Best HealthPartners Podcasts (2025)

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Reflections and Insights 26:15

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14d ago26:15

26:15

Hosts Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MD, close the year by looking back on six seasons of the award-winning “Off the Charts.” The pair share what they’ve learned and how they’ve applied it to their day-to-day work. Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MD HealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcast Got an idea? Have thoughts to share? …

1
Melrose Center Helps with Eating Disorders 31:37

2M ago31:37

31:37

Dr. Margaret Funk is passionate about the treatment of eating disorders at Melrose Center. She shares what inspired her to pursue this area of medicine and impactful moments she has had with patients. She also covers the complications and misconceptions about eating disorders, Melrose Center’s multidisciplinary approach, and the challenges of socia…

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Honoring Different Food Cultures 27:43

3M ago27:43

27:43

Family nurse practitioner Munira MaalimIsaq and Dr. Yeng Yang share how they’ve helped patients from various cultural backgrounds manage high blood pressure and diabetes without giving up the foods that mean the most to them. Learn how culturally sensitive dietary guidance is making a difference in patient outcomes and trust. Hosts: Kari Haley, MD,…

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Dementia and Music to Access Memory 29:34

4M ago29:34

29:34

Shelley Quiala and Paul Scholtz of Cantus Vocal Ensemble explore the powerful intersection of music and memory through the group’s performances. Quiala, Cantus’ executive director, and Scholtz, artistic co-director, share how song, personal stories and community partnerships transform perceptions of dementia. The conversation highlights how the art…

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Opioids, Outreach and Innovation in St. Paul 23:25

5M ago23:25

23:25

Dr. Aaron Burnett, medical director for Regions EMS and the St. Paul Fire Department, and SPFD assistant chief Steve Sampson discuss how their teams are confronting the opioid crisis on St. Paul streets. They share how a new program using Suboxone helps first responders treat opioid use disorder more effectively and compassionately. With a focus on…

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Clinical Simulation Team Creates Exercise Focused on Belonging 26:00

6M ago26:00

26:00

Sumaya Noor, a hospital medicine physician assistant at Regions Hospital, and Ryan Aga, director of clinical simulation at HealthPartners, discuss the origin and impact of innovative training they created after experiences Sumaya had working inside an emergency department. Listen as they share personal stories and data that highlight the importance…

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TRIA's Innovative Care in Women's Sports Medicine 28:54

7M ago28:54

28:54

The women’s sports medicine program at TRIA addresses the unique challenges female athletes face, such as higher rates of ACL injuries and the effects of hormonal changes on training and recovery. Dr. Heather Bergeson emphasizes the importance of comprehensive care and the need for more research to better support female athletes throughout their li…

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Breaking Down Stereotypes About International Adoption 26:23

8M ago26:23

26:23

Nicole Wojowski, a registered nurse at Regions Hospital, joins the show to explore the complexities and often misunderstood international adoption process. The discussion delves into myths and misconceptions. Nicole shares her personal experiences as an adoptee and highlights the challenges and triumphs she has faced. The conversation also covers t…

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Unhoused Population in St. Paul 27:09

9M ago27:09

27:09

A pair of experts with Healthcare for the Homeless share their perspectives working with unsheltered populations and addressing homelessness. Kat Donnelly, a family nurse practitioner with Minnesota Community Care, and Josh Leopold, a senior advisor on health, homelessness and housing for the Minnesota Department of Health, join the show to talk ab…

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Mentorship and Belief Inspire Role with Hmong Nurses Association 24:52

10M ago24:52

24:52

Xiongmee Chang shares how mentorship and unwavering belief inspired her to accomplish goals and take on roles previously unimagined. The Regions Hospital nurse manager joined the Hmong Nurses Association board of directors in 2024 and helped plan HNA’s second National Nursing Conference after being encouraged by her mentor to attend the first one. …

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Hospital@Home 28:22

11M ago28:22

28:22

It’s possible for patients to receive hospital-level care inside their homes. HealthPartners Hospital@Home director Tia Radant and medical director Dr. Chrisanne Timpe talk about the program’s evolution as “the virtual unit,” which types of patients are ideal candidates for getting acute care at home, and the role community paramedics and other car…

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What to Know About Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Stewardship 32:14

12M ago32:14

32:14

Maxx Enzmann and Zack Nelson, infectious diseases pharmacists and members of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) at HealthPartners, tell us the top three things everyone should know about antibiotics, what’s misunderstood about them and share how the ASP uses equity as its guiding principle. HealthPartners Antimicrobial Stewardship Program …

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Accessibility in Health Care and Beyond 29:59

