Off the Charts: Examining the Health Equity Emergency

A pair of experts with Healthcare for the Homeless share their perspectives working with unsheltered populations and addressing homelessness. Kat Donnelly, a family nurse practitioner with Minnesota Community Care, and Josh Leopold, a senior advisor on health, homelessness and housing for the Minnesota Department of Health, join the show to talk about what’s being done in St. Paul.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuests: Kat Donnelly and Josh LeopoldResources:Minnesota Department of Health Public Health and HomelessnessMinnesota Coalition for the HomelessMinnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness National Health Care for the Homeless CouncilStreet Medicine InstituteHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Xiongmee Chang shares how mentorship and unwavering belief inspired her to accomplish goals and take on roles previously unimagined. The Regions Hospital nurse manager joined the Hmong Nurses Association board of directors in 2024 and helped plan HNA’s second National Nursing Conference after being encouraged by her mentor to attend the first one.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Xiongmee ChangHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

It’s possible for patients to receive hospital-level care inside their homes. HealthPartners Hospital@Home director Tia Radant and medical director Dr. Chrisanne Timpe talk about the program’s evolution as “the virtual unit,” which types of patients are ideal candidates for getting acute care at home, and the role community paramedics and other care team members play in treating patients.Producer's note: In this episode, Dr. Chrisanne Timpe says, "The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services collected data for about three years on how these programs were doing nationally. And in that data with tens of thousands of patients, when they compared Hospital@Home groups to equally matched in brick and mortar treated groups, they showed that, for several diagnoses, there were reduced readmissions. But most importantly for somebody like me, there is a 20% chance of ending up needing a skilled nursing facility after hospitalization for frail elders for people who are in the brick and mortar, compared to 2.5%." The correct number is even lower: 1.2% for people in Hospital@Home, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuests: Tia Radant and Dr. Chrisanne TimpeHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Maxx Enzmann and Zack Nelson, infectious diseases pharmacists and members of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) at HealthPartners, tell us the top three things everyone should know about antibiotics, what’s misunderstood about them and share how the ASP uses equity as its guiding principle.HealthPartners Antimicrobial Stewardship Program page (only accessible to HealthPartners colleagues)Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Jimmy BellamyGuests: Maxx Enzmann, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP; and Zack Nelson, PharmD, MPH, BCIDPHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com. 

