Building Stronger Communities of Social Support in Academic Medicine with Thomas Cudjoe, MD, MPH

In the latest episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, Dr. Thomas Cudjoe, MD, MPH, sheds light on the pressing issue of social isolation and loneliness.

Dr. Cudjoe currently serves as the Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Endowed Assistant Professor of Medicine position within the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's Division of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology.

This is Dr. Cudjoe’s first ever appearance on our show.

He shares his journey into the world of social support and community building, inspired by his personal experiences and interactions with older adults in Baltimore.

His research, based on national data, has revealed a startling statistic: one in four older adults grapples with social isolation. This work has garnered widespread recognition and has even influenced national reports and toolkits.

Dr. Cudjoe emphasized the importance of community building, highlighting the need for shared purpose and joy within groups. The interview also includes strategies to combat social isolation, including leveraging social opportunities with a purpose and receiving institutional support for community building.

Learn more about the Faculty Factory Podcast: https://facultyfactory.org/