CommonHealth

Physician, attorney, leader. These are just a few of the ways to describe Virginia's newest State Health Commissioner, Dr. B. Cameron Webb. This week, Dr. Webb joins Phillip on CommonHealth to share his journey from medicine to law to public health. He discusses the current state of wellness in Virginia as well as his vision and goals for the next three and a half years, from the critical role of...

What do you really know about vaping? In this episode of CommonHealth, Dr. Michelle Peace, an expert in forensic toxicology, explains what the science really says about electronic cigarettes and their impact on health and public safety. From the hidden dangers of vaping to the misconceptions many consumers hold, Dr. Peace sheds light on the evolving landscape of these products. For consumers, pare...

Over the next decade, experts are predicting healthcare provider shortages in the tens of thousands, from primary care and nursing to behavioral health and dentistry. Through the Community Health Scholarship, the Virginia Community Healthcare Association is doing something about it. In this episode of CommonHealth, Kate speaks with Eve Gilles and April Thomas, Community Health Scholarship recipien...

This week's guest is especially close to host Tracy's heart: her mother, Susan Douglas. In the mid-sixties, Susan left the comfort and familiarity of her hometown to go to Alabama during a time of enormous racial tension to help Black residents register to vote. That decision would change her life. It's where she met Tracy's father, a man from Montgomery, doing the same courageous work. Her journe...

In the final episode of the limited audio series Maternal Matters, host Phillip Noel speaks to two leaders at a rural Virginia health center on how maternal healthcare fits into the larger health system. CEO Marsha Mendenhall and Obstetrics Department Operations Manager Tammy Osborne of Piedmont Access to Health Services dive deep on the realities of providing and sustaining an obstetrics departme...

The second episode of Maternal Matters is here! Guest host Phillip Noel speaks with Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) on her role as a policymaker in Virginia and her legislative work to advance and improve maternal health. Congresswoman McClellan shares powerful personal stories about her own experiences as a maternal healthcare patient and outlines detailed policy insights on improving ac...

What is the state of maternal healthcare in Virginia? Maternal Matters has the answers. In the first episode of this new limited series from the Virginia Community Healthcare Association, guest host Phillip Noel speaks with the CEO of HealthWorks for Northern Virginia and OB-GYN Dr. Tonya Adkins about the current maternal healthcare landscape. From her perspective as a provider, as a community hea...

When most people think of farming, they think about growing crops outside. When Gus Brennan, Head Grower at Greenswell Growers, thinks about farming, he thinks about growing inside, through an innovative agricultural process called hydroponics. Learn everything you need to know about this sustainable system of farming - and its potential impact on food insecurity - in this week's episode of Common...

Just over 1,000,000 people - one in 8 Virginians - face hunger. What does fighting hunger in Virginia look like? In this episode of CommonHealth, host Adrienne Harden speaks with Eddie Oliver, Executive Director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, about food insecurity and how the Federation works to address it. Hear more about innovative programs like food pharmacies, and the potential impa...

As the need for mental healthcare increases, how do we make more resources available to providers to address gaps in pediatric and maternal care? Enter VMAP. On this World Mental Health Day episode of CommonHealth, Rachel Reynolds of the Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP) shares how the initiative empowers providers with vital tools, training and real-time psychiatric support to serve yo...

A life's work restoring antiques becomes an organization's mission to restore lives. In this episode of CommonHealth, Megan Rollins, CEO of Boaz & Ruth, shares how a unique Richmond nonprofit revitalizes lives in their neighborhood of Highland Park through housing, connection and purpose. Discover the power of growing deep roots to build individual and community wellness. With special guest: Megan...

Can you spot false health info online? Host Tracy Douglas and expert Dr. Stacy Loeb dive into the dangers of healthcare misinformation, why it spreads, and how to detect it. Learn what platforms are the most dangerous, who's most at risk, how AI tools stack up, and what providers can do to protect patients. Tune in to get smarter about the health info you trust. With special guest: Dr. Stacy Loeb,...

This National Health Center Week, Tracy Douglas isn't the only PCA CEO on CommonHealth! Joining her are four dynamic women CEOs from Mid-Atlantic PCAs to discuss leadership, innovation, and the incredible work being done by their health centers every day. Learn more about the Mid-Atlantic health landscape from the stories and insights of these leaders in the community health center movement. With...