As the director of web and mobile digital accessibility at HealthPartners, Steve Sawczyn leads a team dedicated to making health care simple and accessible for everyone. Steve, who is blind, has used his own experiences to inspire his team’s accessibility work and says he has learned to challenge what people say is impossible.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Steve SawczynSteve and the web and mobile digital accessibility team can be reached at accessibility@healthpartners.com.HealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Statistics show that women and communities of color are less likely to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation after cardiac arrest. Dr. Sylvia Owusu-Ansah is the emergency medical services director at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and co-founder of Akoma United, an organization with the mission to save lives, especially in communities of color, and goal to empower everyday people to use CPR. She shares why it's important and reminds us that there’s no liability when doing CPR.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Dr. Sylvia Owusu-AnsahHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to chronic-pain management. Each person’s story is unique and requires individualized care that often includes non-opioid therapies. Sara Hall, a clinical nurse specialist in pain management at Regions Hospital, shares how a 2020 grant helped her team develop a yoga program that’s more accessible for Spanish-speaking patients with chronic pain.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Sara HallHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com. Programa NeuroWell/DolorManejando Mi Dolor con Yoga¿Tiene dolor crónico? Está pensando intentar el Yoga, ¿pero preocupado que el Yoga pueda ser demasiado desafiante o que empeoraría su dolor? ¡Este curso podría ser para usted!Yoga puede aliviar la tensión y mejorar el dolorEnseñado por instructores certificados de yoga con capacitación adicional en el dolor crónico, este curso le mostrará los fundamentos de cómo crear su práctica de yoga y ayudará a entender porque el yoga ha sido demostrado que reduce el dolor crónico. Sara Hall es una enfermera que ha trabajado en el campo de manejar el dolor por más de 15 años y combinado la ciencia del yoga haciéndola accesible a aquellos con dolor crónico.Ofrecido en formato digital en linea, este programa le permit progresar a su propio paso, y le ofrece el beneficio de que pueda participar de cualquier lugar y a cualquier hora que desee enfocarse en su bienestar.A medida que yoga se vuelve más popular, también aprendemos más de sus beneficios de saludMejoramiento de:En el sentido de bienestarBalance y fuerzaSueñoNivel de energíaMemoria y concentraciónTambién incluidos en este programa hay contenido y recursos adicionales.Manejando Mi Dolor con Yoga lo dejará sintiéndose empoderado con herramientas para mejorar su bienestar, aliviar tensión, y controlar su estrés.**Patrocinado por HealthPartners y MDH**Visite https://myneurosciencecenter.com/MyNeuroscienceCenter/learnabout/10062 para registrarse.Email: myyoga@healthpartners.com Manage My Pain with YogaDo you have chronic pain? Are you thinking about trying yoga but concerned about it being too challenging or making your pain worse? This course might be for you!Yoga can relieve tension and improve painTaught by certified yoga instructors with additional training in chronic pain, this course will take you through the basics of building a yoga practice and help you understand why yoga has been shown to reduce chronic pain. Sara Hall is a nurse who has been working in the field of pain management for more than 15 years and has blended the science of yoga with making it accessible for those with chronic pain.Offered in an online format that's self-paced, this program has the benefit of being able to participate anywhere and anytime you want to focus on your well-being.As yoga is growing in popularity, so are the known health benefitsImproved:Sense of well-beingBalance and strengthSleepEnergy levelsMemory and concentrationWhat to expectEach module includes:Education about yoga and how it can improve chronic pain and symptoms associated with chronic pain such as poor sleep, fatigue, anxiety and depressionA short demonstration video to go into more depth about various elements of yogaA yoga practice video with two ability levels to follow or go betweenA short survey to provide feedbackAlso included in this program is additional resources and content as well as the option of meeting live with health care providers who are also trained as yoga instructors (for an additional fee).Manage My Pain with Yoga will leave you feeling empowered with tools to improve your well-being, relieve tension and control your stress.** Sponsored by HealthPartners and the Minnesota Department of Health**Visit https://hprfstudies.org/redcap/surveys/?s=RKXN8YE3E3 to register.Email myyoga@healthpartners.com for more questions.

Stephanie Zahrbock suddenly lost all sensation and the ability to move or feel anything below her belly button in 2016 when a lesion was discovered on her spine. The former runner shares how her world changed and how solutions to her challenges can benefit everyone.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Stephanie ZahrbockHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

It’s important to understand that equity, the quality of being fair and impartial, means we don’t all start from the same place. Equity in the workplace starts with commitment and alignment.Rhonda Cox, vice president of people and culture for Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, shares why equity’s important to her and what inspired her to want to shape, create and influence workplace culture to be more inclusive and equitable for colleagues.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Rhonda CoxHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Growing Through Grief is a school-based grief support and crisis management program supported by the Park Nicollet Foundation that provides children with peer support groups, individual counseling, and death-related crisis response after they’ve experienced the loss of a loved one.Nicole Barnes, Growing Through Grief program manager, and Judy Brown, Minneapolis Public Schools mental health manager, outline the prevalence of childhood bereavement and share the C.A.R.E.S. (community, awareness, resiliency, empathy and strength) support group model. The episode will highlight how the partnership between health care and education systems brings additional resources to schools that share education and renewal practices with students that bring hope and healing.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuests: Nicole Barnes and Judy BrownHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Our focus on reducing disparities led to a partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. A gap in care with our Somali patient population was discovered after reviewing numbers for colorectal and breast cancer screenings, pediatric immunizations and diabetes.In the Season 4 finale, two HealthPartners colleagues, family nurse practitioner Munira MaalimIsaq and senior project manager Greg Fedio, share how the Equity Action Lab project, or what they and participants called "Open Faces," helped assess and better understand the gaps and determine steps for changes."Off the Charts" returns June 11.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuests: Munira MaalimIsaq, FNP; and Greg FedioHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

HealthPartners created myGenetics, a community health research program in partnership with Helix, because DNA can tell people about their health and may hold the key to understanding certain health risk factors.Deenya Craig, a HealthPartners patient with a family history of cancer, started having irregular mammograms in her mid-30s and knew DNA testing existed. Through myGenetics, she found out she carries the BRCA2 gene mutation that brings a greater risk of breast and ovarian cancers. She’s now a health advocate and encouraged her family to get checked.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Deenya CraigHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

