 South Africa's Self-Reliance
26:43 Addressing Racism and Emigration
32:42 Parting Thoughts and Optimism

Join the Conversation
How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Subscribe & Stay Updated

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform

Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health discussions - @shotarmpodcast
March 24, 2025
2022-03-18 Host Craig Lipset was joined by Irfan Khan (Circuit Clinical), Kelly McKee (Evinova), and Kerry Hicks (HW Investment Partners) for a conversation around the application of patient experience in clinical research, health ratings for providers, and more.You can join TGIF-DTRA Sessions live on LinkedIn Live on Friday's at 12:00 PM ET by checking out our LinkedIn. Follow the Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance (DTRA) on LinkedIn and X. Learn more about Membership options and our work at www.dtra.org.
March 21, 2025
Featuring articles on breast cancer, bloodstream infection, subarachnoid hemorrhage, scrub typhus, and birth-related mortality; a review article on the evaluation and treatment of infertility; a case report of a woman with altered mental status and acidemia; and Perspectives on advancing transgender health amid policy threats, on evidence-based work design, and on what an oncologist had wished she had done for a grieving father. Supplement to the New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 392, No. 11.
March 12, 2025
Hosted by
Ben Plumley & Professor Ambassador Eric Goosby
Episode Summary
In this episode of Global Health Diplomats, Ben Plumley and Eric Goosby take a hard look at the state of global health in the wake of major funding shifts and policy changes. With U.S. global health programs facing an uncertain future, can they be salvaged, or are we witnessing the dismantling of decades of progress?
Ben and Eric discuss:

The impact of U.S. policy changes on PEPFAR, USAID, and global health funding

The realities of restarting health programs amid political roadblocks

How countries are shifting towards self-sufficiency in health systems

Lessons learned from HIV programs pivoting to COVID-19 responses

The role of European and global players—can they fill the funding gap?

The future of long-acting HIV treatments and barriers to adoption

The ethics of global health governance—are programs being abandoned?

