Dr. Ramya Kumar: Affiliate Assistant Professor at the University of Washington on Feminist Perspectives in Epidemiology & Global Health

Join Ashutosh Garg in this insightful episode of The Brand Called You as he speaks with Dr. Ramya Kumar, Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Washington and Visiting Scientist at CIDRZ Zambia.

Dr. Kumar shares her journey from growing up in a low-income immigrant community in Massachusetts to working at the forefront of global health systems in Zambia. She explains how feminism and intersectionality shape her approach to epidemiology, health equity, and outbreak response.

From investigating cholera and plague outbreaks to addressing the communication challenges seen during COVID-19, Dr. Kumar highlights critical gaps in global health — especially around dignity, lived experience, and who gets to be called an “expert.”

In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why public health can create broader impact than clinical medicine • How feminist frameworks uncover structural inequities • What outbreak investigations look like on the ground • Why lived experience matters as much as scientific expertise • How health systems can prioritize dignity over surveillance • What gives hope for the future of global health