Missouri Health Talks

Hosted by Rebecca Smith

Missouri Health Talks travels throughout the state gathering conversations between Missourians about issues of access to healthcare.

Latest Episodes

Substance Use Disorder is a 'self-perpetuating cycle that takes on a life of its own.'

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.
Those with substance use disorders, ‘really love their families… it's just something was getting in the way.’

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.
The Poplar Bluff Nurse Extern Program allows nurses ‘to grow their career.... while they're right here at home.'

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.
The Caruthersville Community Garden is 'more than a garden. It's a source of fresh food, education, even physical activity.'

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.
Oral health is 'a really important part’ of cancer patient’s quality of life

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.
When fighting cancer, ‘your mental health and your spiritual health affect how well you handle the treatment.’

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.
Pediatric cancer: The balance of survivorship and long-term side effects

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
During cancer treatment, ‘it's okay to be to let yourself be vulnerable, to let yourself be helped.’

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.
For Black LGBTQ+ people: "It's so important that they feel welcome and seen, and not just by the doctor, but from the person at the front desk."

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.
For rural LGBTQ+ Missourians, 'just showing folks that there is support, there is community, goes so far to just relieving that anxiety.'

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.