Emily Mendenhall
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emendenhall.bsky.social
Emily Mendenhall
@emendenhall.bsky.social
900 followers 620 following 63 posts

Anthropologist and Professor, Director of STIA, Editor-in-Chief of Science Politics, Author of Invisible Illness, Guggenheim Fellow

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Emily Mendenhall is a medical anthropologist and Professor in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Her research considers syndemics, mental health, cultural idioms of distress, health politics and systems, migration and health, flourishing, and complex chronic conditions. She was awarded the George Foster Award for Practicing Medical Anthropology in 2017 from the Society for Medical Anthropology for her work on syndemics. In 2023, she received a Guggenheim Fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in recognition of her anthropological work on COVID-19. .. more

Public Health 31%
Psychology 25%
Posts Replies Media Videos

emendenhall.bsky.social
Emily Mendenhall @emendenhall.bsky.social · 3d
Check our a new article in #Science #Politics on #digital #sovereignty by Bulelani Jili (启阳) on digital futures in Kenya. He argues that "technology is not a universal elixir" and you have to invest in people even more that tech and infrastructure.

sciencepolitics.org/2026/01/02/d...
Digital Sovereignty Isn’t Built with Servers. It’s Built with People - Science Politics
African countries can make good on the promise of an AI boom if they invest in tech talent, not just tech infrastructure.
sciencepolitics.org

emendenhall.bsky.social
Emily Mendenhall @emendenhall.bsky.social · 4d
Happy new year! I'm so thrilled to share the FIRST of many incredible articles in Science Politics this month! It's an honor to magnify the work of Lucy Marcil-a pediatrician who realized her work in the clinic had to extend to people's pocketbooks.

sciencepolitics.org/2026/01/01/b...
Baby Bonds Are an Imperfect but Promising Policy Tool for a Healthier Next Generation - Science Politics
Regardless of their political affiliation, most people can agree that money drives health.
sciencepolitics.org

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall

fieseler.bsky.social
Clare Fieseler, PhD @fieseler.bsky.social · 17d
Thanks to @amyaharder.bsky.social and @axios.com for calling me a “hot read.”

Guy, I still got it! 🔥 🔥 🔥

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall

taniaspencer.bsky.social
Tania J. Spencer @taniaspencer.bsky.social · 25d
2/
"Ty Godwin [☝️podcast co-host] got #COVID in January of 2020 when nobody knew what it was. When he was finally diagnosed with #LongCOVID nearly a year later at Mayo Clinic, he went with his wife to the hospital cafeteria & cried":

@emendenhall.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/emilymen...
Long Covid Costs
When a search to heal cripples your financial security
open.substack.com

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall

fieseler.bsky.social
Clare Fieseler, PhD @fieseler.bsky.social · 28d
New Jersey's clean energy quest....

GOOD NEWS: NJ went from 20,000 plug-in vehicles in 2018 to 270,000 today, after state lawmakers funded incentives.

BAD NEWS: Offshore wind was a big piece of getting 100% clean electricity by 2035. Now none of its planned projects will be built in next 4 years.
New Jersey Has A New Map For Its Energy Future. The Ground Under It Is Already Shifting. - Inside Climate News
New Jersey has a renewed plan for a cleaner, cheaper grid. The catch: it relies on a regional market in turmoil, offshore wind on life support and climate policies Washington is now trying to unravel.
insideclimatenews.org

emendenhall.bsky.social
Emily Mendenhall @emendenhall.bsky.social · Nov 24
As we embark on this week of giving thanks, let this article provide a space to remember how deeply our nourishment is linked to other living things.

us13.campaign-archive.com?u=3047152ffc...
Protecting people, Protecting Salmon
us13.campaign-archive.com

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall

davidzipper.bsky.social
David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · Nov 16
Very disappointed none of you told me that Lewis Mumford made a 1963 film about car dependency, and it's available on YouTube.

"The motor car inflates our private ego, proclaims our social status, and provides us with the illusion of freedom and power."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIKZ...

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall, Smith

gregggonsalves.bsky.social
Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · Nov 14
This is designed to tank public health & primary care by excluding public health professions, advanced nursing practice, physical & occupational therapy from loans that can cover the cost of education. This is going to make an existing workforce crisis worse.
aspph.org/department-o...
Department of Education Proposal Excludes Public Health Degrees from “Professional Degree” Definition
Discover the new results and implications of Dept of Ed consensus regarding professional degree programs and public health education.
aspph.org

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall

shreejashreeja.bsky.social
Shreeja @shreejashreeja.bsky.social · Nov 12
Very importantly,
@emendenhall.bsky.social's new book, 'Invisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long COVID' is going to be out in January (2026) with California Press!!!
Link: www.ucpress.edu/books/invisi...
Super excited! Yayayy! :D
Invisible Illness by Emily Mendenhall - Hardcover
Scholarship is a powerful tool for changing how people think, plan, and govern. By giving voice to bright minds and bold ideas, we seek to foster understanding and drive progressive change.
www.ucpress.edu