The human cost of these decisions on communities and health professionals
This episode is a must-listen for anyone engaged in global health, policy advocacy, and public health strategy.
Timestamps for Key Moments
00:00 - Welcome & opening remarks: Ben and Eric set the stage for a critical conversation
00:38 - Is global health dead? A frank discussion on where things stand
02:31 - U.S. policy shifts & the fallout for global health programs
07:12 - Can shuttered programs be restarted? The logistical and ethical challenges
13:52 - Global health self-sufficiency: Are countries ready to take control?
17:23 - Can Europe or others step up? The feasibility of alternative funding sources
22:19 - What national programs must prioritize to survive funding cuts
26:29 - Procurement & supply chain challenges—what's at risk?
27:52 - Surveillance & monitoring—a critical piece of the puzzle
29:34 - Long-acting HIV treatments—revolutionary but at risk
32:37 - The politics of health funding—will programs be forced to regress?
36:32 - Clinical guidelines vs. financial and political realities—who decides?
37:55 - Key populations at risk: Why marginalized communities may suffer the most
40:02 - Beyond government funding: Can faith-based organizations & business leaders help?
41:06 - The personal toll on health professionals: How this crisis is affecting those in the field
44:32 - Global solidarity under threat: How shifting geopolitics impact health
47:16 - What happens next? Ben and Eric’s final reflections on the way forward
Join the Conversation
How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Subscribe & Stay Updated
- Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform
- Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health discussions
Follow Us
YouTube: @shotarmpodcast
March 7, 2025
2022-03-11 Hosts Craig Lipset, Amir Kalali, and Jane Myles were joined by Stacy Hurt (Parexel) for an insightful discussion around the perspective of a patient on the DCT field.You can join TGIF-DTRA Sessions live on LinkedIn Live on Friday's at 12:00 PM ET by checking out our LinkedIn. Follow the Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance (DTRA) on LinkedIn and X. Learn more about Membership options and our work at www.dtra.org.
March 7, 2025
Featuring articles on bacterial vaginosis, diabetes prevention, Danon disease, chronic spontaneous urticaria, and VITT-like monoclonal gammopathy of thrombotic significance; a review article on micronutrients; a Clinical Problem-Solving on unveiling the unforeseen; and Perspectives on bankruptcy and genetic information, on drug development for rare diseases, on facing political attacks on medical education, and on sustaining equity efforts in the face of regression. Supplement to the New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 392, No. 10.
March 5, 2025
2025-02-28 We welcomed Mike Wenger (FullStack Trials) and Melissa Holbrook (Clinical Research Advisory Group LLC) for a discussion around the biggest challenges in clinical trial technology adoption. We dived into getting feedback from sites, finding new ways to navigate using AI, and moreYou can join TGIF-DTRA Sessions live on LinkedIn Live on Friday's at 12:00 PM ET by checking out our LinkedIn. Follow the Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance (DTRA) on LinkedIn and X. Learn more about Membership options and our work at www.dtra.org.
March 3, 2025
Featuring articles on H5N1 infection, chronic subdural hematoma, achondroplasia, and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia; a review article on carceral health care; a case report of a woman with weakness, back pain, and pancytopenia; and Perspectives on the changing approach to addiction, on the moral injury of inhaler prescribing, and on how one size fits … some. Supplement to the New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 392, No. 9.
February 26, 2025
Featuring articles on ventricular tachycardia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic kidney disease, kidney allografts, and a low-dose yellow fever vaccine; a review article on tubal ectopic pregnancy; a case report of a man with abdominal pain; and Perspectives on reducing the financial toxicity of rapidly approved drugs, on resilience, and on the death of an unlikable man. Supplement to the New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 392, No. 8.
February 19, 2025
Featuring articles on therapies in acute myocardial infarction and in neuroendocrine tumors, mpox in Africa, and T-cell lymphoma after CAR T-cell therapy; a review article on food and nutrition insecurity; a case report of a woman with headache and dysesthesia; and Perspectives on Marburg virus disease in Rwanda, on the rise of private equity in health care, and on medical aid in dying. Supplement to the New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 392, No. 7.
February 12, 2025
2025-02-07 Hosts Craig Lipset & Jane Myles took the stage to share their thoughts around the SCOPE Summit that was held earlier this week in Orlando, FL. They covered high level findings and thoughts on the environment for 2025 and a download on a few panels they were moderated by the DTRA team.You can join TGIF-DTRA Sessions live on LinkedIn Live on Friday's at 12:00 PM ET by checking out our LinkedIn. Follow the Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance (DTRA) on LinkedIn and X. Learn more about Membership options and our work at www.dtra.org.
February 10, 2025
Hosts: Ben Plumley, Yvette Raphael
Guest: Gregg Gonsalves
Recorded in: Tembisa Mall, Greater Johannesburg, South Africa & New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Welcome to the first A Shot in the Arm podcast of 2025! In this powerful episode, Ben Plumley is joined by co-host Yvette Raphael and Yale professor & activist Gregg Gonsalves to unpack critical global health and equity issues amidst the shifting political landscape.
From the unraveling of public health commitments to rising misinformation, we ask: Are we living in a coup yet? Our guests reflect on the past, draw lessons from the HIV/AIDS movement, and strategize about the road ahead in fighting for public health and human rights.
