Dr. Michelle Taylor #1

We are "Asking the Expert" with Shelby County Health Department Director Dr. Michelle Taylor  on The Bev Johnson Show on WDIA Radio.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Memphist probably presents the BEM Johnson Show.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
Let me say, Bath I've gone him Stop me first, let.

Speaker 3 (00:18):
Me you say.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
She's gone nappistogain. No matter of the problem, she can
have so all the phone Norman your mind.

Speaker 4 (00:38):
She was there Jimmy ding in the hair by challing you.

Speaker 5 (00:44):
To just keep the fair.

Speaker 4 (00:48):
Man who went around picking up misdoting show goes gotting happy.
You can hear every day you d I ain't my
bell got me a missed upping?

Speaker 3 (01:48):
Good morning, good morning, good morning, and welcome into w
d i A The BEB Johnson Show.

Speaker 4 (01:55):
I'm BEV.

Speaker 3 (01:56):
It is indeed a pleasure to have you with us
once again on this Tuesday, June twenty fourth, twenty twenty five.
Enjoy this fabulous day to day. Get ready to put
your ears on as we share the good news. First hour,
we will be talking with our Shelby County Health Department

(02:20):
director for the last time, well hopefully not on The
BEB Johnson Show. Doctor Michelle Taylor is in to talk
with us. Second hour, we'll be finding out about Madrid's bank.
What is that all about? Well, well, thank you for that.
We'll find out nine zero one five three five nine

(02:43):
three four two nine zero one five three five nine
three four two eight hundred five zero three nine three
four two eight three three five three five nine three
four two will get.

Speaker 6 (03:00):
You in to us.

Speaker 3 (03:05):
And if this day, this day, Tuesday, June twenty fourth,
twenty twenty five, is your birthday. Happy birthday to each
and neighbor one of y'all out there who may be
celebrating a birthday on this day.

Speaker 4 (03:26):
You know it, you know the score. Go out and
celebrate your life. You better, you better.

Speaker 3 (03:35):
When we come back, we'll talk with the Shelby County
Health Department Director, doctor Michelle Taylor, and me Bev Johnson
on The Bev Johnson Show only on Double D. I a.

Speaker 7 (04:01):
S s.

Speaker 8 (04:25):
SP.

Speaker 3 (05:00):
That is a Stevie Wonder cover. Hey, good morning and
welcome in June is Black Music Month. I thought i'd
play that that's nagee as a matter of fact, but
the Stevie Wonder cover I wish, and boy, I wish
this sister isn't leaving, but hey, it is what it is.

(05:21):
Once again, I'm not gonna say the last time because
you know, she may come in and drop in and
call me. I don't know, but we are so so
so proud to have her back in the saddle. Before
she'll tell y'all yet.

Speaker 4 (05:34):
If you don't know she's leaving.

Speaker 3 (05:36):
Doctor Michelle Taylor is back in the house, the director
of the Shelby County Health Department.

Speaker 4 (05:44):
Good morning, doctor Taylor. How are you?

Speaker 9 (05:47):
Good morning, miss mal I'm wonderful.

Speaker 2 (05:49):
How are you.

Speaker 4 (05:50):
I'm hanging, Yes, yeah, Doctor Taylor, I'm hanging.

Speaker 9 (05:56):
I understand.

Speaker 4 (05:57):
Oh god, I'm hanging.

Speaker 6 (06:00):
How you doing?

Speaker 9 (06:01):
You know what I'm doing? Wonderful. I'm glad that I
could make it by here one more time.

Speaker 3 (06:05):
I know, I said get out because when I and
I was looking at the my schedule uncle, and I said,
oh lord, doctor Taylor's not gonna she's not gonna make
it in here because she's she's leaving us.

Speaker 9 (06:18):
You know I wouldn't do that to you. I know
you would, and I wouldn't do that to your listeners.
Make sure I made it.

Speaker 4 (06:24):
Because they love you, Doctor tamer.

Speaker 7 (06:25):
I love them.

Speaker 3 (06:26):
Oh, I love them for doctor Taylor, for our listeners.
If who they don't know who been in the dark.

Speaker 4 (06:32):
You are leaving us, sister, are you going well?

Speaker 9 (06:36):
I hate to say I'm leaving.

Speaker 4 (06:38):
Well, You're not leaving.

Speaker 3 (06:39):
But yeah, but but you you hey, but I understand
you have another opportunity.

Speaker 4 (06:44):
I do.

Speaker 9 (06:44):
So I've accepted a new position in Baltimore. So I
will be Baltimore City's Health Commissioner starting on August fourth. Wow,
And I'm super excited about it. It's an excellent opportunity
to do the work that I absolutely love. But everybody
in medicine Shelby County knows that I am always going

(07:06):
to call this place home and I'm always going to
be you know, ten toes down, like the kids say
for Memphis and Shelby County. So it's bittersweet. It's hard
because this is home. I grew up here, But I
also know that it's important not only for my family

(07:28):
and especially my children to see what it looks like
to grow in your career. Yes, but it's important for
other young people, especially in the public health field, to
understand that you have to continue to grow so that
you can continue to further public health no matter where
you're called to next.

Speaker 4 (07:49):
Baltimore, Baltimore, you you know a little bit about the city.

Speaker 10 (07:56):
I do.

Speaker 9 (07:56):
I do, actually, so one of my degrees, my doctorate
in public health, is from Johns Hopkins. Okay, So I
actually lived in Baltimore for two years at the beginning
of that degree program, So I actually know Baltimore very well.
And for those of you all who have never been
to Baltimore, it is very much like Memphis, but just

(08:19):
in the mid Atlantic. It's forty five minutes away from
DC my car. It's about three to four hours from
New York. And it has a population of about six
hundred to seven hundred thousand folks, kind of like Memphis, Tennessee, right,
but the surrounding metropolitan area, of course, has way more people.

(08:44):
And so I'm super excited about it. The people of
Baltimore remind me a lot of Memphians.

Speaker 4 (08:50):
Wow.

