Vital Minds: Recent Episodes
PA Foundation
Each Vital Minds episode will feature a conversation between host James Millward, an early career PA, and a guest expert on a topic of relevance to the PA and healthcare provider audience, ranging from mental health to obesity to pain management and many more. The series will explore nuances of the featured topic and provide solid tips and information PAs can put into practice to benefit patients.
Vital Minds is a podcast of the PA Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that promotes better health and wellness by providing PAs and PA students with philanthropic opportunities and resources.
Episode 29 - May 2023Topic: Health Equity in AgingHost: James Millward, DMSc, PA-CGuests: Leanne Clark-Shirley, PhD, and Nathan Hart, PA-CResources:World Health Organization - Ageing and HealthAmerican Society on AgingAlzheimer's Association - Alzheimer's Disease Facts and FiguresCDC - Alzheimer's Disease and Healthy Aging - Dementia Risk ReductionCDC - Modifiable Risk Factors for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias Among Adults Aged ≥45 Years — United States, 2019World Health Organization - Discrimination and negative attitudes about ageing are bad for your healthNational Library of Medicine - "Ageism Amplifies Cost and Prevalence of Health Conditions." Levy BR, Slade MD, Chang ES, Kannoth S, Wang SY. Ageism Amplifies Cost and Prevalence of Health Conditions. Gerontologist. 2020 Jan 24;60(1):174-181. doi: 10.1093/geront/gny131. PMID: 30423119; PMCID: PMC7182003.Alzheimer Society of Canada - Stigma Against DementiaLouise Aronson - "Elderhood"Administration for Community Living - Area Agencies on AgingCDC - Alzheimer's Disease and Healthy Aging - Social Determinants of Health and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
The pathways to career success for PAs is limitless. In this episode, take inspiration from three PAs who have followed nontraditional career paths outside the clinical practice setting – including tips on drawing from your education and experience to explore new opportunities, advocating for yourself and the PA profession in the workplace, and more. Episode 28 – January 2023
Topic: PAs Who Go Beyond: Nontraditional PA Success Stories
Host: James Millward, DMSc, PA-C
Guests: Jacqueline J. Spiegel, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA, CHSE; Kimberly Sapre, DMSc, PA-C, CAQ-EM; Christine Gardella, MMS, PA-C; Andrea Lowe, MHA, MBA, PA-C
Vital Minds is a podcast of the PA Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that promotes better health and wellness by providing PAs and PA students with philanthropic opportunities and resources. Each Vital Minds episode features a conversation between host James Millward, an early career PA, and a guest expert on a topic of relevance to the PA and healthcare provider audience, ranging from mental health to obesity to pain management and many more.
Resources:
- IntelliScript: Clarifying Risk and Opportunity with Industry-leading Insurtech
- Medicine at Home: Compassionate Care Matters
- US News: Health – Christine Gardella, MMS, PA-C
- Looking for a Non-Clinical Role? Consider Medical or Clinical Science Liaison
Vital Minds is a podcast of the PA Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that promotes better health and wellness by providing PAs and PA students with philanthropic opportunities and resources. Each Vital Minds episode features a conversation between host James Millward, an early career PA, and a guest expert on a topic of relevance to the PA and healthcare provider audience, ranging from mental health to obesity to pain management and many more.
Episode 27 – December 2022
Topic: Flu Vaccination: Navigating Clinical Guidance and Addressing Hesitancy
Host: James Millward, DMSc, PA-C
Guests: Felicia Gutierrez, PA-C; Sarah McQueen, DMS, PA-C; Justin Wolfe MHS, PA-C
Support for this episode of Vital Minds is provided by Sanofi.
Resources:
- AAPA/PA Foundation animated video – “Flu Vaccine: The More You Know”
- “In the Words of PAs” blog post – “Flu Vaccination: Using the Health Belief Model to Increase Vaccine Uptake”
- JAAPA: October 2022 – “Using the Health Belief Model to improve influenza vaccination rates”
- CDC – Influenza (Flu)
- CDC – Key Facts About Influenza (Flu)
- CDC – Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices – United States, 2022–23 Influenza Season
- CDC – Adjuvanted Flu Vaccine
- Sanofi – Flu Shot Importance Flash Card
- Sanofi – Myth Busters Flash Card
Episode 26 - August 2022 Topic: The Role of Peer Support Specialists in Preventing Prescription Opioid Misuse Host: James Millward, DMSc, PA-C Guests: Richard Bottner, DHA, PA-C, CPHQ, and Jessi Davis, MHPS, RSPS
Resources: View the Foundation’s full suite of resources: “Preventing Prescription Opioid Misuse in Special Patient Populations” National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) N.A.P.S. - National Practice Guidelines for Peer Specialists and Supervisors Johns Hopkins Medicine - Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality - Peer Supporters United States Government Accountability Office - Substance Use Disorder - Medicaid Coverage of Peer Support Services for Adults
Episode 25 - July 2022 Topic: Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Importance of Early Screening and Intervention Host: James Millward, DMSc, PA-C Guests: Cynthia (Dunn) Beam, MPAS, PA-C, and Rebecca Loomis, MSPAS, PA-C
Resources: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (The MoCA Test) Mini-Cog© – Quick Screening for Early Dementia Detection Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) The Gerontological Society of America – The GSA KAER Toolkit for Primary Care Teams Alzheimer's Association - Use of the Functional Activities Questionnaire in Older Adults with Dementia Alzheimer's Association - AD8 Dementia Screening Interview Alzheimer's Association - Cognitive Assessment for Professionals American Academy of Family Physicians - Cognitive and Functional Assessment Tools Alzheimer's Association - 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's Eldercare Locator - Area Agencies on Aging
Episode 24 - May 2022 Topic: Addressing Food Allergy: Working with Patients and Caregivers Host: James Millward, DMSc, PA-C Guests: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C, AE-C, DMSc Fellow, and Brian Bizik, MS, PA-C
Support for this episode of Vital Minds is provided by the National Peanut Board.
