CommonHealth

Food is at the heart of community. It's also at the heart of health and wellness. In this episode, founder and CEO Micheal Sparks shares the story of The Underground Kitchen: Community First, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing food insecurity and nutrition in Central Virginia. From providing over a million meals during the pandemic to launching programs that connect communities with culturally relevant, healthy food, UGKCF is changing lives every day across Central Virginia. Learn about their innovative programs, partnerships with healthcare, and a vision to make Virginia one of the healthiest states in the nation in this episode of CommonHealth.

With special guest: Micheal Sparks, Founder & CEO, The Underground Kitchen Hosted by: Phillip Noel

Virginia Health Catalyst's mission envisions a Virginia where everyone has equitable access to comprehensive health care, including oral health. What barriers do Virginians face in seeking care? What will it take to overcome those barriers? What does true health equity look like in Virginia? In this episode, Victor McKenzie Jr., CEO of Virginia Health Catalyst, answers these questions and more in a conversation emphasizing the importance of collaboration and community engagement in transforming health systems. Tune in to discover how trust and partnership can catalyze change in public health!

With special guest: Victor McKenzie, Jr., CEO, Virginia Health Catalyst Hosted by: Phillip Noel

All doctors have an impact on their patients. How many doctors have an impact on every patient in their state? Delegate Mark Downey is the only physician in the Virginia House of Delegates. A practicing pediatrician, Del. Downey joins CommonHealth to discuss why he ran for office and the value of his unique perspective on legislative issues. Hear more from behind the scenes of Virginia's legislature on addressing the challenges families face in accessing affordable healthcare and the importance of evidence-based decision-making in shaping policies that benefit the community - all in the latest episode of CommonHealth!

With special guest: Dr. Mark Downey, Delegate, 69th District Hosted by: Phillip Noel

Physician, attorney, leader. These are just a few of the ways to describe Virginia's newest State Health Commissioner, Dr. B. Cameron Webb. This week, Dr. Webb joins Phillip on CommonHealth to share his journey from medicine to law to public health. He discusses the current state of wellness in Virginia as well as his vision and goals for the next three and a half years, from the critical role of local leadership to the importance of building institutional trust. Get to know our Commissioner - listen now!

With special guest: B. Cameron Webb, MD, JD, State Health Commissioner, Virginia Department of Health Hosted by: Phillip Noel

What do you really know about vaping? In this episode of CommonHealth, Dr. Michelle Peace, an expert in forensic toxicology, explains what the science really says about electronic cigarettes and their impact on health and public safety. From the hidden dangers of vaping to the misconceptions many consumers hold, Dr. Peace sheds light on the evolving landscape of these products. For consumers, parents, and policymakers, this is a must-listen to understand the science behind vaping to empower informed choices. With special guest: Dr. Michelle Peace, Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University Hosted by: Phillip Noel

Over the next decade, experts are predicting healthcare provider shortages in the tens of thousands, from primary care and nursing to behavioral health and dentistry. Through the Community Health Scholarship, the Virginia Community Healthcare Association is doing something about it. In this episode of CommonHealth, Kate speaks with Eve Gilles and April Thomas, Community Health Scholarship recipients pursuing advanced degrees in social work and nursing. Their insights on the barriers faced by students and the impact of scholarships and funding are essential in understanding how we can best support the next generation of healthcare professionals and close the care gap that lies ahead. With special guests: Eve Gilles, Masters Student, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work and April Thomas, PhD Student, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing

Hosted by: Kate McCarthy

This week's guest is especially close to host Tracy's heart: her mother, Susan Douglas. In the mid-sixties, Susan left the comfort and familiarity of her hometown to go to Alabama during a time of enormous racial tension to help Black residents register to vote. That decision would change her life. It's where she met Tracy's father, a man from Montgomery, doing the same courageous work. Her journey is a story about risk, conviction and following a moral compass, even when it points you to the hardest places.

With special guest: Susan Douglas Hosted by: Tracy Douglas, CEO, Virginia Community Healthcare Association

In the final episode of the limited audio series Maternal Matters, host Phillip Noel speaks to two leaders at a rural Virginia health center on how maternal healthcare fits into the larger health system. CEO Marsha Mendenhall and Obstetrics Department Operations Manager Tammy Osborne of Piedmont Access to Health Services dive deep on the realities of providing and sustaining an obstetrics department and quality patient care, giving listeners a look behind the curtain on how maternal healthcare comes to be. As rural hospital maternity ward closures persist, the work of health centers like PATHS have become essential in bridging care gaps and ensuring the safe deliveries of the next generation. With special guests: Marsha Mendenhall, CEO, Piedmont Access to Health Services (PATHS) and Tammy Osborne, Obstetrics Operations Manager, Piedmont Access to Health Services (PATHS)

Hosted by: Phillip Noel, Founder & CEO, McCoy Bennett Marketing

The second episode of Maternal Matters is here! Guest host Phillip Noel speaks with Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) on her role as a policymaker in Virginia and her legislative work to advance and improve maternal health. Congresswoman McClellan shares powerful personal stories about her own experiences as a maternal healthcare patient and outlines detailed policy insights on improving access and outcomes for mothers. This is an important conversation with one of our leading voices on maternal health - listen now!

With special guest: Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, VA-04 Hosted by: Phillip Noel, Founder & CEO, McCoy Bennett Marketing

What is the state of maternal healthcare in Virginia? Maternal Matters has the answers. In the first episode of this new limited series from the Virginia Community Healthcare Association, guest host Phillip Noel speaks with the CEO of HealthWorks for Northern Virginia and OB-GYN Dr. Tonya Adkins about the current maternal healthcare landscape. From her perspective as a provider, as a community health center CEO, and once having been a maternal healthcare patient herself, Dr. Adkins sheds light on how policy, funding, and compassion can drive real change.

With special guest: Dr. Tonya Adkins, CEO, HealthWorks for Northern Virginia Hosted by: Phillip Noel, Founder & CEO, McCoy Bennett Marketing