In rural communities, access to healthcare is bigger than healing injuries or curing disease. It's about sustaining the wellness of the community itself. Marcus Stone, CEO of Virginia community health center Connect Health + Wellness, joins Tracy for a conversation on the value of rural healthcare and why all of us - from neighbors to policymakers - should be paying attention. With special guest:...

How can voting improve health outcomes? In this episode, Tracy Douglas speaks with Bianca Navarro from Vot-ER about integrating civic engagement into healthcare. Discover how healthcare providers can empower patients, improve community health, and make a lasting impact—all through voter registration and advocacy. Learn more about how to take action today! With special guest: Bianca Navarro, Vot-ER...

What happens when love meets the limits of the healthcare system? In this episode, Tracy speaks with Colleen Cook, a Virginia mom and special ed teacher, about raising four adopted children with special needs — and how Medicaid has made their journey possible. This is the story of a loving family navigating more diagnoses and therapies than usual, showing us the transformative power of affordable...

Are you a patient worried about vaccine safety or a provider experiencing hesitancy in your community? In this episode, Dr. Ayesha Nazli busts common myths, tackles vaccine fears, and shares expert insights on keeping families healthy. Learn how vaccines protect you and why staying informed matters now more than ever! With special guest: Ayesha Nazli, M.D., New Horizons Healthcare Hosted by: Adrie...

Curious how Medicaid actually works in Virginia? Experts Deepak Madala and Eleanor Sullivan break down myths, explain how Virginia's programs work, and highlight Medicaid's role in supporting hospitals and schools. From free coverage for low-income residents to vital maternal and rural healthcare programs, learn more about how Medicaid keeps over two million Virginians healthier and stronger every...

A genetic mutation that helped people survive malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa now affects 100,000 Americans, causing debilitating pain. Host Tracy returns with renowned sickle cell disease expert Dr. Wally Smith and her husband, Damian Jackson, who shares his powerful personal journey. Hear honest insights on pain management, incorrect assumptions about those who suffer, and hope for a cure. Don't m...

How can a simple book transform a child's future? In this episode of Common Health, guest host Adrienne Harden speaks with Callee Boulware, Regional Director of Reach Out and Read, about the powerful connection between early literacy and lifelong health. Learn how pediatricians integrate books into well visits, equipping families with the tools to support child development while strengthening prov...

What does it take to change your life? In this episode of CommonHealth, guest host Kyle Elliott, VCHA's Chief Administrative Officer, speaks with James Orr, a clinical social work resident at Community Access Network about his battle with addiction and how he turned his life around through mindfulness and empathy. Listen to this inspiring conversation today! With special guest: James Orr, MSW, Cli...

In this episode of CommonHealth, guest host Rae Carkhuff welcomes professional staff from Eastern Shore Rural Health (ESRH), a VCHA member health center, including Juan Gomez, MPH, Outreach Coordinator, Jessica Bonniwell, Chief Quality Officer, and Amy Bull, Director of Communications and Development. During this episode, Juan shares his story about how living in the Eastern Shore led him to work...

In this episode of CommonHealth, Dr. Angela Taylor, Director of Health Center Control Network – Center for Data, Analytics, and Quality (CDAQ) at VCHA, hosts a conversation with Korey Cobb, Chief Operations Officer of HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, and participant in CHCU's Class of 2024. Find out how Cobb leveraged his CHCU participation to enhance HealthWorks' healthcare services delivery an...

In our latest episode of CommonHealth, guest host Adrienne Harden, VCHA's Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, discusses the important topic of food insecurity in Virginia with Meaghan Butler, from the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and Maria Bowman, with Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Together, they unearth the differences between food banks and food pantries, explore how food banking in Virginia ha...

On this episode of CommonHealth, host Tracy Douglas talks about coal worker's pneumoconiosis, or "black lung disease," with three folks impacted by black lung in different ways: Dr. Drew Harris, medical director of the Black Lung Program at Stone Mountain Health Services , and Mr. John and Mrs. Vonda Robinson, a husband and wife duo who have advocated for miners affected by black lung since Mr. Jo...