Speaker 9 (08:51):
And so I'm looking forward to getting in there doing
some good work. They have a great mayor, Mayor Brandon Scott,
who is done a lot to push the city of
Baltimore forward, and I'm looking forward to joining his team.

Speaker 8 (09:08):
Wow.

Speaker 4 (09:09):
Well, congratulations.

Speaker 3 (09:11):
And I think about doctor Taylor what my grandmother told
me about She says, when someone gives you an opportunity, it's.

Speaker 4 (09:19):
Good, go for it. Absolutely, that's a good opportunity.

Speaker 9 (09:22):
Well, she sounds just like my grandmother and both my
grandmother's and my mother. Uh huh, who you know? I Actually,
I'll tell I'll be a bit transparent. When I was
going through the final stages of the interview process for
this position, my mom, I don't think she'll mind me
sharing that she was in the hospital. She had just

(09:44):
been hospitalized, and I was flying back from DC. I
had been there for a work meeting, and I got here,
I went straight to the hospital and I told her,
you know what I'm not. You know, I had already
started having seconds. I was afraid about moving right, And
I said, I, you know, I'm just going to reschedule

(10:06):
the interview, or you know, maybe I'll cancel it because
I need to know what's going on with you. And
she kicked me out of the hospital.

Speaker 4 (10:15):
On this bell.

Speaker 9 (10:15):
What she kicked me out? My special assistant is over
here nodding because she knows how this conversation with YEA.
And she was like, listen here, you're going to do
that interview, and you're gonna do well in that interview.
I'm going to kick you out tonight. You're gonna go home,
you're gonna get good rest, You're gonna do your interview tomorrow.

(10:37):
And then she said, after the interview is over, you
can come over here, you can sleep at the hospital,
you can do whatever you want, but you cannot come
back here until that interview is done. So my mom,
I like to tell people, she's the blueprint. She has
taught me. Both her and my dad taught me that
when you are presented with an opportunity to serve and

(10:57):
help people, and you pray about it, God tells you
that it's the right move, then you really don't have
a choice but to make that next step, even when
you're afraid.

Speaker 4 (11:08):
Yeah, yeah, well good, yeah, Well, how's your mom doing.

Speaker 9 (11:12):
She's perfect, she's great, back up to full fighting strength.
You can ask anybody in the family. M h and
she's doing great.

Speaker 4 (11:23):
Good. Thank you for good good well, doctor Taylor, as
I always have to ask you, ask you what any
concerns we're having with the health department. We're doing alright
in COVID. We're doing all right.

Speaker 3 (11:34):
And this I thought about you yesterday. And I'm gonna
tell you why I thought about you.

Speaker 4 (11:40):
I was in Walgreens.

Speaker 3 (11:41):
I was getting getting something good and the pharmacy says, MS,
bab you ready for your RSV shock.

Speaker 9 (11:48):
That's right?

Speaker 4 (11:49):
And I looked at her. I said, no, ma'am, I'm not.

Speaker 9 (11:53):
I'm not ready today. I didn't know I was getting
shot today.

Speaker 3 (11:57):
I said, no, ma'am, I am not ready for I said,
wonder what doctor Taylor would saying to me, You get
your tail in it.

Speaker 4 (12:03):
I haven't had one yet. I said, no, ma'am. I'll
let y'all know.

Speaker 9 (12:06):
That's fine, but don't let you that's okay, But when
you get closer to the fall, go want and get it, Yes, ma'am,
go get it. Yes, yes, I'm telling you. Last winter
we had a spike in RSV as one of those
you know, respiratory illnesses. Okay, and so you would rather
go on and be protected. Okay, but I'll give you

(12:28):
a pass because we're in the summertime, right.

Speaker 3 (12:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 9 (12:31):
But once you start getting close to the fall in September.

Speaker 3 (12:34):
October, yeah, you be proud of me because I usually
I'm gonna get my fluid, the shingles, I get all
that stuff, but I haven't had the RSV.

Speaker 9 (12:43):
Go on and get it, but I'll let you wait
till September, okay, And the callers are gonna let me know.
They gonna find me in Baltimore, and let me know
if you hadn't been to get that RSV S, I
already know.

Speaker 4 (12:55):
All right, but anything what else is happening, well, you
know what.

Speaker 9 (13:00):
We are moving right along. We've had a couple of
our community care fares and different neighborhoods over the past
couple of weeks. And then Friday, June twenty seventh is
National HIV Testing Day and Shelby County Health Department is
hosting a free event on our lawn at eight fourteen

(13:20):
Jefferson Avenue featuring food, trucks, music, giveaways, and much more.
And free HIV testing will be available in our Sexual
Health Clinic, and we will also be providing free in
home HIV testing kits, So if you don't want to
walk in and get your tests, we'll hand you the
in home testing kit that you can do in the

(13:41):
comfort of your own home. And of course we'll have
all of the health information resources everything else that we
provided the Shelby County Health Department. This is part of
our continuation of increasing awareness in Memphis and Shelby County
that we are number two in the nation for new
HIV infections, number two, number two, and we want everybody

(14:04):
in the community to know their status, because if you
know your status, that's when you know how to protect yourself.
So if you're negative, you know you can go and
get on prep pre exposure profile axis. If you're positive
for HIV, you know it's not a death sentence anymore.
You can get on treatment, and a lot of the

(14:27):
treatments now are just once a month, right or one
pill a day, and you can live a long, fruitful
life with HIV. So, but that first step is knowing
your status and getting tested. So I hope everybody's been
paying attention. We've put a lot of billboards up, done
a lot of education of the community through social media

(14:49):
and other platforms to make sure that everybody understands how
important knowing your status is and that they don't have
to live a stigmatized life even if they do have HIV,
and they don't have to deal with the stigma or
the barriers involved with just getting tested. We want everybody

(15:10):
to treat it as a normal part of their health
care activities. Just like you talked about going to get
your RSV shot, we wanted to become as normal as that.
I'm going I'm gonna get my RSV shot today. I'm
gonna get my flu shot. And oh, by the way,
if I'm sexually active, I'm gonna make sure that my
doctor tests me for HIV at least once a year.

