Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond

In this episode, our host Dr. Suzanne Dixon, talks to Dr. Bhaskari Burra, a MAHEC OB/GYN Fellow, about Sepsis. Sepsis is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, and in this episode our speakers will discuss how to recognize it, how to respond, the sources of infection and long-term effects.  They will also share some resources to help maintain best practices when working with patients with sepsis, and helping them to n...

Join some of the Perinatal Nurse Outreach Coordinators from around North Carolina for this lively discussion of AWHONN’s Respectful Maternity Care initiative.  You’ll learn what Respectful Maternity Care is, what it means for patients and clinicians, and how it helps to improve health outcomes. They will talk about how this program is implemented, and provide resources for you to learn more about bringing this to your practice.

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In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to Shannon Dowler, a Family Medicine physician about the recent increase in syphilis cases and what can be done to treat and prevent it.  They will discuss why syphilis often goes undiagnosed and untreated, along with the barriers that health systems, clinicians, and public health professionals are currently facing in their work to control syphilis and other infectious diseases. They also talk abo...

Everything is connected in the digital age.  How can this benefit patients who need to receive care outside of their regular provider network due to an unforeseen circumstance? In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to Kim Webster of the North Carolina Health Information Exchange Authority about NC Health Connex, which is a database that allows patient information to be accessed across systems statewide.  Katlyn and Kim will talk about...

If you have ever used MAHEC’s FindMyCare WNC (aka ITACC) Map or Dashboard, you know what a great source of information it is to find care locations across the 18 westernmost counties.  In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to the team from NC Maternal Mental Health MATTERS about their collaboration to add a mental health filter. They will discuss why it is important to include mental health resources, as well as how they were identifi...

In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to guest speakers Aimee Feste, CNM and Kiran Sigmon, MD, who will dive into the challenges and treatment options surrounding perimenopause and menopause, offering practical advice for healthcare providers and women navigating these life stages. They also share some information on hormone testing limitations, the role of hormone therapy, non-hormonal treatments, and key resources available for heal...

In this episode, our guest speaker Leah Donatelli, LCMHCA, explores the profound impact of eating disorders on various aspects of a person’s life, particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum period. We discuss misconceptions, the importance of nourishment, and the need for an interdisciplinary approach to treatment. Our guest emphasizes the role of self-compassion in recovery and the importance of focusing on behaviors rather ...

Substance Use Disorder can affect anyone at any time, even during pregnancy.. Our friends at Project CARA, Carriedelle Fusco, Nurse Practitioner, and Olivia Caron, Pharmacist Practitioner, sat down with Thomas Baker, a Davidson Impact Fellow at MAHEC, to dive into the ever-evolving field of addiction medicine, focusing on the complexities of opioid use disorder and emerging substances. They also reflect on how the landscape of addi...

Breastfeeding can be an important part of a baby’s health and development. But what about families who are affected by substance use disorder?  this episode, a partnership with Project CARA, Dr. Amy Marietta, MD, Family Medicine and Olivia Caron, Pharmacist Practitioner, and Georganna Cogburn IBCLC, will talk about how to support lactation and infant feeding in patients who use substances or are being treated for SUDs.  Using the A...

Paid family leave is not only good for the health and the wellness of employees and their families, but it also benefits the employers who offer it.  Tina Sherman from the national maternal advocacy group MomsRising, explains why in this episode.  Learn about how more companies are realizing the positive impact this policy can have, and what is being done to help more workers have access to it when needed. You’ll also hear about th...

In this episode, our co-host Dr. Amy Santin interviews Family Medicine champions from around North Carolina. During this episode, they discuss the critical issue of improving maternal health outcomes across the state, particularly during the first postpartum year. Experts emphasize the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in reducing maternal mortality, focusing on the transition from intrapartum care to the first postpar...

If you enjoyed our episode on Centering Pregnancy, you will want to listen to this episode.  Our host Chama Woydak returns to interview Dr. MacNamara who shares insights into the Centering Parenting Program—a transformative approach to supporting new parents. We’ll explore how this group model of care fosters a supportive, educational, and inclusive environment for parents, helping them navigate the challenges of early parenthood.

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Have you ever thought about how families can benefit from receiving care alongside others going through the same stages of pregnancy?  Our host Chama Woydak talks to Amanda Brickhouse Murphy, a Certified Nurse Midwife at MAHEC, and Kelley and Matt, new parents who participated in the Centering Pregnancy program.  They will explain the Centering model and how it differs from traditional prenatal care. Kelley and Matt will share thei...

When Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina in the fall of 2024, many families were left without access to power and clean water for weeks or even months. This made commonplace tasks such as safely storing pumped breast milk nearly impossible.  Brandi Harrison, a certified lactation consultant based in WNC, discusses her experience helping families navigate infant feeding during this crisis, and shares lessons learned to help ...

In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to Emily Taylor from the AFE Foundation about the pregnancy complication of Amniotic Fluid Embolism, and how the AFE Foundation helps to support and educate medical professionals. Emily shares her own story about surviving AFE and how this experience inspired her to dedicate herself to raising awareness. You will learn what AFE is, why it is often difficult to diagnose, and how it affects the pati...

We are proud to kick off Season 4 of our podcast by featuring an amazing community organization, Babies Need Bottoms. Katlyn Moss talks to Megan Lyons Leimena, from Babies Need Bottoms, a nonprofit diaper bank that serves all of Western North Carolina. To address the problem of diaper needs, Babies Need Bottoms provides diapers and diapering supplies through community-based partner organizations throughout the region.  They talk ab...

Tune in to this episode to hear all about the Interactive map and dashboard for Transitions, Access, and Continuity of Care 

(ITACC). This resource provides an overview of reproductive healthcare and  substance use treatment resources across the 18 westernmost  counties of North Carolina. Use it to connect patients to providers or to find a service near you! Enjoy!

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On this episode of “Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond” we will hear from the team at the 4th Trimester Project about how they built their revolutionary postpartum toolkit. The team highlights how the tool came to be and what makes it so unique. Spoiler alert: one of those things is the input from real moms! Tune in to learn more and we hope you enjoy it!

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In this episode, we dive into Project CARA, a groundbreaking initiative based at MAHEC in Asheville, NC, designed to improve care for pregnant and parenting individuals with substance use disorders. We explore the innovative hub and spokes model of care that Project CARA employs to extend its reach and impact across multiple counties in WNC. We hope you enjoy this episode!

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