Vital Signs with Joe Woodin

Joe talks with Jack Calacci is the director of Collective Bargaining and Organizing with United Nurses and Allied Professionals about the relationships between hospital employees, the unions that represent them, and hospital administration.

Beth Roberts, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, talk about insurance in health care, and take listener calls.

Joe Woodin welcomes in Greg Tatro, who co-founded Jenna's Promise in Johnson, to talk about issues in treating people who have substance abuse problems, the mission of Jenna's Promise, and more.

Joe talks about Mental Health Care and Coverage with Stephen Cummings, the President and CEO of the Brattleboro Retreat, the private, not-for-profit mental health hospital in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Dr. May and Joe Woodin talk about colonoscopies, blockages, and other issues with the gastro-intestinal system.

Joe welcomes in Pathologist Dr. Armando Ciampa about disease diagnosis, treatment, management, and recovery.

This episode of Vital Signs was published 05/05/2026.

This episode of Vital Signs was published 04/28/2026.

Joe and Bill talk about the struggles inherent in the current health care system, and ideas to improve it in the future.

Joe welcomes in Dr. Martin Johns, hospitalist; and Dr. Chris Hollis, naturopathic physician.

Elizabeth Kudo is a nurse in the Emergency Department at Copley Hospital, and the director-at-large and governmental affairs committee chair for the Emergency Nurses Association. Joe and Elizabeth talk about several aspects of work in the Emergency Room, and how the ER is connected to other aspects of the social services sectors in the community.

Joe and Randy talk about the Vermont Information Technology Leaders, or VITL, how medical organizations communicate and gather and share information with each other, and how that information is used.

Joe and the Governor talk about factors affecting area hospital costs and budgets. Rural hospital practices vs. urban medical centers. And how hospitals are involved with processes in state government.

This episode of Vital Signs was published 03/10/2026.

This episode of Vital Signs was published 03/11/2026.

This episode of Vital Signs with Joe Woodin was published 02/24/2026.

Joe welcomes in Dan Greenleaf, guitarist and composer, and a participant with Green Mountain Adaptive Sports, and Mary Anne Lewis, Board Member with Green Mountain Adaptive Sports.

This episode of Vital Signs was published 02/10/2026.

Joe talks with Vermont Treasurer Michael Pieciak - topics include Health Care, the Economy, and Politics, plus Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Joe Woodin chats with Gail Bourassa, Hospital Billing Director, on Medicare Insurance, and then Joe welcomes in Dr. Ciara Hollister to talk about issues with toes, feet, and ankles.

Joe and Lee talk about the New York City Nurses Strike, the end of Affordable Care Act subsidies, plans for AI-developed drugs, and other news stories involving Health Care.

Vera Jones has years of experience is the interim chaplain, an end-of-life doula, and spiritual care counselor at Copley Hospital.

This episode of Vital Signs was published 12/16/25.

Joe talks with Karen Cavender, OR Manager at Copley Hospital, about her efforts to provide hip replacement surgeries for victims of Sickle Cell Anemia in the African nation of Ghana. She also talks about managing the Operating Room at Copley Hospital in Morrisville, jumping into the Waterbury Reservoir in the wintertime. She lives in Waterbury.

Vital Signs with Joe Woodin 11/25/2025 Guests: UVM Medical Center Chaplain Devona Cousins and Nancy Wood, Manager of Spiritual Care at UVM Medical Center