Urban Service Talks Podcast

26. Pediatric Lead Levels

Protecting children from exposure to lead is a public health priority. There is no safe blood lead level for children. In this episode, Abhishek Gupta, a UConn medical student, interviews Dr. Jennifer Haile, a pediatrician and Medical Director of the Connecticut Children’s Regional Lead Treatment Program, to learn why lead exposure is so dangerous for children and what healthcare providers and caregivers must do to address the problem. In 2023, Connecticut passed a law addressing lead poisoning that included the 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation to lower the actionable blood lead level of 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) to 3.5 µg/dL. Dr. Haile has faculty appointments at both the UConn School of Medicine and Connecticut Children’s Pediatric Residency Program.

25. Affirmative Action & Primary Care

In this podcast, Eddyson Altidor, a third-year dental student at UConn School of Dental Medicine, engages in a discussion with Dr. Jeffrey F. Hines, Chief Diversity Officer at UConn Health. Together, they explore affirmative action and its implications for primary care within the healthcare realm. Dr. Hines shares his expertise, providing insights into the evolution of affirmative action and its specific relevance to primary care. They address essential questions aimed at unraveling the complexities surrounding affirmative action's impact on healthcare, discussing its advantages, drawbacks, and dispelling misconceptions. Dr. Hines highlights how affirmative action impacts patients in primary care and emphasizes the role of healthcare education institutions in fostering diversity. Moreover, they discuss the need for policy changes and advocacy efforts to promote diversity and equity in primary care. Join Urban Service Talks to listen, become informed and learn more about opportunities for health professions students/professionals.

24. Cultural Awareness in Healthcare

Join Max Marks and Aysha Hoang, current students at the University of Connecticut’s School of Dental Medicine, as they interview Dr. Sarita Arteaga about cultural awareness in healthcare. In her roles as professor and associate Dean of Students at UConn’s School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Arteaga uses her own experiences in various environments to educate students on how to be culturally sensitive providers for a diverse population of patients. Dr. Arteaga highlights how important interprofessional teamwork is and how we can learn from other’s experiences to benefit our patients.

23. Mind, Body, and Soul

In this podcast episode, "Mind, Body, and Soul". The show explores the relationship between physical, mental, and emotional health, and how they are interconnected. UConn School of Dental Medicine Eddyson Altidor interviews Dr. Shay (Stacer) Vian. Dr. Shay shares insights from her experience as a primary care physician, emphasizing the importance of addressing all aspects of wellness to improve patient outcomes. Dr. Shay offers practical tips for listeners on how to integrate mind, body, and soul wellness into their daily routines. Throughout the episode, the hosts discuss various topics related to holistic health, including mindfulness practices, healthy eating habits, and exercise routines.  The podcast provides valuable information for anyone looking to improve their overall health and well-being. Dr. Shay and Eddyson's expertise and passion for wellness shine through, making for an engaging and informative listen. Whether you're a healthcare provider or an individual looking to prioritize your health, this episode is a must-listen. Join Urban Service Talks to listen, become informed and learn more about opportunities for health professions students/professionals.

 

22. Patient Empowerment

In this episode titled "Patient Empowerment” we explore the ways in which primary care can empower patients to take control of their health and wellness through education and engagement. UConn School of Dental Medicine student Eddyson Altidor interviews Dr. Kenia Mansilla-Rivera, Associate Professor and Director of the UConn Family Medicine Residency Program. They discuss the importance of building strong patient-provider relationships, fostering communication and trust, and providing patients with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions about their health. Through personal anecdotes and examples from her own experiences in the healthcare field, Dr. Mansilla-Rivera highlights the power of patient empowerment in improving health outcomes and quality of life. She shares practical tips and strategies for patients and healthcare providers alike to promote patient empowerment, including ways to improve health literacy, increase patient engagement in care decisions, and build a supportive healthcare team. Join Urban Service Talks to listen, become informed and learn more about opportunities for health professions students/professionals.

 

21. Unions and Labor Organization

Labor organizing in healthcare means so much more than the (in)famous nursing strikes. Healthcare workers and non clinical employees in hospital settings have been unionizing for nearly a century to decrease the exploitation of some of our country’s most essential employees. Unions provide workers with safeguards and bargaining rights within their organization, promoting a more democratic system for employees. In this episode we have Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant student Simon Ebbott interviewing Lisa D’Abrosca, RN long-time union leader here in Connecticut.

20. COVID-19 and the Effects on Health Professions Students

Join Amanda Idusuyi and Athena Gutierrez, pharmacy students at the University of Connecticut, as they interview Cameron Rouleau, a student in Quinnipiac University’s Physician Assistant Program, Somachukwu Ozuzu, a nursing student at the University of Connecticut, and Leelakrishna Channa, a medical student at the University of Connecticut, on the impact of COVID-19 on their health professions education. Listen in to their reflections on how their classes and clinical rotations were impacted by the pandemic, what their initial impression of the COVID-19 vaccine was and their overall experience of being a student in medicine during the height of the pandemic. We hope after listening, you will take some time to do a reflection of your own on what you learned as a person being a student during the pandemic and other impacts it may have had on your family and/or community. 

 

Please note that the recording of this episode took place in February 2022, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides a historical perspective of how it changed health professions students' lives during that time.

19. Hip Hop, Sociology and Incarcerated People’s Health

Mass incarceration in the United States is a public health crisis that disproportionately affects Black and Brown communities. Incarceration can impact both the physical and mental health of individuals and complicates the ways in which these patients are able to seek care once released. Our mission was to utilize a sociological lens to investigate the ways in which Hip Hop may be able to positively impact a patient population that has a more intimate cultural link to the music style. In this episode we have University of Connecticut School of Nursing student Zara Mason (now BSN, RN) and University of Connecticut School of Nursing alum Donice (Nicey) Brooks, BSN, RN interviewing Dr. Donald C. Sawyer III Ph.D (Vice President for Equity and Inclusion at Quinnipiac University, Assistant clinical professor in the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, 2022 UST/AHEC Closing Ceremony Keynote Speaker). 

More information on Dr. Sawyer and the work he does may be found at www.donsawyer3.com.

18. Implicit Bias and Health Professions Students

Implicit biases are unconscious prejudices that we all hold as human beings. In this episode, we join UConn School of Nursing student Nicey Brooks and Quinnipiac University’s Physician Assistant Programs student Conor McCarthy as they interview Dr. Lisa Werkmeister-Rozas, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, to discuss implicit biases in health professions and the impact they have on care. As current and future clinicians we owe it to our patients to be conscious of and held accountable for any biases we may have. Listen in and learn how you can change your language to be more inclusive and welcoming with patients to ensure you are providing the best possible care.

17. Primary Care in Underserved Communities

Primary care is the first entry point that a patient has into the healthcare system to manage and promote health while also identifying chronic illnesses at their earliest stage. However, the specialty is also known for having a huge shortage of providers due to increased stress and burnout as the demand for these services escalates. Even so, we are reminded that the work in primary care is a special space where healthcare professionals can build relationships with patients of all ages and build connections with the community that they care for. With this podcast, we aim to highlight the positives of working within primary care and the motivations for providers who continue to work in this field. We hope to inspire future healthcare professionals to join this field knowing the impact they can have on the patients they serve. In this episode, we have Quyen Le (UConn School of Nursing) and Pritisha Amatya (UConn School of Dental Medicine) interviewing Dr. Hugh Blumenfeld who is a family medicine physician at the Family Medicine Center at Asylum Hill in Hartford.