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
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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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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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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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.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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August 22, 2024 • 18 mins
In today's episode, we’re excited to have Dr. Lauren McCullough and Dr. Alpa Patel from the American Cancer Society as our special guests. They’ll be discussing VOICES of Black Women, a transformative long-term study, which aims to enroll at least 100,000 Black women across the U.S. over the coming years. This groundbreaking initiative seeks to gain a deeper understanding of health conditions like cancer and improve overall health ...
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July 25, 2024 • 18 mins
This is part 2 of a mini-series with Veronica Clarke, CEO of TCA Health, Inc. in Chicago. Veronica is back to talk about a new nutrition center breaking ground this August to address urban food deserts. Our guest shares their vision of the trailblazing nutrition center, that will provide fresh and healthy food options through a grab-and-go café, a choice food pantry, and community gardens. This center will not only cater to nutriti...
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July 18, 2024 • 23 mins
Veronica Clarke, CEO of TCA Health, Inc. in Illinois, talks about her inspiring journey from dietician to CEO and her impactful efforts to champion community healthcare. We'll explore the rich history of TCA, including the legacy of its late founder, and how the organization has evolved over the years, achieving significant milestones along the way. Veronica also discusses her role on the National Association of Community Health Ce...
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July 11, 2024 • 19 mins
In this episode, we welcome Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton for an inspiring conversation on her efforts to raise underrepresented voices and enhance community healthcare. Juliana serves as the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, and is the first Black woman to hold the office and one of eight Black women in history to hold the title across the nation. We dive into her passionate advocacy for birth equity, a vital a...
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July 10, 2024 • 25 mins
We're welcoming back Tiffany Tahata and Bryce de Venecia for part 2 of an educational series that explores basic treatments for opioid and alcohol use disorder. Tiffany and Bryce are both Addiction Medicine fellows at Rush University Medical Center. Today, they focus on buprenorphine, precipitated withdrawal, and innovations in treatment with long acting injectable buprenorphine. The goal of this three-part podcast series is to edu...
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July 9, 2024 • 28 mins
In this episode, Dr. Lisa Kearney from Erie Family Health Centers joins us to address the widespread shortage of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. We dive into the essence of high quality dental care by exploring the importance of training Dental Assistants within a community health center. We also tackle challenges and share best practices of on-the-job training. Discover the essential role of Public Health Denta...
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June 27, 2024 • 16 mins
Today, Tiffany Tahata and Bryce de Venecia join us for an educational series that explores basic treatments for opioid and alcohol use disorder. Tiffany and Bryce are both Addiction Medicine fellows at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. This goal of their three-part series is to educate non-addiction medicine specialists on the various treatments available for their patients with opioid and alcohol use disorder. T...
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June 25, 2024 • 14 mins
In part two of our hypertension discussion with the American Heart Association (AHA), Tim Nikolai, Senior Rural Health Director of the Midwest Region, joins us to discuss challenges that rural communities face with regards to hypertension control and chronic disease management. Tim also speaks about resources available for rural communities and how they can connect with the AHA.
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June 25, 2024 • 24 mins
In this episode, we are joined by American Heart Association’s Lyzeth Mondragon, who is Vice President of Community Impact and works in the Chicago region. Lyzeth discusses various initiatives and resources available to health centers looking to improve hypertension rates in vulnerable communities, and addresses some of the barriers patients face in managing chronic conditions.
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