Speaker 3 (15:34):
I mean.

Speaker 4 (15:34):
And if they don't say you should, ask your doctor,
let me get the test.

Speaker 9 (15:39):
You should, You should, and I will tell you your
provider will be very happy that you ask, because some providers,
you know, they have dealt in years past with testing
people and then some people get upset, right because of
the stigma. Right, No, go to your providers. No, no, no,
I want this battery of test once a year because

(15:59):
you're supposed to be going to see your provider once
a year anyway from checkup, so it should be a
part of your normal checkup.

Speaker 4 (16:06):
Yes, ma'am doctor, I just you know, just listening to
in our numbers, we're number.

Speaker 9 (16:11):
Two, number two, only behind Miami. Well, I think it's
a number of factors, right, So I think you know,
and we've talked about this on the show before. I
think it's people being afraid of having the hard conversations, right,
And it's also some of our laws where comprehensive sex

(16:36):
education is not the norm in our public schools now, right,
And So if you're not getting it at school, and
you're not getting it at home because maybe mom or
dad or guardian doesn't feel comfortable talking about those topics,
not getting it from a coach, not getting it from church,
then you know, what are kids and young people to do?

(17:00):
Where will you get your information?

Speaker 11 (17:02):
Roll?

Speaker 9 (17:03):
Everybody has one of these phones? Yeah, right, yeah, And
you know if anybody remembers with some of the conversations
were like out on the playground during recess. You know,
kids don't always talk about.

Speaker 4 (17:15):
Kids stuff, right exactly.

Speaker 9 (17:17):
During recess because they see stuff that's not kids stuff
at home, right, So you're getting misinformation from other people
their age who doesn't know either right, or they're getting
misinformation from the internet. So it's really important as responsible
adults in their lives or more seasoned adults to the

(17:40):
young adults, that we make sure that we're giving them
proper information not only about sex, because a lot of people,
especially here in the Bible Belt, get upset about that,
but just about all the ways that you are supposed
to protect your health in general, to include your sexual health.

(18:00):
We've got to get more comfortable talking about that.

Speaker 3 (18:03):
Yes, you would think you would think doctor Taylor that
in twenty twenty five, we were comfortable because I'm thinking
when I was in high school, that's a long time.
But now and in high school that was they said.

Speaker 4 (18:22):
We had sexual Hell did I did?

Speaker 6 (18:27):
We had that?

Speaker 4 (18:28):
I was in high school sixty eight six nine. I
mean we had that.

Speaker 3 (18:33):
We had the clas and even with our community center
that we would go to, we had the graduate students
from the University of Michigan.

Speaker 4 (18:42):
They come over, they would talk with us because they
were they were young.

Speaker 3 (18:45):
And I'm thinking twenty twenty five, people are still uncomfortable
to talk.

Speaker 9 (18:50):
Well, some people are. And then when you combine that
with what we call the gateway line here in the
state of Tennessee, where you've had this abstinence only education
for about twelve or thirteen years, where abstinence is supposed
to be at the top, and they tell schools, Okay,

(19:12):
you can talk about these other topics, but if you
wagh too far in then you might get you know, prosecuted,
or you may be up against the law. Then that
causes a freezing effect on the adults who know these
kids need to be educated, but don't want to get
in the way of the law of the state. Right,

(19:33):
So that's what we're talking about. So that combination of
just cultural norms. You know, I think about, and I've
talked about this before, my grandmother, my mother's mother, right.
You know, she didn't have age appropriate talks about sex
with my mom, right. But my mom, because she was

(19:56):
an educator, she was a trained educator, she learned, hey,
you're supposed to have these age appropriate talks with your kids.
So I grew up getting comprehensive sex education at home, right. Yeah,
And that means that with each passing generation, because that's

(20:17):
a norm in our family. Now, then nobody is reliant
on the school, the church, or whatever to give that education. Now,
if a family needs to be relying on that, great,
because we have faith based institutions, we have coaches, we
have other responsible adults, we have a local health department

(20:39):
who is willing to give that education to our young people. Great.
And so you know I always tell parents, don't feel
guilty if you don't feel comfortable, okay, but take them
to somebody who does and who is going to give
them the correct information.

Speaker 4 (20:57):
I agree, okay, So so this Friday, get the testing, that's.

Speaker 9 (21:03):
Right, This Friday, eight fourteen, Jefferson will be out on
It's gonna be a little hot, but we'll be out
on the lawn and we're gonna do We're gonna have
a good time, and we're gonna make sure people get tested,
and we're gonna celebrate National HIV Testing Day.

Speaker 4 (21:20):
Okay, what else is going on?

Speaker 9 (21:22):
You know what, there's so much going on, you know,
we've got so much outreach. One thing I will say,
and my folks at the Health Department will appreciate this,
even though a lot of people are like we are
in full on summer, Doctor Taylor, why are you talking
about back to school? Got to talk about back to school? Right, Yeah,

(21:42):
because y'all not go hear my voice in August? Right,
So back to school right now. If you know your
kids need their shots, need their immunizations for school, go
on and you know, find one of these health fares.
They're going on all the time. We will start them

(22:03):
in July, right, Okay, in our community care fares. We're
giving immunizations that those right now. Don't wait till the
last minute to get those shots. Go on and take
the kids. If they need to get caught up. We
can look up their shot record and we can get
those shots so that they can be ready to be
in their seats on day one of school starting. We

(22:26):
all know school starts extra early here, beginning of August.
Let's go on and get that done. Now, you got
all of July and you don't have to wait until
the weekend before school starts to get this done.

Speaker 3 (22:40):
And I'm sure you're also talking to doctor Taylor. Those
young kids who will be going to school for the
first time.

Speaker 9 (22:46):
That's right, So those kindergarten shots, get them now. You
know a lot of people don't realize the kids can
start getting and this is where I become the pediatrician.
Kids can start getting their kindergarten shots at age four.

Speaker 4 (23:00):
Oh wow.

