Episode Description

In this episode of What the Doctor Say?, Dr. Kendra Outler sits down with renowned trauma surgeon, public health leader, and author Dr. Selwyn O. Rogers Jr. for an in-depth conversation about one of Chicago's most pressing public health challenges—gun violence.

Drawing from his acclaimed book, Healing the Gun Violence Epidemic: Ending Violence, Rebuilding Communities, and a Trauma Surgeon's Vision for Restoring Hope, Dr. Rogers shares the experiences that have shaped his understanding of violence and the path toward healing. Learn more about the book here: Healing the Gun Violence Epidemic.

Together, Dr. Outler and Dr. Rogers explore why gun violence must be understood as a public health crisis rather than simply a criminal justice issue. They discuss the lasting physical, emotional, and psychological trauma experienced by individuals, families, and neighborhoods, while highlighting evidence-based strategies that are helping communities heal. These include investing in neighborhoods, supporting violence intervention programs, creating opportunities for young people, strengthening community partnerships, and addressing the social determinants of health.

This conversation is both candid and hopeful. Dr. Rogers offers an intimate reflection on what it will truly take to reduce violence on Chicago's South Side—not through any single program or institution, but through sustained collaboration among healthcare professionals, educators, community leaders, policymakers, faith organizations, and residents themselves.

Whether you are a healthcare professional, community advocate, policymaker, educator, or concerned citizen, this episode challenges us to rethink how we respond to violence and reminds us that restoring hope begins by investing in people and the communities they call home.

Resources Mentioned

• Dr. Selwyn O. Rogers Jr.: University of Chicago Medicine Faculty Profile
• Healing the Gun Violence Epidemic: Book Information and Ordering
• University of Chicago News Profile: Selwyn Rogers Biography
• Join us for this important conversation about healing communities, restoring hope, and creating a safer future for Chicago and cities across America.

Dr. Vanessa Freeman, a psychiatrist for the United States Army talks to Dr. K about what her childhood desire to become a psychiatrist. She educates us on what Black families need to get help for mental illness. Listen to her informative interview during Mental Health Awareness Month. #mentalhealth

Dr. Jacqueline Turner talks to Dr. K about colon cancer in Black patients. As a colorectal surgeon at Tulane University she explains the health disparities and how Black patients continue to die at alarming rates. She stresses we still need to stress the need of colonoscopies at the earlier age of 45 and not 50 years of age.

This week, Dr. Kendra Outler interviews Dr. Naa Oya A. Kwate, an associate professor at Rutgers University, about her research into racial inequalities in African American health --specifically, our relationship with fast food.

In this episode, the doctors discuss several significant issues around this topic:

• The food we eat

• Our access to healthy choices

• The history of fast food in the black community

Together, they dive into food policing and why physicians should not ignore race when looking at health and food choices. Dr. Kwate shares her research into how fast food has become embedded into black communities and why African Americans are disproportionately affected by the lack of access to healthy food options across all communities, even with those with higher earnings.

Dr. Kwate cites research that will cause us to rethink the term 'food desert' and dig deeper into what's really going on.

Tune into the episode for a much-needed conversation about our communities relationship with fast food.

Dr. Kendra Outler, MD from Uzima Health and Wellness sat down with Dr. Richard Moses, MD, an anesthesiologist and member of the United States Navy. Dr. Moses outlined his journey to medical school, from growing up with the challenges of being in special education as a child and getting his Bachelor’s at Rutgers University, to being in medical school at Penn State University and joining the United States Navy as a part of their Health Professions Scholarship Program. In addition to his own personal journey, Dr. Moses discussed the challenges and disparities higher education presents, especially on Black students, as well as the challenges special education students encounter and the importance of good mentors.

To learn more about how you can help, we recommend you check out the following resources:

My Uzima Health and Wellness: https://www.myuzima.org

Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP): https://www.med.navy.mil/Accessions/Health-Professions-Scholarship-Program-HPSP-and-Financial-Assistance-Program-FAP/

Dr. Kendra Outler, MD founder of Uzima Health and Wellness sat down with Dr. Claude Brunson, MD, the Executive Director of the Mississippi State Medical Association, (UMMC). As a part of ongoing discussions surrounding health disparities and the social and political implications on health, Dr. Claude Brunson discussed the challenges disasters such as the Jackson, Mississippi water crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have on medical centers such as the University of Mississippi Medical Center, which is the only level one trauma center in the state of Mississippi.

