America’s Loneliness Epidemic Amid COVID-19: Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on the Toll of Isolation on America’s Health

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter welcome US Surgeon General under President Obama, Dr. Vivek Murthy, whose new book “Together: The Healing Power of Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World” examines the causes and harmful effects of the epidemic of loneliness in America and its impact on health. Dr. Murthy examines how the COVID-19 pandemic is amplifying this crisis, and how we, as a society, must address this issue.

Mandates ‘Turbocharging’ Vaccination Rates: US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Vaccine Requirements, Boosters and Vaccinating Kids

This week hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter welcome “the Nation’s Doctor,” US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, Co-chair of President Biden’s White House COVID Task Force. Dr. Murthy explains the FDA’s latest approval for mixing vaccine brands for booster shots. He also addresses White House plans to roll out COVID vaccine support for the nation’s 5-11-year-olds pending FDA approval, and how vaccine requirements are ‘turbocharging’ vaccination rates. Dr. Murthy examines the growing crisis of unmet mental health needs, addiction, and overdose in this country, exacerbated by the pandemic. He also discusses an initiative he’s creating to address burnout in the health care profession.

Biology's New Frontier: The Human Cell Atlas Seeks To Create "Google Maps" for All Cells in the Body

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Dr. Aviv Regev of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Dr. Sarah Teichmann of the Wellcome Sanger Institute at Cambridge, Co-Chairs of the Human Cell Atlas project which is seeking to create a "Google Maps" for the body's 37 trillion cells. It's a global collaboration of multiple scientific disciplines, tasked with creating a comprehensive and open-source cell map, to yield a deeper understanding of the foundational elements of human health and disease.

Dr. Vindell Washington, National Coordinator for Health IT at HHS

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Dr. Vindell Washington, National Coordinator for Health IT at the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the agency's program to shift the health care industry from paper to electronic health records. Dr. Washington discusses the agency's strategic plan for advancing those goals and for accelerating the creation of universal standards for health information exchange and the promotion of interoperability.

Pres. Trump’s HIV/AIDS Record: A Look Back & Ahead

HIV/AIDS experts are cautiously watching as President Trump and his administration near inauguration day. On one hand, they remember how President Trump announced in 2019 his initiative called Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America. It included Ready, Set, PrEP, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services initiative that provides free access to the HIV prevention medication PrEP for thousands of qualifying individuals.

But there are worries “about the next four years because we’re hearing about a potential decrease in funding,” that will be detrimental to programs, according to Dr. Marwan Haddad, Medical Director of the Center for Key Populations, Community Health Center, Inc., and a former chair of the HIV Medicine Association.

Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, Ph.D., MPH, Executive Director, Institute for Policy Solutions at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, highlighted these issues as communities recognized World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. For instance, the CDC reports new HIV infections fell by 19% from 2018 to 2022 but there’s been a 12% increase in infections among Latino people.

Our guests join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter to discuss progress and the hurdles that still exist in the fight to end AIDS.

Dr. Vikas Saini, President of the Lown Institute

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Dr. Vikas Saini, cardiologist and President of the Lown Institute, which is dedicated to improving the health care system. They discuss the Institute's mission of doing "more for patients, by doing less" as well as the Right Care Alliance initiative which seeks to promote the elimination of waste in the health care system.

Health Care on the Ballot: What’s at Stake Nov. 8?

In less than five weeks Americans should know the outcome of the midterm elections. Will overturning Roe v. Wade propel Democrats to surprise wins? Will Republicans seize the moment with their vision of how to fix health care? Sheryl Gay Stolberg with The New York Times and Victoria Knight with Axios examine how the November results will likely impact health care policy in the next two years and beyond. They’re guests this week on “Conversations on Health Care” with hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter.

Dr. Victor Dzau, President of the National Academy of Medicine

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Dr. Victor Dzau, President of the National Academy of Medicine (the former Institute of Medicine) a private, non-profit entity dedicated to tackling the nation's complex problems in medicine, technology and science. Dr. Dzau talks about the Academy's shift towards more cooperation between the scientific disciplines to advance evidence-based research that will inform the health care providers and policy makers around the country and the world.

Dr. Victor Dzau, President of the National Academy of Medicine

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Dr. Victor Dzau, President of the National Academy of Medicine (the former Institute of Medicine) a private, non-profit entity dedicated to tackling the nation's complex problems in medicine, technology and science. Dr. Dzau talks about the Academy's shift towards more cooperation between the scientific disciplines to advance evidence-based research that will inform the health care providers and policy makers around the country and the world.

Environmental Leader Dr. Vanessa Kerry Delves Into Intersections of Health and Climate at COP28 Global Climate Gathering

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (known as COP28) is underway and on Dec. 3 it will feature a “Day of Health.” This is the first time the world leaders on climate change will devote an entire day to how climate change is affecting our physical, mental and emotional health.

