miniVHAN

This episode of the miniVHAN spotlights the work of Interfaith Dental, a Middle Tennessee nonprofit that helps vulnerable populations achieve and sustain a healthy smile. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi, DMD, the organization’s visionary CEO, walks us through Interfaith Dental’s modest beginnings in 1995 and evolution into a cornerstone community resource that has rapidly adapted to break down barriers in health care. Our conversation shows...

In this episode, we explore the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model with our guest, Liz Pierce, MD, pediatric regional medical director for the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network. With over 30 years of experience in pediatrics, Dr. Pierce shares her invaluable insights into how this physician-led, team-based care model can enhance patient outcomes.  

The PCMH model, rooted in the principles of coordinated and comprehensive...

We’re hitting the road with Elizabeth Randolph, MD, from Green Hills Pediatric Associates, to explore the growing problem of antibiotic resistance and how it’s making infections harder to treat. Discover why antibiotic stewardship is vital to decrease the risk
 of disease spread and severe illness. 

We’ll tackle the challenges of managing patient and family expectations when it comes to antibiotic use and share strategies for reass...

Join us as we welcome Paul Augustyniak, board chair for the Tennessee chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Paul highlights the organization's mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide through research, advocacy, education and healing initiatives. 

With 1,200 Tennesseans lost to suicide last year and the state ranked 22nd in the nation for suicide rates, increasing awareness and e...

With close to 90% of health outcomes affected by patients’ conditions outside of the clinic walls, the intersection of medical care and community health plays a vital role in meeting people where they are. 

Joining the miniVHAN to share about the social determinants of health is Amy Richardson, Chief Community Health Officer at Siloam Health, a nonprofit organization that provides whole-person care to Middle Tennessee’s underserved...

Join us in the miniVHAN as we welcome Cecelia Theobald, MD, Chief of Staff for Corporate Clinical Affairs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Theobald, an internist, is also the attending physician at the student-run Shade Tree Clinic, which provides free health care to uninsured individuals. She has witnessed patients taking a more active role in their care—and explains why that’s such a positive development for providers...

Can employers really transform health care quality and costs? Join us in the miniVHAN for an eye-opening conversation with Michael Kobernick, MD, Senior Medical Director at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, as he unpacks the evolving roles of employers and brokers in the health care ecosystem. Dr. Kobernick draws upon his experience both in the practice of medicine and in critical health care leadership to imagine how employers c...

Imagine a world where health care is as personalized and easy to use as your favorite streaming service. That’s the vision of CJ Stimson, MD, urological surgeon, Executive Vice President of Population Health and Chief Medical Officer for the Employee Health Plan at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In this episode, he hops in the miniVHAN to share how his personal experience and time as senior advisor at the Center for Medicare...

Coding is an often overlooked but critical aspect of health care. Dr. Victor Legner, a geriatrician with a wealth of knowledge in clinical documentation and coding integrity, unravels the intricate web of ICD-10 codes, hierarchical condition categories and risk adjustment factor scores, spotlighting how accurate coding is key to ensuring providers are adequately funded. 

Dr. Legner underscores the need to regularly update patients’...

Mitch Kaminski, MD, MBA, has thrived in the health care industry for over 40 years – and continues to make meaningful contributions. He's not only a family physician and professor; he's also a leader who embraces change. Even while serving as former Chief Clinical Officer at Delaware Valley ACO and as current Program Director at Jefferson’s College of Population Health, he has made it a priority to stay connected to patients. Putti...

There’s a good reason Medicare triple-weights medication adherence as a performance measure. Prescriptions aren’t effective if patients can’t access them easily or take them routinely. One way VHAN’s Care Management team supports network members is by helping their patients overcome barriers to filling prescriptions and managing complex medication regimens.

In this episode, clinical pharmacist Danya Wilson and nurse practitioner Ca...

Local communities across the state are in serious need of compassionate, problem-solving health professionals who can build bridges between doctors and patients and ensure every individual receives the care they deserve. That’s why the miniVHAN is proud to spotlight Tennessee’s Community Health Workers (CHWs) initiative and show how these workers are filling health care gaps, especially for those in high-need, hard-to-reach populat...

In this thoughtful discussion, we navigate the landscape of grief and bereavement, shedding light on its many forms, common disruptors, and signs that indicate the need for intervention. Listen in as guests, Rebecca Sebastian, VHAN Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Dr. Martha Shepherd, Medical Director for Vanderbilt Health at Metro Nashville Public Schools, take us through the intricacies of anticipatory and acute grief as well...

In this episode, we unravel the complex subject of childhood and adult trauma with guests Tasia York, MD, child and adolescent psychiatrist with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Sophie Bell, LCSW with Here/Now Psychotherapy Collective in Brooklyn, New York. We explore the different ways that trauma can express itself and discuss how to recognize the signs of trauma across all ages. We also examine trauma-informed care, exp...

Join us on a journey through the world of neurodiversity in our latest episode, as we explore autism and ADHD across the lifespan. Kelly Geelan, LCSW at Vanderbilt Health, guides us through the neurodiversity movement and common misconceptions about autism. The episode continues with Allison Peak, LCSW, executive director at Allied Behavioral Health Solutions, who shares the importance of early interventions and support for those w...

Welcome back to a brand-new season of the miniVHAN podcast, where together we learn more about mental health across the lifespan—and how physical, mental and emotional health are all interconnected. Joining us first in the miniVHAN are two healt...

In the last road trip of the series, our guests will share their insights on the future of pharmacy and its deeper integration into the care delivery model. We’ll also investigate current trends, such as shortages of mainstream medications like Ozempic, and the impact on quality performance goals.

Have ideas to share or want to be a guest on the miniVHAN podcast? Contact us anytime at minivhanpodcast@vhan.com.

Guests this episode: ...

Pharmacy-led programs are critical to improving chronic conditions, reducing unnecessary utilization and lowering the total cost of care—all while keeping patient goals top of mind. Join us in the miniVHAN as we discuss the importance of antibiotic stewardship, practical ideas for developing a program in your organization, and key clinical and patient engagement opportunities to consider.

Have ideas to share or want to be a guest o...