No Stigma Nevada

Unbeknownst to most Nevadans, the state has an expert who spends many waking hours dedicated to thinking about the state's doctor shortage - and how to fix it.

Meet Dr. Packham, the co-Director of the Nevada Health Workforce Research Center in the Office of Statewide Initiatives.  Dr. Packham has co-authored nearly 100 policy-relevant, statewide research reports, including ten editions of the Nevada Rural and Frontier Health Data Book and five editions of Health Care Careers in Nevada.  

In this episode of No Stigma Nevada he shares his thoughts on how to recruit more psychiatrists, doctors, nurses, social workers to come work in the Silver State.

Before moving to Nevada, psychiatrist Dr. Joe Simpson spent a long career working in Los Angeles as an expert in forensic psychiatry.

He joins No Stigma Nevada for a fascinating discussion about mental health, guns and his thoughts on the Oct. 1, 2017, mass

shooting in Las Vegas.

No Stigma Nevada hosts Frankie Sue Del Papa, 74, the first female Regent for the Nevada System of Higher Education, Nevada Secretary of State and three-term Nevada Attorney General. In this episode she shares stories about life stressors behind the scenes during her 20-year tenure as a high ranking female politician and the role mental health plays in the world of politics.

"I've been very open about my mental health issues and I believe in "healing loudly." If more of us did this, then the stigma attached to mental health care would shrink." 

Nevada State Assemblyman Max Carter (D-Las Vegas ) shares his intimate story of loss and grief with No Stigma Nevada, and his years-long struggle to overcome the depression stemming from the death of his wife. He recounts his captivating and gripping story of emotional recovery in powerful detail, from his equine therapy with a horse named Nathan to his trauma informed yoga classes that he teaches Sunday nights on Instagram.

For decades, Nevada mental health activist and course instructor Sandy Stamates has been teaching families how to address

mental health issues. Here she shares her knowledge with No Stigma Nevada.

Dr. John Westhoff spent more than two decades as an military emergency medicine doctor, practicing around the world.

He currently is the interim chair of the internal medicine department at the University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine.

He talks with No Stigma Nevada about the role mental health crisis plays in emergency room settings.

Las Vegas Psychiatrist Dr. Lesley Dickson talks with No Stigma Nevada about her life and career as a longtime addictions specialist.

Mr. Fabian Donate is the chair of the Nevada State Health and Human Services Committee. He talks with No Stigma Nevada talks about mental health-related bills in the 2023 state legislative session and his support for the HOPE Act, a bill which would allow non-documented immigrants to obtain Medicaid.

Dr. Barry Cole is a longtime Nevada psychiatrist, neurologist, and pain specialist. He talks with No Stigma Nevada about practicing telemedicine during the pandemic and Nevada's opioid addiction.

Psychiatrist Dr. Jami Woods spoke in Las Vegas about her own experience as a transgender physician and the challenges transgender individuals face personally, medically and politically.