Alcohol is the most used substance among adults in the United States despite being known to cause cancer, liver disease, cardiomyopathy, and more.  Approximately 600 people die in Rhode Island every year from excessive alcohol use. In this episode, Linda Mahoney, associate director for the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals and Emily Ledingham, senior alcohol epidemiologist at the Rhode Island Department of Health talk about what people need to know and where to find help when it's needed.  

The holidays are upon us but respiratory viruses like COVID-19, Flu, and RSV don’t make great gifts. In this episode, Dr. Suzanne Bornschein, State Epidemiologist at the Rhode Island Department of Health, shares the best ways to keep viruses from spreading to our friends, to our loved ones, and in our communities. 

For more information and data, visit health.ri.gov/respiratoryviruses.

It's National Health Center Week - a time to recognize and celebrate the role of health centers in our communities. These nonprofit clinics provide affordable, high-quality care to more than 200,000 Rhode Islanders. At a time when primary care is at a critical shortage in Rhode Island, the community health center model may be just what the doctor ordered. In this episode, Dr. Elena Kwetkowski, chief medical officer at Comprehensive Community Action Program in Coventry and Karen LaChapelle, medical director and nurse practitioner at Tri County Community Action Agency in Johnston fill us in on their critical work and how funding challenges and low reimbursement rates may hinder their ability to serve.  

On this week’s episode of the Public Health Out Loud podcast, co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan are talking about natural immunity. What level of immunity does someone have after getting infected with COVID-19? Are they at risk for getting infected again? 

Our co-hosts are joined by Dr. Joseph Hogan and PhD candidate Nick Lewis from the Brown University Biostatistics Department. Our guest experts discuss their research findings on how many people in Rhode Island have gotten infected with COVID-19 and then got infected again. They also talk about how COVID-19 vaccines have protected patients from reinfection and the importance of staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations.  

Download this week’s episode to learn more.  

There are about 1.6 million people in the United States right now living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Cases range from mild to severe, and can impact people of all ages. In this week’s podcast, co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan are talking about all things related to IBD and gut health.  

This week’s guest expert is Rhode Island native Dr. Jason Shapiro. He’s a pediatric gastroenterologist and director of the Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Hasbro Children's Hospital, and an associate professor of pediatrics and medicine; and clinician educator at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. 

What treatment options are available for people living with IBD? Are there steps people can take to support a healthy gut? Download this week’s episode to find out.  

Dr. Ewa King, director of Rhode Island’s State Health Laboratories, returns in this week’s episode to talk about COVID-19 variants. 

In Rhode Island, the State Health Labs coordinate the SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance program in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and clinical and academic laboratories. This means the State Health Labs are sequencing and analyzing a representative selection of samples of the virus circulating in the state to identify differences between these samples and the genetic material of the original virus. 

Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan ask Dr. King about the evolution of COVID-19 testing and the State’s variant sequencing program. How reliable are COVID-19 tests? How pervasive has the Delta variant been in Rhode Island? Should people be more worried about the Omicron variant? Download this week’s episode to find out.  

In this week’s episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Philip Chan and Dr. Jim McDonald recap public health highpoints from 2021 and share their hopes for the new year. They also talk about what you can do to protect your household from COVID-19 this holiday season, and throughout the upcoming winter months.  

To learn more, download this week’s episode of Public Health Out Loud, and visit covid.ri.gov/prevention. 

Our guest expert this week is Dr. Jonathan Kurtis, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the Brown University School of Public Health. Dr. Kurtis studies various neglected tropical diseases, including malaria, and is working to identify and define possible vaccines for them. 

Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan ask Dr. Kurtis about his research findings, the history of neglected tropical diseases, and why malaria case rates continue to increase. 

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest malaria report, there were an estimated 627,000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2020, which is a 12 percent increase over 2019. Although case rates in the United States are low—about 2,000 a year—malaria is the top killer of children younger than 5 across the world.  

How do neglected tropical diseases spread? Why isn’t there already an effective vaccine against malaria? Download this week’s episode to learn more.  

This week’s guest is Rhode Island State Senator Joshua Miller, who represents State Senate District 28. He is Chair of the State Senate Committee on Health and Human Services and is actively involved in the Governor's Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force.  

In this episode, Senator Miller talks about what local representatives are doing to address two major public health concerns: the COVID-19 pandemic and the drug overdose epidemic.  

