Public Health Out Loud

It’s been a couple months since the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, but many people still have questions about its environmental and health impacts. What do we know about the chemicals that were being transported on that train? What can we learn about crisis communications from this event? How concerned do we need to be about chemical exposure in general and how do we evaluate our risk? Download the latest episode of Public Health Out Loud to get answers from our local experts Dr. Mike Byrns, the principle environmental health risk assessment toxicologist at the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH; Joseph Wendelken, the public information officer at RIDOH; and Mike Healey, the public information officer at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.  

In this week’s episode of the Public Health Out Loud podcast, Dr. Philip Chan is joined by Dr. Kara Cucinotta and Mallory Sullivan from Johnson and Wales University. They’re talking about all things diet and nutrition. How does what we eat and drink impact our health? How can we improve education about healthy eating habits?  What role has social media played in promoting harmful diet culture? Download this week’s episode to find out.   

With national and local headlines about overdoses, fentanyl, and xylazine, it’s important to know about the risks of substance use and the local drug supply. In this week’s Public Health Out Loud podcast, Dr. Philip Chan is joined by Dr. Alexandra Collins and Dr. Rachel Wightman, who are leading a new research study at the Brown University School of Public Health and Warren Alpert Medical School called testRI. The research team tests drug residue samples from used paraphernalia collected at overdose hotspots and donated from individuals or community organizations across Rhode Island. The results of the toxicology testing are shared via near-real-time updates including harm reduction mobile outreach teams, the State’s overdose data and resource website, Prevent Overdose RI, social media, and direct communications to primary care and behavioral health providers to help people understand what’s in the supply and how it may be impacting overdose rates in Rhode Island. Listen to the episode to also learn about how to recognize the signs of an overdose and what you can do to respond. To learn more about this innovative research and Rhode Island’s drug overdose epidemic, visit PreventOverdoseRI.org.  

We’re back for season 3! In the season opener, Dr. Philip Chan from the Rhode Island Department of Health talks about the rising number of sexually transmitted infections in Rhode Island and nationwide. He’s joined by Kathleen Roosevelt, the director of STD prevention and HIV surveillance at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and Dr. Kathy Hsu, the medical director for that division at MDPH. The three experts focus their discussion on gonorrhea: what is it? How is it treated? How does it spread? They also talk about two recent cases in Massachusetts that are getting nationwide attention after showing evidence of reduced susceptibility to antibiotics. Download the season 3 premiere to learn more about gonorrhea and local resources for STI prevention, testing, and treatment in Rhode Island. 

Do you have questions about monkeypox? Download the season 2 finale of the Public Health Out Loud podcast to get answers. Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan talk about the origins of monkeypox, how it’s spread, and how to protect yourself. They also talk about the JYNNEOS vaccine, and how Rhode Island is administering it. Get the facts about monkeypox from our public health experts so you can recognize misinformation when it’s circulating online.  To learn more about Rhode Island’s monkeypox vaccination strategy or to sign up for the Vaccine Interest Notification List, visit health.ri.gov/monkeypox. If you’re listening outside of Rhode Island, visit your local health department’s website for information about vaccination.  Thank you for listening to season 2 of Public Health Out Loud! Subscribe to the podcast and follow the Rhode Island Department of Health on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on season 3.  

This week’s guest expert on the Public Health Out Loud podcast is Ana Bess Moyer Bell, a drama therapist and executive director of 2nd Act. 2nd Act is a Boston-based non-profit organization that uses drama therapy to support healing and recovery for people who have experienced trauma, substance use disorder, a family member living with substance use disorder, or the death of a loved one. Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan ask their guest about how the experience of writing, acting in, or even viewing a play about substance use and recovery can be cathartic. It can help people work through their own ideas about, connections to, or experiences with substance use disorder, and can open up a dialogue about a topic that may sometimes feel like it’s hard to address.  To learn more, download this week’s episode and visit weare2ndact.org.

This week’s guest expert on the Public Health Out Loud podcast is Dr. Patricia Cioe, an Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Brown University. Dr. Cioe’s current research is focused on the effects of cigarette smoking on one’s health, and the development of innovative smoking cessation interventions for people living with HIV. Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan ask Dr. Cioe about the difference between combustible cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vapes. They also talk about the health effects of smoking tobacco and different methods for decreasing or quitting smoking.  Quitting tobacco is a journey. Whether you’re thinking about quitting, aren’t yet ready to quit, or have already quit, the Rhode Island Nicotine Helpline can help you each step of the way. Call 1-800-Quitnow, visit quitnowRI.org, or talk to your healthcare provider about quitting smoking. 

