In 2000, when Kathy Ehrich Dowd graduated with a degree in journalism, she had her sights set on becoming the next Barbara Walters. For nearly two decades, she thrived as a reporter and editor, including an impressive 17-year run contributing to People magazine followed by a three-year stint at Time magazine. But what began as a passion for telling people’s stories, such as the families and victims of 9/11 and the Newtown school shooting, eventually led to burnout. Then came the pandemic, and with it, a turning point.

Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and raised in Newark, Kareemah Harris-Baker’s story is one of resilience. As an adoptee who lost both her adoptive parents by the age of nine, Kareemah’s early life was shaped by profound transitions—and an unwavering sense of purpose instilled by her late parents.

The 2025 International Conference on Integrated Health and Social Work, held at National Taiwan University (NTU), brought together over 20 scholars from 12 universities across South Korea, Vietnam, Macau, the United States, and Taiwan. The two-day event served as a dynamic platform for advancing interdisciplinary research and collaboration in the field of integrated health and social work.