Health in the Commonwealth

Disability isn't an edge case. It is far more common than most people realize, yet our housing, transportation, and healthcare systems are still largely built as though it isn't.

Host Dr. Melicent Miller speaks with Alan Hejl, founder and lead consultant of Spark Access, an independent consultancy advancing disability inclusion across the mobility industry. A veteran of the auto industry who started its first accessibility department, Alan brings both professional and personal experience to the conversation.

Topics covered include how insurance rules, benefit systems, and housing design create barriers that stay invisible until someone faces them. The conversation also covers how the way we build our communities shapes isolation and independence, along with lessons from Japan, life in a rural community, and a health system that opened its door to patients. Alan closes with practical steps communities can take, from holding local governments accountable to listening to the local disability community as experts.

This episode closes Season 2 of Health in the Commonwealth.

For past episodes, show notes, and transcripts, visit VirginiaPaths.org/podcast.

A bus route can be the difference between making a doctor's appointment or missing it, reaching a full-service grocery store, or relying on the corner store, taking a better job or turning it down. In this episode, host Dr. Melicent Miller examines how public transportation shapes health equity in the Richmond region.

Dr. Miller speaks with Chad Sanders, Executive Director of RVA Rapid Transit, a Richmond-based organization that educates, organizes, and advocates for a stronger regional transit system.

Topics covered include how unreliable transit contributes to missed medical appointments, food insecurity, and social isolation among riders; the safety risks riders face in the "first and last mile" between home and the bus stop; RVA Rapid Transit's Rider's Voice Program, which brings transit ambassadors directly to bus stops and neighborhoods to capture feedback from riders who can't attend town halls; and the case for permanent zero-fare transit, including Richmond's 14% ridership increase and $6.8 million annual cost to sustain it. The episode also features the voices of daily riders Angie, Ana Clemons, and Marley, who share firsthand how free, frequent transit affects their daily lives.

One in two aging Virginians say they don't have access to affordable, quality food — yet this crisis often stays invisible. In this episode, host Dr. Melicent Miller examines how Virginia is tackling senior food insecurity through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which gives qualifying adults 60 and older a $50 benefit to spend on fresh, locally grown produce at authorized markets statewide.

Dr. Miller speaks with Kelly Wright, registered dietician and nutrition coordinator at the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services; Tegan Moore, manager of the Birdhouse Farmers Market in Richmond's Randolph neighborhood; and Steve Zollos, CEO of Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia. Together they explore the program's statewide expansion (14,000+ seniors served last year), a new app-based payment system that makes transactions more flexible for both seniors and farmers, and how markets like Birdhouse are serving food deserts and seeing surging senior participation.

The conversation also digs into a key barrier: digital literacy. Steve Zollos introduces the "Silver Surfers" coaching program, which helps older adults navigate smartphones and the internet — and why cracking that barrier could be the catalyst for connecting seniors to a whole network of services. Guests close with a call to advocate, volunteer, and get involved in senior services now.

For older Virginians, aging in place is the goal — but getting there requires far more than just a roof overhead and a hot meal.

Host Dr. Melicent Miller speaks with Steve Zollos, CEO of Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, Kelly Wright, a registered dietician with the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and Caitlyn Allen, Director of Wellness at Senior Services.

Topics covered include the affordable senior housing crisis and creative solutions like repurposing historic buildings, the role of congregate meal programs (rebranded as "Better Together Cafes") in combating social isolation, how evidence-based programs like Bingocize blend physical activity and health education, and how technology is expanding access for homebound seniors through virtual meal gatherings and programming.

The episode features the story of Hayden Village Center in Franklin, Virginia — a formerly vacant all-Black high school transformed into 28 affordable senior apartments, a community center, medical clinic, and community garden. Guests also discuss the importance of culturally relevant meals, the permanence of the "age wave," and why meeting the needs of a growing senior population requires a fundamental shift in how communities think about aging.

For past episodes, show notes, and transcripts, visit VirginiaPaths.org/podcast.

For people with disabilities, adaptive sports offer more than fitness—they provide connection, recovery, and a community that understands.

Host Dr. Melicent Miller speaks with Caitlyn Berry, Director of Government Relations at Sportable and occupational therapist, and Mark Miller, an adaptive sports ambassador who has used a wheelchair for over 32 years. Together they explore how Sportable—a Richmond, Virginia-based nonprofit—uses adaptive sports and recreation to address some of the most pressing health challenges facing people with disabilities.

Topics covered include the link between disability and social isolation, the physical and mental health benefits of adaptive sports (Sportable's data shows over 90% of participants report improvements across all three dimensions of health), barriers to access like equipment costs and inaccessible facilities, and how adaptive sports complement traditional rehabilitation and occupational therapy.

The episode features two powerful stories: Mandy, a quadriplegic athlete who went from thinking she was "too disabled to participate" to competing with Team USA at the 2025 World Wheelchair Rugby Americas Championship; and Mark's own recovery from a life-threatening staph infection, which he credits in part to years of staying active through sport and community.

Sportable partners with Sheltering Arms Institute and VCU Health to connect newly injured patients with adaptive sports programs as part of their continuum of care.

Note: This episode contains references to suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

For past episodes, show notes, and transcripts, visit VirginiaPaths.org/podcast.

This episode explores the powerful partnership between public health and faith-based organizations across Virginia. Dr. Melicent Miller speaks with Veronica Cosby, program manager for Virginia Partners in Prayer and Prevention, about how faith communities serve as trusted messengers and community anchors in promoting health. Veronica shares how the P3 program expanded during COVID-19 to support 114 faith communities addressing health disparities through various initiatives, from telehealth support to food security programs. The conversation highlights the importance of meeting communities where they are and listening to their unique needs to build effective health partnerships.

In this episode, we explore comprehensive approaches to brain health and physical wellness for Virginia's aging population. Dr. Melicent Miller speaks with George Worthington, Dementia Services Coordinator at Virginia's Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, about strategies for brain health from early prevention to supportive care for those living with dementia. Nick Turkas from the Arthritis Foundation shares insights on their Walk with Ease program and how physical activity can be the key to preventing cascading health issues. Together, they discuss innovative initiatives that combat social isolation, improve access to healthy foods, and build more supportive communities where all Virginians can age with dignity.

In this episode, we explore how organizations across Virginia are making physical activity accessible to older adults. Dr. Melicent Miller speaks with Kathy Brown, Health and Wellness Program Manager at Senior Connections, about evidence-based programs that support active aging while combating social isolation. Mona Burwell and Dr. Karen Day from the Virginia Department of Health's Arthritis Program share strategies for addressing barriers to physical activity and making walking programs available statewide. Together, they discuss the powerful impact of community partnerships in creating more equitable opportunities for older Virginians to stay active and connected.

In this episode, we examine how transportation infrastructure shapes health equity across Virginia. Dr. Melicent Miller talks with Anna Ricklin, Health in All Policies Manager at Fairfax County Health Department, about creative approaches to making communities more walkable and bikeable. Stephen Read, State Highway Safety Engineer at VDOT, shares how incorporating health data into transportation planning is transforming the state's approach to road safety. Together, they explore how partnerships between health and transportation professionals are creating safer, more accessible communities for all Virginians.

In our first episode, we explore how the Lansdowne Street Mural Project in Roanoke, Virginia uses art to address health equity and community safety. Dr. Simone Paterson, a local artist, shares her journey as part of an interdisciplinary team in creating a vibrant mural that has slowed traffic and increased pedestrian access to essential services. Dr. Melicent Miller talks with Simone about the project's collaborative nature, the importance of engaging artists in community-based initiatives, and the transformative impact of blending creative expression with public health objectives.