Speaker 9 (23:01):
So if you have a four year old at home,
as soon as they turn four, you can go on
and get the shots now, right, even though they may
not start school for another year, you can get them now.
But if you've got a five year old, you know
they're getting ready to start school, right, everybody's talking about
universal pre K that's before five years old. Yeah, go

(23:22):
on and get those kids in munized.

Speaker 3 (23:24):
Okay, good, if you've just tuned in this day, we
are talking with our director of the Shelby County Health Department,
doctor Michelle Taylor is here. You have a question or
two for doctor Taylor. We invite you to call. You're
hearing her voice for the last time. Well, I'm not

(23:44):
gonna say that, but you know she's getting ready to leave,
but she's here on my show for this time, so
never know. She may call me back, call me from Baltimore.

Speaker 9 (23:54):
I would love that, if you'll let me, I'll do.

Speaker 4 (23:56):
Oh, yes, ma'am, Yes, ma'am. But our number is here
nine zero five three five nine three four two eight
hundred five zero three nine three four two eight three
three five three five nine three.

Speaker 12 (24:11):
Four two will get you in to us. You're listening
to double d I A go Away. The Bev Johnson
Show returns after these messages.

Speaker 9 (24:23):
The Bev Johnson Show.

Speaker 13 (25:00):
Just keep.

Speaker 4 (25:16):
Good morning and welcome back to the Hardened Soul of Memphis.
W D I A.

Speaker 3 (25:21):
I am talking with the director of the Shelby County
Health Department, doctor Michelle Taylor. Doctor Taylor. We're going to
our phone lines to talk to our listeners. Thank you
for waiting, brother Bernard, Miss.

Speaker 7 (25:35):
Johnson, doctor Taylor.

Speaker 4 (25:37):
How are you doing well, Brother Bernard?

Speaker 7 (25:39):
How are you, Miss Johnson and doctor Taylor. Thank you
for your service and congratulations on the new position in Baltimore.

Speaker 3 (25:49):
Thank you.

Speaker 7 (25:51):
Yes, ma'am, I have a cousin that has served in
Maryland's House of Representatives.

Speaker 6 (25:57):
My question is with seeing sort of the in.

Speaker 7 (26:02):
The working of the Shelby County Health Department as you
prepare to leave, what if any improvements would you like
to see with our County Health Department? And I will
hang up and listen.

Speaker 4 (26:16):
Thank you, brother Bernard.

Speaker 9 (26:18):
Great question.

Speaker 4 (26:20):
Yeah, thank good question.

Speaker 9 (26:21):
I love that. So actually, what I'm proud to say
is my team and I have already set in motion
the improvements that I really think have needed to be made.
But of course, some of these improvements are what we
call capital improvement projects, so they take a while. I've

(26:41):
been in the job for four years, and I'm proud
to say that Shelby County Health Department is remodeling and
redesigning all of our clinic spaces to modernize and provide
excellent services in comfortable and inviting surroundings. So what does
that look like? So renovations are already underway at our
Hickory Hill Public Health Clinic in the planning phases for

(27:04):
our other clinics, and the folks in white Haven already
know this. We are building a brand new public health
clinic in white Haven and it's now in the design phase,
and it will allow us to better serve the people
of white Haven and the surrounding community. So that's just
one example. The other thing that I would say is

(27:26):
that I am really proud of my team because they
are forging ahead on making sure that Shelby County Health
Department becomes accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board. So
we've already set that in motion to get ready for
that application phase. And within the last year we went
live with our first ever electronic medical record system. And

(27:51):
so when I think about some of the things that
we have been able to achieve and set in motion,
those are the those are the big ones, right. And
then of course we have really over the last four years,
had a renewed focus on customer service. Okay, what is

(28:11):
the experience like for a person walking into the Shelby
County Health Department. What I always said to the folks
at SHD is Hey, the surroundings that folks walk into
should match the quality of services that they're receiving. So
whether you're coming in to get a birth or death certificate,

(28:32):
coming in to get signed up for WICK, coming in
for a shot, or whatever, your experience should be a
pleasant one. And even if you're coming in for something
like getting treated for tuberculosis or getting tested for sexually
transmitted infection. When you come in, we want you to
feel welcomed. When you're leaving, we want you to feel

(28:53):
like you're on the road to recovery treatment, whatever it is,
but we want you to have a pleasant experience throughout
That's been super important, and I can say that confidently
that Mayor Harris has been very supportive of that in
what we've tried to do, and the Shelby County Board

(29:14):
of Commissioners very supportive throughout my tenure. I would not
have in my division, would not have been able to
accomplish a lot of the things that we've been able
to accomplish, even coming out of COVID without the support
of Mayor Harris and the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.
So I have to shout them out because it really

(29:37):
is a team effort when it comes to providing services
to Shelby County residents and making sure that we make
progress at the same time. And so my prayer is
that all of the progress that we've set in motion
will continue, and I believe it will.

Speaker 4 (29:57):
Back to our phone lines, wud hi, little daddy, what
to do?

Speaker 10 (30:03):
I got two words for your young think. Oh Bill,
what's up with your bill? I'm doing for the doctor. Okay,
go for the doctor if I wanted to know, because
you helped me out. Because that bill, I'm still the
doctor and they're stilled the doctors all my life and

(30:25):
uh my problem is doct works there to do to Huh.
I'm telling my niece about it yesterday. Uh. I got
a piece nerve in my shoulder, that one of my
business problems, and uh, I'm trying to stick it out.
He's uh recommends me to anybody that's I don't want

(30:48):
them folks to ever cut on me, but I need
I need some kind of uh help for that pinch nerve.
Yeah yeah, I ain't even let the doctor ever cut
on me. That's not worth a bebb Yes, yeah, goody
you too, little daddy.

Speaker 4 (31:07):
Thank you, little daddy. Doctor Taylor, can you help out
a little daddy with it?