Co-hosts, Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan, talk with Senator Miller about issues that made the impact of COVID-19 in some communities much worse—like lack of access to affordable healthcare, transportation, and housing. They also talk about how Rhode Island is among the first in the nation to pass legislation allowing a two-year pilot program for harm reduction centers, also called “overdose prevention sites” or “supervised consumption centers.” 

What does Senator Miller share about strategies to address health inequities in Rhode Island? How did Rhode Island pass a bill allowing a two-year pilot program for harm reduction centers? Download this week’s episode to find out.  

This week on Public Health Out Loud, we’re joined by guest expert Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician at Rhode Island Hospital and Miriam Hospital. She is also the Associate Dean of Strategy and Innovation for the School of Public Health, founding Director of the Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health, and co-founder and Senior Strategic Advisor to the American Foundation for Firearm Injury Reduction in Medicine at the Aspen Institute. Her full biography is available on this web page.  

In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan ask Dr. Ranney about her experience working on the front lines of a local emergency department since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It has been a series of ups and downs. I was actually in the emergency department the night that the very first identified COVID-19 patient in our state came in,” Dr. Ranney says. “I remember the feeling that night knowing that it finally hit us here in Rhode Island.” 

Dr. Ranney also talks about her work with Dr. Ashish Jha on the Long COVID Initiative, which is a coalition of clinicians, researchers, and public health communicators working together to shed light on the long-lasting impacts that a COVID-19 diagnosis has had on some patients' health.  

Download this week’s episode to learn more.  

Co-hosts Dr. Philip Chan and Dr. Jim McDonald celebrate the start of the holiday season in this minisode by sharing what they’re grateful for. They also talk about what you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy this holiday season. 

This holiday season, make sure to remember the three Vs: Vaccinate, Ventilate, and Visit Safety. To learn more, download this week’s episode and visit covid.ri.gov/prevention.  

 This week on Public Health Out Loud, co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan talk about the health effects of PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of chemicals that have been used since the 1940s to make products water-, grease-, and stain-resistant.  

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PFAS can be found in the blood of people and animals all over the world. And scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects, like increased cholesterol levels or developmental and growth delays in children. 

Our guest expert this week is Dr. Joseph Braun. He’s an environmental epidemiologist and a professor at the Brown University School of Public Health. Why are PFAS called “forever chemicals?” What can people do to reduce their risk of exposure to harmful chemicals? Download this week’s episode to find out.  

Join Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan as they celebrate the authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11. They’re joined by guest expert Dr. Sabina Holland, a pediatrician who specializes in infectious diseases. According to Dr. Holland, pediatricians have many reasons to be excited about expanded vaccine eligibility. 

“COVID-19 does impact children and they are being hospitalized,” she said. “This vaccine is another piece of armor that can help us end this pandemic and protect our communities.”  

Children ages 5-11 will receive a smaller dose that is only one-third the size of the same Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Just like older children, those age 5-11 will receive two doses of the vaccine, given three weeks apart. For more information, visit C19vaccineRI.org 

When may there be a COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 5? How does Dr. Holland talk to parents who may be hesitant to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19? Download this week’s episode to find out.

There has been a lot of talk about cannabis in the news lately and some people question whether cannabis is the answer to a wide variety of health conditions, including pregnancy-related morning sickness, anxiety, and sleep disorders. But what should you know about cannabis products if you are planning a family? 

In this episode, Dr. Mara Coyle, a neonatologist at Women & Infants Hospital and professor of pediatrics at the Warren Alpert Medical School, joins Dr. Chan to share some of her clinical experience and research-based insight into the effects of cannabis on babies, both during, and after pregnancy.

In New England, the flu season typically runs from October to May. Last winter, the number of flu-related hospitalizations and deaths was historically low. Community mitigation measures; like physical distancing, frequent hand washing and sanitizing, indoor mask wearing, and staying home while sick; weren’t just keeping people safe from COVID-19. They were preventing the spread of other viruses like influenza, too. But as people return to work, school, and social gatherings, will we see a particularly harsh flu season this winter? 

Our guest expert this week is Dr. Leonard Mermel, an infectious diseases specialist and medical director of the department of epidemiology and infection control at Rhode Island Hospital. Dr. Mermel talks about how the influenza virus spreads and offers his predictions on the severity of the 2021-2022 flu season. 

Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan also chat with Dr. Mermel about the importance of getting your flu shot and your COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself and those around you from getting sick this winter.  

