Public Health Out Loud – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can follow an injury or infection and can affect anyone, regardless of age. There is treatment, but it's critical to act fast. In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Chan is joined by Tara Cirella, a local mom who tragically lost her daughter, Gianna, to sepsis a few years ago and Dr. Lee Polikoff, a pediatric critical care specialist at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.  He was one of the physicians in charge of Gianna’s care and is an expert on sepsis. They'll talk about understanding the signs and symptoms of sepsis and the importance of asking questions and advocating for our loved ones if there is a chance they could be suffering from sepsis. It could save a life. This is an episode you won't want to miss. 

September is National Preparedness Month. It's also the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane season! In this episode, Dr. Chan talks with Andrea Creach, from RIDOH's Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response, about how hurricanes and other weather events can impact our health, and what we can do to prepare and protect ourselves from the effects of these types of emergencies. 

In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Chan sits down with psychiatrist and professor, Dr. Paul Wallace, to talk  about mental health – from a few of the common types of mental health conditions, to when it may be best to seek treatment – and from whom. Download and give a listen. #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #NMHAM

In Rhode Island, there is just one laboratory that conducts all public health, environmental, and forensic crime testing for the State. It all happens in one inconspicuous building near Downtown Providence. In this week’s episode, we hear from the director of the State Health Laboratories, Dr. Ewa King.  

Dr. King takes us behind the scenes to find out what exactly the State health lab does, and the role her team played during COVID-19. Hear what it was like to find the first positive case of COVID-19 in Rhode Island, and learn about the risks and safety measures for employees. 

Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan refer to Dr. King as one of the “public health heroes behind the scenes.” Listen to this week’s episode to find out why.  

Substance use and overdoses are an epidemic in this country, and Rhode Island is not immune. But efforts to combat substance use are often highly misunderstood. This week’s episode sheds light on some of those efforts, commonly referred to as harm reduction and overdose prevention strategies.  

Our guest expert is Dr. Brandon Marshall, a professor of epidemiology from Brown University’s School of Public Health who’s research covers substance use, infectious diseases, and the social determinants of health of urban populations.  Dr. Marshall leads the development team at the Brown University School of Public Health for Prevent Overdose RI, the statewide overdose data dashboard.

With our co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan, Dr. Marshall  directly addresses some of the common misconceptions that people have about prevention efforts like safe injection sites, needle exchange programs, and the availability of naloxone, which is a medication that can reverse the effects of a drug overdose. 

Listen to this week’s episode to learn what Rhode Island is doing to address substance use, and find out how local efforts compare to what’s going on around the globe.  

In this week’s episode, Dr. Philip Chan and Dr. Jim McDonald are joined by Dr. Amy Nunn, the executive director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute. Dr. Nunn talks about food insecurity and the obstacles low-income people face when it comes to nutritional diet.  

Dr. Nunn also discusses a pair of recently introduced bills that would place a 1.5 cent per ounce tax on sugary drinks sold in Rhode Island. The tax revenue would support healthy eating incentives for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. 

 Download or stream this week’s episode to learn which drinks would get taxed and where the revenue would go. 

Misinformation is everywhere. And it has long-lasting implications for public health. In this week’s episode, we’re talking about the threat of fast-spreading, factually inaccurate information.  

During COVID-19, Americans saw just how far misinformation could spread when national leaders began touting unproven remedies for COVID-19. The aftermath of misinformation can mean confusion, distrust, and, in the most serious circumstances, death. 

Learn more about misinformation and the attack on science from our guest Tom Nichols, PhD, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College and Harvard Extension School. He is also the author of “The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters.”  

It only takes a quick internet search to find an answer to your question. But what happens when that answer isn’t correct? Listen to this week's episode to find out. 

In this episode, Dr. Kantor talks about different variants of concern, and the importance of getting vaccinated to prevent spreading the virus. Join Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan as they break down what exactly the presence of variants means for Rhode Island as we enter a new stage of the pandemic.  

Let’s talk about another epidemic: the overdose crisis.
With social isolation at an all-time high, overdose rates have been on the rise during COVID-19. It’s being called the “twindemic,” and public health leaders are advocating for more prevention measures, education, and resources to address it. 
In this week’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, an addiction psychiatrist and the former chief medical officer at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 
Along with our co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan, Dr. Katz talks about the connection between mental health and substance use conditions. What does Dr. Katz say is key to addressing discrimination and bias surrounding these topics? Download this week’s episode to learn more.

“Vaccines should not be withheld from women,” says Dr. Erica Hardy, an infectious disease physician at Women & Infants Hospital. She joins healthcare leaders across the country who are raising awareness about COVID-19 vaccine safety and pregnancy. 

New self-reported data gathered from the vaccine rollout suggests there is no additional risk for pregnant women who take a COVID-19 vaccine. The latest information from the CDC helps address several sources of misinformation that concerned pregnant women — a group that is usually susceptible to more severe respiratory illnesses. 

In this week’s episode, Dr. Hardy discusses COVID-19 outcomes among pregnant women and the potential risks of not getting vaccinated. She also dispels some of the false rumors that have discouraged at-risk women from protecting themselves and their families. 

Tune in to learn about the latest data on pregnancy and vaccines with Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan. You won’t want to miss the important takeaways surrounding this topic.