Missouri Health Talks

In 2012, Daisy Coleman was a freshman at Maryville High School when she was sexually assaulted. After the fallout from this assault and the blowback from the community, she became a prominent advocate from other youth survivors of sexual violence. Daisy died by suicide in 2020, but her brother Charlie and Shael Norris, SafeBAE’s executive director, have continued this work. They spoke about the im...

Dr. Kimberly Spence is a member of the Show-Me Echo that focuses on mothers, infants, and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). This is a regular, virtual convening of medical professionals from across the state that works to share best practices of how to care for these at-risk infants and their mothers.

Dr. Jeannie Kelly and Dr. Bridget Gelati both work at WashU Medicine's CARE [the Clinic for Acceptance, Recovery, and Empowerment], and spoke about how substance use disorder treatment during pregnancy can help parents — and babies thrive.

Dr. Jeremiah Weinstock is the chair of the Department of Psychology at St. Louis University. He’s spoke about some of the defining characteristics of substance use disorders, as well as reflected on the difficulties his patients face while in recovery.

Dr. Doug Burgess the medical director of Addiction Services at University Health in Kansas City and teaches psychiatry at UMKC. He spoke about how he got into the field of addiction psychiatry and about some of the misconceptions people — including himself at one point — have about those with substance use disorders.

Poplar Bluff Regional sits just above the Bootheel and for the last few years has been running a nurse externship program where student nurses get hands on experience working in the hospital. Ashlee Dunn oversees the program. She grew up in nearby Bollinger County and spoke about the benefits of training nurses from the community — in the community.

Laveta Lockridge and Job Green work at the Lincoln University Extension office in Caruthersville. This year, they started a community garden as a way to educate folks on nutrition, as well as provide them with free, fresh produce in an area where that can be hard to get.

Dr. Ashley Popejoy is a spokesperson for the American Dental Association and a pediatric dentist in Southwest Missouri. She spoke about the many oral health complications that can come from cancer treatment and how a medical team can help.

Registered Dietician Merri Leach and Social Worker Sarah Spoonemore work together at the Mosaic Medical Center in St. Joseph. They spoke about the importance of wraparound care for cancer patients, and focusing on a patient’s mental health, social wellbeing, financial stability, nutrition and more.

Dr. Tyler Severance is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at University of Missouri Healthcare, which means he works with kids who have blood and cancer disorders. He spoke about some of the short and long-term impacts cancer treatment can have on kids

Jennifer Rosenblad and Amy Appold are best friends who live in Columbia and have both survived breast cancer. They spoke about the benefit of knowing other survivors who fully understand the challenges of treatment, as well as about how community support was important during their experiences.

Randy Rafter is the executive director of Black Pride STL, the second oldest Black gay pride organization in the country. The group began more than 30 years ago during the AIDS epidemic, but has sense evolved and expanded to serve the entirety of a person.

Aaron Kitchens is the executive director of the Glo Center — an LGBTQ+ resource and community center in Springfield that serves the southwest part of the state.

Open Table is the local soup kitchen in Fulton that serves dinner to the community four days a week — regardless of income. Sue Beaty is the president and shared a little about the group and how they're serving the community through conversation and over dinner

Callaway County Special Services is the local SB40 board in Fulton. It’s a tax-supported program that provides services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Executive director Mike Lederle spoke with Emery Jones, the director of day services at the Life Enrichment Center about their individuals — who range in age from 18 to nearly 80.

Good Dads is a Missouri-based program that teaches men how to be better fathers and role models to children. Ava Summers and Mary Holloway with Good Dads spoke about a new program they've launched in Fulton called Forge.

Baby Grace is an organization that provides diapers, wipes, children’s clothing and more to families in Fulton — for free.

North Star Advocacy Center is a domestic and sexual violence shelter based in Maryville and that serves the northwest corner of the state.

The Safe House in Cape Girardeau provides safe shelter, case management, a 24-hour crisis hotline and more for people experiencing domestic violence throughout Southeast Missouri.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 71% of pet owning women entering shelters reported that their abuser threatened or harmed family pets.

In 2024, domestic violence shelters across the state served nearly 55,000 people who were seeking emergency shelter, court advocacy, therapy and more.

Doretta Kidd lost her husband, Johnny, to Alzheimer’s last November. She and her stepdaughter, Ashley Avery — who assisted with his care — spoke about what they learned from their years of caregiving and what they’re doing now to try and continue to make a difference.

Terri Lipe lives in Bolivar and has been caregiving for her mother for 11 years. To make ends meet, she began a take-and-bake casserole business out of her home.

Hannah Richardson lives in St. Louis and is 25, or in her words, “currently 14 years away from my age of onset “ for Alzheimer’s disease. Her family has a rare genetic form of the condition that impacts people in their late 30s and early 40s.

Billie Baldwin lives outside of Bolivar and is a caregiver for her husband. She and friend Terri Lipe are co-facilitators of the Polk County/Bolivar area Caregivers Helping Caregivers support group, which meets once a month.