5 Questions for Faculty: Julia Hastings

Assistant Professor Julia Hastings. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 28, 2020)  – Julia F. Hastings came to UAlbany in 2012 in order to conduct research with scholars who understood the importance of health disparities among the vulnerable. She is an assistant professor in both the School of Public Health and the School of Social Welfare.

What do you like most about teaching the next generation of public health and social welfare practitioners?

The best part of teaching the next generation is keeping in touch with how interactive learning has become with instant information; students have so many different ways to access information because technology has completely transformed the classroom. Students are able to stay more in tune with current events in the nation and world. Further, they can provide counter arguments almost instantaneously to comments as they occur during lectures.

The global village is truly small. UAlbany students enjoy a lot of risk-taking and excitement in their learning. Hands-on learning is more than just lectures and asking questions, it’s about participating in community-related activities and questioning guest speakers with real life experiences. It’s important to not only understand the history of Public Health, but also to discuss the curiosity any of the students may have. I also like taking students to community meetings and conferences because it allows them to see and learn about how to apply their knowledge in all kinds of settings.

What public health issues are you most passionate about?

I’ve focused primarily on health and mental health conditions among low-income populations of color. I am interested in type 1 diabetes and depression because people in my former medical social work practice always asked me what they should do following a diagnosis of diabetes. People ask questions because self-management is dependent on individuals knowing how to care for themselves or providing care for their family members. Further, a more recent passion is in oral health, which has emerged as a major concern from my diabetes research, because people I interviewed often mentioned their dental issues, such as lack of teeth — which, of course, is related to dietary challenges. Medicaid doesn’t cover oral health to the extent needed, especially for adults, and so this has been an area of public health that is becoming more and more important for me to explore.

A lot of the time the public isn’t aware of some of the risks that come along with their conditions or medications. For instance, when it comes to diabetes and depression, although we have electronic medical records, professionals don’t always communicate the noted chronic health conditions or read the health records due to lack of time. When it comes to oral health, some people may not know that certain medications may erode their teeth. It’s important to always pay attention to how professionals interact with their patients because being perceived as unworthy is a powerful social consequence in public health and we all have the right to be healthy.

Why is diversity in public health and public health education important to you?

Diversity and inclusion in education is a MUST. The meaning of health is very different for racial/ethnic groups, gender/sexual orientations and geographic communities, to name a few. Each alone and in combination hold multiple lenses in which they interact with each other. None of us live in isolation and must figure out how to remain nimble to our changing diversity in society. 

Whether it’s racial, gender or geographic, I cannot imagine having elements of diversity missing in the kind of research and teaching I perform. I become frustrated when people take health equity issues lightly. We cannot rely on solely one group’s vision of health because people are a blend of their social identities. Whether it’s in regard to religion or family values, we need to take into account different perspectives. Improving the public’s health is important because we have to adapt to the life transitions different communities face.

For example, we are now seeing how different communities respond to a major public health crisis such as COVID-19. My main interest is focusing on how to improve disparities in health outcomes. Raising community health awareness through interventions, particularly for low resourced communities, remains an important issue for me because poverty infiltrates all aspects of life. I believe everyone has the right to be healthy and in pursuing that right, the field is challenged to record and respond in culturally appropriate and responsive ways.

What’s your favorite movie?

Black Panther is my newest favorite movie. The movie features one of the strongest images representing smartness and strength in superhero characters for Black populations. All of the images resonate with me because of the cultural references throughout the movie. Black Panther was enjoyable because I immediately identified with the messaging around how good triumphs over evil and how family ties cross generations. It was also exciting to see the use of potential modern technology. Each character was developed in a positive light, which, in this day and age, is a rarity in film.

What’s one thing students might be surprised to know about you?

There are actually two surprising events that come to mind. In my lifetime, I have interacted with family members born in the 1800s (great grandmother), 1900s (parents), and 2000s (cousins; not to mention UAlbany students who are like family). Secondly, I’ve met the 1951 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg. I’ve spoken to and sat in his car, decorated with the periodic table highlighted with the elements he discovered. He was a very kind and generous scholar.

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