Exploring Stem

Health documentaries focused on food and diets can have both positive and negative impacts on individuals. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bjorn Mercer discusses these impacts with APU’s Dr. Stacey Malinowski and explores the best ways to uncover thoughtful, unbiased information.

Diabetes is a tough disease to manage. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to Dr. Jameelah Powell about the kinds of changes that can help individuals with diabetes function well.

Sepsis is actually the number one healthcare cost in the United States and can be very deadly and difficult to treat. In this episode, Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to APU’s Dr. Stacey Malinowski, who has spent more than 20 years as a nurse, about sepsis awareness, prevention, recognition and treatment. Learn how sepsis, which is when the body has an overwhelming systemic response to an infection can be identified early. Learn how the pneumonic “TIME” can help people recognize the signs of sepsis so it can be treated immediately.

Explore the ways in which science fiction delves into difficult social norms and presents us with new insights.

Knowing what diseases or disorders run in your family is important for your own health. In this episode, Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to APU nursing faculty Dr. Jameelah Powell about understanding your family health history. Learn ways to start this sometimes difficult conversation with family members, what information you should gather from whom, and ways to store that information so it’s easily accessible.

Summer is when people want to relax and have fun, but there are many dangers to be aware of. In this episode, Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to health science professor Dr. Jameelah Powell about common summer health hazards. Learn about food-related illnesses, dangers from heat like heat stroke and dehydration, as well as parasites, tick-borne illnesses and more.  

What is it like to be an astronaut living in space? Several APUS students got a taste of being an astronaut when they were selected to be analog astronauts as part of the APUS Analog Research Group. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to graduate student Scott Van Hoy about his experience as an analog astronaut and his research into space human factors including psychological and physiological impacts.

There are more than 800,000 strokes every year. Preventing a stroke requires a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. In this episode, Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to APU Associate Dean and nurse Dr. Stacey Malinowski about the different types of strokes and the common signs of a stroke. She also shares action to take if you suspect someone is having a stroke as well as ways to prevent a stroke through healthy habits, blood pressure management, and medicine.