In the seventh episode of IHEC’s series on asthma, Fatima and Sofia explore the mental health aspects of asthma with valuable insight from Dr. Melissa Engel. Together, they examine the bi-directional relationship between asthma and mental health struggles like depression and anxiety, strategies to build resilience in those with asthma and their caregivers, and the hopeful connection between asthma control and improved quality of life, rooted in the idea that asthma is just one part of a patient’s identity.

Melissa Engel is a Pediatric Psychology Clinical-Research Postdoctoral Fellow with a concentration in Allergy and Asthma in the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and the Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She earned her PhD and MA in Clinical Psychology from Emory University, as well as an MA in Developmental Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Melissa completed her predoctoral psychology internship at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, with dual emphases on pediatric health psychology and child anxiety. Clinically, Melissa works with a variety of pediatric populations across inpatient and outpatient hospital settings. Melissa specializes in children and adolescents with chronic illnesses, as well as anxiety in youth with and without medical conditions. Her research focuses on identifying and addressing the unique psychosocial challenges faced by young people with food allergies. Melissa is particularly interested in social anxiety, or fear of negative peer evaluation, in the context of food allergies

In the sixth episode of our series on asthma, we learn more about how asthma is affected by what’s on all of our minds in the hot summer months: climate change. With Elena Grossman, we hear about the specific challenges of handling a condition that is difficult to see, particularly with regards to health equity, and how seasonal changes, flooding, forest fires, and other environmental hazards impact respiratory and public health.  

Elena Grossman has over 20 years of experience in community and stakeholder engagement with public and private entities in rural and urban areas. Her focus has been in the areas of climate change, health, equity, and clean energy technologies, and she utilizes participatory research methods. She was a Senior Research Specialist at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health and is now a lecturer for Yale University’s Climate Change and Health Certificate program, teaching the Climate Adaptation and Human Health course. As the Program Director of the Climate and Health Institute, she works with students and community partners to develop knowledge, awareness, and strategies related to climate change and health equity.

In the fifth episode of our series on asthma, we travel north! Meridith Mueller and Cris Rameker share their work with the Wisconsin Asthma Program, discussing interventions that care for individuals with asthma at home, school, and more. Together, we discover what makes Wisconsin’s programs unique—and, most importantly, Illinois’ and Wisconsin’s common strategies for improving the asthma outlook.

Meridith Mueller is the Evaluation Specialist for the Wisconsin Asthma Program. Cris Rameker is the Asthma Program Manager for Wisconsin.

In the fourth episode of our series on respiratory health, we dive deep into asthma policy and advocacy, particularly in the city of Chicago. Matt Siemer, the executive director of Mobile Care Chicago, has spent many years working with the organization, and highlights the impact that they have made, and how rewarding it is to see kids with asthma grow up and achieve their dreams.

Join us as we discuss Mobile Care Chicago’s mission, environmental effects on asthma, Medicaid, and the important role of parents and teachers in caring for kids with asthma.

In the third episode of our series on respiratory health, we transition to discussing one treatment option for asthma, home visiting. With input from Rhonda Lay, we discuss the evolution of the field, how it works to address asthma and social determinants of health, virtual options, and future directions.

Rhonda Lay, from Sinai Urban Health Institute, has spent 15 years working with asthma patients on the West Side of Chicago. Initially an asthma educator, she currently serves as a senior community health worker (CHW), senior consultant, and facilitator for the CROWD program, which trains and educates other CHWs nationwide.

In the second episode of our series on respiratory health, we transition to discussing the diagnosis and treatment guidelines for asthma, with help from our guest, Dr. Andrea Pappalardo. We delve deeper into asthma by understanding the various types of asthma, how to differentiate between asthma and other respiratory ailments, and current and exciting new treatments.  

Dr. Andrea Pappalardo is a physician, allergist, pediatrician, and internist, who works at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She specializes in the clinical and research aspects of asthma for both children and adults.

In this first episode of our series on respiratory health, we aim to answer a vital question: what is asthma? In this brief introduction, we will describe the health condition, the classifications that healthcare providers use to categorize cases, and a few key symptoms. Then, our guests provide input on the epidemiology of asthma.

Dr. Sarah Geiger is an epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with research focusing on environmental exposures and children’s health. Dr. Arlene Keddie, also an epidemiologist, is professor emeritus of public health at Northern Illinois University whose research focuses on chronic disease and health disparities.