Public Health Out Loud

While there are studies that show cannabis may be useful in alleviating pain, nausea, and other symptoms associated with certain medical conditions, some doctors and researchers are seeing a rise in unexpected and serious health problems linked to its use – including cannabis use disorder, cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, and even psychosis. In this episode, Dr. Rachel Wightman, an emergency physici...

Palliative and hospice care can both have a huge impact on one’s quality of life  during serious illness. How do these types of care differ and when are they important? In this episode, Dr. Chan sits down with Diana Franchitto and Dr. Jennifer Ritzau of HopeHealth, a nonprofit palliative and hospice care organization in Rhode Island, to answer these questions and more. 

May is Older American’s Month and a good time to think about our needs as we age and those of the older adults in our communities. In this episode, Deb Burton, a social gerontologist and executive director of RI Elder Info joins Dr. Chan to  highlight some important considerations that everyone should be thinking about. Her message is clear: regardless of age, planning in advance is key. 

Children often face a wide range of struggles like social challenges, difficulties at school, substance use, and so much more. As any parent or caregiver knows, helping a child can be overwhelming at times . Where can one turn for help?  In this episode, Ashley Gingerella O’Shea, director of strategic communications at Rhode Island’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services joins Dr. Philip C...

Sexual violence affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men nationally - and it can happen anywhere, usually by someone you know. In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, RIDOH’s Dr. Staci Fischer, medical director and chief administrative officer for the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline and Angela Kemp,  prevention coordinator for RIDOH's Violence and Injury Prevention Progr...

March is National Sleep Awareness Month. Sleep is a precious commodity when there is a newborn in the home - but did you know that HOW an infant sleeps is very important to their safety? In this episode, RIDOH’s Chief of the Safe Sleep Program, Margo Katz joins Dr. Philip Chan to talk about what parents and caregivers need to know to keep babies healthy during their slumber. 

Alexandra Dowding and her family nearly died from a silent killer - carbon monoxide. The odorless, invisible gas made them very sick and forced them out of their West Warwick home. In this episode, Dowding joins Dr. Philip Chan, along with Jason Rhodes, RIDOH's Chief of the Center for Emergency Medical Services to talk about what you need to know and how you can protect yourself and your love...

In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Philip Chan talks about measles with Dr. Suzanne Bornschein, RIDOH's infectious disease state epidemiologist. From recent outbreaks to risk factors and symptoms, download and listen to find out the best and safest way to protect yourself. 

Imagine if there was a way to help create supportive, stigma-free environments for people living with substance use and mental health conditions, especially in the workplace. The Rhode Island Recovery-Friendly Workplace Initiative aims to do just that. Jeffrey Wolfsberg, program director for the Recovery-Friendly Workplace Program at the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmen...

In this episode, Jonathan Lucero McKinney, a physician assistant at Care New England Medical Group’s Internal Medicine Center in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and co-host of the Outloud YouTube channel , joins Dr. Philip Chan to discuss the Rhode Island Department of Health's PrEP Champions Network.  The network helps connect people with PrEP - a medication that can help prevent the spread of HIV....

January is Radon Awareness Month - a time to call attention to the dangers of this silent killer. What is radon and how common is it?  How do you know if you have radon lurking in your home? In this episode, Alex Yelle, an industrial hygienist for RIDOH's Radon and Asbestos Control Programs joins Dr. Chan to answer these questions and talk about how you can protect yourself and your family. 

It's a new year and many people are setting resolutions for better health. If you are looking to make time for weight loss, healthier eating, physical activity, and even prevention and management of chronic diseases like Diabetes – then you won't want to miss this episode. Download and listen as Erica Hanson, the Rhode Island Department of Health's Community Health Network manager a...

RIDOH Oral Health Program Dental Director, Dr. Samuel Zwetchkenbaum joins Dr. Philip Chan in this episode to talk about a subject that’s gotten some recent media attention – fluoride. Why is it added to some public water systems and how does it benefit oral health? While there has been quite a lot of discussion following the release of a major study on fluoride in drinking water, Dr. Zwetchkenbaum...

November 21st is the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout , an annual event that encourages people to quit smoking or reduce their tobacco and nicotine use for at least 24 hours to live a healthier life and reduce their cancer risk. Ámbar Delgado, Manager of Advocacy at Tobacco Free RI Statewide Network, talks about why reducing tobacco and nicotine use should still be on our radar an...

Every landlord in Rhode Island is now required by law to register their residential rental properties in a new Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH)-managed database, which was launched in September. RIDOH’s Deputy Director, Seema Dixit joins us to answer your questions about the Rental Registry. Why does this registry exist and what is required? What happens if a property owner doesn't r...

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Often referred to as intimate partner violence, it affects roughly 48 percent  - nearly half- of all women and about 41 percent of all men at least once in their lifetime.  In this episode, Dr. Chan is joined by Dr. Cynthia Roberts, senior evaluator from the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Dr. Samantha Rosenthal, a professor of hea...

September is Suicide Prevention Month. It’s an important time to remember lives lost and acknowledge the huge impact suicide has had on our communities. It’s also a time to bring awareness to the suicide prevention efforts in Rhode Island. In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Chan is joined by the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Area Director...

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can follow an injury or infection and can affect anyone, regardless of age. There is treatment, but it's critical to act fast. In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Chan is joined by Tara Cirella, a local mom who tragically lost her daughter, Gianna, to sepsis a few years ago and Dr. Lee Polikoff, a pediatric critical care specialist at Has...

September is National Preparedness Month. It's also the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane season! In this episode, Dr. Chan talks with Andrea Creach, from RIDOH's Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response, about how hurricanes and other weather events can impact our health, and what we can do to prepare and protect ourselves from the effects of these types of emergencies. 

National Community Health Worker Awareness Week is August 26-30, 2024 but in truth, Community Health Workers, or CHWs, could easily be celebrated all year. That's because they serve as trusted community leaders, expert problem solvers, and culturally competent subject matter experts-- often bridging the gap between their community's needs and important health or social services. In this...

In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Philip Chan talks with Dr. Jerome Larkin, the new Rhode Island Department of Health Director about his background, what led him to accept this position, and a look ahead at his top priorities for the Department.  He also covers a topic that happens to be one of his specialties - ticks and the diseases they carry. 

In this episode of Public Health Out Loud we are talking about a program whose motto says it all: “We’re here for you.” The Rhode Island Department of Health's Family Visiting Program has provided prenatal support and services for infants and toddlers to improve outcomes for many years. Download and listen in as Dr. Chan is joined by Sara Remington, the Family Visiting Program Manager and Rox...

Dr. Omar Bah, a former journalist, fled his home in The Gambia when he became a wanted man for criticizing the country’s then-dictator.  Inspired by his own experience, Bah founded the Refugee Dream Center in Providence to offer post-resettlement support to other refugees in the state. He joins Dr. Chan in this episode to talk about his motivation for starting this valuable resource, and much more...

You’ve probably heard about avian influenza or bird flu in the news recently, as it has made the jump to other species, like dairy cows. What is the risk to the general public? Is it safe to drink milk? In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, local experts, Dr. Suzanne Bornschein, State Epidemiologist at the Rhode Island Department of Health, and Dr. Scott Marshall, State Veterinarian at the Rh...

In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Philip Chan is joined by a guest with over 40 year's experience working to change the way we care for older adults and people with dementia. In honor of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, Brown University's, Dr. Vincent Mor talks about his research,  steps we can all take to improve our brain health, and more. For more information, check...