This week’s guest expert is Dr. Amy Cameron, a clinical psychologist in the VA Healthcare System in Providence, Rhode Island and a faculty member of the Department of Psychology and Human Behavior at Brown University. Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan ask her about the most common health concerns among veterans, including chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, and treatment options that are available to veterans. Download this week’s episode to learn more.  Are you a veteran in crisis or concerned about one? You're not alone. The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7. Call 1-800-273-8255 and press option 1, or visit veteranscrisisline.net to chat online. To learn more about local resources, visit vets.ri.gov.

This week’s guest expert on the Public Health Out Loud podcast is Dr. Scott Rivkees, the former surgeon general for the State of Florida. As the state’s leading public health officer from June 2019 to September 2021, Dr. Rivkees oversaw the state’s COVID-19 response. Now, Dr. Rivkees is a professor of practice of health services, policy, and practice and vice chair of the Department of Health Service, Policy, and Practice at the Brown University School of Public Health.  Co-hosts Dr. Philip Chan and Dr. Jim McDonald ask Dr. Rivkees about his experiences leading the COVID-19 response in Florida, and opportunities for research and collaboration now that he’s at Brown University. Download this week’s episode to learn more.  

There are a lot of unanswered questions when it comes to Long Covid, which refers to the prolonged symptoms that some patients experience after an initial COVID-19 infection. People experiencing Long Covid have reported symptoms ranging from fatigue to brain fog to difficulty breathing. For some, the symptoms last a couple weeks after their initial infection with COVID-19. For others, the symptoms have lasted much longer. This week on the Public Health Out Loud podcast, find out what we do and don’t know about Long Covid, and what local researchers are doing to get more answers.  This week’s guest expert is Dr. Francesca Beaudoin, the chair of epidemiology at Brown School of Public Health and director of the Long Covid Initiative there. Dr. Beaudoin talks about who is most at risk of experiencing Long Covid, and the effect that Long Covid is having on some patients’ mental health.  Co-hosts Dr. Philip Chan and Dr. Jim McDonald also talk about local resources that are available to help people experiencing symptoms of Long Covid, including the Long Covid Clinic at Lifespan. Download this week’s episode to learn more.  

This week’s guest expert on the Public Health Out Loud podcast is Dr. Carol Lewis, a general pediatrician at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and the director of the Refugee Health Program there. Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan ask her about pediatric health trends and common health issues among the refugee community. They also ask her about how Rhode Island has welcomed recent waves of refugees arriving from Afghanistan and Ukraine. Download this week’s episode to learn more.  

What did COVID-19 teach us about pandemic preparedness? How concerned should we be about monkeypox? Download the latest episode of the Public Health Out Loud podcast to get the answers from Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist, pandemic preparedness expert, and the director at the new Pandemic Preparedness Center at the Brown University School of Public Health.  Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan talk about their experiences as local public health officials throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and ask Dr. Nuzzo what Rhode Island, the nation, and the world could do to better prepare for another pandemic.  

Did you know 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime? Listen to the latest episode of the Public Health Out Loud podcast to learn more about the patterns of behavior that can occur in abusive relationships and local resources that are available to Rhode Islanders.  This week’s guest expert is Vanessa Volz, the executive director at Sojourner House. The mission of Sojourner House is to promote healthy relationships by providing culturally sensitive support, advocacy, housing, and education for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking; and to effect systems change.  Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan ask Vanessa about the red flags that people should look out for in their relationships. They also talk about how Sojourner House is empowering victims to become survivors. Download this week’s episode to learn more.  

This week’s guest expert is Erin Bertoldi, the state breastfeeding coordinator at the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH).  Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan ask Erin about the health benefits of breastfeeding, the challenges that parents may face, and the resources that are available to support parents through their breastfeeding journey.  Why does the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life? Has the national formula shortage increased interest in breastfeeding support and training programs in Rhode Island? To learn more, download this week’s episode and visit health.ri.gov/breastfeeding. 

