Health, Migration and the Power of Imagination with Thoại Ngô

In this episode, host Suzanne Ehlers speaks with Dr. Thoại Ngô, an internationally recognized scientist and the Chair of the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health at Columbia University. Thoại’s work lies at the intersection of global public health, gender equality and sustainable development, and he has dedicated his career to improving health and social outcomes for young people and marginalized communities around the world. From founding the GIRL Center at the Population Council to launching the Adolescent Data Hub, his leadership has shaped how the global community understands and responds to issues like adolescent well-being, climate justice and migration. In this conversation, Thoại shares both his professional expertise and his personal story as a former refugee from Vietnam, reminding us how resilience, imagination and community can dissolve distance and build a more just future.

Topics Discussed:

• Thoại’s personal story of being displaced from Vietnam at age 12 and resettling in the U.S.
• How home can be both a place and a web of relationships, stretching between New York City and Vietnam
• The intersection of public health, forced displacement and climate migration
• Why migration should be seen as a solution, not a threat, to global challenges like aging populations and labor shortages
• Faith communities and the surprising role they’ve played in refugee resettlement and welcome
• Thoại’s reflections on “stranger” as an opportunity for curiosity, connection, and discovery

Episode Resources:

• GIRL Center at the Population Council
• Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health at Columbia University

Resources:

• Podcast show notes
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