Flu shots are important for everyone older than six months. But they are especially important for certain people who are at higher risk, like older adults, younger children, healthcare workers, pregnant women, people with a weakened immune system, and people with chronic medical conditions like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and asthma. Download this week’s episode to learn more.  

While anyone can get lead poisoned, lead is most dangerous to children younger than six years old and pregnant people. Even small amounts of lead in the blood during childhood can have life-long consequences. Until the level of its toxicity was fully recognized, lead was used in products like gasoline, pipes, and household paint. Lead-based paint was common until 1978, when the federal government banned it from consumer use. Today, it is still frequently found in homes that were built before then.  

In Rhode Island, more than 80% of the housing stock pre-dates 1978. But lead paint can’t be spotted with the naked eye. So, the State and some local municipalities have programs devoted to identifying lead hazards and supporting healthy, lead-safe homes. 

Our guest experts this week are Cindy Singleton, the Lead Hazard Mitigation Program manager at the Rhode Island Department of Health; Bianca Policastro, Director of Planning and Development for the City of Woonsocket; and Joseph Ferri, the Lead Hazard Reduction Program manager for the City of Woonsocket.  

What resources are available to address household lead hazards in Rhode Island? And how can parents protect their kids from lead poisoning? Download this week’s episode to find out.  

While influenza and respiratory viruses can spread year round, cases occur most frequently between fall and spring. This week, Dr. James McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan are talking about respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and how it compares to flu and COVID-19. 

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild symptoms similar to those of a cold. Most people recover in a week or two. But RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, RSV leads to approximately 58,000 hospitalizations on average each year in the United States. 

Our guest expert this week is Dr. Michael Koster. He’s the division director for pediatric diseases at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Koster’s research interests include viral respiratory illnesses, osteoarticular infections, and pneumonia in children.  

How has COVID-19 impacted the infection season for RSV and flu? How can parents protect themselves and their kids from viral infections? Download this week’s episode to find out.  

Hear from a Rhode Island congressman about how the federal government is responding to COVID-19. The pandemic moved quickly and impacted every part of people’s lives. How did the State’s congressional delegation balance the importance of thorough public health measures and the need to maintain a healthy economy? How quickly did federal support get to states, municipalities, and individuals?  

Our guest this week is Congressman David Cicilline. Congressman Cicilline is in his sixth term representing the first congressional district of Rhode Island in the US House of Representatives. He chairs the House Antitrust Subcommittee and the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, and is Vice Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.  

Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan ask the Congressman about the impact COVID-19 has had on the economy, his opinion on the nationwide vaccine rollout, and about the ongoing battle against public health misinformation. Cicilline also talks about the programs that were established to support small businesses, unemployed individuals, and families in need throughout the pandemic.  

“COVID-19 revealed what has existed for a long time in this country in terms of housing inequality, health care inequities, economic inequality,” Cicilline said. What can the federal government do to address the pandemic’s long-lasting impacts and support Americans through recovery? Download this week’s episode to hear more. 

In Rhode Island, about 100 babies are born each year with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a condition in which a baby experiences symptoms of withdrawal due to the cessation of opioids or other substances they were exposed to in utero.  Some babies with NAS receive medication in the hospital and may not be able to go home right away.  Exposure to drugs like heroin or fentanyl may result in the baby going into foster care.  

Parent Support Network of Rhode Island’s Healing Mother and Baby Program helps mothers and babies stay together. Peer recovery support specialists (also called “coaches”) with lived experience connect pregnant and parenting people to local treatment and recovery services; help them develop a long-term, individualized plan; and support them on their path to recovery.  

This week’s guest experts are Katie Gonzalez, a certified peer recovery support specialist supervisor at PSNRI, and Margo Katz from the Division of Community Health and Equity at the Rhode Island Department of Health. Gonzalez shares her personal story of recovery, as well as some of the success stories she has seen in the Healing Mother and Baby Program. Download this week’s episode to learn more. 

Being prepared for a public health emergency requires planning, training, and exercising. But how could anyone prepare for something like COVID-19? That’s the topic of our conversation this week on Public Health Out Loud.  

Our guest is Alysia Mihalakos, chief of the Center for Emergency Preparedness at the Rhode Island Department of Health. Mihalakos discusses how RIDOH’s response to COVID-19 has been different from previous public health emergencies like Ebola, H1N1, Zika, or flu outbreaks. She also talks about what her team learned from those previous emergencies that left them better prepared to address this pandemic.  

