Good Health, Better World
28 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratingsStronger communities begin with good health — for everyone.
The Good Health, Better World podcast series presented by UPMC Health Plan brings experts together to discuss some of health care’s most important (and often challenging) topics.
In Season 3 of Good Health, Better World, we talk about supporting women’s health — body and mind — across generations, populations, and stages of life.
The views and opinions expressed by the participants of this podcast are not necessarily those of UPMC Health Plan, Inc. or its affiliates.
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Episodes
Season 3, Episode 9: New research frontiers in women’s health equity
November 14, 2023 05:00 - 27 minutes - 37.8 MBA woman’s health and her choices about it are linked to where she’s grown up, her access to resources, and even where she works. Often, that might mean limiting choices for some women and built-in assumptions on the part of providers. How can we create more robust standards for sexual and reproductive equity that benefit all women in the United States? In this episode, we hear from Dr. Sonya Borrero, professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and director of CONVERGE, the Cente...
Season 3, Episode 8: Disparities in diagnosing and treating breast cancer
November 07, 2023 05:00 - 32 minutes - 44.1 MBBreast cancer accounts for about one in three diagnoses of cancer for women each year in the United States, yet vast disparities exist: Black women have a higher likelihood of developing breast cancer before 40—and at every age, Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than other groups. In this episode, we break down how screenings and vigilance can save lives among women of color, as host Ellen Beckjord talks with LaJuana Fuller, director of Women's Imaging at UPMC Magee-Wo...
Season 3, Episode 7: Prevention as self-care: Shifting the paradigm
October 31, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 38.1 MBIn this episode, we're joined by Carrie Whitcher, chief quality officer and vice president of quality performance at UPMC Health Plan; and Dr. Bob Edwards, chair of ob-gyn at the University of Pittsburgh, and the chief medical officer of UPMC’s Community and Ambulatory Services Division, to discuss preventive care for women.
Season 3, Episode 6: The complexities of chronic disease in women
October 24, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 34.9 MBA woman's risk of being diagnosed with one or more chronic conditions, such as heart disease, can be influenced by her lifestyle and family history. In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Crystal Clark, chief medical officer for Community HealthChoices and senior advisor for the Center for Social Impact at UPMC Health Plan; and cardiologist Dr. Amber Johnson, to discuss chronic diseases that affect women. We also discuss how social determinants such as education, community, and career can impa...
Season 3, Episode 5: Staying healthy through midlife and beyond
October 17, 2023 04:00 - 28 minutes - 39.5 MBMidlife can be exhilarating…and challenging! Key milestones during this time such as menopause bring on physical and emotional changes that affect women’s sense of self and identity. In this episode, we hear from Stacey Shankle, CRNP, who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology at the Midlife Health Center at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, about navigating changes in midlife and beyond.
Season 3, Episode 4: Finding community in motherhood
October 10, 2023 04:00 - 40 minutes - 46 MBHow can moms care for themselves and their children? In this episode, we hear from Dr. Johanna Vidal-Phelan, a pediatrician and chief medical officer in Quality and Pediatrics at UPMC Health Plan, and Muffy Mendoza, author, speaker, and founder of Brown Mamas, about motherhood and parenting through every stage of life.
Season 3, Episode 3: Support for pregnant people in marginalized communities
October 03, 2023 04:00 - 33 minutes - 75.8 MBSome individuals and their babies are at a higher risk for complications during or after pregnancy — but what works to help them? In this episode, we’ll talk with Stacy Freeman-Pistella, a senior health manager in UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital’s Pregnancy and Women’s Recovery Center; and Tica Nickson, director of prevention of BirthRoot Community Doula Alliance, about support for pregnant people and new mothers in marginalized communities.
Season 3, Episode 2: Solutions for safer reproductive health care
September 26, 2023 04:00 - 31 minutes - 71.6 MBPregnancy can be a transformational time of hope and change. But many people are especially vulnerable during pregnancy, with factors that put them and their babies at greater risk for health complications than others. In this episode, we focus on solutions that can improve a person’s pregnancy, birthing experience, and recovery with two guests: Dr. Hyagriv Simhan, professor and executive vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at the University...
Season 3, Episode 1: Sex, gender, and health
September 19, 2023 10:00 - 23 minutes - 53 MBWomen often take on roles to care for others first and may not attend enough to their own health and well-being. In this episode, we discuss the many ways that sex and gender affect a person's health with Dr. Sarah Tilstra, section chief of women’s health and internist at the General Internal Medicine Clinic at Montefiore Hospital at UPMC and the executive editor of the book, “Sex- and Gender-Based Women's Health: A Practical Guide for Primary Care.” Dr. Tilstra delves into the ways ...