Speaker 9 (31:11):
I'm gonna try to help out little daddy. So listen,
little daddy. I know you don't want anybody cutting on you, right.
I've got some family members who are just like you, right,
So I'm gonna tell you what I tell them. Even
though you are afraid of doctors and providers, we have
to have faith over fear that when you walk into

(31:36):
that appointment, that that person is not necessarily gonna cut
on you. That person is going to evaluate you. They're
gonna see what's going on with that pinched nerve. They're
gonna see what's going on, and then they're gonna give
you a list of options. Now that list may include cutting,
but as the patient, you will have the option of

(31:59):
saying what you want to do and what you don't
want to do. And for those really good providers, they're
also gonna tell you, Okay, your quality of life is
gonna go up by this much if you let me
do this, If you let me do the next thing,
your quality of life will go up by this. If
we cut you, your quality of life may be really good,

(32:22):
but we understand that we've got to maybe try these
other things first, because you don't feel comfortable with surgery, right,
and so don't go in telling the doctor. What they
gonna do. You don't know what they're gonna do, right,
And now I'm talking to you like I would talk
to my auntie, my uncle, my cousin or whatever. You
don't know what they're going to do, right. So go

(32:42):
in with an open mind, understanding that you have pain
that you don't necessarily have to have. But the first
step is to walk into the appointment, to make the appointment,
and then to walk in there and not let fear rule.

Speaker 4 (32:57):
All right, Going back to our phone lines to talk
with you. W D I a HI caller.

Speaker 5 (33:05):
Good morning, my most beautiful African viallet. How are you
doing today?

Speaker 6 (33:07):
My sister?

Speaker 4 (33:08):
I'm doing fabulous, David? How are you? My brother?

Speaker 5 (33:12):
Oh, I'm doing great, sus I just got through a
little bit of yad work and turned y'all, so I'm
a little bit late, but it is always good to
hear our local surgeon general.

Speaker 10 (33:22):
How you doing, lady?

Speaker 9 (33:24):
Hey, David, how are you?

Speaker 5 (33:27):
I'm doing well? Look, you broke my heart. No, I'm
gonna be honest, Yeah, you just broke my heart when
I heard that the news, cause I said, I'm who
in the world I don't have Kandree Anthony's telephone number.
I don't have my Tabors Jones telephone number. Who am
I gonna rise about the Hampton Howard game?

Speaker 9 (33:45):
Now, listen, you can still you know, you can still
call in and do that because you know Howard's the best.

Speaker 4 (33:51):
Anyway, Oh lord.

Speaker 10 (33:54):
There you go.

Speaker 5 (33:55):
You're gonna take that message Baltimore with you.

Speaker 9 (34:00):
About absolutely, and Howard is right down the street too.
And then you know, ban State is right there in Baltimore.
So I know there'll be somebody like you giving me
a hard time about Morgan State being better than Howard.
I'm already ready for it.

Speaker 10 (34:16):
You already know.

Speaker 5 (34:17):
Well, look, I appreciate your service. I really am sad
to hear that we're losing more good talent to another city.
You handled and worked through COVID so well, I forgot.

Speaker 6 (34:32):
You were here during COVID, So I appreciate that that
was a.

Speaker 5 (34:35):
Very very difficult time for the citizens of Memphis who
really really depend upon sound medical and scientific information. And
of course, my sister there Bel Johnson was making sure
that we knew what was going on. So during that
period of time, I.

Speaker 13 (34:57):
Really I'm going to miss you.

Speaker 5 (34:59):
I really like your professionalism, representation you're a Message girl,
and I love that as well. Even though you picked
the wrong school, I still love the fact that you're
a Missus girl.

Speaker 9 (35:10):
That's all right that Memphis always.

Speaker 7 (35:14):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (35:15):
I hope that our future doctor is doing okay down there, Xavier,
and that everything's going well there too. And but now
you got one more little girl, so there's still some hope.
There's still some hope.

Speaker 9 (35:31):
Well, I can tell you she is eleven, and she's
already started making her list of uh colleges and universities and.

Speaker 5 (35:39):
At the top Hampton at the top.

Speaker 9 (35:41):
She didn't even mention Hampton, but you know Howard is
out there.

Speaker 5 (35:50):
But but yeah, yeah, I really have this from the
heart over here in North Message. We don't miss you
over here in North Message. We really appreciate your babble service.

Speaker 1 (36:00):
To the community.

Speaker 5 (36:01):
And you have a great trip in lu Success and
when you come on back to Mephics, I got a Hampton.

Speaker 4 (36:06):
Okay, thank you, Baba w D. I a high caller.

Speaker 1 (36:15):
I am the most erudite, mind, brilliant thinker and political philosopher.
Hello to you and your guest Bell. You know what
prompt me to call into the show?

Speaker 6 (36:27):
What was that?

Speaker 1 (36:29):
I am so glad. She mentioned that they're going to
make sure that when people come in for service, they
get this, they receive state of the art treatment, customers
to master service that they are receiving because them government

(36:51):
employees are hot mess when they come to governments come
to service. I sometimes go through there sometimes.

Speaker 4 (37:03):
Are you there? We lost your black conservices.

Speaker 1 (37:05):
They just they treat them folks bad, they really do.

Speaker 4 (37:09):
Where do you go? You can go down to the
main office of where.

Speaker 10 (37:14):
Look any pad?

Speaker 8 (37:15):
No where?

Speaker 4 (37:16):
Which which which place do you go? So doctor Taylor
will know.

Speaker 1 (37:21):
Well, they have a new building. I haven't been in
the new new place, but I went down to the
one when used to have on Jefferson. I think to
help department down there, just any government place to where
the customer services. You didn't even go to the post office.

Speaker 8 (37:37):
They were not talking.

Speaker 3 (37:38):
About She can't she can't address that. All she can
address today is the Shelby County Health Department.

Speaker 1 (37:44):
Well, I'm glad. I know in the past I have
been down there years. In the past, the customer service
there have been terrible. So I'm glad that they're gonna
treat those people who come in they're poor people, with respect.
Indignity because in the past they have not been doing it.
It's been a hot mess. So I'm encouraged to hear that.

