Health Talks

Health Talks

From topics of the day in healthcare, to educational insights, mindfulness practices, and inspirational stories, welcome to Health Talks with host Raj Savalia. I’m joined by people who advance community healthcare, advocacy, and public health, while striving to improve patient care. Launching in Season 3, Health Talks now has four new areas of focus: Wellness Watch – Learn about wellness tips, nutrition programs, community garden programs, and more. Educational Insights – Perhaps you’re more interested in insights about leading health care topics of the day. If so, tune in! The Sidebar – How about feature stories about community health care? Then, this one is for you! The Bold Podcast – Or maybe you’re mostly interested in the unique experiences of providers boldly providing care to vulnerable communities? The topics are endless, so tune in every Thursday for a new episode!

Episodes

Food Is Medicine: Bringing Nutrition Into Healthcare

June 26, 2025 • 18 mins
Food is more than fuel—it’s medicine. In this episode of Health Talks, we sit down with Janna Simon, Chief Program and Policy Officer at the Illinois Public Health Institute, to explore how food and nutrition programs are transforming healthcare across the state. From produce prescriptions to innovative community partnerships, Janna shares how IPHI’s Food is Medicine initiatives are improving health outcomes, addressing food insecu...
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Healing Through Food

June 25, 2025 • 34 mins
In this episode of Health Talks, we’re joined by Donisha Reed from TCA Health Inc. in Chicago to learn how her team is turning food into a powerful tool for healing. Donisha shares how TCA Health’s Food is Medicine program started, what it looks like today, and how it’s helping patients eat well, live well, and feel seen.

We also chat about other nutrition and healthy eating initiatives at the center, how they screen for food insecu...
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Building a Residency Program with Lawndale Christian Health Center

June 24, 2025 • 18 mins
In this episode of Health Talks, we’re joined by Dr. Ben Preyss, Family Physician and Program Director, Dr. Elizabeth Redican, and resident Edward Akinyemi from Lawndale Christian Health Center. Together, they walk us through the journey of launching a new family medicine residency program while sharing firsthand what it takes to go from vision to recruitment. 

Listeners will hear about the essential groundwork, including aligning w...
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PrimeCare Health's Innovative Administrative Fellowship Program

June 20, 2025 • 29 mins
In this episode of Health Talks, we spotlight a groundbreaking initiative from PrimeCare Health Center—one of the first community health centers in the country to launch an Administrative Fellowship program. Our guests include CEO Lynn Hopkins, along with Elizabeth Brewington and Kelsey Kesler, who share how this 12-month fellowship gives recent master’s graduates an immersive leadership experience in community health. 

From working...
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How to Support Teens Struggling with Substance Use

June 6, 2025 • 43 mins
It’s never too early to start an honest conversation with teens about substance use. In this episode of Health Talks, we sit down with Dr. Maria Rahmandar, an attending physician in Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Lurie Children's Hospital and the founding medical director of their Substance Use and Prevention Program. Dr. Rahmandar shares her personal and professional journey into adolescent substance use treatment, includi...
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Leading with Empathy: Educating Patients and Providers on Addiction Medicine

June 6, 2025 • 18 mins
In this episode of Health Talks, we chat with Gorana Micevic, a Physician Assistant at Access Community Health Network in Chciago. Gorana shares her journey from training at SIU School of Medicine to serving both rural and urban communities through family and addiction medicine. She discusses leading a nationally recognized COVID-19 testing program in rural Illinois, completing Rush University’s addiction medicine fellowship, and b...
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Stronger Together: Family and Friends in Substance Use Recovery

June 4, 2025 • 20 mins
In this podcast episode, we’re joined by Stacy Agosto, a Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorders Consultant at IPHCA. Stacy shares her insights on how involving loved ones in addiction treatment can improve outcomes, reduce stigma, and strengthen long-term recovery. She also offers practical tips and real-world resources that healthcare providers can share with patients and their families, along with inspiring stories of reco...
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Expanding Access: Long-Acting Injectables in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

May 23, 2025 • 36 mins
In this episode of Health Talks, we sat down with Dr. Ruchi Fitzgerald from PCC Wellness Health Center to explore the topic of treatments for substance use disorder. Specically, long-acting injectables (LAIs) and other treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD). Dr. Fitzgerald shares her clinical journey into this field, the barriers patients face in staying on treatment, and how new treatments may offer a solution by providing stabi...
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Let’s Talk Oral Health and Hypertension

May 13, 2025 • 16 mins
In this episode of Health Talks, we’re joined by Dr. Sue Etminan, Dental Director at Mile Square Health Center–South Shore, for a timely conversation on the connection between oral health and hypertension. Dr. Etminan shares insights into how dental professionals can play a key role in identifying and addressing high blood pressure during routine visits. We explore the connection between oral health and hypertension, how blood pres...
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Cass County’s Grow Your Own Program Brings Dental Careers to Life

