AFSPA Talks

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton brings us through a discussion of virtual behavioral support for kids with Brightline’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David Grodberg. 

Dr. Grodberg has over 20 years of clinical experience providing evaluation and treatment for children, adolescents, and their families across many conditions and levels of care. Dr. Grodberg is currently a faculty member at the Yale School of Medicine and served as medical director of the Yale Child Study Center Outpatient Clinic. Among his many contributions to the field, Dr. Grodberg developed the Autism Mental Status Exam (AMSE), which is a brief and free diagnostic assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder used globally. Much of his work at Yale has focused on using technology to improve the way pediatric behavioral health care is delivered.

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton brings us through a discussion of breast cancer and getting a second opinion with PinnacleCare's Clinical Director, Jeff Weaver. 

Jeff Weaver is a certified Master’s level Physician Assistant and the Clinical Director of the Group Benefits at PinnacleCare, where he has overseen the medical management of complex and serious illness for the past 5 years. Understanding the complex needs of patients and connecting them to comprehensive and appropriate resources and services is key to his practice of medicine.

Link to Blog: https://www.afspa.org/blog

For more information on PinnacleCare: 1-800-593-2354 afspa.org/FSBP/PinnacleCare

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton brings us through a discussion of Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM) and the State Department's Office of Casualty Assistance (OCA). Kirk Leach, Director of the OCA, joins Kyle for this episode on life insurance and personal contingency planning.

Kirk Leach has been the Director of the Office of Casualty Assistance (OCA) at the State Department for 14 years. In that time, he has managed over 500 employee death cases. Prior to coming to the State Department, Kirk worked for 18 years in international development, including nine years living in Latin America. 

Link to register for the LIAM webinar: https://www.afspa.org/events

Link to blog post: https://www.afspa.org/blog/2903/Life-Insurance-and-Your-Peace-of-Mind

State Contact Information: 

[email protected] 866-300-7419

[email protected] - any questions related to OPF

[email protected] - general OCA questions

202-647-1512 to report the death of an employee that has passed away

[email protected] - Operations Center

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton brings us through a discussion of chronic pain management with Hinge Health's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jeff Kraus. The two discuss chronic pain, the affects of working from home, how chronic pain relates to one's mental wellness, and more. 

Dr. Jeff Krauss graduated from Harvard College, earned his Medical degree from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, and completed his residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Stanford University. On top of Dr. Krauss’ full-time role at Hinge Health, he is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford in the Department of Orthopedics, and continues to practice as a part-time Staff Physician at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton brings us through a discussion on opioids and overdoses with Katherine Lurk and Becky Parker. The three take an in depth look at the opioid epidemic, removing the stigma surrounding opioid overdoses, how to get help if you're struggling with opioid misuse, and more.

Katherine Lurk is the Clinical Pharmacist and Manager of Business Development with TrestleTree, a health transformation company. Katherine supports a team of Health Coaches, clients, and participants to optimize clinical outcomes and solve drug-related problems.

Becky Parker is a Clinical Psychologist and Chief Training Officer for TrestleTree. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas and has focused her career on helping individuals make difficult changes, including around substance use.

Link to Blog:  https://www.afspa.org/blog.cfm

Link to Health Coaching information: https://www.afspa.org/fsbp_detail.cfm?page=Health-Programs

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton brings us through our third and final discussion of back to school. This episode looks at going back to school amidst the pandemic through the eyes of pediatrician Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph. Dr. Pearl Ben-Joseph shares the safest practices for returning to school, preventative measures against getting COVID-19, as well as the affects of increased social technology use on children during this time and in the future.

Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD, is a pediatrician and medical editor at the Center for Health Delivery Innovation | KidsHealth.org in the Nemours Children’s Health System. Dr. Pearl Ben-Joseph has extensive experience creating easy-to-understand patient education materials about health-related topics. She also has a Master of Public Health degree, and has been working hard over the pandemic to help people understand the science and public health impact of COVID-19. Finally, as a visiting scholar at the Wellesley Centers for Women in Wellesley College, she has been studying the effects of social media on children and adolescents, and how parental involvement can affect the experience of youth as they navigate the world of media and electronics.

Click Here to read our "Safe Return to the Classroom" blog.

Click Here for the mentioned Family Media Use Plan.

Click Here for the KidsHealth site. 
 

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton brings us through another back to school discussion, this week with middle school teacher Annitra Smith-Lincoln. Learn about what going back to the classroom was like last year for middle schoolers, and what it will look like this year as we continue to battle COVID-19. 

Annitra Smith-Lincoln has taught for a total of 18 years, grades 3-12. She is currently an 8th grade U.S. History teacher in Fort Bragg, NC. 

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton brings us through a discussion of going back to the classroom with elementary school teacher Kara Rosenfeld. Kara and Kyle talk about the challenges facing children and parents returning to the classroom amidst the pandemic, the benefits of schooling in person, and more.

Kara Rosenfeld is currently in her 22nd year of teaching and is currently teaching first grade at Devers Elementary School in Fort Bragg, NC.

Listen in to this first episode in our back to school series!

Click here to watch the 25th Anniversary Between AFSPA and the FEA documentary. 

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton brings us through a discussion of Foreign Service Benefit Plan (FSBP) incentives with AFSPA's CEO, Paula Jakub. Paula and Kyle talk about all the incentives offered to FSBP members, with an emphasis on the Simple Steps to Living Well Together program and other wellness programs. 

Paula Jakub is Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of AFSPA. She is also the Executive Director of the Senior Living Foundation (SLF) of the American Foreign Service, where she provides proactive management to the vital organization solely devoted to helping elderly Foreign Service retirees and widows. Paula has a 37-year extensive background in the insurance field, having received her underwriting certification from American College. Ms. Jakub is a Registered Health Underwriter, as designated by the National Association of Health Underwriters. 

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton discusses the launch of Prudential's Critical Illness Insurance for AFSPA's FSBP members. Nina Matias, of Prudential, joins Kyle for the conversation on critical illness insurance. 

Nina Matias has more than 20 years of experience with Prudential’s Group Insurance Division. As an Account Executive for Prudential’s Group Association and Affinity Services, she is responsible for the relationship management and implementation of national and state-specific association accounts for various Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Ancillary Products, such as Critical Illness.

Nina is a subject matter expert in Group Insurance benefits, consulting on benefit plans, working to ensure customer and member satisfaction, and focusing on both the overall relationships with Prudential and the importance of Insurance for Members and employees alike.