Urban Service Talks Podcast

36. Improving Care For Veterans

Welcome to Urban Service Talks featuring Dr. John Agar, DDS,  where UConn Dental Medicine students Max Marks and Briti Prajapati delve into the unique healthcare experiences of veterans and explore how providers can deliver compassionate, high-quality care to those who have served. Our guest, Dr. Agar,  University of Connecticut Professor, Prosthodontist and a veteran has shared firsthand insights on the challenges veterans face—ranging from PTSD and anxiety to navigating the complexities of the healthcare system.

We discuss the importance of understanding veterans' backgrounds, the sensitivities required in patient interactions, and how communities beyond healthcare can support their reintegration into civilian life. Whether you're a healthcare provider, work in a Veteran’s Administration (VA) setting, or have a loved one who served, this episode offers valuable perspectives on honoring and caring for our nation’s veterans, especially through the lens of a healthcare provider.

35. Reducing Recidivism Through Community Health

Join George Bloom and Max Marks, second year dental students at the University of Connecticut, as they discuss the topic of recidivism and community health with Sincilina Beckett, a transitional case manager at the ARCH (Addiction Recovery/Reentry Community Health) program, who helps individuals with affected by mental health and substance abuse to better transition back into society.

34. Immigrant and Refugee Health

This Urban Service Talks podcast episode features UConn medical student Claire Surkis and Bhavana Gunda interviewing Dr. Susan Levine, an internist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, about her career and immigrant and refugee health. Dr. Levine details her journey through global health, from earning her Master's in Public Health to working in Haiti and Libya, ultimately leading her to develop the UConn Immigrant Health program, which focuses on the clinical care of immigrants and refugees and aims to educate students and advocate for this population. Dr. Levine highlights the unique needs and challenges faced by immigrants and refugees, emphasizing the importance of cultural humility, building trust, and understanding the health risks associated with their home country, migration, and resettlement. She also discusses healthcare disparities and encourages students to get involved in advocacy efforts to support these populations.

33. Jevaia Foundation: Nepal Oral Health Project

In this episode, University of Connecticut dental student Briti Prajapati and social work student Monique Aslan interview Laura Spero, founder of the Jevaia Foundation, which provides oral healthcare to rural communities in Nepal. Spero describes the foundation's humble origins and the challenges of providing care in a geographically isolated region with limited resources. She emphasizes the community-based approach and the importance of training local providers to deliver preventative and primary care. Spero celebrates Jevaia's success in securing government funding and outlines her vision for a future where the Nepali government takes ownership of oral healthcare initiatives.

32. A Physician's Response to a Humanitarian Crisis

In this episode on global health, UConn medical students Bhavana Gunda and Eddy Ansari talk with Dr. Hareem Park about her experiences as a pediatric physician working with Doctors Without Borders in South Sudan. Doctors Without Borders is a non-governmental organization that provides humanitarian medical care to people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks and other disasters. Dr. Park illustrates how students and healthcare providers can get involved with humanitarian work and how to make a difference here at home. 

31.The Ingredients of Cultural Differences: A Physician Assistant in Ireland in a Post-Pandemic World

In this episode of Urban Service Talks, Quinnipiac University PA student Robyn Rosnitsky and University of Connecticut nursing student Khadijah Stanford interview Harriet Walsh, a physician assistant practicing in Dublin, Ireland. The discussion centers on the PA profession, its recent introduction to Ireland, and the cultural differences in healthcare delivery between Ireland and the United States. Specific topics include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems and societal responses, the role of culture in patient care, and social determinants of health such as housing insecurity. The interview highlights the evolving role of PAs within interprofessional teams and the challenges and advantages of the profession in both countries. Finally, the discussion touches on the Irish healthcare system's two-tiered structure and the need for improved accessibility.

30. Mental Health and Advocacy

Mental health is an invisible disability that is often inadequately recognized and treated in today’s society. In this episode, Quinnipiac University PA student Robyn Roznitsky and UConn School of Medicine student Shaharia Ferdus discuss stigma versus discrimination with Kathy Flaherty, a Staff Attorney with many years of experience working at the Statewide Legal Services of CT. She is also the Executive Director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc. (CLRP), a statewide non-profit agency that provides legal services to low-income individuals with mental health conditions. Join us as we dive into Kathy’s journey as a patient with unmet mental health needs, turned lawyer and advocate for those whose voices are not heard. Learn how you can advocate as Kathy does and become a part of achieving equity and equality for those without mental health resources.

29. Una Flor Marchita: Sexual and Reproductive Disparities in Guatemala

In 2023, Kimberly Rosado, a UConn nursing student and UST/AHEC scholar, travelled 3000 miles to Guatemala as a BOLD Women’s Leadership Network Scholar to produce a documentary on underage pregnancy and reproductive rights. The title of the documentary is Una Flor Marchita, which means “a withered flower.” In this episode, fellow UConn nursing student and UST/AHEC scholar, Khadijah Stanford, interviews Kimberly about her experience and what she learned about reproductive and sexual health education and the factors that contribute to the underage pregnancy epidemic in Guatemala. The discussion encompasses education, religion, the societal roles imposed on women, prevalent stereotypes, the influence of machismo, and the accessibility of resources.  This conversation also sheds light on how Guatemalan women who now reside in the United States view women’s reproductive rights and pregnancy.

28. Changing the Landscape of Primary Care

Join Nicey Brooks, a 2022 graduate of the School of Nursing at the University of Connecticut (UConn), and Sara Schulwolf, a third year medical student at the UConn, as they discuss the interconnectedness of primary care and the community with two of Hartford’s leading primary care providers. Dr. Bruce Gould, the founding Director of Connecticut Area Health Education Center and retired Associate Dean of Primary Care at the UConn School of Medicine, reflects on his career in primary care, noting some of the major changes, but also continuities in the field. Dr. Anton Alerte, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Dean of Primary Care at the UConn School of Medicine, shares his approach to primary care and what his hopes are for the field going forward. Listen and learn as they talk about addressing some of the social determinants of health in our communities and what we can do as future healthcare providers to help our patients receive optimal care.

27. Community Based Primary Care

In this episode, UConn School of Medicine students Claire Surkis and Shaharia Ferdus interview UConn Professor Emeritus of Public Health Sciences Judy Lewis, a medical sociologist who developed one of the first school-based health clinic programs in the United States. Professor Lewis has developed partnerships with many community programs both in the Greater Hartford area and internationally. In this episode, we discuss community-centered primary care, the development of school-based health programs and the importance of interprofessional medical education. Join us for a rich discussion with this inspiring guest!