Speaker 3 (38:06):
Okay, all right, thank you black conservative doctor message. Yeah, okay,
he's encouraged to hear that you all make sure that
people have quality service.

Speaker 2 (38:18):
Well.

Speaker 9 (38:18):
I mean, one of the things that has become a
model for us in these last four years is that
we truly are a Shelby County Health Department for everyone.
That's why our name is Shelby County Health Department. And
so we have done a lot of work to remind
our employees because we have great employees, you know, I

(38:40):
you know, I would love to know what year he's
talking about, right, but right now we have fantastic employees
and they work really hard every day to provide services.
It's not easy to be public facing, right, But we
also know that, you know, sometimes with government agencies, I'm

(39:02):
not talking about health department, but sometimes with government agencies,
there has been a legacy of customer service varying, right,
And so one of the things that was a goal
for us as a health department coming out of COVID
was to make sure that we were taking care of
customers in a way where they felt like I'm walking

(39:23):
into a private doctor's office, right, And we actually did
get a lot of accolades from folks who had never
walked into the health department right, had never had to
seek services, but because of what was going with COVID,
we were one of the only places where they could
get some of those services at the time. And saying,

(39:43):
you know, walking into that new building, and I would
tell black conservative walk into the new building. Most people
have a Disney World moment when they walk into the
new building because it's so beautiful and there's so much
light and it's so different from the old building that
they turn around in the lobby and make sure that
they're in the right place and see the sign on

(40:05):
the wall because they can't believe that they're in the
health department. So, yes, that has been a huge goal
and we work toward that every day. Do we get
it right all the time? No, I mean, I'll be
honest with that. Sometimes we do get complaints, but I
can say at least during my tenure, when those complaints come,

(40:26):
they get addressed immediately, because even one complaint is a
stain against the services and the work that we are
trying to do for Shelby.

Speaker 4 (40:37):
County, WDIA High caller, Hi, call are you there?

Speaker 10 (40:46):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (40:48):
Hello, I hear you a little bit.

Speaker 8 (40:51):
Can you hear me.

Speaker 4 (40:53):
I'm losing you. I'm losing you.

Speaker 13 (40:56):
I mean now I can hear you.

Speaker 4 (40:57):
Now go on and talk. Let me see going talk
to us? Oh I lost you? Call me back, call
me back. I'm losing you.

Speaker 8 (41:08):
W D I A Hi, Frank, Yeah, how are you
doing today?

Speaker 4 (41:12):
I'm doing well today, Frank and your set.

Speaker 8 (41:15):
I'm doing good, doing good.

Speaker 13 (41:17):
Look, I'm I want to I want to talk at
supreme course and I then I want to elaborate on it.
First of all, when you called, do you get a
call center? When you call the health department and they
transferred you to whatever area is that's the way it
goes most.

Speaker 5 (41:39):
Of the time.

Speaker 9 (41:40):
Yes, that's how it's supposed to go.

Speaker 13 (41:42):
Okay, now, now, okay, do y'all have two or three
separate buildings at the health department?

Speaker 6 (41:50):
We do.

Speaker 9 (41:50):
We have a headquarters and five satellites.

Speaker 13 (41:54):
Yes, that's okay. Now now, now, okay, I want to
make sure I'm my my my thing is. But first
let me say this. I'll proll you. I got high
respect for the shelby count of Mary's office. I mean,
when he's always having someone to answer the phone, that's

(42:14):
the main thing. I have to take my head off
to him. I have to give him all the glory
standing ovation because we as citizen and in the community,
when we call our marys off, we want somebody to
pick that phone up, and and and and and it's
a blessing.

Speaker 8 (42:34):
People just don't know.

Speaker 14 (42:35):
It's a blessing not to be ignored when your child
and got shot rate killed with whatever the case may be,
and to have some one ear to listen to.

Speaker 13 (42:48):
But back to this thing, I understand, Uh, why are
you leave me?

Speaker 10 (42:55):
I really do.

Speaker 13 (42:58):
It's it's it's sad that we it get worser and
worser in the.

Speaker 4 (43:05):
Plan because she said, I don't know you, miss, but.

Speaker 13 (43:10):
Let me let me just let me say this, Okay,
we we we we we as human beings needs to
know that it's real.

Speaker 15 (43:20):
I mean COVID was real, and and and behind COVID
was a target. That that that now we got a bigger,
bigger target that no one wants to address.

Speaker 4 (43:35):
Talk target. What's the bigger target?

Speaker 8 (43:38):
Get rid of people?

Speaker 6 (43:39):
Getting rid of people?

Speaker 13 (43:40):
And we got we were facing another one with the
health department. And it is not with her office, but
it's with a certain office.

Speaker 15 (43:48):
That not doing their job to with with with this plant.

Speaker 13 (43:53):
And it's said that, and it's serious. It's real serious,
because no one wants to address it, and no one
won't to give him a permission to do it simply
because they don't want their name on it because they
know it's wrong. And but but that ain't the main thing.
The main thing is that people are losing their life.

(44:13):
Children are losing their life. That's paused. Well when you
want into your body, that is pauson And but but no,
and like I say, it's not her department. It's the
one that's supposed to be checking the air department. But
you don't want to put his name on it. And
no one wants to put the name.

Speaker 3 (44:32):
On It's said, all right, Frank, Well we thank you, Frank,
thank you Frank for your thoughts.

Speaker 4 (44:38):
W D I A HI.

Speaker 3 (44:41):
Call her, I miss that, call call me back. So
doctor Taylor, we've learned some things, uh that I know HIV.
Anything else that we need the health department is doing
and and and Frank like says, you have a main
office and I don't know if you heard you have
five satellite only have five satur across the city county,

(45:02):
so they can they can go to those places.

Speaker 9 (45:05):
That's right, that's right. So we have one on Sycamore View,
we have one, and we did have one in white Haven,
but we're getting ready to build a new one, right okay.
And then we have one in Hickory Hill, we have
one in Orange Bound, and then we have one out
in Millington. Ok Yes, yes, so a lot of people
don't know we have a clinic in Millington. No, we

(45:26):
actually have one. And then we have a sixth one
that we were working on bringing back online. So we
literally are spread out across the county.

