Safe Passage: Craig Wilson Wonks At Work podcast

20:02

Even if you may not look forward to going to the dentist, you could be taking your experience for granted. For individuals whose brains function differently, such as people with diagnoses like autism, going to the dentist can be an anxiety-inducing event. In this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast we speak with Lyon College School of Dental Medicine’s new associate dean for clinical affairs, Dr. Ashley McMillan, about oral health access and accommodations for neurodivergent patients to get needed dental care.…

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The Sum of It All: Dr. Sam Taggart 30:46

11 weeks назад30:46

30:46

Non-medical vaccine exemptions for Arkansas kindergarten students continue to rise, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccine hesitancy, or a lack of confidence in vaccines, is a key factor contributing to this trend, but it is not a new phenomenon. On this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Sam Taggart, author of The Public’s Health: A Narrative History of Health and Disease in Arkansas, to discuss the history of vaccine hesitancy in the Natural State.…

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Growing Pains: Dr. Paul Umbach 27:46

13 weeks назад27:46

27:46

Rapid economic and population growth like what’s taking place in Northwest Arkansas can be exciting, but it can also stress existing housing, education, transportation, and healthcare infrastructure. The Health Care Transformation Division of the Northwest Arkansas Council, an organization established to help shape the region’s development, and Heartland Whole Health Institute have released a new report that assesses the healthcare transformation currently underway and outlines future goals. Key objectives include building a sufficient healthcare workforce to respond to the demands of a growing population and ensuring that healthcare dollars stay in the Northwest Arkansas economy. To learn more about the report, we’re joined on this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast by Dr. Paul Umbach, founder of the healthcare and higher education consulting firm Tripp Umbach, which led the report’s development.…

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School Days: Tamara Baker 15:17

16 weeks назад15:17

15:17

Now more than ever, schools are seeking to provide students with a broad scope of wellness, prevention, and treatment so they can thrive inside and outside the classroom. Dozens of schools across Arkansas have adopted a model known as the school-based health center. These are staffed clinics on school grounds that provide medical and mental health care, and in some cases oral health and vision services. Students and staff don’t have to leave school for appointments, and studies have shown the centers have the potential to improve educational outcomes. To learn more about these centers, we’re joined on this episode by Tamara Baker, executive director of the School-Based Health Alliance of Arkansas.…

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Answering Machine: Dr. Debbie Jones 20:12

18 weeks назад20:12

20:12

Arkansas recently joined a growing number of states that support cell phone restrictions in schools, launching a $7 million pilot program to create “phone-free” schools as part of a broader effort to improve student mental health and curb screen addiction. While research on cell phone bans is mixed, some studies show associated improvements in student mental health and academic performance, as well as decreases in bullying. For a firsthand perspective on the impact of such bans on students and the school environment, we’re joined on this episode by Dr. Debbie Jones, superintendent of Bentonville Schools.…

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The Air That I Breathe: Dr. Matthew Steliga 31:29

20 weeks назад31:29

31:29

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in Arkansas, claiming more lives each year than HIV, illicit drug use, alcohol, motor vehicle injuries, and firearm-related incidents combined. Tobacco use in the state has dropped significantly over the past decade, but Arkansas’s smoking rate still ranks among the highest in the U.S. Plus, the use of e-cigarettes has drastically increased, with roughly 1 in 10 Arkansans vaping regularly. To explore these challenges, as well as some hopeful new treatments for lung cancer, we’re joined on this episode by Dr. Matthew Steliga, a thoracic surgeon at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a member of the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Advisory Committee for Arkansas.…

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We Can Do Better: Dr. Whit Hall 27:46

22 weeks назад27:46

27:46

Firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., and the number of gun-related fatalities has continued to climb for the past decade. Following the September school shooting in Winder, Ga., that left two students and two teachers dead, the question of how to stem the tide has risen again. In this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Whit Hall, a neonatologist with Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Recently, he shared how gun violence has impacted him and his family in a testimony before state lawmakers, who are considering an update to Arkansas’s gun laws.…

