Laurel Bristow
Laurel Bristow is an infectious disease researcher and science communicator who brings clear explanations and humor to public health as the creator and host of Health Wanted.
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Latest
Laurel’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus her backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
YouTube
Science Friday
Live eventOverview
- Work
- Infectious disease researcher, science communicator, and radio host
- Education
- MSc in Control of Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Based
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Breakout
- COVID-19 explainers on Instagram during the pandemic
- At Emory
- Associate director of audience development, Rollins School of Public Health
Mini bio
Before the explainers.
Laurel earned her MSc in Control of Infectious Disease at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She worked in HIV prevention for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, then became an epidemiologist in the tuberculosis control program at San Francisco General Hospital. In 2018, she joined Emory’s Hope Clinic Vaccine Center, where her work later included coordinating COVID-19 treatment trials and studies of patient outcomes.
An unexpected audience.
In March 2020, a pause between research projects gave Laurel time to make a video for friends and family explaining COVID-19 and flattening the curve. She told Science Friday that her private Instagram had about 600 followers. People asked her to make it public so they could share her explanations. By the end of that weekend she had 2,000 followers, and by her March 2021 Science Friday appearance, about 360,000.
From Instagram to the airwaves.
Health Wanted launched in summer 2024 as a collaboration between WABE and Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health. Laurel brings expert interviews, audience questions, and her sense of humor to subjects across public health. The show expanded to national public radio distribution through PRX in January 2026, and its video series earned a gold Telly Award that year.
Creditschronological, newest first
Radio and podcasts
- 2026That Can’t Be True with Chelsea Clinton: Ticks, Ebola, and a Flesh-Eating ComebackGuest
- 2024–presentHealth WantedCreator and host
- 2023Alison Rosen Is Your New Best FriendGuest
- 2021Science Friday: This Infectious Disease Specialist Is Answering Your COVID-19 Questions On InstagramGuest expert
Live conversations
- 2025John Green: Everything Is TuberculosisConversation partner at Emory’s Glenn Memorial Church Auditorium
Awards
Quotes
You can’t have good health without community, and community is exactly what we’re building with Health Wanted.Laurel Bristow, Emory Rollins School of Public Health
From Emory’s June 2026 announcement of Health Wanted’s gold Telly Award.
Trivia
- Her former Instagram handle, kinggutterbaby, came from a joke in Bob’s Burgers, she told Science Friday.
- Her mother, Pamela, was a guest on her 2025 birthday episode of Health Wanted.
Find Laurel
Follow Laurel’s explainers and listen to Health Wanted.
Are you Laurel Bristow?
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