The GROklahoma Podcast Show

Continuing our exploration into Native American and American Indian health, this episode features Dr. Ashley Comiford, an epidemiologist at Cherokee Nation Health Services and a fierce advocate for equity. From a small Oklahoma town to leading research on cancer disparities, infectious disease, and tobacco-related illness, Dr. Comiford shares the powerful story of how her Cherokee identity shaped her path in public health.

She pulls back the curtain on what it truly means for American Indian/Alaska Native tribes to be sovereign nations and how this legal and cultural reality influences everything from healthcare access to who owns...

In this powerful episode, we explore how a federally funded initiative is shaping the future of healthcare across rural Oklahoma. Joining us are Dr. Susan Dresser, Regents Professor and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, OUHS, and three exceptional DNP students: Cody Bynum, Meagan Wright, and Debra Hawkins—each a recipient of the Oklahoma Workforce Innovations in Nursing grant, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The grant, awarded in 2023, is a $2.5 million initiative designed to increase access to quality healthcare by preparing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to...

Hope isn’t just a word—it’s action. It’s advocacy. It’s ensuring that no one has to choose between paying for cancer treatment and keeping a roof over their head. In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Michelle Fair, a dynamic leader in corporate philanthropy at the American Cancer Society (ACS), who has spent her career turning hope into tangible support for cancer patients.

As Senior Director of Corporate Relations and Philanthropy, Michelle manages major donor and corporate partnerships across Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Arizona. Her journey is anything but conventional—starting in molecular bi...

The US, especially Oklahoma, is home to immigrants who play a vital role in shaping the healthcare landscape. Dr. Parisa Ghasemi is one such immigrant, making significant contributions to healthcare research. In this first episode of The GROklahoma Podcast for the year, we speak with Dr. Ghasemi, a physician, researcher, and lab administrator for The MORE Lab at the Health Promotion and Research Center (HPRC), where she focuses on cancer and lupus outcomes.

Dr. Ghasemi shares her personal and professional journey—from her upbringing in Iran and the support of her family in pursuing medicine, to adapting to...

Today, we're honored to host not one, but two powerhouse leaders in health promotion and cancer research: Dr. Darla Kendzor and Dr. Michael Businelle, the dynamic duo behind the TSET Health Promotion Research Center (HPRC) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Not only are they co-directors dedicated to advancing research and reducing health disparities, but they’re also partners in life, bringing a unique synergy to their groundbreaking work.

In this episode, Darla and Michael open up about their journey to Oklahoma, initially drawn by the opportunity to build something big. They reveal how they we...

In this episode of the GROklahoma Podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Karla Finnell, an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health. Dr. Finnell shared her inspiring journey from growing up in Comanche, Oklahoma, where her father worked in the oil fields and served as a rodeo judge, to her transformative experience in education when a professor’s small act of kindness—a full tuition scholarship—changed her life. Her path led her from practicing agricultural bankruptcy law to advocating for healthcare access in underserved communities and ultimately to championing health equity...

Welcome (back) to the GROklahoma Podcast, we are honored to feature Dr. Adam Alexander, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and Faculty at the TSET Health Promotion Research Center. Dr. Alexander brings his unique blend of empathy, cultural competence, and cutting-edge research to the table. A native of Memphis, he has dedicated his career to eliminating cancer-related health disparities, particularly among African Americans and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. His work spans developing mobile health apps that make cancer screening more accessible to building deep, trust-based relationships with...

This episode of the GROklahoma Podcast features Darbi Crist, a dedicated nurse educator and Oklahoma native with a rich background in postpartum care. Darbi shares her inspiring journey from aspiring sports trainer to becoming a third-generation nurse, reflecting on how her Guyanese roots have shaped her global perspectives and commitment to personal growth. She also talks about the fulfillment she finds in nursing, particularly in simulation, and how she is preparing the next generation of nurses through hands-on, technology-driven training.

Darbi’s teaching approach is rooted in open communication and a genuine interest in her students’ diverse cult...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Natasha Bray, the Campus Dean at OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, OK. Dr. Bray shares her journey from medical student to dean, her passion for health equity, and her leadership in medical education. She discusses her early life in Oklahoma and how her father’s medical practice influenced her commitment to healthcare and community service. Her educational path took her from Montessori school to the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, and later to the University of Tulsa and Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Me...

In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Sarah Borengasser, an Associate Professor specializing in endocrinology and diabetes at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Borengasser shared her journey from being adopted from Korea and growing up in Mason City to becoming a distinguished researcher in obesity, nutrition, and exercise science, driven by her passion for running and exercise. Her research, supported by consistent NIH funding, employs advanced multiomics techniques to identify molecular biomarkers affected by environmental exposures, particularly in epigenetics. Dr. Borengasser explained her research in accessible terms, emphasizing her mission to promote public health through improved...