In this important episode of Creepalachia, JD sits down with Dr. David Shimm, a physician with one of the most impressive educational backgrounds in medicine—Harvard undergrad, Duke-trained internist and hematologist, and radiology resident at Massachusetts General Hospital. Together, they discuss one of the most pressing and under-reported health issues in the region: cancer in Appalachia.

Dr. Shimm offers medical insight into why cancer rates are so devastatingly high across Appalachia, from environmental exposures and poor access to care, to lifestyle risks and broken healthcare systems. But this isn’t just a medical lecture—it’s an honest conversation about how poverty, geography, and policy collide to create a public health crisis. If you’ve lost someone to cancer in rural America—or just want to understand why it hits harder here—this episode is for you.

WV Cancer Support Line: 1-844-WVCares

#CancerInAppalachia #AppalachianHealth #RuralHealthcare #JDOnCreepalachia #EnvironmentalHealth #CoalCountryCrisis #Creepalachia #DrDavidShimm #AppalachiaStrong #HealthcareInequality #CancerAwareness #WestVirginiaHealth #MedicalDisparities #CreepalachiaPodcast #PublicHealthCrisis #FightCancer #Radiology #ForThePeopleOfTheHills #HarvardToTheHoller

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Other Interviews - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8eNIjb64yLAS3Z2N9YRDUGMz&si=pQEw9jDJAP_Z4_95

True Crime - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8eNql44CayXCCBsW-6zIeWsA&si=3teIk_jc4MrmsUUe

Solo Stories - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8eOSFgB6XFmefueia2ZvRc4G&si=1wL1ft-UVhM_PiAN

Mysteries - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8eN0mOcv-OBjI1MqeQgoMi9W&si=wA7zLRkT5MiUQIlC

Hauntings - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8ePTwq7hLiYjlzSs-UqWtrfp&si=ddRW_lx1pXQrxLUC

Creepalachia was started and will remain as a show diving into the dark, strange, unknown, tragic, and heroic stories of J.D. 's homeland. These hills have stories. LONG LIVE APPALACHIA!

Disclaimer:
The stories, views, and opinions shared by guests on Creepalachia are solely those of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or the show. Creepalachia does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of guest statements and is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outcomes related to their content. All discussions are presented for storytelling, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Viewers are encouraged to research and form their own conclusions.

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