It’s no secret that there have been many challenges during the COVID-19 response. How did Rhode Island respond to supply shortages related to COVID-19? What was it like setting up the state’s two field hospitals? Download this week’s episode to learn more.  

Dr. Colby Zongol, a sexologist who specializes in sexual health and communication, is back for part 2 of our conversation on sexual health.  This week, the topic switches from kids to adults. 

Even when we grow up, sex can still seem like an awkward, uncomfortable, or even shameful topic. As a result, adults of all ages may not feel comfortable talking to their partner about it. Having conversations about sexual history, needs, boundaries, and desires helps ensure that everyone feels safe, experiences pleasure, and remains healthy. 

What kinds of conversations should partners have about their relationship and sexuality? How can someone broach these topics with their partner, even if they’re uncomfortable? Download this week’s episode to learn more.  

Talking to the young people in our lives about sex can be awkward and uncomfortable. But it doesn’t need to be. This week on Public Health Out Loud, co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan are talking about how parents and pediatricians can have age-appropriate conversations to raise sexually healthy children.  

Our guest expert this week is Dr. Colby Zongol, a sexologist who specializes in sexual health and communication. 

According to Dr. Zongol, having honest conversations with adolescents about sex, sexuality, and relationships demystifies and destigmatizes a very natural part of our lives. It also ensures they get accurate and age-appropriate information from a trusted source.  

How does sex education support self-confidence and healthy relationships? Download this week’s episode to learn more.  

As adolescents return to school and all the activities they love, it’s important to keep them safe from COVID-19 and variants of concern. Getting people age 12 and older vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect them from COVID-19. 

This week, Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan are talking about COVID-19 vaccination among adolescents. Our guest expert is Dr. Penelope Dennehy, director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and a professor of pediatrics at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.  

Adolescents 12 or older are eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and more than 48,000 adolescents age 12-18 in Rhode Island have already gotten fully vaccinated. Both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech have started clinical trials for their COVID-19 vaccines in younger children, too. What does the trial and approval process look like? When might children younger than age 12 be eligible for vaccine? Download this week’s episode to find out.  

Learn more about how to get vaccinated in Rhode Island at C19vaccineRI.org. 

The waiting area of an emergency department (ED) might be an unpleasant experience for anyone with a medical condition. But waiting for care while experiencing symptoms of opioid withdrawal can be even worse.  

Rhode Island’s Buprenorphine Hotline - 401-606-5456  - bypasses the ED waiting room altogether and connects patients to treatment and local recovery support services.  

Through this 24/7 hotline, people with moderate to severe opioid use disorder can talk with a healthcare provider over the phone, get evaluated for care, and start on buprenorphine, a medication for opioid use disorder. 

Our guest expert this week is Dr. Caroline Wunsch, a general internist who helped establish the state’s first Buprenorphine Hotline. Other founding members of the hotline include Dr. Elizabeth Samuels, Dr. Rachel Wightman, and Dr. Seth Clark.  “We want people to be able to reach us when they’re at the peak of their motivation. In some situations, it’s a life or death call," Dr. Wunsch explains. 

How is this hotline transforming access to treatment in the state? Download this week’s episode to find out.  

Every community has its own story. These stories are shaped by it’s residents, as well as policies and systems that influence community well-being. Comparing data by neighborhood or zip code, can not only help tell that story, but can also help shape policies that better serve those communities. In this episode, RIDOH's Michelle Wilson, chief of the Health Equity Institute and JoAnna House, a manger on the COVID Data Team join Dr. Chan to give specific examples of why data is critically important, especially when it comes to health equity. 

Resources: Rhode Island COVID-19 Tiers Data Brief

How many people do you live with? What does your work environment look like? How close to your home is the nearest clinic? These questions may seem mundane. But the answers can provide insight into why COVID-19 is impacting certain communities across the country at a higher rate than others.  

In this week’s episode, Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan take a hard look at the social and economic conditions that allowed COVID-19 to spread so rapidly in densely-populated communities. Our guest expert is Julian Drix, co-lead for the Health Equity Institute at the Rhode Island Department of Health. Drix is also the coordinated COVID-19 response lead at RIDOH for the cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls, two communities in Rhode Island that have been hit hard by the pandemic.  