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall

ghpoliticspodcast.bsky.social
ghpoliticspodcast.bsky.social @ghpoliticspodcast.bsky.social · Oct 31
The latest #GlobalHealth #Politics #Podcast episode is out. Listen to @uwnews.uw.edu Prof James Pfeiffer on Debt, Austerity & Decolonization globalhealthpoliticspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2364394/epis... @americananthro.bsky.social @isanet.bsky.social @ethnography911.bsky.social @dadakim.bsky.social
Season 2, Episode 6: James Pfeiffer on Debt, Austerity, and Decolonization - The Global Health Politics Podcast
In this long-awaited episode, originally recorded in Fall 2022, Joseph Harris sits down with Dr. James Pfeiffer, Professor of Global Health and Anthropology at University of Washington. They talk abou...
globalhealthpoliticspodcast.buzzsprout.com

emendenhall.bsky.social
Emily Mendenhall @emendenhall.bsky.social · Oct 20
We published our first newsletter this morning for Science Politics! Science Politics is a new publication that pairs academic rigor with journalistic storytelling to explore intersections of science and politics.

Sign up for the newsletter here: georgetown.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Melissa Johnson, Emily Mendenhall , and 3 more

noturtlesoup17.bsky.social
amanda moore 🐢 @noturtlesoup17.bsky.social · Oct 12
The inflatables have made it to Broadview.

emendenhall.bsky.social
Emily Mendenhall @emendenhall.bsky.social · Sep 14
Take a look at this bit about: How to talk with people you disagree with! I did not realize this was video podcast before we started rolling--a very summered look but a great conversation. #unmasked #talkingacrosspoliticaldivides

youtube.com/watch?v=MLnB...
youtube.com

emendenhall.bsky.social
Emily Mendenhall @emendenhall.bsky.social · Sep 5
New piece on thinking about innovative solutions for addiction care in the USA, drawing from south-north learning. Fun DC-area collab in GMH! #globalmentalhealth #peercounselors

www.usatoday.com/story/life/h...
The opioid epidemic is a persistent problem. These researchers think they have a solution.
Peers are one potential solution to help address the massive gaps in access to substance use and mental health care in the U.S.
www.usatoday.com

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall

williamadler78.bsky.social
William Adler @williamadler78.bsky.social · Sep 4
Also, if you want to learn about the Department of War and its origins, you should read my book: www.pennpress.org/978081225348...
Engineering Expansion – Penn Press
Engineering Expansion examines the U.S. Army's role in U.S. economic development from the nation's founding to the eve of the Civil War. William D. Adler sta...
www.pennpress.org

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall

ghpoliticspodcast.bsky.social
ghpoliticspodcast.bsky.social @ghpoliticspodcast.bsky.social · Sep 2
Our latest episode explores the efforts of @joinchic.bsky.social to professionalize community health work globally. Check out the conversation at globalhealthpoliticspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2364394/epis... @pih.org @madhupai.bsky.social @dadakim.bsky.social @sorchabrophy.bsky.social #globalhealth
Season 2, Episode 4: The Community Health Impact Coalition's Campaign to Professionalize Community Health Work Globally - The Global Health Politics Podcast
Many health systems around the world rely on community health workers (CHWs) who play vital roles in health promotion, disease prevention, and primary care. While CHWs in some countries are not paid o...
globalhealthpoliticspodcast.buzzsprout.com

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall

thinkglobalhealth.org
Think Global Health @thinkglobalhealth.org · Aug 19
From the Cough of Perinthus in ancient Greece to Long COVID in the modern world, societies have toiled under post-viral illnesses.

@emendenhall.bsky.social and Phil Fink describe the history of these conditions, which have struggled to breach mainstream policy.
From Long Flu to Long COVID: A Brief History of Postviral Illness | Think Global Health
Despite centuries of examples, long-term maladies after flu and other viruses remain absent from mainstream policy
www.thinkglobalhealth.org

emendenhall.bsky.social
Emily Mendenhall @emendenhall.bsky.social · Aug 9
Love this review of Unmasked.

www.instagram.com/reel/DNI85dk...
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
www.instagram.com

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall, Julia Lynch

ghpoliticspodcast.bsky.social
ghpoliticspodcast.bsky.social @ghpoliticspodcast.bsky.social · Aug 5
The #GlobalHealth #Politics #Podcast for inspiring & powerful conversations on issues that matter with scholars, activists & policymakers @dadakim.bsky.social @victorroy.bsky.social @jlynch13.bsky.social @emendenhall.bsky.social @ethnography911.bsky.social globalhealthpoliticspodcast.buzzsprout.com
The Global Health Politics Podcast
Hosted by Joseph Harris, the Global Health Politics podcast features intimate, one-of-a-kind conversations with leading scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and activists working on critical issues ...
globalhealthpoliticspodcast.buzzsprout.com

emendenhall.bsky.social
Emily Mendenhall @emendenhall.bsky.social · Aug 5
We are so proud of our colleague Megan Lickley in the STIA Program at Georgetown University who was awarded a multimillion dollar grant to strengthen monitoring of potent greenhouse gases! Congrats Megan!