Dr. Vanessa Kerry, the World Health Organization Director-General Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health, joined us with an overview of what to expect from the discussions, including ongoing efforts to reduce fossil fuels. In fact, new research shows using fossil fuels accounts for 5 million extra deaths a year worldwide.

Dr. Kerry also shared with hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter how she helps her dad, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, understand the urgent need to protect human health as temperatures continue to rise.

Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, President of the National Physicians Alliance

This week, Mark and Margaret speak with Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, President of the National Physicians Alliance, an organization founded to restore trust in the medical profession by eliminating conflicts of interest. Dr. Arkoosh discusses their “Un-Branded Doctor” initiative which urges physicians to refuse payments of any kind from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry, and talks about the organization’s “Good Stewardship” program which calls for doctors and patients to reduce costly and unnecessary tests.

Super Sperm Donors - America’s Underground Surrogacy Movement: Author Explains Her Journey

The family planning revolution has a new chapter and journalist Valerie Bauman is both documenting it and participating in it. She and others pursuing alternatives say they’re frustrated with fertility clinics because of the cost, what they call the discriminatory nature of the system and the lack of insurance coverage. Bauman explains how she met her sperm donor and why others like her say it makes sense for them.

Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter interview Bauman about her upcoming book “Inconceivable: Super Sperm Donors, Off-the-Grid Insemination, and Unconventional Family Planning.”

Uwe E. Reinhardt, Professor of Economics at Princeton University and one of the nation’s leading authorities on health care economics

Conversations on Health Care® focuses on the challenge of advancing health reform in America. Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter talk with Uwe E. Reinhardt, professor of political economy, economics and public affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

Dr. Uwe Reinhardt, Princeton Health Economist

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with renowned Princeton Health Economist Dr. Uwe Reinhardt about the rollout of the Affordable Care Act which he says is doing what it was intended to do; expand coverage to millions of uninsured Americans. Dr. Reinhardt discusses the inherent challenges in creating sustainable health reform due to the vast complexities of the American health system and warns we are heading towards a 3-tier health system in this country.

Remembering a Giant in Health Economics: Our Interview with Uwe Reinhardt

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter remember a giant who has influenced much of the landscape of health economics and policy in America, Dr. Uwe Reinhardt, who passed away this year. They revisit a 2015 interview with the renowned Princeton health economist who contributed significantly to health policy over the past several decades, including in the creation of the Affordable Care Act.

Health Disparities: Dr. Uché Blackstock Talks About Advancing Health Equity

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Dr. Uché Blackstock, Founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, an organization dedicated to addressing racial disparities in American health care and in medical education. An Emergency Medicine physician and Medical Contributor to Yahoo News, Dr. Blackstock is a rising activist seeking to address inequities that greatly impact people of color and ethnic minorities – leading to poor health outcomes in the pandemic, and across the healthcare spectrum. She is also seeking to address a lack of diversity in medicine, and the challenges people of color encounter when entering the medical profession.

Topher Spiro, Managing Director, Health Policy, Center for American Progress

This week, Mark and Margaret speak with Topher Spiro, Managing Director of Health Policy at the Center for American Progress. Mr. Spiro speaks about his work as a member of the US Senate team that drafted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and he talks about the various aspects of the health care law that are improving access to care for more Americans, while serving to contain costs.

Testing, Contact Tracing, Quarantines and Physical Distancing: Tomas Pueyo on What U.S. and Others Must Do to Beat Coronavirus

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter welcome engineer, data analyst and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Tomas Pueyo, whose recent collection of articles in the online publication Medium outline what must be done to contain COVID-19, and minimize the harm to health and economies. He analyzes global data on actions taken by countries and their impact on outcomes, recommending that widespread testing, contract tracing, physical distancing, hand hygiene and widespread use of masks will help contain the pandemic.

Senator Tom Daschle, former Senate Majority Leader and author of Getting it Done: How Obama and Congress Finally Broke the Stalemate to Make Way for Healthcare Reform.

This week, Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Senator Tom Daschle about the Obama administration's goals for health care, the public's response to healthcare reform and the likely path forward to implementation. Senator Daschle's new book is called Getting it Done: How Obama and Congress Finally Broke the Stalemate to Make Way for Healthcare Reform.

Former Senator Tom Daschle, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center

This week hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with former Senate Majority Leader, Tom Daschle, now co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center. Senator Daschle discusses the Center's recent report, "Transforming Healthcare: The Role of Health IT". He outlines the steps that need to be taken to speed up the transition to universal use of electronic health records and digitized health information as a fundamental preface to real health care reform.