But the conversation isn't limited to COVID-19. Drix talks in detail about the need for long-term solutions and structural changes to address health inequity. Download this week’s episode to learn more about social determinants of health and what RIDOH is doing to promote health equity. 

What better time to talk about children’s health than back to school season? For children, families, and educators across the country, COVID-19 will be remembered, in part, as the time of remote learning. But little is known about the possible long-term impacts remote learning may have had on children’s health. 

This week, Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan are joined by two pediatric experts, Dr. David Bourassa from Thundermist Health Center and Dr. Peter Pogacar from East Greenwich Pediatrics. The doctors discuss the themes of what they did (and what they didn’t) see in their offices in the past year. 

“Physically, one of the benefits was that we saw less colds and less strep. But we also saw a lot of falling behind in preventative care, like less vaccinations or lead screenings,” Dr. Bourassa said. 

What advice do the doctors have for families who’s children may have missed a wellness check-in, immunization, or screening during COVID-19? Listen to part one of this two-part series on children’s health to learn more.  

Rhode Island is getting ready to return to 100% in-person learning this fall. How can families, schools, and pediatricians prepare?  

In part two of this week’s discussion on children’s health, Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan talk about preventative measures that can help keep students learning in person safely. Our co-hosts are joined again by guest experts Dr. David Bourassa from Thundermist Health Center and Dr. Peter Pogacar from East Greenwich Pediatrics.  

Vaccination and masking indoors is especially important for everyone 12 years of age and older who are in school communities. For children younger than 12 who aren’t yet eligible for vaccination, other preventative tools like masks, physical distancing, and testing are critical.  

The State is requiring that schools ensure all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to pre K-12 schools wear a mask indoors, including those who are fully vaccinated. Listen to part two of this week’s episode to learn more about how masking and other preventative measures support a healthy learning environment for Rhode Island’s students. 

For information about the return to 100% in-person learning in Rhode Island’s schools, districts’ mitigation plans, and Pre K-12 outbreak response protocols, visit back2schoolri.com. 

The overdose and addiction epidemic is a national and local public health crisis. Rhode Island saw a 25% increase in drug overdose deaths last year, with 384 lives lost. The increase in fatal overdoses first occurred in December 2019 and accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week, Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan talk with our guest expert about how the stressors and isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic might be factors in this increase. 

Our co-hosts are joined by Tom Coderre, the acting deputy assistant secretary for mental health and substance use at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Coderre talks about the importance of forging personal connections through peer-based recovery support services and evidence-based harm reduction strategies. He also shares a candid story about his own recovery journey. 

As a longtime Rhode Islander and former state senator and gubernatorial advisor, we also ask Coderre about the legislation Governor Dan McKee recently signed allowing Rhode Island to pilot harm reduction centers. Download this week’s episode to hear the doctors unpack what those centers may look like and what this pilot program could mean for overdose prevention and harm reduction agencies around the country.  

In the second and final part of our episode with Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, the doctors talk about COVID-19 and why it spreads so quickly in densely populated communities.

“We immediately knew that the pandemic was caused by close contact, and people who live in high-density communities or work in meat packing plants or fish packing plants would be at risk,” Dr. Rodriguez said. “It’s the living conditions, not individual behaviors, that put people at higher risk.” 

With our co-hosts Dr. Philip Chan and Dr. Jim McDonald, Dr. Rodriguez discusses one of Rhode Island’s towns that was hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, Central Falls. With an area of only 1.29 square miles and a population of more than 19,000, it’s Rhode Island’s most densely populated municipality. It also had some of the highest rates of COVID-19 cases.  

Download this week’s episode to learn more about social determinants of health and the importance of nurturing trust and personal connections to advance public health 

Co-hosts Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan are back for season 2 of Public Health Out Loud! 

In this two-part season opener, our co-hosts are joined by Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, a longtime physician, former medical director of Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island, and an advocate for public health in the local and national Hispanic community. He’s also a longtime radio show host who describes himself as a “relentless surveyor of the truth” on social media.  

In this part-one episode, Dr. Rodriguez talks about his experience as a medical professional and public health spokesperson battling misinformation through the years. “What’s different now is social media,” he says. “People used to have to pick up the phone or see someone in person to share misinformation. Now you can just share it with a click.” 

The doctors give advice on how to identify "fake science" on social media and what to do when you spot it. They also talk about how to frame discussions with family members or friends who may be spreading misinformation. Download this week’s episode to learn more and stay tuned for part two of our discussion with Dr. Rodriguez coming next week.  