stia.georgetown.edu/2025/08/05/p...
Professor Megan Lickley Awarded $4M to Strengthen Global Monitoring of Potent Greenhouse Gases - STIA
Dr. Megan Lickley, Assistant Professor at Georgetown University’s Earth Commons Institute for Environment & Sustainability and the Science, Technology and International Affairs (STIA) Program, has bee...
stia.georgetown.edu

emendenhall.bsky.social
Emily Mendenhall @emendenhall.bsky.social · Jul 29
I'm often blown away by the ingenuity and impact of our STIA alums. Our community is bright and bold! Check out this fantastic new film about deep sea mining. STIA scientific comms at its best!

www.scientificamerican.com/video/polyme...
Millions of Mysterious Deep-Sea Nodules Offer Clues to Life—And Riches to be Mined
When researchers discovered evidence of “dark oxygen” last year, the news spread around the world, but the biggest challenge to the science comes from its funders
www.scientificamerican.com

Reposted by Seema Jayachandran, Emily Mendenhall

vanhollen.senate.gov
Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · Apr 16
I’m about to board my flight to El Salvador, where I hope to meet with senior government officials to discuss the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

I also hope to see Kilmar and check on his condition — and remind him that we won’t stop fighting until he’s home.
Headed to El Salvador to meet with government officials and discuss return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia
YouTube video by Senator Chris Van Hollen
youtube.com

Reposted by Clare Bambra, Emily Mendenhall

jlynch13.bsky.social
Julia Lynch @jlynch13.bsky.social · May 31
New podcast just dropped!

It was good fun to shoot the breeze with Joe Harris about my research on the political economy of public health for his Global Health podcast.

You can listen in at the link here, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Season 2, Episode 1: Julia Lynch on Political Science and the Political Economy of Health - The Global Health Politics Podcast
In this episode of the Global Health Politics Podcast, Joseph Harris sits down with University of Pennsylvania political scientist Julia Lynch to discuss her work on politics, pandemics, public health...
urldefense.com

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall

taniaspencer.bsky.social
Tania J. Spencer @taniaspencer.bsky.social · Jul 22
"Time and again, society has failed to reckon with these conditions, relegating their sufferers to the fringes of medical understanding and societal concern":

@emendenhall.bsky.social
Via @rfh1955.bsky.social

www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/long...
From Long Flu to Long COVID: A Brief History of Postviral Illness | Think Global Health
Despite centuries of examples, long-term maladies after flu and other viruses remain absent from mainstream policy
www.thinkglobalhealth.org

emendenhall.bsky.social
Emily Mendenhall @emendenhall.bsky.social · Jul 21
Take a look at my new piece on the history of post-viral syndromes and get a sneak peak into some of the topics in my new book!

www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/long...
From Long Flu to Long COVID: A Brief History of Postviral Illness | Think Global Health
Despite centuries of examples, long-term maladies after flu and other viruses remain absent from mainstream policy
www.thinkglobalhealth.org

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall

georgetown-sfs.bsky.social
Georgetown School of Foreign Service @georgetown-sfs.bsky.social · Jul 8
How are online communities changing the conversation around Long COVID? SFS Prof @emendenhall.bsky.social shares insights on Long COVID, vaccine politics and digital activism.

Read the full Q&A: bit.ly/4nCaEfr
Five questions about Long COVID and patient activism online - SFS - School of Foreign Service - Georgetown University
SFS Professor Emily Mendenhall answers questions about Long COVID, vaccine politics and how digital activism has helped Long COVID patients find resources and community.
bit.ly

emendenhall.bsky.social
Emily Mendenhall @emendenhall.bsky.social · Jul 7
sfs.georgetown.edu/news-five-qu...
Five questions about Long COVID and patient activism online - SFS - School of Foreign Service - Georgetown University
SFS Professor Emily Mendenhall answers questions about Long COVID, vaccine politics and how digital activism has helped Long COVID patients find resources and community.
sfs.georgetown.edu

Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Emily Mendenhall

gregggonsalves.bsky.social
Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · Jul 2
Hot off the presses in The Lancet: Building a resistance to US assaults on public health. With Alicia Ely Yamin and Emma Joanna Lengle. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Building a resistance to US assaults on public health
The administration of US President Donald Trump has launched a full-fledged assault on science and public health;1 its “flood the zone” strategy created chaos and initially overwhelmed potential oppos...
www.thelancet.com

Reposted by Emily Mendenhall

jussiteronen.bsky.social
Jussi T. Eronen @jussiteronen.bsky.social · Jul 1
Change in the air.
anildash.com Anil Dash @anildash.com · Jul 1
This @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social video is absolutely INCREDIBLE. The numbers he cites, the strategy and results they produced — it’s the future. When have you heard *any* campaign talk about this, ever? (Video split in 2 to fit in Bluesky’s limits)