In early 2024, Dr. Richard Oehler, Professor at the University of South Florida and Editor-in-Chief of ID Podcasts, sought to expand the format of the USF Division of Infectious Diseases’ acclaimed online educational platform, IDPodcasts.net. For over 15 years, much like Khan Academy, ID Podcasts had built a loyal and growing following—reaching audiences through its website, YouTube channel (YouTube.com/IDPodcasts), and dedicated smartphone apps. It had become one of the leading university-based educational platforms for infectious diseases available online.
Yet the world of podcasting had evolved since ID Podcasts launched in 2007. Audiences today increasingly crave dynamic, two-way conversations over traditional lectures. “What was missing from our legacy format,” Dr. Oehler reflected, “was the opportunity to hear new voices in dialogue—tackling timely, pressing issues in infectious diseases.” From this vision, The Contagion Podcast was born.
For this new endeavor, Dr. Oehler had two ideal collaborators in mind: USF faculty and assistant professors Dr. Vivian Vega and Dr. Jackie Sherbuk. Both are accomplished educators and seasoned clinicians, with over two decades of combined experience in medicine, yet still at the exciting forefront of their careers in infectious diseases. What set them apart, however, were their shared strengths—a deep intellectual curiosity, a gift for making complex science accessible to a broad audience, and the rich diversity of life experiences they bring to the table.
Their debut episode, “Water is Life…and Death?”, premiered on May 28, 2024. Timed for the summer travel season, it explored infectious disease hazards travelers may face, all presented in a format designed to engage both medical professionals and the general public. “That’s been our goal all along,” Dr. Oehler explains, “to share timely ID insights in a way that anyone can understand. Other podcasts may go deep into technical detail, but we’re unique in bringing two practicing ID physicians who speak directly—and clearly—to everyone listening.”
With the recent airing of their season finale, “Contagion Horizon: Future Pandemic Threats,” Drs. Vega and Sherbuk now look back on a highly successful inaugural season. Across nine hour-long episodes, the podcast covered a wide array of topics including Lyme disease, brain-eating amoeba infections, polio, smallpox, measles, respiratory illnesses, HIV, and more. A standout moment came in January, when pioneering virologist Dr. Robert Gallo joined the podcast to discuss his groundbreaking work and share his thoughts on the future of infectious disease research.
As medicine heals the body, art can soothe the spirit. Each episode of The Contagion Podcast was accompanied by a custom painting from visionary artist and USF Professor Dr. Ana Velez (galenartist.com), visually capturing the theme of the discussion. These works serve as episode thumbnails and are also featured on the podcast’s website. Adding another layer of depth and reflection, local musician Job Meillor provided original musical performances for segment interludes.
All nine episodes of Season One are now available for streaming on major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and iHeartRadio. To explore the series, visit www.contagionpodcast.com.