To learn more about how you can continue to stay informed on this crisis we recommend you check out the following resources:

My Uzima Health and Wellness: https://www.myuzima.org

University of Mississippi Medical Center: https://www.umc.edu/

Mississippi State Medical Association: https://www.msmaonline.com/

https://mississippitoday.org/2019/02/04/brunson-to-be-first-african-american-head-of-state-medical-association/

Dr. Kendra Outler, MD from Uzima Health & Wellness interviews Kylar Wiltz, a third-year medical student at Howard University Medical School, a historically black medical school. Coming from a large loving family in Breaux Bridge Louisiana, the future Dr. Wiltz outlined his journey to medical school; from growing up in a rural environment completing his undergraduate degree at Xavier University in New Orleans,La to now completing his third year of medical school. The future Dr. Wiltz is so dynamic that he is currently taking a gap year to earn his Master of Business Administration (MBA). His ultimate goal is to be a leader in medicine after completing his residency. In addition to his own personal journey, hear Kylar Wiltz discuss the economic challenges and disparities higher education presents, especially on Black young men, as well as the challenges of medical school, from applications to getting into residency. https://www.aamc.org

https://medicine.howard.edu

Uzima Health and Wellness continues to have focused discussions on the gun violence epidemic and the need for a cease fire. Dr. Kendra Outler, MD sat down with two Black physician leaders to discuss the psychological, physical, racial, and sociological implications the of rise of gun violence. They both give lend their voice to the trauma of gun violence and the wounds it creates. Panel members included Dr. Rahn Kennedy Bailey, MD, a forensic psychiatrist and Chairman of LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans Department of Psychiatry, and Dr. Elliot Jessie, MD, MBA, FACS, Professor of Surgery and Trauma Surgery and Director of the Intensive Care Unit at Walter Reed, National Military Medical Center, Bethesda.

This panel was sponsored by the LSUHSC Department of Psychiatry.

To learn more about how you can help, we recommend you check out the following resources:

MyUzima Health and Wellness: https://www.myuzima.org

LSUHSC Department of Psychiatry : https://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/psychiatry/

Trauma Recovery Clinic at University Medical Center New Orleans: https://www.lcmchealth.org/university-medical-center-new-orleans/our-services/behavioral-health-psychiatry/trauma-recovery-clinic/

Dr. Kendra Outler, MD from Uzima Health and Wellness sat down with Dr. Erich Conrad, MD, FACLP, a Professor of Psychiatry at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC), the Vice Chairman for Hospital Psychiatry, Program Director for the LSU-Ochsner Consultation-Liaison Fellowship, and Service Line Director for Behavioral Health at the University Medical Center, New Orleans (UMCNO). As part of an ongoing discussions on the rise of gun violence as it relates to health, both mentally and physically, Dr. Erich Conrad, a native of New Orleans who has been educated within the LSU system, discussed the effects of traumatic injuries that gun violence/injury can have on individuals. Gun violence as leads to not only posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but also acute trauma disorder and hence there is a need to start recovery services earlier for individuals after these events. There also must be in place services for family and community members who have were witnesses to the gun violence.

This interview was sponsored by the LSUHSC Department of Psychiatry.

To learn more about how you can help, we recommend you check out the following resources:

MyUzima Health and Wellness: https://www.myuzima.org

LSUHSC Department of Psychiatry : https://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/psychiatry/

Trauma Recovery Clinic at University Medical Center New Orleans: https://www.lcmchealth.org/university-medical-center-new-orleans/our-services/behavioral-health-psychiatry/trauma-recovery-clinic/

Dr. Kendra Outler, MD founder of Uzima Health and Wellness sat down with Dr. Erika Rajo, PsyD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans (LSUHSC) and Director of the University Medical Center, New Orleans Trauma Recovery Clinic (UMCNO) to discuss the importance of the Acute Trauma Recovery Center on helping victims of gun violence, and trauma recovery. As a part of ongoing discussions on the rise of gun violence as it relates to health, both mentally and physically, Dr. Erika Rajo, a native of New Orleans, discusses her role in helping the citizens of her city heal from acute trauma by providing services after individuals experience traumatic injuries especially from gun violence. She directs her team to provide acute interventions, treatment, and resources to help prevent acute post-traumatic stress and other mental health conditions that arise from trauma. She notes that LSU Health Science Center is being nationally recognized in the area of acute trauma recovery.

This interview was sponsored by the LSUHSC Department of Psychiatry.

To learn more about how you can help, we recommend you check out the following resources:

MyUzima Health and Wellness: https://www.myuzima.org

LSUHSC Department of Psychiatry : https://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/psychiatry/

Trauma Recovery Clinic at University Medical Center New Orleans: https://www.lcmchealth.org/university-medical-center-new-orleans/our-services/behavioral-health-psychiatry/trauma-recovery-clinic/