エピソード

  • PrimeCare Health's Innovative Administrative Fellowship Program

    PrimeCare Health's Innovative Administrative Fellowship Program
    2025/06/20
    In this episode of Health Talks, we spotlight a groundbreaking initiative from PrimeCare Health Center—one of the first community health centers in the country to launch an Administrative Fellowship program. Our guests include CEO Lynn Hopkins, along with Elizabeth Brewington and Kelsey Kesler, who share how this 12-month fellowship gives recent master’s graduates an immersive leadership experience in community health.

    From working directly with executive leaders to leading strategic projects and presenting capstones, fellows gain firsthand exposure to operations, healthcare delivery, and systems innovation. The conversation explores why this kind of training is so vital for the future of health centers, especially in underserved communities. Our guests reflect on powerful moments of impact, the importance of cultivating talent in FQHCs, and what’s next for PrimeCare’s fellowship program. Whether you're a recent grad, a healthcare leader, or a community advocate, this episode offers inspiration—and a roadmap—for building the next generation of health center leadership.

    Resources:
    https://www.primecarehealth.org/training-programs
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    30 分
  • How to Support Teens Struggling with Substance Use

    How to Support Teens Struggling with Substance Use
    2025/06/06
    It’s never too early to start an honest conversation with teens about substance use. In this episode of Health Talks, we sit down with Dr. Maria Rahmandar, an attending physician in Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Lurie Children's Hospital and the founding medical director of their Substance Use and Prevention Program. Dr. Rahmandar shares her personal and professional journey into adolescent substance use treatment, including how a family tragedy shaped her commitment to this work.

    We dive into timely and complex issues from the evolving potency of cannabis and the rise of nicotine vapes to the intersection of mental health and substance use among teens. Dr. Rahmandar offers practical insights for providers, emphasizing empathy, harm reduction, and the importance of building trust. She also discusses how social media plays a dual role in both connection and risk, and shares strategies for engaging youth in meaningful, nonjudgmental conversations about their health. Whether you're a provider, caregiver, or advocate, this episode is a powerful guide to supporting young people with compassion and clarity.

    As Dr. Rahmandar reminds us: “It is really important to celebrate those successes, live in the moment, and be proud of people for the hard work they’ve done.”
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    43 分
  • Leading with Empathy: Educating Patients and Providers on Addiction Medicine

    Leading with Empathy: Educating Patients and Providers on Addiction Medicine
    2025/06/06
    In this episode of Health Talks, we chat with Gorana Micevic, a Physician Assistant at Access Community Health Network in Chciago. Gorana shares her journey from training at SIU School of Medicine to serving both rural and urban communities through family and addiction medicine. She discusses leading a nationally recognized COVID-19 testing program in rural Illinois, completing Rush University’s addiction medicine fellowship, and building a patient panel for opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). Gorana offers encouragement for providers who may feel uncertain about treating OUD, and reminds us that education, empathy, and collaboration are key to making an impact.

    Throughout the episode, Gorana emphasizes the importance of education both for patients and providers. She reflects on how increasing clinician confidence around initiating OUD treatment could reduce barriers to care, and stresses the need for more training programs to include addiction medicine and integrated behavioral health: “I’m a strong believer in the power of integrated behavioral health. Some of the most meaningful progress I’ve seen with patients has happened alongside behavioral health consultants—professionals trained in trauma, anxiety, depression, and recovery. It’s the combination of medical and emotional care that truly transforms outcomes.”
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    18 分
  • Stronger Together: Family and Friends in Substance Use Recovery

    Stronger Together: Family and Friends in Substance Use Recovery
    2025/06/04
    In this podcast episode, we’re joined by Stacy Agosto, a Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorders Consultant at IPHCA. Stacy shares her insights on how involving loved ones in addiction treatment can improve outcomes, reduce stigma, and strengthen long-term recovery. She also offers practical tips and real-world resources that healthcare providers can share with patients and their families, along with inspiring stories of recovery where community made the difference.
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    20 分
  • Expanding Access: Long-Acting Injectables in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

    Expanding Access: Long-Acting Injectables in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
    2025/05/23
    In this episode of Health Talks, we sat down with Dr. Ruchi Fitzgerald from PCC Wellness Health Center to explore the topic of treatments for substance use disorder. Specically, long-acting injectables (LAIs) and other treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD). Dr. Fitzgerald shares her clinical journey into this field, the barriers patients face in staying on treatment, and how new treatments may offer a solution by providing stability and continuity of care. We dive into how treatments work, the growing eligibility among patients, and strategies for discussing these options with those considering treatment. Dr. Fitzgerald also highlights the value of listening to individuals with lived experience and how integrating harm reduction, behavioral health, and primary care can lead to more compassionate, effective care models.
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    36 分
  • Let’s Talk Oral Health and Hypertension

    Let’s Talk Oral Health and Hypertension
    2025/05/13
    In this episode of Health Talks, we’re joined by Dr. Sue Etminan, Dental Director at Mile Square Health Center–South Shore, for a timely conversation on the connection between oral health and hypertension. Dr. Etminan shares insights into how dental professionals can play a key role in identifying and addressing high blood pressure during routine visits. We explore the connection between oral health and hypertension, how blood pressure screenings are incorporated into dental workflows, and whether patients are open to these screenings in a dental setting. Dr. Etminan also discusses best practices, referral protocols, and how collaboration between dental and medical teams can improve patient outcomes. Whether you’re a healthcare provider or a curious listener, this episode highlights how the dentist’s chair can be a powerful place for preventive care.

    Resources:
    BP Measurement Training - https://bit.ly/BPmt25
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    16 分
  • Cass County’s Grow Your Own Program Brings Dental Careers to Life

    Cass County’s Grow Your Own Program Brings Dental Careers to Life
    2025/04/24
    In this episode of Health Talks, we spoke with Nicole Roege and Amy Thompson from Cass County Health Department about their innovative "Grow Your Own" program. This program is designed to introduce high school students to the rewarding field of public health dentistry. We explore how the first year of this program is already reshaping the future of rural oral health. By partnering with local school districts and using the health department's dental clinic, they’re building career pathways and cultivating a future workforce in rural Illinois.

    Tune in as we explore how this unique program got started, the impact it’s having in its first year, and what it takes to spark interest in oral health careers in underserved communities. It’s a program that’s already making a difference and one that other health centers could replicate. Whether you're a health leader, educator, or simply curious about how community-based training can inspire the next generation, this episode delivers insight, inspiration, and practical takeaways.
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    23 分
  • Mentoring and Inspiring the Next Generation with Dr. Green and Dr. Conway

    Mentoring and Inspiring the Next Generation with Dr. Green and Dr. Conway
    2025/03/07
    I sat down with two leaders in community healthcare, Dr. Lisa Green, CEO of Family Christian Health Center in Illinois, and Dr. Conway, founder of the I Am Abel Foundation. In this special Black History Month episode we chatted about how they've dedicated their careers to improving healthcare access and mentoring future generations. They share the pivotal moments that shaped their journeys, including how classic medical TV shows like Marcus Welby, M.D. sparked their early interest in healthcare.

    Both Dr. Green and Dr. Conway were part of the CHAMPs mentorship program at different points in their lives, but their paths truly crossed about five years ago through the I Am Abel Foundation, where Dr. Green became a mentor and opened her clinic to young aspiring professionals. In our conversation, they discuss the influence of Black History Month on their work, the challenges and successes of community health outreach, and how leaders can work together to create lasting change.
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    51 分