Missouri Health Talks

Dr. Kimberly Spence is a member of the Show-Me Echo that focuses on mothers, infants, and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). This is a regular, virtual convening of medical professionals from across the state that works to share best practices of how to care for these at-risk infants and their mothers.

Dr. Jeannie Kelly and Dr. Bridget Gelati both work at WashU Medicine's CARE [the Clinic for Acceptance, Recovery, and Empowerment], and spoke about how substance use disorder treatment during pregnancy can help parents — and babies thrive.

Dr. Jeremiah Weinstock is the chair of the Department of Psychology at St. Louis University. He’s spoke about some of the defining characteristics of substance use disorders, as well as reflected on the difficulties his patients face while in recovery.

Dr. Doug Burgess the medical director of Addiction Services at University Health in Kansas City and teaches psychiatry at UMKC. He spoke about how he got into the field of addiction psychiatry and about some of the misconceptions people — including himself at one point — have about those with substance use disorders.

Poplar Bluff Regional sits just above the Bootheel and for the last few years has been running a nurse externship program where student nurses get hands on experience working in the hospital. Ashlee Dunn oversees the program. She grew up in nearby Bollinger County and spoke about the benefits of training nurses from the community — in the community.

Laveta Lockridge and Job Green work at the Lincoln University Extension office in Caruthersville. This year, they started a community garden as a way to educate folks on nutrition, as well as provide them with free, fresh produce in an area where that can be hard to get.

Dr. Ashley Popejoy is a spokesperson for the American Dental Association and a pediatric dentist in Southwest Missouri. She spoke about the many oral health complications that can come from cancer treatment and how a medical team can help.

Registered Dietician Merri Leach and Social Worker Sarah Spoonemore work together at the Mosaic Medical Center in St. Joseph. They spoke about the importance of wraparound care for cancer patients, and focusing on a patient’s mental health, social wellbeing, financial stability, nutrition and more.

Dr. Tyler Severance is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at University of Missouri Healthcare, which means he works with kids who have blood and cancer disorders. He spoke about some of the short and long-term impacts cancer treatment can have on kids

Jennifer Rosenblad and Amy Appold are best friends who live in Columbia and have both survived breast cancer. They spoke about the benefit of knowing other survivors who fully understand the challenges of treatment, as well as about how community support was important during their experiences.