New episodes of Public Health Out Loud will be back on July 30. Stay tuned for more guest experts and timely information on the public health topics that matter to you. Don't want to miss an episode? Subscribe to Public Health Out Loud wherever you listen to podcasts. 

It’s the season one finale, and our co-hosts are feeling nostalgic. Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan reflect on Rhode Island’s journey through COVID-19. They share personal stories about how they adapted to remote work, supply shortages, and swirling misinformation.  

The doctors also talk about the uphill battle that Rhode Island’s healthcare workers and agencies faced at the onset of the pandemic. “We were fighting with two hands tied behind our back. No one had masks and no one had testing, either,” Dr. Chan said.  

As the pandemic evolved, thousands of masks were distributed in hard-hit communities and a highly effective treatment became available. Rhode Island consistently led the nation in testing rates per capita and the State’s vaccine rollout hit national milestones.  

With recovery on the horizon and preventative tools more available than ever, Rhode Islanders can start to focus on how to heal from the social and economic impacts of the virus. But we need to remain vigilant, especially against variants of concern. According to Dr. McDonald, “We are still going through this social trauma. And not everybody is in the same space. People need to process what happened in the last year in order to move on.” Download this week’s episode for more. 

Maintaining consistent access to shelter and services can be difficult for people who use drugs, due to factors like housing policies and availability of shelter beds. But safe, reliable housing is also a critical part of a recovery journey. How can public health agencies put an end to this vicious cycle? That’s the topic up for discussion in this week’s episode of Public Health Out Loud.

Guest expert Dr. Alexandra Collins, a medical social scientist and ethnographer from the Brown University School of Public Health, will talk about the relationship between housing, substance use, and treatment and recovery services. Dr. Collins will also discuss her years of ethnographic research, including findings from her observations of and interviews with people who use drugs.

What are some harm reduction strategies that can be integrated into housing policies? What are major barriers to recovery for people experiencing homelessness? How has fentanyl affected the overdose crisis in Rhode Island? Listen to this week’s episode to learn more.

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and highly effective. But to some, the arrival of the vaccine raises questions. In this week’s episode, Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan explore how healthcare professionals should approach patients who may be taking the “wait and see” approach when it comes to getting vaccinated.  

The doctors also take a hard look at ethical questions surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine. Should colleges and hospitals require vaccination? Should America be doing more to address vaccine supply shortages in other parts of the world? 

Guest expert, Dr. Tom Bledsoe, a general internist and chair of the Rhode Island Hospital Ethics Committee, will help answer some of these questions. Dr. Bledsoe also discusses his experience as a member of the COVID-19 Vaccine Planning Sub-committee at the Rhode Island Department of Health.  

What did Rhode Island do well in the vaccine rollout and what could have gone better? Download this week’s episode to find out.  

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month – a time to raise awareness about the mental health challenges faced by men and boys. In this episode, Dr. Samantha Rosenthal, a professor of Health Science at Johnson & Wales University and adjunct professor of Epidemiology at Brown School of Public Health joins Dr. Chan to talk about why encouraging men to prioritize their well-being and seek help when needed is so important. 

Living with a substance use condition can feel isolating. But it doesn’t have to feel that way. Peer recovery support specialists are working to break through that isolation by tapping into something no medical training can provide: lived experience with addiction and recovery.  

In this week’s episode, we hear from Ines Garcia, a peer recovery support specialist at the East Bay Recovery Center. Garcia talks about the strategies she uses to help people who are living with substance use conditions find a path to recovery. And for Garcia, like many peer recovery specialists, this work is personal. 

Listen to this week’s episode of Public Health Out Loud to learn more about the role of peer recovery support specialists. You’ll also hear co-hosts, Dr. Philip Chan and Dr. Jim McDonald, talk through the changes medical professionals can make to eliminate the biases and barriers people with substance use conditions face in the healthcare provider’s office. “Whatever your story is when you enter my exam room, I want to make you feel welcome,” Dr. McDonald says. “It’s a safe space.” 

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. 

Any parent can tell you that welcoming a new baby to the family is a magical moment. Amidst the avalanche of information that new parents are offered, safe sleep is one important aspect that should never be overlooked.

Every year, there are 3,500 sleep-related deaths among babies in the United States. Many of these tragic and heartbreaking events could have been prevented through safe sleep strategies.