Season 3, Episode 1: Providing comprehensive care to today’s women
September 19, 2023 10:00 - 23 minutes - 53 MBWomen often take on roles to care for others first and may not attend enough to their own health and well-being. In this episode, we discuss the many ways that sex and gender affect a person's health with Dr. Sarah Tilstra, section chief of women’s health and internist at the General Internal Medicine Clinic at Montefiore Hospital at UPMC and the executive editor of the book, “Sex- and Gender-Based Women's Health: A Practical Guide for Primary Care.” Dr. Tilstra delves into the ways ...
Season 2, Episode 8: Innovation in behavioral health treatment
November 08, 2022 04:59 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBWhat’s the new frontier in behavioral health? That great frontier might not always mean being in a doctor’s office. Learn more about how telehealth, new therapies, and whole person care — where you live and play — affect well-being. Hear from Dr. Matthew Hurford and Dr. Geoffrey Neimark of Community Care Behavioral Health, a not-for-profit behavioral health managed care organization. Says Dr. Hurford, president and CEO: “We cannot get to whole person care without thinking about whole comm...
Season 2, Episode 7: Aging gracefully: Supporting the mental health of older adults
November 01, 2022 04:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBAs we age, mental and physical changes can leave some people feeling left behind — perhaps even more isolated as a result of the pandemic, and other life changes. It doesn’t have to be that way. Listen in for a discussion about special considerations affecting the mental health of older adults, and how to recognize signs of depression. In this episode we hear from Angela Perri, vice president and chief Medicare officer for UPMC’s Insurance Services Division and Dr. Shannah Tharp-Gilliam...
Seaseon 2, Episode 6: What is integrated care?
October 25, 2022 03:30 - 30 minutes - 55.4 MBIntegrated care helps bring together care for the body and mind. In this episode, our guests discuss this body-mind approach and how doctors are implementing this model. How could it benefit you or a loved one? Hear insights from Dr. Alin Severance, medical director of Behavioral Health Services at UPMC Health Plan and University of Pittsburgh professor Dr. Charles Jonassaint, whose work focuses on reducing health disparities. The views and opinions expressed by the participants of this po...
Season 2, Episode 6: What is integrated care?
October 25, 2022 03:30 - 30 minutes - 55.4 MBIntegrated care helps bring together care for the body and mind. In this episode, our guests discuss this body-mind approach and how doctors are implementing this model. How could it benefit you or a loved one? Hear insights from Dr. Alin Severance, medical director of Behavioral Health Services at UPMC Health Plan and University of Pittsburgh professor Dr. Charles Jonassaint, whose work focuses on reducing health disparities. The views and opinions expressed by the participants of this po...
Season 2, Episode 5: Behavioral health and resilience in the workplace
October 18, 2022 03:55 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBHealthy, happy employees mean a better workplace. What can employers do? Guests James Kinville and Nancy Mckee of UPMC Health Plan’s LifeSolutions discuss why behavioral health care should be an important area of focus for employers and how an employee assistance program can support resilience and a culture of wellness. The views and opinions expressed by the participants of this podcast are not necessarily those of UPMC Health Plan, Inc. or its affiliates.
Season 2, Episode 4: Opening up about addiction
October 11, 2022 03:30 - 36 minutes - 83 MBIn this episode, we hear from behavioral health experts who discuss different types of addictions, the impact, and how to get support on a path to recovery. Hear insights from Dr. Michael Lynch, associate professor of Emergency Medicine, Toxicology, Pediatrics, and Addiction Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and Dr. Antoine Douaihy, who specializes in psychiatry and practices at University of Pittsburgh Physicians, Department of Psychiatry. The views and opinions expressed by th...
Season 2, Episode 3: Childhood, interrupted: Adolescent and pediatric behavioral health
October 04, 2022 03:30 - 32 minutes - 75.2 MBThe pandemic disrupted childhood routines in ways that experts are still seeking to understand. In this episode, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh pediatrician Dr. Johanna Vidal-Phelan and psychiatrist Dr. Abigail Schlesinger talk about common behavioral health issues children and teens can have and what adults can do to support the health and well-being of their whole family. For show notes and more resources, click here. The views and opinions expressed by the participants of t...
Season 2, Episode 2: Building resilience through trauma-informed care
September 27, 2022 03:45 - 33 minutes - 77.7 MBIn this episode, Dr. Kimberly Blair, a psychologist at Western Psychiatric Hospital, and Dr. Lyndra Bills, senior medical director at Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, discuss the ways that trauma and anxiety have affected people as our lives shifted as a result of the pandemic. How can trauma-informed care and trauma-informed systems of care help to build resilience? Listen in! The views and opinions expressed by the participants of this podcast are not necessarily those...
Season 2, Episode 1: Laying the Foundation for Behavioral Health
September 20, 2022 04:00 - 39 minutes - 91.1 MBIn this season’s inaugural episode, our guests discuss what behavioral health means and share resources to help us get back on track as we move forward from COVID-19. We hear from Diane Holder, president and CEO of UPMC Health Plan, and Dr. James Schuster, chief medical officer of the UPMC Insurance Services Division. Listen in! For show notes and other resources, click here. The views and opinions expressed by the participants of this podcast are not necessarily those of UPMC Health ...
