September is National Preparedness Month. It's also the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane season! In this episode, Dr. Chan talks with Andrea Creach, from RIDOH's Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response, about how hurricanes and other weather events can impact our health, and what we can do to prepare and protect ourselves from the effects of these types of emergencies.

• Video for Employers: Rhode Island CHWs ~ Your Bridge to Better Health
• Rhode Island Alliance for CHW Employers: ripin.org/allianceforchwemployers/
• Family Services-RI: familyserviceri.org/
• Rhode Island Department of Health, CHW Program: health.ri.gov/chws
• Community Health Worker Association of Rhode Island: chwari.org/
• Caring Careers-RI: caringcareers.ri.gov/
• National Association of Community Health Workers: nachw.org

In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Philip Chan talks with Dr. Jerome Larkin, the new Rhode Island Department of Health Director about his background, what led him to accept this position, and a look ahead at his top priorities for the Department. He also covers a topic that happens to be one of his specialties - ticks and the diseases they carry.

In this episode of Public Health Out Loud we are talking about a program whose motto says it all: “We’re here for you.” The Rhode Island Department of Health's Family Visiting Program has provided prenatal support and services for infants and toddlers to improve outcomes for many years. Download and listen in as Dr. Chan is joined by Sara Remington, the Family Visiting Program Manager and Roxanne Leite, Co-chair of the Rhode Island Parent/Caregiver Advisory Council and former Family Visiting Program graduate. Together, they detail all the program has to offer, attest to its success, and share information on who qualifies for these important visits and how to get started.

Dr. Omar Bah, a former journalist, fled his home in The Gambia when he became a wanted man for criticizing the country’s then-dictator. Inspired by his own experience, Bah founded the Refugee Dream Center in Providence to offer post-resettlement support to other refugees in the state. He joins Dr. Chan in this episode to talk about his motivation for starting this valuable resource, and much more. What are some of the biggest hurdles facing those seeking asylum? What services are helpful in bridging the cultural gaps? Download and listen to find out.

You’ve probably heard about avian influenza or bird flu in the news recently, as it has made the jump to other species, like dairy cows. What is the risk to the general public? Is it safe to drink milk? In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, local experts, Dr. Suzanne Bornschein, State Epidemiologist at the Rhode Island Department of Health, and Dr. Scott Marshall, State Veterinarian at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management fill us in on what we do know about the currently circulating strains and what we can do to reduce the risk of infection.

In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. Philip Chan is joined by a guest with over 40 year's experience working to change the way we care for older adults and people with dementia. In honor of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, Brown University's, Dr. Vincent Mor talks about his research, steps we can all take to improve our brain health, and more.

For more information, check out The Rhode Island Department of Health's Guide for People Living with Dementia and Their Caregivers.

May is Older American’s Month, a time when we recognize the contributions of the older adults in our lives and revisit our commitments to serve them in our communities. But how can we best support them and ensure they are aging in a healthy way? In this episode, Dr. Chan is joined by Maria Cimini, Director of the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging, to talk about how healthy aging differs for everyone and the importance of connecting our elders to the services they may need.