Did you know about 10 million people a year develop an active infection of tuberculosis? Although cases in the United States are rare, tuberculosis continues to be prevalent in other areas of the world. And since there isn’t an effective, long-term vaccine, cases can be fatal. In fact, before COVID-19, tuberculosis was the leading infectious disease killer in the world.  This week’s guest expert is Dr. Natasha Rybak, the director of the RISE Clinic for Tuberculosis in Rhode Island. She describes how tuberculosis spreads, how it’s treated, and who’s most at risk. She also talks about her work with the Brown University Ukraine Collaboration, which works with Ukrainian health providers to address the challenges of the HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis epidemics for children, women, and their family members in Ukraine. How has the war impacted tuberculosis research in Ukraine? Download this week’s episode to find out.  

Ending homelessness is a public health issue. One possible solution? More housing.  This week’s guest expert on the Public Health Out Loud podcast is Karen Santilli, the CEO of Crossroads Rhode Island. Crossroads is the leading provider of housing and homeless services in Rhode Island. Santilli talks about how rates of homelessness have increased not just in the state, but throughout the country during the pandemic. She also shares stories about how something called a “housing first” model can help homeless or at-risk individuals and families get on a path to stability. Hear co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan talk about the difference between providing shelter and having a home, and how that difference can impact someone’s health physically, mentally, and emotionally.  How can we improve access to healthcare and resources for people experiencing homelessness? What is Crossroads doing to solve the housing crisis in Rhode Island? Download this week’s episode to find out.  For more information about Crossroads, visit their website at crossroadsri.org. 

This week’s guest expert on the Public Health Out Loud podcast is Dr. Andrew Saal; a family physician and the chief medical officer of the largest community health center in Rhode Island, Providence Community Health Centers (PCHC).  Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan ask Dr. Saal about the difference between reactive and proactive healthcare. They also ask him about how transforming primary care to a team-based approach could relieve crowded emergency rooms and reduce burnout among healthcare workers.  How has PCHC implemented a team-approach to care? Download this week’s episode to find out.  

Pharmacists do a lot more than dispense medication. Pharmacies have become a major hub for people to access health care services—like testing, vaccine, and treatment—during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, roughly 75 percent of the country’s eligible population got their COVID-19 vaccine from a pharmacy.  How has the role of the pharmacist evolved over time? This week’s guest experts, Dr. Jeffrey Bratberg and Dr. Sabrina Silveira, will explain just that. Dr. Bratberg is a clinical professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, the academic collaborations officer at the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Academic Institute, and associate editor for the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. Dr. Silveira is a newly graduated pharmacist from URI’s College of Pharmacy with experience as a hospital outpatient pharmacist.  What kind of training is required for pharmacists? What additional opportunities are there to expand pharmacists’ role in healthcare delivery? Download this week’s episode to find out.  

This week’s guest expert has been managing outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics throughout her career. Meet Dr. Utpala Bandy, the Medical Director for the Division of Preparedness, Response, Infectious Diseases, and Emergency Medical Services at the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). Dr. Bandy gives a tour of her healthcare experiences from around the globe, including her education and the onset of her career in India, and the front-line training she received throughout the United Kingdom and America.  At RIDOH, Dr. Bandy has played a critical part in managing outbreaks and epidemics throughout the state’s recent history. Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan ask her about a rabies outbreak that threatened Rhode Island’s domestic animals and wildlife in the 90s, a salmonella outbreak in 2010 that changed the food industry’s equipment standards nationwide, and, what many call the outbreak most comparable to COVID-19, the H1N1 virus.  Dr. Bandy has also been an invaluable  "healthcare hero behind the scenes" at RIDOH during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. How does the COVID-19 response compare to previous outbreak responses? How long could we be living with COVID-19 as an endemic disease? Download this week’s episode to learn more.  

Trauma-informed care shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” A trauma-informed approach to health acknowledges that physicians and healthcare organizations need to have a complete picture of a patient’s life situation — past and present — in order to provide effective healthcare services with a focus on healing. This week’s guest experts are Dr. Catherine DeGood; a physician in family and addiction medicine, medical director of CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, and a physician at Butler Hospital; and Linda Hurley, the chief executive officer at CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, which is a non-profit organization in Rhode Island that has provided treatment, recovery, and prevention services to individuals and families within local communities for more than 40 years. How come some people can manage stress and trauma better than others? What are some coping skills to help manage stress so that we react in a way that’s helpful to us? Download this week’s episode to learn more.