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Safe Passage: Craig Wilson 18:14

23 weeks назад18:14

18:14

Data is great to have, but to work toward solutions to the challenges we face, it’s essential that we turn that data into understandable and actionable information. ACHI has been working with the Arkansas State Police on a deep dive into vehicular crash data to support strategic planning efforts for traffic safety. In this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, ACHI Health Policy Director Craig Wilson takes a turn in the guest seat to share a few of the insights uncovered by ACHI’s analysis of roadway fatalities in Arkansas.…

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On the Road Again: John Landosky 28:01

25 weeks назад28:01

28:01

Arkansas has the fourth-highest roadway fatality rate of all the states. Fortunately, policymakers have begun to respond. In May, the Little Rock City Board voted to adopt the Central Arkansas Regional Safety Action Plan, part of which is to seek federal funding to address safety concerns by improving lighting, signals, and other roadway infrastructure. Last week, the city announced that it will receive $25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin that work. On this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we’re joined by Dr. John Landosky, Little Rock’s bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, to learn more about the city’s plan.…

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History Lesson: Dr. Sam Taggart 25:57

27 weeks назад25:57

25:57

Arkansas’s rural communities face many challenges. Communities are shrinking due to out-migration, rural hospitals are under financial strain, and the state’s rural residents are, on average, older, poorer, and less healthy than their urban counterparts. Primary care physicians are also far less plentiful in rural areas, making the role of the family doctor even more important. In this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we speak with Dr. Sam Taggart, a retired family medicine physician and author of several books about the medical profession in Arkansas. His latest book is “For Every Family, a Family Doctor,” which explores the history of family medicine in our state.…

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The Kids Aren’t Alright: Dr. Tiffany Howell 12:35

29 weeks назад12:35

12:35

There is growing concern about the role social media plays in the mental health and development of young people. Arkansas’s governor, multiple other states, Congress, and the courts are all delving into this issue. The U.S. surgeon general has even called for warning labels on social media platforms. As those efforts move forward, it falls upon parents, families, educators, and others in the community to support our children as they navigate these new technologies. On this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we learn more about the impact of social media on Arkansas youth with Dr. Tiffany Howell, a pediatric psychologist at Arkansas Children's Hospital. For more information and resources related to social media and youth mental health, visit ACHI's Maternal and Infant Health topic page.…

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Sweetest Devotion: Tyler Faircloth 11:31

31 weeks назад11:31

11:31

There are numerous risks along the birthing journey that contribute to poor outcomes for Arkansas moms and babies. One effective practice for promoting healthy outcomes for babies is breastfeeding, which supports their immune systems and cognitive development. Unfortunately, breastfeeding is not an option for some mothers. To learn more about a new alternative available in Arkansas to those mothers and their families, we’re joined on this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast by Tyler Faircloth, program director for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Milk Bank.…

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The Heat Is On: Todd Yakoubian 16:53

33 weeks назад16:53

16:53

Hundreds of cities in nearly every U.S. state are on track for one of their 10 warmest summers on record. Besides posing immediate risk for illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, extreme heat can create cumulative stress on the human body over prolonged periods. Heat can also impact us in less obvious ways, such as worsening health risks from chronic conditions due to stress on the heart and kidneys or degrading the effectiveness of certain medications. In this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we’re joined by KARK Channel 4 Chief Meteorologist Todd Yakoubian for some special insight into the hot and humid days of summer in Arkansas.…

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We Take Care of Our Own: Errin Stanger 29:37

39 weeks назад29:37

29:37

Maintaining one's health is challenging for those whose basic needs such as housing and food are unmet. A new effort in Central Arkansas, Providence Park, seeks to address the needs of people who are chronically unhoused, offering permanent housing and wrap-around services including healthcare for those in need. Host Craig Wilson talks to Providence Park CEO Errin Stanger about the inspiration for this project and what led her to this work.…

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Now's the Time: Dr. Maria Rodriguez-Alcala 14:11

41 weeks назад14:11