April 24, 2025 • 22 mins
In this episode of Health Talks, we spoke with Nicole Roege and Amy Thompson from Cass County Health Department about their innovative "Grow Your Own" program. This program is designed to introduce high school students to the rewarding field of public health dentistry. We explore how the first year of this program is already reshaping the future of rural oral health. By partnering with local school districts and using the health de...
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Mentoring and Inspiring the Next Generation with Dr. Green and Dr. Conway

March 7, 2025 • 51 mins
I sat down with two leaders in community healthcare, Dr. Lisa Green, CEO of Family Christian Health Center in Illinois, and Dr. Conway, founder of the I Am Abel Foundation. In this special Black History Month episode we chatted about how they've dedicated their careers to improving healthcare access and mentoring future generations. They share the pivotal moments that shaped their journeys, including how classic medical TV shows li...
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Community Health and Black History Month with Veronica Clarke

February 20, 2025 • 20 mins
Today I sat down with Veronica Clarke, an accomplished leader in community healthcare and advocacy. We explore what fuels her dedication to wellness in Illinois, the impact of her work on addressing health disparities, and the challenges and successes she’s encountered along the way. Veronica shares insights on collaboration, personal wellness practices, and how Black History Month inspires her mission. Plus, she leaves us with a p...
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Junior Council's 36th Annual Snowball Gala

February 4, 2025 • 10 mins
This week, we sat down with Marissa Persico from Junior Council and chatted about one of Chicago’s most iconic fundraising events—the Snowball Gala. More than just a glamorous night out, Snowball directly supports the Pediatric & Adolescent HIV/AIDS Clinic at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, ensuring that all children in the program receive high-quality healthcare, regardless of their ability to pay.  

N...
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Giving Back and Spreading Joy

December 30, 2024 • 24 mins
In this special holiday episode, we spoke with Ricardo Rinconeño from PrimeCare Health about the joy of giving back during the festive season. Ricardo shares his experiences with food drives, the rewarding moments that come with helping others, and how these initiatives bring communities together. We’ll hear about the "Adopt a Family" program and how Hora Del Cafe and Starbucks employees collaborated to spread holiday cheer. We cha...
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Creating Healthier Communities Through Partnerships

December 20, 2024 • 26 mins
We continue our conversation with Robin Henry, COO of Solvera Health, and are joined by Ollie Idowu, CEO of IPHCA. Together, they share the missions of their organizations and how they are working to improve community health in Illinois through dedicated partnerships. Robin and Ollie discuss how working together across organizations creates meaningful impact on the communities they serve. They reflect on the recent IPHCA conference...
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Enhancing Communication Skills Through Palliative Care Training

December 17, 2024 • 10 mins
Today, we’re getting into the power of communication in palliative care and why it matters for healthcare providers of all backgrounds. Palliative care focuses on supporting patients with serious illnesses or chronic conditions, and enhancing provider communication is key to delivering compassionate, effective care. Our guest is Lisa Werner from Lawndale Christian Health Center, and she participated in the pilot Palliative Care Tra...
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Leading the Way in Population Health

December 5, 2024 • 29 mins
We’re joined by Robin Henry, COO of Solvera Health, as she shares her journey and the innovative strides Solvera is making in population health. Robin goes behind the scenes of Solvera's unique “one-stop-shop” care model and stories about making a real impact in patients’ lives. From expanding clinic locations and building transformative community partnerships to celebrating moments that fuel her team’s passion, Robin’s perspective...
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Creating Healthier Communities through Fresh Food, Fitness, and Gardens (part 3)

October 31, 2024 • 14 mins
Veronica Clarke, CEO of TCA Health, returns to share more insights into TCA's programs that are transforming health and wellness in Chicago. Veronica dives into the impactful nutrition and fitness classes offered at TCA, designed to educate and empower community members to embrace healthier lifestyles. From cooking demonstrations to nutrition coaching, these programs aim to address real barriers to wellness, making healthy choices ...
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How The Loft at 8 Corners Transforms Teen Mental Health

September 19, 2024 • 20 mins
We chat with Adrian Cardenas from Loft at 8 Corners, a first-of-its-kind teen-focused mental health center in Chicago’s western suburbs. In partnership with NAMI Metro Suburban and Pillars Community Health, The Loft offers free, year-round support for teens and families. Adrian shares heartwarming stories of how the program has touched lives through group support, family services, and one-on-one care, helping teens find the service...
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VOICES of Black Women: A Groundbreaking Study with the American Cancer Society (part 2)

August 29, 2024 • 12 mins
This is part two of our VOICES miniseries with the American Cancer Society, and we're joined by Shanita Akintonde. She’s an enthusiastic participant of the VOICES study and daughter of a cancer survivor. Shanita shares why she joined VOICES, weaving her experiences into a tapestry of positive change that improves cancer research and awareness. She discusses the disproportionate health impacts of cancer on Black women and the univer...
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