It’s a Matter of Your Health with Dr. Veita Bland

Can artificial intelligence improve your healthcare while protecting your safety? On this episode of It’s A Matter of Your Health, host Dr. Veita Bland welcomes Dr. Merage Ghane, Director of Responsible AI at the Coalition for Health AI, for a conversation about artificial intelligence and patient safety. Discover how AI helps clinicians review medical images, document visits, and navigate patient information. They also explore privacy, accountability, racial and economic bias, and why human judgment remains essential. Learn how technology can support better conversations with your doctor—and why asking questions matters. From promising innovations to necessary safeguards, this episode puts patients at the center of healthcare’s future. 

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What does being fit really mean? For many of us, it means climbing stairs, carrying groceries, playing with grandchildren, and getting out of a chair with confidence. On It’s A Matter Of Your Health, host Dr. Veita Bland welcomes Coach Hilton Ferguson, founder of Full-Time Fitness, for a practical conversation about building strength for everyday life. Coach Ferguson explains why walking, resistance training, balance, flexibility, and recovery all matter, especially as we age. He shares simple ways to begin with just ten minutes, build consistency, and pay attention to what your body is telling you. If you have been waiting for the time to move, this conversation offers a place to start. Listen, choose one manageable step, and keep going.

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Why do so many men—especially Black men—avoid talking about prostate health? Host Dr. Veita Bland sits down with her brother, prostate cancer survivor Mel Bland, for an honest conversation. Mel shares how a rising PSA led to his diagnosis, the realities of treatment, and why early screening, family health history, medical relationships, and support systems matter. His message is urgent: prostate cancer may cause no pain, so waiting for symptoms can be dangerous. Listen, share it with the men you love, and encourage them to learn their risks, speak with a healthcare provider, and take action early. Silence should never cost a life.

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Cervical cancer is preventable, yet too many women face barriers to lifesaving screening. On this episode of It’s A Matter of Your Health, host Dr. Veita Bland welcomes Trisha Amboree, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Medical University of South Carolina and researcher with Hollings Cancer Center. Together, they explain how persistent high-risk HPV can cause cervical abnormalities, why Pap and HPV testing matter, and how screening schedules differ from annual well-woman visits. They also address fear, discomfort, transportation, childcare, limited access, and knowledge gaps that keep many women from being screened. Learn how HPV vaccination, early detection, and self-collection options can help close disparities and protect women’s health. Listen, learn, share, and encourage someone you love to schedule screening today.

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Few conversations express love more powerfully than planning for our final needs. On It’s A Matter of Your Health, host Dr. Veita Bland welcomes Mrs. Shanna Jackson Sheats, licensed funeral director and operations manager at Jackson-McWhorter Funeral Home, for an enlightening discussion about preparing families for life’s most difficult moment. Mrs. Jackson-Sheets explains how documenting funeral preferences, medical directives, legal decisions, financial arrangements, and cultural traditions can reduce emotional stress, prevent family conflict, and protect savings. She also clarifies the differences between pre-planning, pre-paying, and final-expense insurance. Planning is not surrendering hope; it is an act of love, wisdom, and responsibility. Begin today: start the conversation, record your wishes, appoint someone you trust, and ensure your important documents are easy to find.

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What health questions have you been wanting to ask? In this mailbag edition of It’s a Matter of Your Health, producer Marben Bland joins host Dr. Veita Bland to answer listeners’ questions from across the country. Learn about possible chemical exposure from synthetic and human hair used in protective styles, why treating hearing loss may help protect cognitive health, and how to maintain an exercise routine when life gets busy. Dr. Bland also shares ways to reduce microplastic exposure and explains why patients should take notes, ask questions, and become active partners in their healthcare. 

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What if your next vacation could improve your health?

Join Dr. Veita Bland on this edition of It's a Matter of Your Health as she welcomes Fiore Montgomery, owner of Just Get Up and Go Travel, for an inspiring conversation about the growing connection between travel and wellness.

Discover how intentional travel can reduce stress, improve mental well-being, strengthen relationships, and create lifelong memories. Learn why immersive cultural experiences, intimate small-ship cruises, and thoughtful travel planning are becoming the preferred way to explore the world. You'll also hear practical advice on traveling with chronic health conditions, the importance of travel insurance, using technology to make travel safer, and how supporting local communities can make every journey more meaningful.

Whether you're planning your first international adventure or your next unforgettable getaway, 

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Did you know better health may begin right outside your door? Join Dr. Veita Bland, MD, host of It's a Matter of Your Health, as she welcomes Corey McNair, founder of Yah Rootz, for an inspiring conversation about sustainable gardening, fresh food, and healthier living. Discover how anyone—even with a balcony or small patio—can grow nutritious food, save money, reduce stress, and strengthen their community. Learn practical gardening tips, the surprising health benefits of fresh produce, and why every seed planted is an investment in your family's future. Tune in and discover how growing your own food can help you cultivate a healthier life—one plant at a time! 

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How can parents help children return to school confident, curious, and ready to succeed? In this episode of It's A Matter of Your Health, host Dr. Veita Bland, MD, welcomes Dr. Melanie James, Principal of Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary School in Athens, Georgia. Together, they discuss practical, affordable ways families can prevent summer learning loss through reading, conversation, positive experiences, healthy routines, and balanced technology use. They also explore the role of artificial intelligence in education, the importance of sleep and schedules, and simple strategies every parent can use to foster a lifelong love of learning. This informative conversation offers practical advice to help children thrive throughout the school year. 

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Could your family history help protect your future? Join host Dr. Veita Bland, MD, as she welcomes Zoe Lindsey Mills, CGC, a board-certified genetic counselor, for an eye-opening conversation about hereditary cancer and genetic testing. Learn who should consider genetic counseling, the warning signs in family medical history, how genetic testing can guide prevention and treatment, insurance coverage, legal protections against genetic discrimination, and why sharing results with loved ones can save lives. Whether you're concerned about breast, ovarian, pancreatic, colorectal, or other hereditary cancers, this informative episode empowers you to make informed decisions about your health and your family's future. 

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