CommonHealth

In rural communities, access to healthcare is bigger than healing injuries or curing disease. It's about sustaining the wellness of the community itself. Marcus Stone, CEO of Virginia community health center Connect Health + Wellness, joins Tracy for a conversation on the value of rural healthcare and why all of us - from neighbors to policymakers - should be paying attention.

With special guest:

Marcus Stone, CEO, Connect Health +...

What happens when love meets the limits of the healthcare system? In this episode, Tracy speaks with Colleen Cook, a Virginia mom and special ed teacher, about raising four adopted children with special needs — and how Medicaid has made their journey possible. This is the story of a loving family navigating more diagnoses and therapies than usual, showing us the transformative power of affordable healthcare.

With special guest:

Col...

Curious how Medicaid actually works in Virginia? Experts Deepak Madala and Eleanor Sullivan break down myths, explain how Virginia's programs work, and highlight Medicaid’s role in supporting hospitals and schools. From free coverage for low-income residents to vital maternal and rural healthcare programs, learn more about how Medicaid keeps over two million Virginians healthier and stronger every year.

With special guests:

Deepak ...

A genetic mutation that helped people survive malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa now affects 100,000 Americans, causing debilitating pain. Host Tracy returns with renowned sickle cell disease expert Dr. Wally Smith and her husband, Damian Jackson, who shares his powerful personal journey. Hear honest insights on pain management, incorrect assumptions about those who suffer, and hope for a cure. Don’t miss this compelling, real conversat...

How can a simple book transform a child’s future? In this episode of Common Health, guest host Adrienne Harden speaks with Callee Boulware, Regional Director of Reach Out and Read, about the powerful connection between early literacy and lifelong health. Learn how pediatricians integrate books into well visits, equipping families with the tools to support child development while strengthening provider-patient relationships. Tune in...

What does it take to change your life? In this episode of CommonHealth, guest host Kyle Elliott, VCHA’s Chief Administrative Officer, speaks with James Orr, a clinical social work resident at Community Access Network about his battle with addiction and how he turned his life around through mindfulness and empathy. Listen to this inspiring conversation today!

With special guest:

James Orr, MSW, Clinical Social Work Resident, Communi...

In this episode of CommonHealth, guest host Rae Carkhuff welcomes professional staff from Eastern Shore Rural Health (ESRH), a VCHA member health center, including Juan Gomez, MPH, Outreach Coordinator, Jessica Bonniwell, Chief Quality Officer, and Amy Bull, Director of Communications and Development.

During this episode, Juan shares his story about how living in the Eastern Shore led him to work in community health and Jessica and...

In this episode of CommonHealth, Dr. Angela Taylor, Director of Health Center Control Network – Center for Data, Analytics, and Quality (CDAQ) at VCHA, hosts a conversation with Korey Cobb, Chief Operations Officer of HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, and participant in CHCU's Class of 2024.

Find out how Cobb leveraged his CHCU participation to enhance HealthWorks' healthcare services delivery and community engagement. Get his ins...

In our latest episode of CommonHealth, guest host Adrienne Harden, VCHA's Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, discusses the important topic of food insecurity in Virginia with Meaghan Butler, from the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and Maria Bowman, with Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Together, they unearth the differences between food banks and food pantries, explore how food banking in Virginia has evolved over the years, discuss t...

On this episode of CommonHealth, host Tracy Douglas talks about coal worker's pneumoconiosis, or “black lung disease,” with three folks impacted by black lung in different ways: Dr. Drew Harris, medical director of the Black Lung Program at Stone Mountain Health Services, and Mr. John and Mrs. Vonda Robinson, a husband and wife duo who have advocated for miners affected by black lung since Mr. John’s diagnosis at 47 years old after...

In this episode of CommonHealth, guest host Rae Carkhuff talks with three wonderful guests about the Check It Out program at Petersburg Public Libraries. Join Rae along with Robin Gahan from the American Heart Association, Tabitha Goode of Molina Healthcare of Virginia, and Tera James of Central Virginia Health Services, Inc., as they discuss heart health statistics in Petersburg, VA, dive into the ins and outs of the program, and ...

Join host Tracy Douglas as she talks with Travis LeFever and Brad Watson of Mission Mobile Medical. This organization creates mobile healthcare units at a fraction of the typical cost. Listen as Travis and Brad discuss their “why” and their passion for providing healthcare to all communities, especially the ones who might not have access to the care they need. Learn with Tracy about the nurse in North Carolina who inspired the ince...

On this episode of CommonHealth, Tracy along with her guests, Dr. Theresa Burriss (Emory & Henry College), Jane Sage, FNP, and Dr. Paige Billman (Tri-Area Community Health), shed light on the diverse and dynamic nature of Appalachia. Together, they dispute the monolithic stereotype of Appalachian culture and delve into the intricacies of Appalachian life and the triumphs and challenges of rural healthcare in such a tight-knit and t...

On this enlightening episode of CommonHealth, host Tracy Douglas chats with VCHA's Nutritionist and Registered Dietician, Adrienne Harden. Adrienne shares her knowledge and hacks on how to have a balanced, nutritious diet, and myth-busts what we think we know about eating well. She also teaches listeners how to stop feeling guilt or shame after eating. Tune in to discover more about maintaining a healthy relationship with food with...

In this episode of CommonHealth, Tracy talks with Melina Davis, CEO of the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV), about the SafeHaven Program, which supports the needs of clinicians struggling with stress, burnout, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen as Melina discusses why this program is necessary, and the wonders it's working for medical practitioners around the commonwealth.

With special guest:

Melina Davis, CEO of the...

In this episode of CommonHealth, Tracy talks with Dr. Mark Fleming, a board-certified medical oncologist, about the importance of getting screened and tested for prostate cancer. Dr. Fleming offers insight into his personal connection to the disease, emphasizing his mission to provide state-of-the-art care for the vulnerable communities served by community health centers. This enlightening dialogue particularly underscores the high...

In our latest episode, Tracy Douglas, VCHA's CEO, welcomes WAVY-TV (Channel 10) morning and midday news anchor, Katie Collett, who shares her journey from being a small-town girl with dreams of journalism to a prominent news reporter - an inspiring story about overcoming obstacles, connecting with and reporting on a diverse, rural community, and the power of resilience in the broadcasting industry.

With special guest:

Katie Collett