Waterbury HEALTH - Stories with a Pulse: Recent Episodes
Jeremy Rodorigo
Stories with a Pulse was started by Jeremy Rodorigo, director of business development at Waterbury HEALTH. This blog brings you a different side of healthcare, one of passion, love, wellness and community. You’ll hear from caregivers, patients, and community members whose lives have been changed or influenced by healthcare. The storytellers will share experiences will teach you about life, health, friendship and determination. These are different human stories and a side of medicine you may not always hear or experience.
In this episode Host Jeremy Rodorigo is joined by Mary Beth Olah, a physical therapist with Access Rehab Centers. Mary Beth discusses the treatment of patients lymphedema, pelvic health issues as well as those recovering from cancer. She is also a survivor of breast cancer and offers a unique lived experience to her cancer patients.
Mary Beth and her team can be reached at her 134 Grandview Avenue, Waterbury location at 203.575.2593. Mary Beth Olah is the Coordinator of the Women's Health, Lymphedema and Pelvic Health Clinic.
Access Rehab Centers are located throughout the greater Waterbury area and are part of the Waterbury HEALTH family of healthcare services.
Learn more about Access Rehab Centers here at accessrehabcenters.com
In this episode, host Jeremy Rodorigo meets with four women from The Giving Doll. A national group, The Giving Doll is an organization that provides hand-made dolls to children and adults who may need emotional comfort for medical and social reasons.
A local chapter of the group is based at Oxford Greens, a 55+ community in Oxford. Dolls from this chapter are used locally at various locations including Waterbury Hospital's ER, Beacon Hose Company #1 Ambulance, Naugatuck Ambulance and many others.
The Giving Doll is an all-volunteer organization that operates on donations and gifts from the community. For more information, visit Thegivingdoll.org
Most of us take our hands for granted. We often don't think about our hands until there is a problem, loss of function or pain. In this podcast, host Jeremy Rodorigo discusses common hand conditions and treatments with Waterbury HEALTH hand surgeon and specialist Dr. Archit Patel. Dr. Patel shares his knowledge, experience and offers advice. He also explains what a patient might expect when they visit him for a hand issue.
In August of 2022, Rob Swercewski took a three hour bike ride in the state forest and went to see an outdoor concert. It was at the concert that he began experiencing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. At just 51 years old and in good health, the symptoms came as a shock. However, as an experienced EMT who has taken care of many people experiencing cardiac episodes, he knew it was something he could not ignore.
Rob tells his story of early recognition of a possible cardiac event, calling 911, the process of getting three stents in his heart and the aftercare.
In this episode, Host Jeremy Rodorigo chats with Dr. Elizabeth Riordan. Dr. Riordan is a surgeon and Medical Director of the Breast Health Center. The doctor discusses important issues related to breast cancer screening and treatment options. She also explains how non-invasive genetic testing is available in her office for patients who may be at higher risk of cancer.
In this edition of "Stories With A Pulse", Lieutenant Colonel Eric Hintz discusses his service as an Army Physician. I Afganistan, he cared for injured NATO, US and Afghan soldiers. He is a neurosurgeon now practicing at Waterbury Hospital. Dr. Hintz performs complex brain and spine surgery.
In this episode, host Jeremy Rodorigo talks with Paramedic Steve Wilcox. Wilcox is a founding member of the non-profit organization FrontlineCT. The group was formed to help meet the needs of first responders mental health. Wilcox explains why mental health among first responders needs to be a top priority and why keeping our front line workers well is important to the community.
In this episode, legendary news and sports broadcaster Bob Sagendorf discusses his decades-long career covering professional sporting around the world as well as local sports right here in the Waterbury area. He talks about his beginnings at a local radio station working along side his friend Chris Berman and his years at ESPN, CBS and ABC. He eventually came back to the area to and spend more time at home, when he was sidelined by a series of medical conditions that took his once booming "broadcast" voice. His journey through diagnosis, treatment and recovery is truly remarkable and inspiring.
In this episode, longtime first responder Lenny Guercia shares his story after contracting COVID19 in the early stages of the epidemic. Guercia was in the Yale New Haven ICU for nearly 21 days on a ventilator. His family was unable to visit and they were told he may not live. After his stay at Yale, he was discharge to Gaylord Rehabilitation Hospital to relearn how to walk. After nearly 60 days away from his family, he returned home and considers himself lucky. He is grateful to the unsung heroes who provided with compassionate, lifesaving care.
In this episode, host Jeremy Rodorigo is joined by Naugatuck Police Sergeant Otis Baskins. Sgt. Baskins has 15 years of law enforcement experience and is an instructor of "Fair and Impartial Policing" as well as "De-escalation Techniques" for law enforcement. You will hear Sgt. Baskins explain how police officers benefit greatly from utilizing these modern forms of law enforcement and how they reduce the occuance of violence as well as improve public/police relationships.
Raquel Robinson has been working at Waterbury Hospital for 20 years. She is a Patient Care Technician in the Intensive Care Unit where she works closely with nurses and physicians. During the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, the ICU was full of extremely sick patients fighting for their lives. Robinson and her colleagues came to work each day and faced the devastation of the pandemic every day without fail.
For Robinson, going for a run after work was like therapy. She found solace in being alone and decompressing. Now, she has a half marathon under her belt and is training for the NYC marathon in November.
In this episode, Jennifer Harding shares her story about raising a son with Autism. Jennifer recently created a program with area police departments to help responding officers and other first responders more appropriately care for autistic children during interactions.
In this episode, host Jeremy Rodorigo welcomes Cameron Breen to share his story and his mission to save lives. Breen is a former heroin addicted person who also spent time in jail. He managed to beat his addiction, go back to school, and become an Overdose Response Technician for the City of Waterbury.
Breen will also discuss the work being done by him and his colleagues to affect the incidents of drug overdose deaths in the city.
Cameron's story is an inspiration to anyone struggling with addition and for their loved ones.
In this podcast, host Jeremy Rodorigo discusses new services available to women regarding breast health. Breast surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Riordan talks about genetic testing and the process of getting tested and monitoring your breast health.
Waterbury HEALTH has recently begun genetic testing for women at higher risk for breast cancer. This non-invasive test can help provide valuable information about potential future breast issues as well as ways to stay healthy.