Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond

In the latest Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond podcast, we dive into a critical topic: trust in healthcare. Brandon Romstadt (WNC Health Network) and Dr. Bryan Hodge (MAHEC) talk about how patients and providers work together-especially during public health challenges like the recent measles concern in our region. It's a meaningful conversation about connection, communication, and community...

Join Katlyn Moss and Dr. Suzanne Dixon for this special episode created with patients in mind!  Sometimes it’s hard for patients to open up and discuss their health care needs and questions with their OB/GYN when it comes to symptoms such as irregular periods, painful periods and heavy bleeding. They will highlight some of the most common conditions and treatments throughout the phases of life, fr...

In this episode, our host Dr. Suzanne Dixon, talks to Dr. Bhaskari Burra, a MAHEC OB/GYN Fellow, about Sepsis. Sepsis is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, and in this episode our speakers will discuss how to recognize it, how to respond, the sources of infection and long-term effects.  They will also share some resources to help maintain best practices when working with patients...

Join some of the Perinatal Nurse Outreach Coordinators from around North Carolina for this lively discussion of AWHONN’s Respectful Maternity Care initiative.  You’ll learn what Respectful Maternity Care is, what it means for patients and clinicians, and how it helps to improve health outcomes. They will talk about how this program is implemented, and provide resources for you to learn more about...

In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to Shannon Dowler, a Family Medicine physician about the recent increase in syphilis cases and what can be done to treat and prevent it.  They will discuss why syphilis often goes undiagnosed and untreated, along with the barriers that health systems, clinicians, and public health professionals are currently facing in their work to control syphilis and other infe...

Everything is connected in the digital age.  How can this benefit patients who need to receive care outside of their regular provider network due to an unforeseen circumstance? In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to Kim Webster of the North Carolina Health Information Exchange Authority about NC Health Connex, which is a database that allows patient information to be accessed across systems statewi...

If you have ever used MAHEC’s FindMyCare WNC (aka ITACC) Map or Dashboard, you know what a great source of information it is to find care locations across the 18 westernmost counties.  In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to the team from NC Maternal Mental Health MATTERS about their collaboration to add a mental health filter. They will discuss why it is important to include mental health resources...

In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to guest speakers Aimee Feste, CNM and Kiran Sigmon, MD, who will dive into the challenges and treatment options surrounding perimenopause and menopause, offering practical advice for healthcare providers and women navigating these life stages. They also share some information on hormone testing limitations, the role of hormone therapy, non-hormonal treatments, a...

In this episode, our guest speaker Leah Donatelli, LCMHCA, explores the profound impact of eating disorders on various aspects of a person’s life, particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum period. We discuss misconceptions, the importance of nourishment, and the need for an interdisciplinary approach to treatment. Our guest emphasizes the role of self-compassion in recovery and the importan...

Substance Use Disorder can affect anyone at any time, even during pregnancy.. Our friends at Project CARA, Carriedelle Fusco, Nurse Practitioner, and Olivia Caron, Pharmacist Practitioner, sat down with Thomas Baker, a Davidson Impact Fellow at MAHEC, to dive into the ever-evolving field of addiction medicine, focusing on the complexities of opioid use disorder and emerging substances. They also r...

Breastfeeding can be an important part of a baby’s health and development. But what about families who are affected by substance use disorder?  this episode, a partnership with Project CARA, Dr. Amy Marietta, MD, Family Medicine and Olivia Caron, Pharmacist Practitioner, and Georganna Cogburn IBCLC, will talk about how to support lactation and infant feeding in patients who use substances or are b...

Paid family leave is not only good for the health and the wellness of employees and their families, but it also benefits the employers who offer it.  Tina Sherman from the national maternal advocacy group MomsRising, explains why in this episode.  Learn about how more companies are realizing the positive impact this policy can have, and what is being done to help more workers have access to it whe...

In this episode, our co-host Dr. Amy Santin interviews Family Medicine champions from around North Carolina. During this episode, they discuss the critical issue of improving maternal health outcomes across the state, particularly during the first postpartum year. Experts emphasize the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in reducing maternal mortality, focusing on the transition from in...