1y ago29:59

29:59

As the director of web and mobile digital accessibility at HealthPartners, Steve Sawczyn leads a team dedicated to making health care simple and accessible for everyone. Steve, who is blind, has used his own experiences to inspire his team’s accessibility work and says he has learned to challenge what people say is impossible. Hosts: Kari Haley, MD…

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How Bystander CPR Improves the Odds of Survival 32:52

1y ago32:52

32:52

Statistics show that women and communities of color are less likely to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation after cardiac arrest. Dr. Sylvia Owusu-Ansah is the emergency medical services director at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and co-founder of Akoma United, an organization with the mission to save lives, especially in communities of c…

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Improving Access to Yoga for Chronic Pain in the Spanish-speaking Community 24:45

1+ y ago24:45

24:45

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to chronic-pain management. Each person’s story is unique and requires individualized care that often includes non-opioid therapies. Sara Hall, a clinical nurse specialist in pain management at Regions Hospital, shares how a 2020 grant helped her team develop a yoga program that’s more accessible for Spanish-sp…

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Living with a Sudden and Life-changing Physical Disability 28:41

1+ y ago28:41

28:41

Stephanie Zahrbock suddenly lost all sensation and the ability to move or feel anything below her belly button in 2016 when a lesion was discovered on her spine. The former runner shares how her world changed and how solutions to her challenges can benefit everyone. Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MD Guest: Stephanie Zahrbock HealthPartn…

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Equity and Creating Safe Spaces for Open Dialogue 26:47

1+ y ago26:47

26:47

It’s important to understand that equity, the quality of being fair and impartial, means we don’t all start from the same place. Equity in the workplace starts with commitment and alignment. Rhonda Cox, vice president of people and culture for Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, shares why equity’s important to her and what inspired her to want to…

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Minneapolis Schools Heal and Transform Through Grief and Trauma 29:40

1+ y ago29:40

29:40

Growing Through Grief is a school-based grief support and crisis management program supported by the Park Nicollet Foundation that provides children with peer support groups, individual counseling, and death-related crisis response after they’ve experienced the loss of a loved one. Nicole Barnes, Growing Through Grief program manager, and Judy Brow…

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Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Equity Action Lab 29:25

2y ago29:25

29:25

Our focus on reducing disparities led to a partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. A gap in care with our Somali patient population was discovered after reviewing numbers for colorectal and breast cancer screenings, pediatric immunizations and diabetes. In the Season 4 finale, two HealthPartners colleagues, family nurse practitio…

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Family Cancer Gene Discovered with myGenetics 27:49

2y ago27:49

27:49

HealthPartners created myGenetics, a community health research program in partnership with Helix, because DNA can tell people about their health and may hold the key to understanding certain health risk factors. Deenya Craig, a HealthPartners patient with a family history of cancer, started having irregular mammograms in her mid-30s and knew DNA te…

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Access to Youth Sports 31:09

2y ago31:09

31:09

The playing field isn’t always level when it comes to youth sports. Access for kids and communities often depends on whether parents and families can afford the costs connected to teams, training and travel. Lea B. Olsen, a former college athlete with a career in sports, shares her how she found competitive basketball as a kid growing up in South M…

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Parent Navigates Allyship 24:39

2y ago24:39

24:39

Allyship is showing solidarity with members of a marginalized or mistreated group to which one doesn’t belong. Kelly Fang, senior on-site well-being program manager and health coach, shares her allyship story that began when her child wanted to dress more masculine. She talks about what allyship is and isn’t, struggling with the concept of “living …

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Disparities in Breast Health 25:59

2+ y ago25:59

25:59

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women (excluding skin cancers) and second-leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the U.S. And while African American women are less likely to develop breast cancer, they're more likely to die from it – a lot more likely. Dr. Lashonda Soma, a breast imager for Midwest Radiology who ser…

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Medicaid Re-enrollment Explained 27:33

2+ y ago27:33

27:33

About 1.5 million Minnesotans with Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare must complete re-enrollment paperwork to re-determine their Medicaid-eligibility status by May 2024. The already significant disparities with access to health insurance for communities of color make this a health equity emergency. Leigh Grauman, a licensed social worker and dire…

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Black Women Share Pregnancy and Post-birth Experiences in Community Circles 32:55

2+ y ago32:55

32:55

Community Circles are virtual, consultant-led, supported classes that bring Black women together through every stage of pregnancy and post-birth to share their experiences, joys, questions, thoughts and fears. The circles are patient-guided and focus on social support and building community among participants. In the final episode of the third seas…