Speaker 4 (45:38):
Yes, to make sure that that the main thing you
all that our health is okay, doctor Taylor, you know
that we are good whatever you know situations, because we know,
doctor Taylor. Everybody does not have a private position.

Speaker 3 (45:55):
But that's why you have the satellite offices and you
can go in and and see what's going on exactly.

Speaker 9 (46:01):
So we don't do primary care, but we do core
public health services. So if you need to go in
and you need to get a shot, you've got a
baby and you need to get signed up for WICK.
You need a birth or death certificate. Two of our
occasions that we do Bottle we do to.

Speaker 4 (46:18):
Sign up for I didn't know Wick. Yes, I know
the Health department. You have to go there.

Speaker 9 (46:24):
You don't have to, but we are you know, we
do Wick, okay, And then of course at our headquarters
we do the most things. When we get our other
clinics renovated, we'll be able to do those same level
of services at those clinics as well. But we do
everything from car seats to pack and plays to what

(46:49):
we call adult Wick where we seniors qualifying seniors can
get food boxes, all of those things. But the main
thing to know is that we are trying to edu
it people about how to protect their health and we're
trying to make sure that those services that we do
provide are top notch. And I think your listener's got

(47:10):
that today. So hopefully, like I said, they will understand it,
that it, will take advantage of it, and they'll know
this Jobe County Health Department is always going to be
here for them.

Speaker 3 (47:22):
So when we talk about a vaccination, so can we
still come to the Health Department say if you need
a flu shot.

Speaker 4 (47:29):
Yes, you can get those absolutely, whatever the shingles, you
can get that.

Speaker 9 (47:35):
There, you can. And so if you have insurance, you
can hand us your insurance guard. We'll definitely make sure
you get it. But if you don't have insurance, well
we will still give you that shot. So that's the
other thing people need to understand, like we are going
to give those services no matter your ability to pay.

Speaker 3 (47:55):
Yes, and people all should should know that, Doctor tayl
I'm trying to think it's you can still get your
birth certificated.

Speaker 5 (48:03):
Yes, yes, so.

Speaker 4 (48:06):
I did that.

Speaker 9 (48:07):
Yes, we have vital records. Okay at our eight fourteen
Jefferson location and at our Sycamore View location you can
get your birth and death certificates there. Oh okay, absolutely, yes, Wow, Okay,
can we do a lot?

Speaker 7 (48:23):
I know.

Speaker 4 (48:24):
Let me take this go back to our phone line
w D I a high caller.

Speaker 6 (48:30):
Afternoon, good afternoon.

Speaker 4 (48:39):
I'm losing I'm losing you, Carl. Can you hear me? Okay, Okay,
keep talking, Carl, because you're going in and out.

Speaker 9 (48:51):
What I mean, take what Carl?

Speaker 4 (48:57):
He can hear me, but we can't hear you. I
don't know on a bluetooth for what you're still there?
Call no, no, I lost him.

Speaker 3 (49:10):
He well, call me back because I know if you
it's an important question. Or you for doctor Taylor. Yeah,
because if you're on bluetooth and so sometimes that goes in.

Speaker 9 (49:18):
He goes in and out. That's right, right, that's right.

Speaker 3 (49:21):
Anything other things, Doctor Taylor that we need to know
about the Shelby County Health Department.

Speaker 9 (49:26):
Absolutely.

Speaker 6 (49:27):
So.

Speaker 9 (49:27):
At the beginning of the show, I talked about the
back to school events, but I didn't give you the dates,
so we lost the date. So we've got three back
to school events that are happening on July nineteenth, August second,
which is right before school starts in August sixteenth. So
if you just happen to not make it before school starts,

(49:50):
but you want to get those kids Emmy and Eye,
you can still do so on August sixteenth as well.
And all of the locations and everything that we will
doing will be on our website Shelbytnhealth dot gov.

Speaker 4 (50:06):
All right, and before we get doctor Taylor here, I
think I think Carl's back. Car you there, I hope, so, okay,
you're here, we hear you, Carl.

Speaker 6 (50:18):
I am so happy. I don't know what the problem was,
Miss Johnson, you know where it was. I was in
a bad part of town.

Speaker 4 (50:24):
Okay, all right, oh we get it, We get those
phones will mess up, So go on, Carl.

Speaker 6 (50:29):
The reason I'm calling. First off, I want to make
sure I am talking to doctor Taylor, right, yeah.

Speaker 3 (50:35):
Doctor Michelle Taylor, the director of the Shelby County Health Department.

Speaker 6 (50:40):
Okay, doctor Taylor, I'd like to say this to you.
Congratulation on your on the job for something that you
take into Baltimore, Maryland. Thank you, and thank you for
your service here.

Speaker 4 (50:52):
Thank you.

Speaker 6 (50:54):
Okay, And I wanted to miss a few things about
uh health by else as well. One of them guilds
what the world was called white coach syndrome. A lot
of people when they go there, yeah, one of them.

(51:18):
I don't know how to control that. What recommendation you
have for that?

Speaker 9 (51:23):
Oh, it's a great question, So, mister Carl, what I
would say is that a lot of times when people
have what's known as white coat syndrome, they're really just
anxious about going to see a physician or a provider.
What I would recommend is when you go in uh
the provider, if they have time to let you do this,

(51:43):
take your time going in. Don't sit in the lobby
for too long if they're not too busy, right, And
while you're sitting in the lobby, find something to do,
read a book. Most providers have a TV that you
can watch, you know, with information running on it, or
just a show. And take some very deep cleansing breaths.

