In this episode we talk to April Monroe and Danielle Piccinini Black from the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs about social and behavioral considerations for vector control and the human-centred design approach. We cover topics including:
What human-centred design is, with an example of how the approach has been applied to improve long-lasting insecticidal net design in Ghana
The importance of empathy and flexibility in conducting research that puts affected communities first
How strong, equitable relationships with communities can help to mitigate ethical challenges that often accompany traditional research approaches.
April Monroe has over a decade of experience in global health, focusing on malaria research, program implementation, and policy. Her work aims to increase the impact of malaria interventions by learning from and engaging with people most affected by the disease. This includesunderstanding challenges to and motivations for malaria prevention and treatment practices and how gaps in protection arise. It also includesengaging stakeholders at all levels to help ensure new malaria control approachesrespond to peoples’ needs andlifestyles and are rooted within systems that support long-term success. April earned a PhD in Epidemiology and Public Health from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, an MSPH degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a focus in Social and Behavioral Interventions, and a certificate in Innovation and Human Centered Design from the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School.
Danielle Piccinini Black is the Design Innovation Lead at the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, Academic Lead for Innovation and Human-Centered Design at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School—Executive Education, and Design Thinking Adjunct Faculty at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. She leads the development and implementation of design thinking research, workshops, and co-creation internationally to address emerging public health and business needs, and uses that experience to enhance her design thinking courses. Danielle holds an MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an MBA from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger and South Africa. Email: danielle.piccinini@jhu.edu
This is a podcast in the series: Connecting Citizens to Science, which focuses on health research based on equitable partnerships between researchers and communities.