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Belonging, Burnout and the Importance of Well-being 26:13

2+ y ago26:13

26:13

Well-being and burnout aren’t new topics, but they’ve been in the spotlight since the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Natalia Dorf Biderman, a hospitalist at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and co-chair of the clinician well-being taskforce at HealthPartners, shares how burnout expresses itself and relates to well-being. She a…

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Changes that Improve Care and Experience 34:12

2+ y ago34:12

34:12

Dr. Yeng Yang spent five years in a refugee camp before her family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, when she was 10. Her experiences as a child, including the pain she saw her father go through before he died, drove her to pursue a career in health care focused on equity. Dr. Yang shares changes taking place and the opportunities to improve experience…

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City of Saint Paul's Diversity and Equity Efforts 29:24

3y ago29:24

29:24

The murder of George Floyd and summer of 2020 intensified the equity work of businesses, organizations and government. It was an urgent wakeup call for some but reaffirmation of the work already being done by others. Toni Newborn, human resources director and the first chief equity officer for the City of Saint Paul, discusses cultural and systemic…

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George Floyd Global Memorial Art Exhibit 35:22

3y ago35:22

35:22

HealthPartners is committed to creating spaces where everyone feels welcome, included and valued. As part of that commitment, Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, is proud to host the George Floyd Memorial Art Exhibit, “I Am Not You. You Are Not Me. Healing Begins with Acceptance.” The exhibit, displayed from Jan. 6 throug…

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Behind the Podcast 35:47

3y ago35:47

35:47

In this special episode of Off the Charts, co-hosts Steven Jackson, MD, Kari Haley, MD, and producer Jimmy Bellamy reflect on the past year since the podcast launched. They share the conversations they’re still thinking about, the quotes that have stuck with them and feedback from listeners that inspire them to keep going. Off the Charts will retur…

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Human Services Career Leads to Bridal Shop Ownership 30:03

3y ago30:03

30:03

Lorraine Love spent 15 years in human services before combining the warmth and spirit she had for that work with her skillsets in beauty, design, budgeting and management to open Minnesota’s first Black-owned bridal store. LaNoire Bridal in St. Paul has a culturally diverse selection of wedding attire and services. Love, who grew up in the historic…

1
Grantmakers In Health 35:41

3y ago35:41

35:41

For the past 40 years, Washington, D.C.-based Grantmakers In Health has been dedicated to helping foundations and funders of all sizes and interests through education, leadership and networking, working with hundreds of philanthropic organizations across the United States. Dr. Cara V. James, president and CEO at GIH, shares how and why her career h…

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Giving Back Through Mentorship 28:47

3y ago28:47

28:47

When Willie Braziel thinks about growing up in a single-parent household without his father, he remembers the father figures and peers who helped him on his journey. The operations manager for HealthPartners Institute’s Office of Health Professional Education shares how role models and community programs for youth led him to a lifetime of mentorshi…

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Connecting with Communities 30:16

3y ago30:16

30:16

Munira MaalimIsaq remembers how difficult navigating the health care system was for her family after they moved to the U.S. from Somalia when she was 9 years old. Since then, she has wanted to help others in a similar position and give back to her community. Asking people what they need and providing education have been her keys to connection. Maal…

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Pathways to Racial Equity Outdoors 36:57

3y ago36:57

36:57

Health and well-being create a perspective that activates the way the world engages with us. Activities that are nature-based, happen outdoors and have an element of adventure lead to self-discovery, connection to the environment and building communities. Anthony Taylor, of the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, shares how riding his bik…

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Equity in the Medical Workplace 30:26

3y ago30:26

30:26

Equity and diversity bring new ideas, innovation and a richness that move progress forward. But some may think it’s a zero-sum game, that giving someone power takes it away from someone else. Emily Binstadt, MD, HealthPartners emergency medicine physician and director of simulation at Regions Hospital, talks about being a fierce advocate for women …

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Black Maternal Health from a Midwife's Perspective 31:53

3y ago31:53

31:53

At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, it’s part of our ongoing work to improve the health and well-being of birthing parents and babies, through health equity efforts focused on eliminating disparities in maternal and infant care. Dr. Diane Banigo, a doctorate-prepared midwife, certified nurse midwife and Park Nicollet community consultant, discusse…

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Diversity in Firefighting and Emergency Medical Services 35:52

3+ y ago35:52

35:52

NOTE TO LISTENERS: Technical difficulties affected some of the audio on this episode. Historically, there hasn’t been a lot of diversity in firefighting and emergency medical services. Seeing is believing, and two graduates of the St. Paul Fire Department’s EMS Academy Pathways program, which provides tuition-free emergency medical technician certi…