The playing field isn’t always level when it comes to youth sports. Access for kids and communities often depends on whether parents and families can afford the costs connected to teams, training and travel. Lea B. Olsen, a former college athlete with a career in sports, shares her how she found competitive basketball as a kid growing up in South Minneapolis. She talks about how the youth sports model has changed and anxiety’s impact on today’s young athletes.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Lea B. OlsenHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Community Health MPact is a course in which students examine causes of and potential solutions to health inequities impacting urban communities in Minnesota. Urbanization can bring social and economic benefits, but structural inequities in these areas are the key contributors to health inequities which most often harm Black communities and communities of color.Dr. Priya Sury, a HealthPartners emergency medicine physician at Hudson Hospital in Hudson, Wisconsin, and assistant professor and course director for urban community health at the University of Minnesota Medical School, shares how she was inspired to create the course she wanted when she was a medical student.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Priya Sury, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Allyship is showing solidarity with members of a marginalized or mistreated group to which one doesn’t belong. Kelly Fang, senior on-site well-being program manager and health coach, shares her allyship story that began when her child wanted to dress more masculine. She talks about what allyship is and isn’t, struggling with the concept of “living a double life,” and how to be a resource for others.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Kelly FangHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women (excluding skin cancers) and second-leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the U.S. And while African American women are less likely to develop breast cancer, they're more likely to die from it – a lot more likely.Dr. Lashonda Soma, a breast imager for Midwest Radiology who serves as medical director of HealthPartners Mammography and Regions Breast Health Center, shares her personal and professional experiences with disparities in breast health.Relevant links:Video: Dr. Soma share more about breast health (Breast Cancer Gaps Project)Video: Dr. Soma shares five myths about mammograms (Breast Cancer Gaps Project)Park Nicollet Health Services: Jane Brattain Breast CenterHosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Lashonda Soma, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

About 1.5 million Minnesotans with Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare must complete re-enrollment paperwork to re-determine their Medicaid-eligibility status by May 2024. The already significant disparities with access to health insurance for communities of color make this a health equity emergency.Leigh Grauman, a licensed social worker and director of training and policy implementation at Portico Healthnet, explains the process, barriers to renewal and how people can help.Relevant links:Minnesota Department of Human Services: Renew My  Coverage websiteState Health & Value Strategies: CMS guidance of conducting eligibility redeterminations at the individual levelHosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Leigh GraumanHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Dr. Deb Thorp, medical director of gender services at Park Nicollet, answers questions about the unique health care needs of people who are transgender, the difference between sex and gender, and the care she and her team have been providing for decades.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Deb Thorp, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Community Circles are virtual, consultant-led, supported classes that bring Black women together through every stage of pregnancy and post-birth to share their experiences, joys, questions, thoughts and fears. The circles are patient-guided and focus on social support and building community among participants.In the final episode of the third season, Dr. Diane Banigo, a certified nurse midwife, and Ciana Cullens, a community relations liaison, join the show to share their experiences as consultants leading Community Circles. Season 4 of "Off the Charts" will premiere in September.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuests: Dr. Diane Banigo and Ciana CullensHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Dianne Haulcy is president and CEO at The Family Partnership and host of Early Risers, a podcast from Little Moments Count and Minnesota Public Radio. She joins the show to share what led her to pursue childhood education, how families can talk to kids about race and racism, and how the two podcasts have similar origin stories.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Dianne HaulcyHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

