Public Health Out Loud

Maintaining consistent access to shelter and services can be difficult for people who use drugs, due to factors like housing policies and availability of shelter beds. But safe, reliable housing is a…

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and highly effective. But to some, the arrival of the vaccine raises questions. In this week’s episode, Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan explore how healthcare profes…

Living with a substance use condition can feel isolating. But it doesn’t have to feel that way. Peer recovery support specialists are working to break through that isolation by tapping into something…

In Rhode Island, there is just one laboratory that conducts all public health, environmental, and forensic crime testing for the State. It all happens in one inconspicuous building near Downtown Prov…

Substance use and overdoses are an epidemic in this country, and Rhode Island is not immune. But efforts to combat substance use are often highly misunderstood. This week’s episode sheds light on som…

In this week’s episode, Dr. Philip Chan and Dr. Jim McDonald are joined by Dr. Amy Nunn, the executive director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute. Dr. Nunn talks about food insecurity and t…

Misinformation is everywhere. And it has long-lasting implications for public health. In this week’s episode, we’re talking about the threat of fast-spreading, factually inaccurate information.  

Duri…

Let’s talk about another epidemic: the overdose crisis.
With social isolation at an all-time high, overdose rates have been on the rise during COVID-19. It’s being called the “twindemic,” and public h…

“Vaccines should not be withheld from women,” says Dr. Erica Hardy, an infectious disease physician at Women & Infants Hospital. She joins healthcare leaders across the country who are raising awaren…

Any parent can tell you that welcoming a new baby to the family is a magical moment. Amidst the avalanche of information that new parents are offered, safe sleep is one important aspect that should n…

It is estimated that roughly 40 percent of Americans in the mid-1960s smoked cigarettes. Tobacco use saw a steep decline in popularity when the U.S. surgeon general issued a report that famously conc…

Youth sports took a big hit in the fall because of the pandemic. For many kids, the decision from public health leaders to implement COVID-19 related restrictions nationwide meant playing with a mask…

A medical assistant who had to rely on the support of their older kids. A family physician based in the South who spoke out very publicly in support of teachers at a tumultuous time. A school nurse w…

STIs and the pandemic are two issues that are rarely discussed in the same room. One is a global pandemic that has disrupted entire economies, and the other is a public health issue that’s rarely tal…

In the early 20th century, Americans were facing another public health crisis that challenged medical staff and engineers like never before. 

City leaders and public health officials of that time like…

Scientists across the world sprang into action when it was evident we had a pandemic on our hands. In the race to help prevent hospitalizations and deaths, researchers turned to convalescent plasma a…

The United States of America may be recognized as the ‘home of the brave and land of the free,’ but now that reputation could be coming back to bite the nation. 

In this episode of Public Health Out L…

While all eyes are on the vaccination efforts in the United States, one religious leader from Rhode Island reflects on the things he hopes people will cherish once the pandemic has run its course. 

Oc…

States in New England have so much in common. Eagle eyed travelers will notice that Rhode Island and New Hampshire —in particular — share similar histories, architecture, and climates. Another easily…