What does it mean to see someone—not just treat them?

In this episode of Route Notes, Dr. Shaunesse’ Jacobs Plaisimond joins Dr. Wesley Rich and Dr. David Tillman for a powerful conversation on person-centered care, maternal health, and how systems often fail to honor the full humanity of the people they serve. Drawing from her work in religion, ethics, and human rights, Dr. Plaisimond shares why personhood is not a soft concept—it’s the foundation of ethical health practice.

From the legacy of exploitation in medicine to the promise of reimagining public health through story, spirituality, and justice, this episode is a moving call to see patients as people, not problems.

Healthcare isn’t just about outcomes—it’s about dignity.

What if the public health “magic bullet” isn’t a single program or intervention—but a mindset?

In this episode of Route Notes, Dr. David Tillman and Dr. Wesley Rich explore the astonishing 72% reduction in fentanyl-related deaths in Harnett County, NC, and unpack why it didn’t come from doing just one thing. Instead, it came from embracing complexity, honoring local wisdom, and resisting the urge to oversimplify wicked problems.

They challenge the iconic upstream/downstream metaphor, share insights from real-world opioid response work, and introduce a new way of thinking: health as a watershed, not a pipeline. If you're tired of linear models that don’t reflect real life—and want to know what happens when a community truly co-creates its own strategy—this episode is for you.

Data still matters. But so does trust, tacit knowledge, and making room for every voice.

In this powerful first episode of Route Notes, Dr. David Tillman and Dr. Wesley Rich dive deep into the heart of public health in America—particularly in rural communities—and why this moment matters more than ever. From an unforgettable keynote in Iowa to honest reflections on vaccine hesitancy, polarization, and the overlooked power of relationships, this conversation is a hopeful call to action.

Hear why relationship-building—not just data—is the future of public health, how small towns are poised to lead, and why taking people’s questions seriously might be our most effective strategy yet. With humor, humility, and hard-earned insight, David and Wes invite you to reimagine the public part of public health.

This is not about selling health—it's about cultivating it.