The LGBTQ+ Colleague Resource Group at HealthPartners created a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ colleagues through building relationships, offering professional development opportunities and acting as a resource for businesses. Katie Paro, a resource group leader and the specialty and operations manager at our Burnsville clinic, shares the CRG’s vision, how it engages with colleagues and stories from her own experience and journey.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Katie Paro HealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Microaggressions, the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle), offensive comments or actions directed at a member of a marginalized group that reinforce stereotypes, come in many forms. Registered nurses Annalise George and Tina Santos and emergency room technician Jenny Sloan share their experiences dealing with and responding to microaggressions as well as the impact they can have on individuals and workplaces.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuests: Annalise George, Tina Santos and Jenny Sloan HealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Jason Jackson helps leaders and teams at HealthPartners with critically important conversations as a diversity and inclusion consultant. On this episode, he shares his work and passion for equity and inclusion, the importance of not placating to whiteness, and finding a community of care while managing anxiety and depression.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Jason JacksonHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Well-being and burnout aren’t new topics, but they’ve been in the spotlight since the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Natalia Dorf Biderman, a hospitalist at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and co-chair of the clinician well-being taskforce at HealthPartners, shares how burnout expresses itself and relates to well-being. She also discusses belonging, from comfort to connection and contribution.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Natalia Dorf Biderman, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Dr. Yeng Yang spent five years in a refugee camp before her family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, when she was 10. Her experiences as a child, including the pain she saw her father go through before he died, drove her to pursue a career in health care focused on equity. Dr. Yang shares changes taking place and the opportunities to improve experiences, especially for patients from non-English-speaking cultures.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Yeng Yang, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

The murder of George Floyd and summer of 2020 intensified the equity work of businesses, organizations and government. It was an urgent wakeup call for some but reaffirmation of the work already being done by others. Toni Newborn, human resources director and the first chief equity officer for the City of Saint Paul, discusses cultural and systemic change, the city’s focus on equity as a pillar, and meeting people at their level of success.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Toni NewbornHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Stepping into work centered on diversity, equity and inclusion can seem overwhelming. But finding your area of passion and the community working in that space helps. Dr. Anthony Williams, a hospitalist at Regions Hospital, shares how blending his lived experiences and love of writing and storytelling with patients’ own lived experiences has improved care and understanding.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Anthony Williams, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com. 

HealthPartners is committed to creating spaces where everyone feels welcome, included and valued. As part of that commitment, Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, is proud to host the George Floyd Memorial Art Exhibit, “I Am Not You. You Are Not Me. Healing Begins with Acceptance.” The exhibit, displayed from Jan. 6 through March 4, showcases more than 100 pieces of art and offerings left at George Floyd Square near the intersection of East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis by people from around the world.On this special episode and premiere of the third season, Jeanelle Austin, executive director of George Floyd Global Memorial, and Methodist President Jennifer Myster share how and why the exhibit came to the hospital, racism’s connection to health and the importance of curiosity as part of the journey to expanding our perspectives.The exhibit is made possible by the partnership of the George Floyd Global Memorial and Park Nicollet Foundation.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuests: Jeanelle Austin and Jennifer MysterHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

In this special episode of Off the Charts, co-hosts Steven Jackson, MD, Kari Haley, MD, and producer Jimmy Bellamy reflect on the past year since the podcast launched. They share the conversations they’re still thinking about, the quotes that have stuck with them and feedback from listeners that inspire them to keep going. Off the Charts will return soon with Season 3.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Jimmy BellamyHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastYouTube link to the 2020 Regions EMS roundtable discussion with St. Paul first responders referenced in this episode: Diversity in EMS PodcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Lorraine Love spent 15 years in human services before combining the warmth and spirit she had for that work with her skillsets in beauty, design, budgeting and management to open Minnesota’s first Black-owned bridal store. LaNoire Bridal in St. Paul has a culturally diverse selection of wedding attire and services. Love, who grew up in the historic Rondo community as one of eight children, shares how her passion and knack for hair and makeup led her down the path of business owner. LaNoire Bridal is connected to the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership, of which HealthPartners and Regions Hospital are a part as St. Paul’s largest private employer.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Lorraine LoveHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

For the past 40 years, Washington, D.C.-based Grantmakers In Health has been dedicated to helping foundations and funders of all sizes and interests through education, leadership and networking, working with hundreds of philanthropic organizations across the United States.Dr. Cara V. James, president and CEO at GIH, shares how and why her career has focused on minority health and improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations. She also talks about GIH’s strategic plan focused on health equity, social justice, access and quality, community engagement and empowerment, population health and philanthropic growth and impact.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Dr. Cara V. JamesHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Penumbra Theatre was founded in 1976 by Lou Bellamy as a forum for African American voices in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area’s theater community. Today, Penumbra is using arts, equity and wellness as it evolves into the Penumbra Center for Racial Healing. President Sarah Bellamy and wellness director Camille Cyprian join share the process and how their team is engaging in a long-term community needs assessment to discover how people are learning to thrive in an environment with myriad issues, including racism.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuests: Sarah Bellamy and Camille CyprianHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com. 