(52:04):
And then when you get back to the back, you
still may be nervous because then they're bringing you back
and you don't know what's going to happen. Right, take
your time. If they want to take your blood pressure
right off, say listen, you know I really get anxious
at the physician. Can you put me in the examining
room first, take my blood pressure after I've had a

(52:26):
chance to settle in. And most providers are not going
to have a problem with that, right, And it gives
you a chance to calm down, get used to the surroundings,
used to the smell. Some people say they get anxious
from the antiseptic smell. Right, any of those things. Get
used to that, Take some deep breaths. Then let them

(52:47):
come in and get your vitals, your blood pressure, all
of that. The other thing I'd like to recommend to people.
If you go to the doctor in the morning and
you know you're a coffee drinker, A lot of people
don't know this coffee will spike your blood pressure first
thing in the morning.

Speaker 7 (53:02):
Right.

Speaker 9 (53:02):
That's one of the reasons why I get you charging
real quick. Right, The caffeine will do that. So if
you know you're going to the doctor that day, and
I even do this trick, I don't drink my coffee
until after I leave the doctor, So then I just
told me so that my blood pressure is not artificially
high when I walk in there.

Speaker 4 (53:20):
Okay, thank you, Carl, good question.

Speaker 8 (53:24):
Yesulated all right, bye bye. And this last call, w
D I a high caller, My Lord, the Lord is
on my side.

Speaker 4 (53:33):
How you doing, Bill, I'm doing well, common man.

Speaker 8 (53:36):
Yes, I'm actually the last caller for.

Speaker 3 (53:40):
Real, you for real, because I'm getting ready because I
have some guests coming in. So yeah, you're the last call.

Speaker 8 (53:45):
Okay. The reason I say that because I was on
another call and I eded that call to call you
all hoping not to miss okay, doctor Taylor. All right,
so yeah, okay, so how doctor Taylor?

Speaker 10 (53:57):
How are you doing?

Speaker 9 (53:57):
I'm wonderful, coming man. How are you it's so good
to hear your voice.

Speaker 8 (54:02):
It's a joy, but a lot of sadness to hear yours.
I was calling because you know, of course I heard
the news that you will be leaving, and I want
to have an opportunity just to say thank you. And
it's been a great joy hearing you come in and
you know, converse with you and share information and things
of that nature. And I just really grown had grown

(54:24):
on you. And I'm sad that you're leaving, but I
really enjoyed you coming in and talking with you and
you know, getting information and stuff like that. And I
want to say congratulations, but I'm very sad that you're leaving.

Speaker 9 (54:34):
Oh I appreciate that coming man. But you know, even
though I'm not going to be physically here, you all
know that I am always going to be with you.
I'm always going to be with Memphister Shelby County, and
I'm going to miss you all so much.

Speaker 8 (54:47):
Yeah, most most so, I had I had actually been
meaning to ask you when I whenever I had a chance,
but I didn't get around to it. Was she gonna
be able to come in before she left, so luckily
you were here. I wanted to want it. Yeah to you,
so you know, enjoy you. I love you, you know,
and uh you know, we just much it says in

(55:10):
the future, man, love you all to Okay, all right, y'all,
I'll take it even all right, Doctor Taylor By doctor Taylor.

Speaker 4 (55:20):
This last question I have to ask you have to
I always have to ask this. Yes, how are we
doing on our COVID.

Speaker 9 (55:30):
I would feel bad if you.

Speaker 4 (55:31):
Didn't know COVID.

Speaker 9 (55:34):
You know what we are doing great? Good, We are
doing great. And I and I will say this because
you all know I'm always gonna say this. We are
doing well because I believe Memphis and Shelby County, after
these four years, after coming out of COVID, knows how
to protect their health better, right, And I see it.

(55:57):
I see people getting out and advocating for their health
in a way that when I was growing up, maybe
they didn't do that as much. And that's a good thing, right,
And so we're doing great because people know that protecting
your health is not just about protecting yourself. It's about
protecting your family, and it's about protecting our community at large.

(56:19):
And when we do that, when we remember that our
health is connected and that our neighbors deserve to be healthy,
just like we deserve to be healthy individually, then we
just do so much better together. And so as we
get ready to end this conversation, Miss Bev, I cannot
thank you enough for giving me the opportunity to come

(56:42):
on here to talk about public health, to talk about
the Shelby County Health Department and what we try to
do every day to serve Shelby County. You are just
such a gem, and it's amazing because I am the
envy of other health directors across the country. I will

(57:03):
tell you because when they found out, Oh, You're going
to radio every month, absolutely, and they were like, and
people actually call and want to, you know, talk about
public I said, yes, people are curious and hungry for
the knowledge.

Speaker 3 (57:15):
Yes.

Speaker 9 (57:16):
And I said, if you are not on the radio
every month or at least every quarter, then you've got
to start because people want to talk to you. They
have questions and they deserve to have their questions answered.
So I just want to thank this community so much.
I've felt nothing but love for the last four years.

(57:37):
Even when I'm getting fussed at, I feel loved and
I know it's all in love because people know that
I have a heart for this community and I've always
wanted this community to be healthier. So I pray that
over my four years as director, we have gotten healthier,
and that even if we haven't, you've learned how to

(57:57):
get there. So thank you.

Speaker 4 (57:59):
You know, it's been my pleasure having you here. And
then when I first learned your grandfather move haw what
so that's history. Yes, matt Ac Mouha Williams. Yes, a
legend at WD. I so it worked out.

Speaker 3 (58:13):
Thank you so much, doctor Taylor. I wish you much
success in Baltimore. Yeah, to come see you, maybe I
bring David up there.

Speaker 9 (58:21):
Come on, let's go, let's go. I'll be looking for
you all.

Speaker 4 (58:25):
Thank you so much for being here. I appreciate you
and I love you too. Love you, Miss Beth are
our director of the Shelby County Health Department. Doctor Michelle Taylor,
Thank you, Doctor Taylor.

Speaker 3 (58:38):
Thank you when we come back more a chick chat
with me as we go to the other side of
the BEV Johnson Show on doub D.

Speaker 11 (58:50):
I A whether you're in Arkansas, Tennessee, or Mississippi on Facebook, Twitter,
or Instagram, thank you for listening to the BEV Johnson
Show on Double U d I A.

Speaker 4 (59:01):
Memphis, The Betessial