Key Topics:
[00:00] Welcome & Introductions
[00:50] The US’s commitment to global health: Is it unraveling?
[02:00] Yvette’s 50th birthday & 25 years of living with HIV
[04:00] Misinformation, stigma, and fear in HIV advocacy today
[06:45] The US’s attack on LGBTQ+ health and the implications for global funding
[10:30] RFK Jr. and the growing anti-science movement
[15:40] Is there a method to this madness? Or just chaos?
[22:15] Lessons from the HIV/AIDS movement: How activists fought back
[30:00] The collapse of USAID and its impact on African healthcare
[38:30] Mobilizing the private sector & faith-based organizations
[41:00] The power of digital activism: TikTok, Instagram & misinformation
[45:00] Protest & activism: What tactics work in 2025?
[50:00] Final thoughts: Solidarity, hope & making “beautiful trouble”
Takeaways:
The rollback of global health initiatives, including HIV/AIDS funding, could have devastating effects worldwide.
History has shown that activism works—we must organize, mobilize, and push back.
The fight for public health is interconnected with the fight for democracy and human rights.
Digital media and grassroots organizing will be key tools in countering misinformation and mobilizing support.
Now is the time for action, unity, and resistance.
Join the conversation:
What are your thoughts on the current state of public health?
Subscribe & share this episode to keep the movement strong!
Follow & Connect:
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@shotarmpodcast
Bluesky: @ashotinthearm.bsky.social @ben-plumleybsky.social
Instagram: @ashotinthearmpodcast
TikTok: @ashotinthearmpodcast
Links:
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@ledbydonkeys
Bluesky: @gregggonsalves.bsky.social
#GlobalHealth #PublicHealth #HIVAdvocacy #Activism #Podcast #AShotInTheArm #HealthEquity #HIV #LGBTQHealth #USAID #ScienceMatters
February 8, 2025
Featuring articles on IgA nephropathy, a treatment in children with obesity, NRG1 fusion–positive cancer, a case of a T-cell lymphoma, and the discovery of GLP-1–based drugs; a review article on hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a Clinical Problem-Solving on traveling companions; and Perspectives on cell and gene therapies, on gender-affirming care, and on the man who lives in the cardboard box. Supplement to the New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 392, No. 6.
February 5, 2025
2025-01-31 Hosts Jane Myles (DTRA) and Michelle Shogren (Innovate In What You Do!) were joined by Rebecca Kottschade (Mayo Clinic) and Caroline Redeker (Advanced Clinical) to share about the work they led at DTRA around Roles and Responsibilities when using decentralized elements in clinical trials.Sites are overburdened with technology and role ambiguity as the use of DCT methods in clinical trials evolve. It is often unclear to sites whose responsibility it is to do what when using DCT methods. Site considerations for implementation of DCTs include training, ongoing support, cost, risk, responsibility, logistics, integrations, and teaching patients how to use and enable the DCT offerings. This team developed a set of questions to be applied before site selection and at site activation to aid in study planning.The newly released work is now available on the DTRA website at: https://www.dtra.org/roles-and-responsibilities-colabYou can join TGIF-DTRA Sessions live on LinkedIn Live on Friday's at 12:00 PM ET by checking out our LinkedIn. Follow the Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance (DTRA) on LinkedIn and X. Learn more about Membership options and our work at www.dtra.org.
February 3, 2025
Global Health Diplomats | Two weeks of Trump: Our Reaction
Welcome to Global Health Diplomats, a special project of A Shot in the Arm Podcast, brought to you with the support of the John Martin Foundation. Host Ben Plumley joins Ambassador Eric Goosby to discuss the shocking recent announcements from the U.S. administration regarding foreign aid, global health funding, and the withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).
With sweeping stop-work orders on PEPFAR, USAID, and State Department programs, the global health community is in turmoil. How will these changes impact HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and global health diplomacy? Can we find a path forward, or is this a wholesale dismantling of decades of U.S. leadership in global health?
Ben and Eric also discuss the domestic implications of the administration’s controversial policies, including temporary disruptions in federally funded healthcare programs, attacks on transgender rights, and the controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Episode Highlights & Timestamps
[00:00:15] Introduction from the Mall of Africa, South Africa
[00:01:42] Uncertainty and anxiety over U.S. foreign aid decisions
[00:02:36] The importance of U.S. global health funding—how much influence does it really have?
[00:03:45] Is there a method to the madness, or is this a chaotic approach to policy?
[00:06:40] PEPFAR’s funding threat: How a stop-work order could dismantle 23 years of progress
[00:09:15] The attack on "soft power"—is the U.S. retreating from global leadership?
[00:12:40] Will the Trump administration engage in dialogue, or is this a unilateral shift?
[00:14:55] The devastating consequences of withdrawing from the WHO
[00:19:06] The impact on partner countries—will they be left to pick up the pieces?
[00:22:22] The chaos surrounding U.S. domestic health programs
[00:28:53] The rollback of transgender rights and its broader implications
[00:34:59] HHS nominee RFK Jr.—a deeply controversial choice
[00:41:55] What’s next? A call for pragmatic dialogue and action
The stakes for global health, HIV/AIDS funding, and human rights have never been higher. What can advocates, organizations, and individuals do in the face of these challenges? Listen in as we break it all down.