When Willie Braziel thinks about growing up in a single-parent household without his father, he remembers the father figures and peers who helped him on his journey. The operations manager for HealthPartners Institute’s Office of Health Professional Education shares how role models and community programs for youth led him to a lifetime of mentorship and volunteerism, including nearly 50 years as a basketball coach.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Willie BrazielHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Munira MaalimIsaq remembers how difficult navigating the health care system was for her family after they moved to the U.S. from Somalia when she was 9 years old. Since then, she has wanted to help others in a similar position and give back to her community. Asking people what they need and providing education have been her keys to connection.MaalimIsaq, a nurse practitioner at HealthPartners Clinic Maplewood and former telemetry nurse at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, shares how she was able to help and serve members of the Somali community by dispelling COVID-19 myths, providing vaccines, and establishing a support group at mosques for those struggling with alcohol addiction.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Munira MaalimIsaq, FNP (family nurse practitioner)HealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Health and well-being create a perspective that activates the way the world engages with us. Activities that are nature-based, happen outdoors and have an element of adventure lead to self-discovery, connection to the environment and building communities.Anthony Taylor, of the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, shares how riding his bike through Minneapolis one day during college led to a lifelong journey of health, wellness and education centered on nature, outdoors and adventure. Much of Taylor’s work has been dedicated to connecting communities of color to movement and the outdoors.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Anthony TaylorHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Equity and diversity bring new ideas, innovation and a richness that move progress forward. But some may think it’s a zero-sum game, that giving someone power takes it away from someone else.Emily Binstadt, MD, HealthPartners emergency medicine physician and director of simulation at Regions Hospital, talks about being a fierce advocate for women in medicine. She and hosts Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MD, discuss setbacks and experiences, how feedback gets delivered differently for women versus men, and how talking openly and identifying issues can lead to positive changes away from what has long been considered “normal.”Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Emily Binstadt, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, it’s part of our ongoing work to improve the health and well-being of birthing parents and babies, through health equity efforts focused on eliminating disparities in maternal and infant care.Dr. Diane Banigo, a doctorate-prepared midwife, certified nurse midwife and Park Nicollet community consultant, discusses means to be a midwife, the importance of building authentic relationships, and “birthing while Black.”Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Diane Banigo, DNP, APRN, CNMHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

NOTE TO LISTENERS: Technical difficulties affected some of the audio on this episode.Historically, there hasn’t been a lot of diversity in firefighting and emergency medical services. Seeing is believing, and two graduates of the St. Paul Fire Department’s EMS Academy Pathways program, which provides tuition-free emergency medical technician certification, share the impact representation has had on them.In the final episode of Season 1, Josh Garubanda, a firefighter-paramedic, and Nela Kurtic, a paramedic, discuss cultural barriers, the challenges of cultural nuances, navigating differences with their peers, and connecting with the communities they serve. Off the Charts will return soon with Season 2.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuests: Josh Garubanda and Nela KurticHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Childhood immunization schedules are designed for children’s young immune systems, helping to protect them from preventable diseases as early and as safely as possible. That’s why it’s so important to stay on schedule – even during the COVID-19 pandemic.Andrea Singh, MD, department chair of pediatrics at Park Nicollet and co-lead of the Children’s Health Initiative, discusses disparities in childhood vaccination rates and how critical vaccines are for keeping kids healthy. Dr. Singh also shares her lifelong passion for teaching and helping people learn, and her experience as a parent and how it relates to building trust with patients and their families.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Andrea Singh, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Racial disparities and major deficits exist in almost every child health measure. The most important one to improve, according to Dr. Jason Maxwell, is reading and literacy because of its statistical connection to adult poverty and incarceration.Dr. Maxwell, the HealthPartners chair of pediatrics and HealthPartners Como Clinic medical director, discusses getting kids and parents started early with reading, open and honest communication, and listening to patients and their families to find out what’s important to them.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Jason Maxwell, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