If you enjoyed our episode on Centering Pregnancy, you will want to listen to this episode.  Our host Chama Woydak returns to interview Dr. MacNamara who shares insights into the Centering Parenting Program—a transformative approach to supporting new parents. We’ll explore how this group model of care fosters a supportive, educational, and inclusive environment for parents, helping them navigate t...

Have you ever thought about how families can benefit from receiving care alongside others going through the same stages of pregnancy?  Our host Chama Woydak talks to Amanda Brickhouse Murphy, a Certified Nurse Midwife at MAHEC, and Kelley and Matt, new parents who participated in the Centering Pregnancy program.  They will explain the Centering model and how it differs from traditional prenatal ca...

When Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina in the fall of 2024, many families were left without access to power and clean water for weeks or even months. This made commonplace tasks such as safely storing pumped breast milk nearly impossible.  Brandi Harrison, a certified lactation consultant based in WNC, discusses her experience helping families navigate infant feeding during this crisis,...

In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to Emily Taylor from the AFE Foundation about the pregnancy complication of Amniotic Fluid Embolism, and how the AFE Foundation helps to support and educate medical professionals. Emily shares her own story about surviving AFE and how this experience inspired her to dedicate herself to raising awareness. You will learn what AFE is, why it is often difficult to di...

We are proud to kick off Season 4 of our podcast by featuring an amazing community organization, Babies Need Bottoms. Katlyn Moss talks to Megan Lyons Leimena, from Babies Need Bottoms, a nonprofit diaper bank that serves all of Western North Carolina. To address the problem of diaper needs, Babies Need Bottoms provides diapers and diapering supplies through community-based partner organizations t...

Tune in to this episode to hear all about the Interactive map and dashboard for Transitions, Access, and Continuity of Care  (ITACC). This resource provides an overview of reproductive healthcare and  substance use treatment resources across the 18 westernmost  counties of North Carolina. Use it to connect patients to providers or to find a service near you! Enjoy! Podcast Survey:  https://redcap....

On this episode of “Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond” we will hear from the team at the 4th Trimester Project about how they built their revolutionary postpartum toolkit. The team highlights how the tool came to be and what makes it so unique. Spoiler alert: one of those things is the input from real moms! Tune in to learn more and we hope you enjoy it! Podcast Survey:  https://redcap.mahec.net/...

In this episode, we dive into Project CARA, a groundbreaking initiative based at MAHEC in Asheville, NC, designed to improve care for pregnant and parenting individuals with substance use disorders. We explore the innovative hub and spokes model of care that Project CARA employs to extend its reach and impact across multiple counties in WNC. We hope you enjoy this episode! Podcast Survey:  https:/...

Listen to this episode of Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond to understand more about intimate partner violence and the effects it can have on citizens right here in WNC. Join us in raising awareness of this tragic reality and learn about resources right here in the mountains. Podcast Survey:  https://redcap.mahec.net/redcap/surveys/?s=XTM8T3RPNK Social Media Facebook: Just Us: Before, Birth and B...

This week we are joined by 4 RNs across the state! Katlyn Moss, BSN, RN, one of the hosts of our podcast, is the Region I Perinatal Nurse Champion. This means her job is to provide equitable and evidence based maternal health information to the western part of the state through the MHI grant. She works with 5 other Perinatal Nurse Champions across the state and this podcast highlights their shared...

This week’s guest is Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody who is a reproductive psychiatrist and the director of the UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders. She has been involved in the clinical trials for the new medications to treat postpartum depression. Take a listen to this episode to learn all about these medications and the possibilities they provide for postpartum depression treatment. We hope y...

Did you know that government assistance for those below the poverty line does not include period products? This is where Project Dignity comes in! For this week’s episode we sit down with the team at Project Dignity and discuss what their program provides,the beautiful way it got started and more. Enjoy!   Podcast Survey: https://redcap.mahec.net/redcap/surveys/?s=XTM8T3RPNK Social Media Facebook:...