Season 1, Episode 9: COVID-19 Vaccinations and Your Workforce
April 05, 2021 14:41 - 34 minutes - 32.3 MBEmployers large and small in Pennsylvania may be wrestling with questions as COVID-19 restrictions begin to lift and more people are eligible for vaccinations. In this episode, hear from Dr. Joon Lee, senior vice president, UPMC, and president, UPMC Physician Services, UPMC Health Services Division. Dr. Lee, formerly chief medical officer of UPMC Health Plan, addresses questions of equity in distribution, how companies can support employees to get a greater number of people vaccinated, and m...
Season 1, Episode 8: What's Next for Social Determinants?
February 09, 2021 18:30 - 40 minutes - 38.2 MBWhat role can health insurers play to help improve a person's health, outside the doctor's office? Many factors influence the choices a person makes regarding their health. Addressing these social factors often seems insurmountable. But organizations are beginning to make inroads. This includes insurers, like UPMC Health Plan. In this episode, we hear from Diane Holder, CEO of UPMC Health Plan and executive vice president at UPMC. We also hear from Kate Berry, senior vice president of cl...
Season 1, Episode 7: Better Health for Mom and Baby
February 02, 2021 17:38 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBResearchers, insurers, and health care experts continue to try to tackle improving maternal health care — and by extension, the health of children. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Johanna Vidal-Phelan, senior medical director, pediatrics at UPMC Health Plan, where she manages children’s services in the Children's Health Insurance Program, among other initiatives. We also hear from Katie Domalakes, a licensed social worker and director of clinical programs at UPMC Health Plan who focuses ...
Season 1, Episode 6: Powering a more equitable future through information
January 26, 2021 21:55 - 40 minutes - 38.3 MBHow can researchers partner with community and government organizations to gain visibility into the social needs of our communities? In Episode 6, we hear from Joan Eichner, director, operations and evaluation, UPMC Center for Social Impact in Pittsburgh. Her work supports the development of comprehensive strategies across UPMC that address social needs of members and the community in order to improve health outcomes. Host Ellen Beckjord also talks with Erin Dalton, the soon-to-become...
Season 1, Episode 5: Access for One, Access for All
January 12, 2021 16:56 - 41 minutes - 39.2 MBHow can we create more inclusive care for the LGBTQ+ community, and what role can a health insurer play? In this episode, we hear from Sarah Rosso, executive director of the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation in Pittsburgh. The nonprofit organization offers services and supports, as well as training for organizations to improve their capacity to serve LGBTQ+ clients and staff. We also hear from Shireen Haq, a program director in UPMC Health Plan's National Network Development & Strategic Ex...
Season 1, Episode 4: How a Home Helps Your Health
January 05, 2021 17:08 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBThose without stable housing are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions compared to those who have the security of a home, research shows. In Episode 4, we hear from Everett McElveen, chief executive officer of Community Human Services in Pittsburgh, which helps people secure housing. We also hear from John Lovelace, president, Government Programs and Individual Advantage Products for UPMC Health Plan. John discusses housing partnerships through UPMC Health Plan aimed at hel...
Season 1, Episode 3: Better Jobs, Better Health
December 22, 2020 14:40 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MBWhat does a job have to do with your physical health? Plenty, as it turns out. In this episode, we hear about how innovative partnerships across the commonwealth are training people and helping them to gain employment. For example, UPMC Health Plan's Pathways to Work program helps its members gain training and jobs, through partnerships with area nonprofits. We hear from Pennsylvania Secretary of Human Services Teresa Miller, Dan LaVallee, director, UPMC Center for Social Impact, and Ear...
Season 1, Episode 2: Connecting Individuals to the Social Safety Net
December 15, 2020 14:33 - 39 minutes - 36 MBHow can people get the help they need, when they need it most? In Episode 2, host Ellen Beckjord, PhD, MPH, helps us learn about ways to connect people to social services across Pennsylvania at a time when more people need support. We hear from Julie L. DeSeyn, chief program and policy officer for the United Way of Western Pennsylvania, and Dr. Dan Swayze, vice president of Community Services for the UPMC Health Plan and the director of operations for UPMC Innovative Homecare Solutions....
Season 1, Episode 1: Improving Health as a Community
December 08, 2020 16:02 - 44 minutes - 41.3 MBStronger communities begin with good health — for everyone. But how can we get there? Some people are more likely to develop chronic health conditions, simply because of where they live, their economic status, their level of education, and even access to grocery stores. These factors — and underlying inequities — influence the decisions people can make which may lead to life-altering consequences regarding their health. Experts recognize this set of factors with a name: social determinants...