In maternal health, race matters. In the U.S., it’s evident in the statistics and disparities in maternal- and infant-health outcomes. HealthPartners is working to help reverse the trends of health inequities and close gaps in the disparities of birth outcomes with family-centered care, high reliability and health equity.Dr. Corinne Brown-Robinson, the vice chair of the OB-GYN department and medical director of the ultrasound department at HealthPartners and medical co-chair of the Children’s Health Initiative, shares her personal and professional experiences with pregnancy and childbirth, national statistics that show disparities in birth outcomes for Black and Indigenous birthing people and trust’s role in the patient-provider partnership.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Corinne Brown-Robinson, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Being welcome, included and valued is a basic human need and essential to health and well-being. It’s why eliminating inequities is key to creating healthy communities. As an organization dedicated to the health and well-being of every person, HealthPartners is committed to building an anti-racist culture.President and CEO Andrea Walsh discusses the organization’s journey and why calling out racism is critically important to being an anti-racist culture. She also talks with hosts Dr. Kari Haley and Dr. Steven Jackson about how the expertise, passion and lived experiences of colleagues is helping to build a stronger organization where inequity and racism have no place.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Andrea WalshHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

That Got Weird, a digital series from Twin Cities PBS, confronts the uncomfortable with real stories of racism experienced by Indigenous, Black, Asian and other people of color in Minnesota. Along with a promise of anonymity, each subject interviewed has a hand in designing their own character and giving it a pseudonym.Myc Daz, the show’s character designer and co-animator, and Sergio Mata’u Rapu, director, co-animator and TPT digital series producer, share how the show got its start, the production process and why their guests’ stories are important.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Myc Daz, co-founder and creative director of SchoolzGuest: Sergio Mata’u Rapu, documentary filmmaker, TPT digital series producerHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Regions Hospital was the first Minnesota hospital to be verified as both a Level I trauma center for adults and children, able to meet the strict standards of providing entire families the highest level of care.Kelsey Berndt, MD, a trauma surgeon and the medical director of the surgical intensive care unit at Regions, joins the show to discuss trauma and trauma-related injuries, health disparities, her team’s interaction with the community and “finding the calm in the chaos” of a trauma bay.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Kelsey Berndt, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Awareness for mental health services in the U.S. has increased in recent years, but more work must be done. Over time we’ve learned how to talk about it – and just how important it is to speak up – as one in five people will experience mental illness.Sarah Cassell, the director of inpatient mental health services at Regions Hospital, joins the show for a conversation about the cultural connection to mental health stigma, the overall increase in the need for mental health services, mental health-related emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and much more.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Sarah CassellHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Pregnant patients should feel empowered to have a birth experience that reflects their culture and values. Regions Hospital Family Birth Center was created with that focus – as a place for family-centered care, high reliability and health equity.LeeAnn Hubbard, MD, the birth center’s medical director, discusses how health equity is the foundation of the facility, its importance in the delivery experience, and the partnership between providers and families.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: LeeAnn Hubbard, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Everyone can actively work to develop greater intercultural competence. The Intercultural Development Continuum™ provides a roadmap for individuals, teams and organizations who wish to improve on their ability to understand and adapt to the diversity around them and become more fully inclusive.Sidney Van Dyke, the director of health equity and language access at Regions Hospital, discusses the five mindsets along the Intercultural Development Continuum™ and shares practical examples to bring it to life.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Sidney Van DykeHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

In this special episode of Off the Charts, we get to know co-host Steven Jackson, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, and the medical director of patient experience at Regions Hospital.Dr. Jackson shares stories about growing up in Chicago, his desire to help people and how he always knew that he wanted to be a doctor.Host: Kari Haley, MDGuest: Steven Jackson, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

In this special episode of Off the Charts, we get to know co-host Kari Haley, MD, an emergency medicine physician and assistant medical director of Regions Hospital EMS.Dr. Haley shares stories about her birth in South Korea, adoption and growing up in Delano, Minnesota, her decision to pursue emergency medicine and passion for health equity.Host: Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Kari Haley, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.

Cultural humility is as essential as anything else in the journey toward equity. Humility comes when we’re critical of ourselves and able to realize our map is only a piece of the whole territory.Miguel Ruiz, MD, a HealthPartners hospice and palliative medicine physician, inspires us with a conversation about cultural competency vs. cultural humility, seeking to understand vs. seeking to be understood, and the hospitality of the heart.Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MDGuest: Miguel Ruiz, MDHealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcastGot an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at offthecharts@healthpartners.com.