Public Health Out Loud

Apr 04 2024 948
Public Health Out Loud Podcast artwork

Public Health Out Loud is a podcast that delves into the broader public health concerns and issues facing everyday Rhode Islanders. From discussions about safeguarding against future pandemics to actionable plans for families to help keep their loved ones safe from preventable diseases, Public Health Out Loud is a no nonsense resource for listeners who want to stick to the facts. Host Dr. Philip Chan promises to deliver accurate, light-hearted, and informative public health updates that matter to you. This podcast is brought to you by the Rhode Island Department of Health.

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The Surprising Effects of Mindfulness on Blood Pressure

Apr 04 2024 23 mins  
There’s a lot of talk these days about the benefits of being mindful. But a recently published study led by Brown University researchers suggests mindfulness isn’t just good for one’s mental and emotional well-being. It’s also beneficial for our physical health. In this episode of Public Health Out Loud Dr. Philip Chan is joined by Dr. Eric Loucks, director of the Mindfulne

Celebrating Fifty Years of WIC

Mar 26 2024 20 mins  
WIC - which is short for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Education Program for Women, Infants, and Children - is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month. In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Philip Chan is joined by RIDOH’s own Ann Barone, Chief for the Office of Women, Infants, and Children to talk about the program’s history and the positive impact it has had

What You Need to Know About Congenital Syphilis

Mar 12 2024 23 mins  
The CDC recently released data showing that nationally, there has been a sharp rise in congenital syphilis. Cases have more than tripled in recent years in the US, with 3,700 cases reported in 2022 alone. Here in Rhode Island we’ve seen several cases of congenital syphilis after over a decade of having none. What is causing this increase and what can be done to prevent it from ha

How One Rhode Island Organization is Helping to Put Children's Teeth First!

Feb 27 2024 19 mins  
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children but it is also completely preventable. In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, Dr. Philip Chan sat down with Katherine Linwood, communications manager at TeethFirst!, a group that provides educational resources on the importance of early dental care. Download and listen in as she touches on the importance

What it Takes to be Prepared for a Public Health Emergency in RI

Feb 16 2024 28 mins  
In public health, the term “emergency preparedness” has become linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. But public health emergency preparedness encompasses so much more. In fact, Rhode Islanders all over the State come into contact with people who work in public health emergency preparedness, they just may not know it. In this episode Alysia Mihalakos from the Rhode Island Department

A Critical Need: The Life-Saving Importance of Blood Donation

Jan 19 2024 21 mins  
A blood transfusion occurs in the US every two seconds. Some examples of those in need include cancer patients; accident, burn, or trauma victims; newborn babies and their mothers; transplant recipients; or surgery patients. Despite blood being critical to saving lives, only 4% of Rhode Island's eligible population actually donates blood. In this episode of Public Health Out L

Overdose Prevention by the Numbers: How Improving Data Collection Helps Save Lives

Jan 04 2024 23 mins  
In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, RIDOH's Dr. Philip Chan sits down with colleagues Nathaniel Fuchs and Sarah Edwards. Nathaniel is an epidemiologist who works with data about non-fatal opioid overdoses. Sarah Edwards is from RIDOH’s Drug Overdose Prevention Program, and her focus is on working with communities. Together, they explain how the Department’s enhanced

A Deadly Drug Supply: What's Being Done to Keep RI Communities Safe?

Dec 20 2023 27 mins  
In 2022, 75% of overdose deaths involved illicit fentanyl, a highly potent opioid. In this episode, Dr. Philip Chan is joined by Bryan Volpe, a Drug Intelligence Officer at The New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and Dr. Louis Marchetti, Chief of Operations at the Center for Clinical Toxicology and Laboratory Support, at the Rhode Island State Health Laboratories for a

Past, Present, and Future - A Conversation About Public Health

Dec 07 2023 29 mins  
Dr. Jan Carney, Associate Dean for Public Health and Health Policy and Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont and author of the book Public Health: From Past to Present joins Dr. Philip Chan for a candid conversation on the topic of public health. With workforce shortages and professional burnout, what does the future look like for the field? What are some of the bigges

Coming Up Short: Fewer Primary Care Physicians Impacts RI in a Big Way

Nov 20 2023 23 mins  
In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, the Rhode Island Department of Health's Dr. Philip Chan is joined by Dr. Jeffrey Borkan to explore a problem that affects everyone – a shortage of primary care physicians in RI. It’s causing long waits for appointments and the inability, in many cases, for doctors to take on new patients. What's causing the shortage, why shou