In this episode, Margo Katz of the Rhode Island Department of Health shares the ABCs of safe baby sleep and the potential health risks posed by everyday items. Is your baby using blankets and bedsheets? Are you sharing your bed? This episode tackles these questions head-on and makes a strong case for keeping babies in their cribs.

Join Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan to learn about the key strategies to help reduce sleep-related risks for babies. If you’re a new parent or know someone who has a newborn, you won’t want to miss this episode!

It is estimated that roughly 40 percent of Americans in the mid-1960s smoked cigarettes. Tobacco use saw a steep decline in popularity when the U.S. surgeon general issued a report that famously concluded that smoking was a probable cause for lung cancer.

Today, most people understand that smoking is harmful to their health. Over the last decade, however, vaping has emerged as an alternative nicotine product that could pose significant health risks for younger people — especially in the era of COVID-19.

In this episode, Daniel Fitzgerald of the American Lung Association shares the compelling reasons adults and adolescents should be cautious about vaping. He describes the public health challenges regarding vaping and discusses the cycle of addiction that could linger with users for years.

Fitzgerald, who started as a youth advocate, also gives a personal story that highlights the far-reaching consequences of using nicotine at an early age. A spokesperson for the TRUTH Initiative, Fitzgerald has contributed to Rhode Island’s efforts to reduce the impact of tobacco.

Tune in for another exciting episode that explores an emerging public health concern. You’ll hear Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan raise important questions that parents and teens may be wondering.

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For free, confidential, and personalized resources to help teens ages 13-17 quit smoking or vaping nicotine, please visit mylifemyquit.com. Teens and adults may also call the free Rhode Island Nicotine Helpline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to get customized quit coaching sessions by phone at times convenient to them (day or night) and more free resources to help them quit for good. 

While there are studies that show cannabis may be useful in alleviating pain, nausea, and other symptoms associated with certain medical conditions, some doctors and researchers are seeing a rise in unexpected and serious health problems linked to its use – including cannabis use disorder, cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, and even psychosis. In this episode, Dr. Rachel Wightman, an emergency physician who has been at the forefront of treating patients affected by these conditions joins Dr. Philip Chan to help us understand these emerging issues. 

Youth sports took a big hit in the fall because of the pandemic. For many kids, the decision from public health leaders to implement COVID-19 related restrictions nationwide meant playing with a mask on or postponing the season altogether. 

In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Michael Lunney of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) discusses the strategies that helped keep sports activities open and kept kids safe while remaining active. 

The executive director of RIIL, Lunney worked with public health leaders to keep coaches, teams, and families safe and informed about sports restrictions. 

What are the risker sports? Why do some sports have more restrictions? What can kids and coaches do to keep COVID-19 out of the locker room? 

Listen in for answers to these questions! You wouldn’t believe who has a connection to a former San Antonio Spurs basketball player. 

A medical assistant who had to rely on the support of their older kids. A family physician based in the South who spoke out very publicly in support of teachers at a tumultuous time. A school nurse who had to tackle new challenges at work and at home. 

These are the stories of frontline workers who got up every morning to provide essential services despite whatever was going on in the world— a pandemic in this case.

While COVID-19 is the disease that tied these stories together, resilience and hope are the recurring themes that emerge when chronicling their setbacks and triumphs. 

In this episode, Dr. Therese Zink shares some of the stories she heard from essential workers since the start of the pandemic. The author of COVID Chronicles: How Essential Workers Cope, Dr. Zink also shares insights on what it was like to leave the West Bank just when international airports started closing their terminals.  

Join our podcast hosts for another exciting episode as they reflect on what’s been lost over the past year. You won’t want to miss it!

STIs and the pandemic are two issues that are rarely discussed in the same room. One is a global pandemic that has disrupted entire economies, and the other is a public health issue that’s rarely talked about outside of the doctor’s office. 

From the perceived restrictions on freedoms to the preventative measures to stop the spread of infectious disease, Dr. Ina Park breaks down some of the parallels between these two distinct issues in American households.

Dr. Park, the author of Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs, joins our podcast hosts to discuss STIs in 2021 and what data suggests we can expect to see in the future. 

An associate professor at UC San Francisco and a consultant for the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, Dr. Park has worked to address the stigma surrounding STIs through her research and patient care. She also reveals a pop-culture secret for one of America’s favorite TV shows that's all about finding love. 

Tune in to learn about the different ways STIs can spread, and the ways you can protect yourself.