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Childhood Vaccines and Disparities 31:18

3+ y ago31:18

31:18

Childhood immunization schedules are designed for children’s young immune systems, helping to protect them from preventable diseases as early and as safely as possible. That’s why it’s so important to stay on schedule – even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrea Singh, MD, department chair of pediatrics at Park Nicollet and co-lead of the Children’s…

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Equity and Education Start Early 31:10

3+ y ago31:10

31:10

Racial disparities and major deficits exist in almost every child health measure. The most important one to improve, according to Dr. Jason Maxwell, is reading and literacy because of its statistical connection to adult poverty and incarceration. Dr. Maxwell, the HealthPartners chair of pediatrics and HealthPartners Como Clinic medical director, di…

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Black Maternal Health and Disparities in Birth Outcomes 35:31

3+ y ago35:31

35:31

In maternal health, race matters. In the U.S., it’s evident in the statistics and disparities in maternal- and infant-health outcomes. HealthPartners is working to help reverse the trends of health inequities and close gaps in the disparities of birth outcomes with family-centered care, high reliability and health equity. Dr. Corinne Brown-Robinson…

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The Stories and Creators of "That Got Weird" 42:11

3+ y ago42:11

42:11

That Got Weird, a digital series from Twin Cities PBS, confronts the uncomfortable with real stories of racism experienced by Indigenous, Black, Asian and other people of color in Minnesota. Along with a promise of anonymity, each subject interviewed has a hand in designing their own character and giving it a pseudonym. Myc Daz, the show’s characte…

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The Life of a Female Trauma Surgeon 31:55

3+ y ago31:55

31:55

Regions Hospital was the first Minnesota hospital to be verified as both a Level I trauma center for adults and children, able to meet the strict standards of providing entire families the highest level of care. Kelsey Berndt, MD, a trauma surgeon and the medical director of the surgical intensive care unit at Regions, joins the show to discuss tra…

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Reducing Stigma in Mental Health 34:54

3+ y ago34:54

34:54

Awareness for mental health services in the U.S. has increased in recent years, but more work must be done. Over time we’ve learned how to talk about it – and just how important it is to speak up – as one in five people will experience mental illness. Sarah Cassell, the director of inpatient mental health services at Regions Hospital, joins the sho…

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Meeting Every Family's Unique Needs as a Birth Center 39:08

3+ y ago39:08

39:08

Pregnant patients should feel empowered to have a birth experience that reflects their culture and values. Regions Hospital Family Birth Center was created with that focus – as a place for family-centered care, high reliability and health equity. LeeAnn Hubbard, MD, the birth center’s medical director, discusses how health equity is the foundation …

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The Continuum of Intercultural Development 37:44

3+ y ago37:44

37:44

Everyone can actively work to develop greater intercultural competence. The Intercultural Development Continuum™ provides a roadmap for individuals, teams and organizations who wish to improve on their ability to understand and adapt to the diversity around them and become more fully inclusive. Sidney Van Dyke, the director of health equity and lan…

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Get to Know Co-host Steven Jackson, MD 26:05

4y ago26:05

26:05

In this special episode of Off the Charts, we get to know co-host Steven Jackson, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, and the medical director of patient experience at Regions Hospital. Dr. Jackson shares stories about growing up in Chicago, his desire to help people and how he always knew that he wanted to be a doctor. Host: Kari…

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Get to Know Co-host Kari Haley, MD 25:52

4y ago25:52

25:52

In this special episode of Off the Charts, we get to know co-host Kari Haley, MD, an emergency medicine physician and assistant medical director of Regions Hospital EMS. Dr. Haley shares stories about her birth in South Korea, adoption and growing up in Delano, Minnesota, her decision to pursue emergency medicine and passion for health equity. Host…

1
Cultural Humility 22:05

4y ago22:05

22:05

Cultural humility is as essential as anything else in the journey toward equity. Humility comes when we’re critical of ourselves and able to realize our map is only a piece of the whole territory. Miguel Ruiz, MD, a HealthPartners hospice and palliative medicine physician, inspires us with a conversation about cultural competency vs. cultural humil…

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The Importance of Trust in Health Care 18:41

4y ago18:41

18:41

Learning about, understanding and appreciating the community we serve are critical pieces for building trust along the health care journey. Toweya Brown-Ochs, the director of diversity and inclusion at HealthPartners, discusses how it doesn’t happen overnight, the differences between intent and impact, and why impact matters. Hosts: Kari Haley, MD,…