Root of the Issue

David Waters, CEO of Community Servings, a critical regional program, providing medically tailored meals (MTMs) plans in Massachusetts and Rhode Island joins host Barbara Petee to discuss the role that MTMs play in tackling a variety of issues often facing underserved communities, both in terms of social justice, food insecurity, and health care. Waters says, “...When we think of trying to right t...

 Brian Peters, CEO of Michigan Health and Hospital Association (MHA), and Laura Appel, Executive Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy for MHA, join host Barbara Petee to discuss the role of the Association in addressing the social determinants of health, as well as how hospitals and health systems throughout the state of Michigan are tackling these issue to ensure wholisti...

A trailblazer in exploring the roots, implications and consequences of the political determinants of health, as well as a nationally respected voice in the health equity movement, Daniel E. Dawes is highly respected for his work in developing landmark federal policies, including serving as an architect for the Affordable Care Act's Health Equity Focused Provisions.  “We knew something was goi...

After two-and-a-half years of working through the COVID-19 pandemic, Amy Knight, president of the Children’s Hospital Association and Dr. Angelo Giardino, a pediatrics specialist in Salt Lake City, UT, discuss the dimensions of providing quality healthcare to children with an emphasis on mental health. Knight says, “Our focus has shifted a little bit. I say with pride, children's hospitals have al...

Rachelle Reyes Wenger, System Vice President of Public Policy & Advocacy Engagement for CommonSpirit Health, joins host Barbara Petee to discuss the power of collaboration in the face of seemingly insurmountable societal obstacles. From climate change to social justice reform to health inequity, Rachelle believes that through the determination of many working in lockstep, change is always poss...

Ruth Ann Norton, President and CEO of the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI), joins host Barbara Petee to discuss the importance of a healthy home environment as a determinant to achieving health equity.  “I think we are doing some of the most groundbreaking work on the intersection of climate, healthy housing and healthcare. Helping to inspire healthcare to invest in occupied housing...

Michelline Davis, the president and Chief Executive Officer of National Medical Fellowships, Inc. (NMF), leads her organization's mission of creating greater representation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in medical professions.  By advocating for greater representation in the practice and leadership of healthcare, Davis is working for equity in employment, and as a result, greater...

Katy Crosby, Town Manager of Town of Apex, North Carolina, discusses the dire need for a focus on addressing economic wealth as a core to achieving health equity.  “I think your access to wealth or your economic condition really does impact your health,” says Crosby. “So I decided to focus on economic justice. And how do you build wealth? Because I felt like that was the foundation of so many...

Rep. Jim McGovern, a passionate advocate for food equity, joins Root Cause Coalition president Barbara Petee, for an exclusive interview detailing the goals of the upcoming White House Summit on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. "One of things that I think will be helpful is the fact that the White House is going to elevate the voices of those&nb...

Emily Allen, the Interim President and Senior Vice-President, Programs, AARP Foundation, discusses their work ending systemic barriers by “focusing on populations that have historically been marginalized or experienced systemic racism and discrimination.” In addition to relying on strong data sets to guide their work, AARP Foundation also relies heavily on real-time human interaction with the peop...

Melissa Fox is the Chief Operating Officer for Acenda Integrated Health. Acenda is an integrated health care organization dedicated to world-class prevention, treatment and wellness services. Their care is compassionately delivered to ensure that every individual, family and community achieves their greatest potential. Fox’s dedication to serving communities who are typically denied adeq...

Randy Oostra, the CEO of ProMedica, a nationally-recognized, mission-driven, not-for-profit health and well-being organization with services in more than 25 states, discusses the need to address the social determinants of health in America. Oostra says “We need to call on health organizations to really begin to look at data and really start to make people aware of biases in healthcare. We know man...

Lisa Marsh Ryerson, former president of the AARP Foundation, discusses how the health of older Americans is being negatively impacted by social isolation. We know from research that social isolation has very devastating health outcomes,” says Ryerson. “Everyone can take steps to ensure that individuals have a reliable social network and connections to the community resources and supports that...

Barb Petee, the president of The Root Cause Coalition , previews the organization's new podcast highlighting conversations with health equity leaders across the country to provide common sense solutions to the underlying injustices that prevent all Americans from living a life of health and well-being.