Subscribe for More Global Health Insights!

Follow us wherever you get your podcasts

Like & Subscribe on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@shotarmpodcast

Produced & Directed by Erik Espera of NewsDoc Media

Supported by The John Martin Foundation
Imara Jones on MSNBC - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8YRnAyU
#GlobalHealth #PEPFAR #PublicHealth #HIV #WHO #USPolitics #ForeignAid #TrumpAdministration #LGBTQRights #TransRights #HHS #AIDSPolicy #HealthDiplomacy
February 1, 2025
2025-01-29 Hosts Craig Lipset and Jane Myles hosted a great discussion with Hilde Vanaken (EFGCP - European Forum for Good Clinical Practice) and Katrin Ong (Boehringer Ingelheim) to share about the suite of tools created by the European Forum for Good Clinical Practice's eConsent initiative and how they can be used to demystify eConsent.There are many resources available for use. Review the resources, tools, articles, and more here --> https://efgcp.eu/project?initiative=eConsentYou can join TGIF-DTRA Sessions live on LinkedIn Live on Friday's at 12:00 PM ET by checking out our LinkedIn. Follow the Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance (DTRA) on LinkedIn and X. Learn more about Membership options and our work at www.dtra.org.
January 30, 2025
Featuring articles on heart failure and obesity, oral anticoagulation during TAVI, hemophilia A, hereditary angioedema, and tuberculosis; a review article on sport-related concussion; a case report of a man with syncope, ankle swelling, and abnormal chest imaging; and Perspectives on e-cigarettes at the Supreme Court, on providing interstate telehealth abortion services to patients in restrictive states, on listening to TikTok, and on what is the relative value of a baby. Supplement to the New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 392, No. 5.
January 29, 2025
Featuring articles on esophageal cancer, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and atrial fibrillation; a review article on the physiology of hunger; a case report of a man with exertional dyspnea and chest pain; a Medicine and Society on evaluating the inclusion of sex in clinical algorithms; and Perspectives on Ebola, on U.S. generic drug shortages, on gender-affirming surgical care in carceral settings, and on the pediatrician’s lament. Supplement to the New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 392, No. 4.
January 22, 2025
Co-hosts Ben Plumley and Ambassador Eric Goosby press the case for continued major investments in biomedical innovation to treat, diagnose, prevent and ultimately cure HIV disease.
While excited by the potential of new medicines, there’s still no short term end to one of the most deadly epidemics of the modern era. A renewed strategic focus on balancing basic science with delivery and implementation is at the heart of the long term HIV response - not least the challenge of maintaining uninterrupted treatment access, especially as funding mechanisms evolve globally.
Key themes include the role of advocacy, the intersection of politics and public health, and the need to empower civil society to hold governments accountable for healthcare delivery. Ambassador Goosby outlines the necessity of building coalitions that combine public, private, and multilateral efforts to ensure sustainable healthcare solutions.
00:00:00 - Introduction: Ben Plumley and Ambassador Eric Goosby discuss the high stakes of 2025.
00:02:01 - Reflecting on misinformation: The influence of tech leaders on public health narratives.
00:05:34 - Post-2030 HIV agenda: Is the focus on research or implementation?
00:08:52 - Long-acting antiretrovirals: The promise and limitations of lenacapavir.
00:20:12 - Funding the response: Challenges of sustaining global HIV treatment.
00:31:48 - Global health diplomacy: Mobilizing new donors and local government commitments.
00:39:01 - Civil society’s role: Encouraging accountability in health investments.
00:46:25 - Closing thoughts: Shaping the future of the HIV response through collaboration.
Call to Action:
Subscribe to A Shot in the Arm Podcast on your favorite platform and join us on YouTube for more in-depth discussions. Don’t forget to like, comment, and share your thoughts on this critical global health issue.
Links and Resources:
Visit A Shot in the Arm Podcast on YouTube to stay updated.
Follow us for future episodes addressing long-term HIV response strategies and the evolving role of global health diplomacy.
Acknowledgments:
Special thanks to Erik Espera of NewsDoc Media, the John Martin Foundation, and our listeners for their ongoing support.
January 20, 2025
2025-01-17 Irfan Khan, MD (Circuit Clinical) joined hosts Craig Lipset and Jane Myles for a discussion around what HCPs think about clinical research and how to gain their support on routine care in clinical trials. We discuss the journey of HCPs becoming investigators and what we need to drive this forward in the community.You can join TGIF-DTRA Sessions live on LinkedIn Live on Friday's at 12:00 PM ET by checking out our LinkedIn. Follow the Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance (DTRA) on LinkedIn and X. Learn more about Membership options and our work at www.dtra.org.
January 20, 2025
Featuring articles on asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis, kidney disease, fracture prevention in women, and residual breast cancer, the future of the U.S. physician workforce, mutant KRAS signaling, and manufactured chemicals and children’s health; a review article on the identification and treatment of alcohol use disorder; a case report of a man with loss of consciousness and a fall; and Perspectives on striking a balance, on changing Medicare payment to strengthen primary care, and on Schrödinger’s cancer. Supplement to the New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 392, No. 3.
January 15, 2025
Featuring articles on transcatheter tricuspid-valve replacement, persistent chylomicronemia, multiple myeloma, myelofibrosis, and peripherally inserted central catheter materials; a review article on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; a case report of a woman with shortness of breath and leg edema; and Perspectives on the plight of “dual noneligible” people in the United States, Texas Executive Order GA-46, improving outcomes after fragility fractures, and on seeing the harm. Supplement to the New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 392, No. 2.
January 8, 2025