Psychologist Traci Mann

Sushi, Ice Cream, Blue Cheese, and Marshmallow Peeps

Social psychologist Traci Mann studies self-control, health behavior, and how we diet at the University of Minnesota, where she is an associate professor; she moved to Minnesota in 2007 after over a decade at UCLA. Before participating in a panel on whether health propaganda works, she talked about food in the Zócalo green room: L.A. sushi, Minnesota ice cream, and what astronauts miss most about the food on earth while they’re up in space.

We’re Going To Attack Your Donut Eating On All Fronts

How Health Propaganda Will Play Out In the Years Ahead

As much as social scientists have learned about what drives people’s decision-making, we still haven’t found a silver bullet for changing people’s behavior. Yet at a panel co-presented by UCLA …

This Is Your Brain on Health Propaganda

Taking a Moment to Nod to Some Truly Effective Public Health Campaigns

Ever since we’ve had our brains compared to sizzling eggs on pans, we at Zócalo have enjoyed health propaganda. Sometimes, it even works. But when? It turns out that public …

San Joaquin Community Hospital’s Jarrod McNaughton

I’d Love to Be the Beast … or Warren Buffett

Jarrod McNaughton is vice president of San Joaquin Community Hospital in Bakersfield; he also sings and performs in musical theater. Before participating in a panel on how Bakersfield can recruit—and …

Smacked to the L.A. Pavement, Without Health Insurance

When I Crashed My Scooter, I Had To Maneuver Like Hell To Not Spend a Fortune On Medical Care

Riding a scooter or motorcycle in the city of Los Angeles, when everyone else is in rush-hour gridlock (and you’re passing by them in a blur), is an adrenaline-filled adventure. …

UCSF’s Catherine Dower

‘When In Doubt, Let Your Horse Figure It Out’

Catherine Dower is the associate director of the UC San Francisco Center for the Health Professions; she conducts research on healthcare workforce challenges. Before participating in a panel on physician …