Public Health Out Loud
Public Health Out Loud is a podcast that delves into the broader public health concerns and issues facing everyday Rhode Islanders. From discussions about safeguarding against future pandemics to actionable plans for families to help keep their loved ones safe from preventable diseases, Public Health Out Loud is a no nonsense resource for listeners who want to stick to the facts. Host Dr. Philip Chan promises to deliver accurate, light-hearted, and informative public health updates that matter to you. This podcast is brought to you by the Rhode Island Department of Health.
Episodes
136 episodes since 2020
Raising Awareness of Sepsis: Know the Signs to Save a Life
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 Cir...
September 13, 2024
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31:15
It's Hurricane Season. Are you Prepared?
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 weath...
August 30, 2024
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16:11
Celebrating the Roles of Community Health Workers
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 cu...
August 15, 2024
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22:24
RIDOH's New Director Jerome Larkin Talks Priorities, Tick Prevention, and More
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 t...
August 02, 2024
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26:25
Family Visiting Supports: There for You When You Need Them
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 t...
July 19, 2024
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22:26
A Refugee's Dream - Help for Those Who are New to the U.S.
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-r...
July 05, 2024
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23:21
The Latest on Avian Influenza From Two Local Experts
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...
June 21, 2024
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23:28
A Life-Long Researcher's Take on Dementia and Other Diseases of Aging
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...
June 05, 2024
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27:02
What Does Healthy Aging Look Like?
May is Older American’s Month, a time when we recognize the contributions of the older adults in our lives and revisit our commitments to serve them in our communities. But how can we best support them and ensure they are aging in a healthy way...
May 30, 2024
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23:58
All About Physical Therapy
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Being physically active is essential for staying healthy but what role does physical therapy, or PT, play? In this episode, Dr. Paul Ullucci, director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program ...
May 22, 2024
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22:15
National Mental Health Awareness Month: Exploring Conditions and When to Seek Treatment
In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Chan sits down with psychiatrist and professor, Dr. Paul Wallace, to talk about mental health – from a few of the common types of mental health conditions, to when it may be best to seek trea...
May 09, 2024
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24:43
Autism Spectrum Disorder: What Everyone Should Know, Especially First Responders
April is not only World Autism Month but also Autism Acceptance Month. Here in Rhode Island, the Autism Project has provided quality support, training, and programming - for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD, since 1997. ...
April 24, 2024
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18:10
The Surprising Effects of Mindfulness on Blood Pressure
There’s a lot of talk these days about the benefits of being mindful. But a recently published study led by Brown University researchers suggests mindfulness isn’t just good for one’s mental and emotional well-being. It’s also beneficial for ou...
April 04, 2024
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23:35
Celebrating Fifty Years of WIC
WIC - which is short for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Education Program for Women, Infants, and Children - is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month. In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Philip Chan is joined by RIDOH’s own...
March 26, 2024
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20:16
What You Need to Know About Congenital Syphilis
The CDC recently released data showing that nationally, there has been a sharp rise in congenital syphilis. Cases have more than tripled in recent years in the US, with 3,700 cases reported in 2022 alone. Here in Rhode Island we’ve seen several...
March 12, 2024
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23:07
How One Rhode Island Organization is Helping to Put Children's Teeth First!
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children but it is also completely preventable. In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, Dr. Philip Chan sat down with Katherine Linwood, communications manager at TeethFirst!, a ...
February 27, 2024
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19:24
What it Takes to be Prepared for a Public Health Emergency in RI
In public health, the term “emergency preparedness” has become linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. But public health emergency preparedness encompasses so much more. In fact, Rhode Islanders all over the State come into contact with people who wor...
February 16, 2024
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28:45
A Critical Need: The Life-Saving Importance of Blood Donation
A blood transfusion occurs in the US every two seconds. Some examples of those in need include cancer patients; accident, burn, or trauma victims; newborn babies and their mothers; transplant recipients; or surgery patients. Despite blood being...
January 19, 2024
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21:07
Overdose Prevention by the Numbers: How Improving Data Collection Helps Save Lives
In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, RIDOH's Dr. Philip Chan sits down with colleagues Nathaniel Fuchs and Sarah Edwards. Nathaniel is an epidemiologist who works with data about non-fatal opioid overdoses. Sarah Edwards is from RID...
January 04, 2024
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23:01
A Deadly Drug Supply: What's Being Done to Keep RI Communities Safe?
In 2022, 75% of overdose deaths involved illicit fentanyl, a highly potent opioid. In this episode, Dr. Philip Chan is joined by Bryan Volpe, a Drug Intelligence Officer at The New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and Dr. Lou...
December 20, 2023
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27:26
Past, Present, and Future - A Conversation About Public Health
Dr. Jan Carney, Associate Dean for Public Health and Health Policy and Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont and author of the book Public Health: From Past to Present joins Dr. Philip Chan for a candid co...
December 07, 2023
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29:19
Coming Up Short: Fewer Primary Care Physicians Impacts RI in a Big Way
In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, the Rhode Island Department of Health's Dr. Philip Chan is joined by Dr. Jeffrey Borkan to explore a problem that affects everyone – a shortage of primary care physicians in RI. It’s c...
November 20, 2023
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23:41
Tornados, Flooding, and Heat Waves, Oh My! An Honest Talk About Climate Change
As unusual weather patterns, heat waves, floods, and other catastrophic events in unlikely places seem to be on the rise, climate change continues to be a hot topic. In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Philip Chan is joined by ...
November 06, 2023
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26:51
Preventing Domestic Violence by Addressing the Root Causes
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Krista Cunningham and Dr. Cynthia Roberts from the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence sat down with the Rhode Island Department of Health's Dr. Philip Chan for a serious look at the c...
October 18, 2023
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30:41
Promoting Equity in Oral Health is a True "Mission of Mercy"
In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Chan discusses the importance of oral health with local dentists, Dr. Sam Zwetchkenbaum and Dr. Jeff Dodge and their role in the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy. This two-day, annual event, has provi...
September 21, 2023
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21:39