Robert Steinglass: Pioneering Public Health

Techawat with Benjamin Morse

Robert Steinglass: Pioneering Public Health

My guest today is Robert Steinglass. Robert is a titan in the global public health sector. He is currently an independent public health consultant who for 40 years strengthened immunization programs at all levels, across 50 countries around the world. He worked primarily in Africa, Asia and within Newly Independent States.

Robert has worked in smallpox eradication both as a Peace Corps volunteer in northern Ethiopia (1973-75) and also as World Health Organization Operations Officer in North Yemen. After playing a key role in eradicating smallpox globally, he went on to work for the World Health Organization for a decade, establishing nationwide immunization programs in North Yemen, Oman, and Nepal. After this he settled in for a 30 year career with John Snow Inc. (JSI), based in Washington D.C.

At JSI, he led immunization teams on a succession of USAID-funded projects. While overseeing and providing technical support to countries, he also served on many advisory committees to organizations like the WHO or UNICEF. Robert retired in 2018 as Director of the JSI Immunization Center, which he also founded. He’s authored nearly 40 peer-reviewed journal publications and several book chapters on immunization and vaccine-preventable disease control. Need I say more, his impact on the world of public health is immeasurable.

In this conversation, Robert meets the moment with grace and nuance, and pulls back the curtain on the intricacies of global public health. He also reflects on his experiences working and living abroad, both as a Peace Corps volunteer, but then also as a public health professional. We spend some time exploring what Ethiopia was like in the 1970s, talking through Robert’s work in eradicating smallpox in the country, but also shifting his focus to address famine and humanitarian crises at the same time. The granular details in his stories bring to life a cornucopia of personal experiences working abroad which provides a glimpse into the life of a public health expert. Whether you’re interested in a career in global public health, or you’re simply curious about Robert’s story, this conversation will not disappoint.

To connect with Robert:

• LinkedIn

Robert’s work:

• Book Review, written by Barry Hillenbrand: “Eradicating Smallpox in Ethiopia”
• Amazon: Purchase “Eradicating Smallpox in Ethiopia”

Please also subscribe to the Techawat with Benjamin Morse podcast on your favorite platform, it is greatly appreciated! Also, you can connect with me on Instagram at:

• Podcast: @techawat_with_benjamin_morse
  
• Me: @benjamin_august_blair
  

Original Music by Elly Daftuar, connect on Instagram: @elecaster

Logo by Jeff Butler, connect on Instagram: @butlejef2

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/techawat-benjamin-morse/support