Resources: National Library of Medicine PubMed.gov - Randomized trial of peanut consumption in infants at risk for peanut allergy NIAID - Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy in the United States Ready Set Food - How to Follow the NIAID Guidelines on Peanut Introduction Healthy Children - AAP Clinical Report Highlights Early Introduction of Peanut-based Foods to Prevent Allergies The National Peanut Board - Managing Peanut Allergies FARE - Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) Food Allergy Canada - Early Introduction
Episode 23 - July 2021 Topic: Telemedicine: The Importance of Addressing Mental Health Guest Host: Shannon Jackson, MSPAS, PA-C Guest: Jill Mattingly, DHSc, MMSc, PA-C
Resources: View the Foundation’s full suite of resources: "Addressing Pain Via Telemedicine" (coming soon)
Episode 22 - June 2021 Topic: Get to Know All of Us: Precision Medicine and the Future of Healthcare Host: James Millward, DMSc, PA-C Guests: Sheri Schully, Ph.D., and Nguyen Park, MS, PA-C
This episode was sponsored by the All of Us Research Program, from the National Institutes of Health. The program is inviting one million people across the U.S. to help build one of the most diverse health databases in history. Learn more at joinallofus.org.
Resources: NIH website - All of Us Research Program All of Us Research Program - joinallofus.org All of Us Research Hub https://spagg.wildapricot.org/About-PAs AAPA - PAs: Get Involved in Genetics to Help Patients AAPA - PAs Say Genetics and Genomics Key to Patient Diagnosis and Treatment Arizona Daily Star - The Heart of the Matter: Discover how research has altered medical approaches and why it has the potential to improve the health of generations to come. The Conversation - Scientists are on a path to sequencing 1 million human genomes and use big data to unlock genetic secrets HealthITAnalytics - "All of Us" Aims to Expand Tribal Engagement for Precision Medicine HealthITAnalytics - Exploring the Intersection of Genomic Data and AI in Healthcare OUPblog - Addressing health inequity in disparities of cancer outcomes STAT - As All of Us moves to diversify medicine, its tech partners push to democratize research WKOW - National research program returns first results to local participants Birmingham Times - All of Us Research: Why Some Get Sick, And Others Are in Great Health
Episode 21 - February 2021 Topic: Health Inequities: Understanding Data and Bridging the Care Gap Host: Andrea Lowe, PA-C Guests: Deanna Bridge Najera, PA-C, and Tori Marsh, MPH
Support for this episode is provided by GoodRx, a company that believes everyone deserves affordable and convenient healthcare, with a focus on helping people find the best care at the best price. Through technology they provide Americans, regardless of income or insurance status, the knowledge, choice and care to stay healthy.
Resources: GoodRx - ‘Vaccine Deserts’ Threaten to Prolong COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout and Widen Disparities GoodRx white paper - The Effect of Income on Prescription Fill Patterns GoodRx - Live Updates: January 2021 Drug Price Increases GoodRx - Health Insurance Aside, Americans Still Struggle to Pay for Their Medications GoodRx - Why Don’t Patients Fill Their Prescriptions? NeedyMeds HRSA Data Warehouse - Find a Health Center Harriet A. Washington - Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present Kaiser Family Foundation/The Undefeated - Survey on Race and Health The Health Disparities Podcast - Black Physician Assistants Matter: A “JEDI” discussion
Episode 20 - February 2021 Topic: Telemedicine, Treating Pain, and the Prescription Decision Host: James Millward, DMSc, PA-C Guest: Jeremy Adler, DMSc, PA-C
Support for this episode is provided by Allied Against Opioid Abuse, a national education and awareness initiative to help prevent the abuse and misuse of prescription opioids.
Resources: Allied Against Opioid Abuse CDC - Using Telehealth to Expand Access to Essential Health Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic DEA - COVID-19 Information Page How to Prescribe Controlled Substances to Patients During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency HHS - Policy changes during COVID-19 CMS.gov - Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Provider Fact Sheet Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) Center to Advance Palliative Care - Outpatient Opioid Prescribing During COVID-19 Practical Pain Management - How HCPs Can Use Telemedicine in the Time of Coronavirus Advisory Board - Opioid monthly: America's telemedicine boom has improved access to treatment for opioid use disorder Mayo Clinic Proceedings - Telemedicine’s Role in Addressing the Opioid Epidemic
Episode 19 - January 2021 Topic: Mind Shift: Taking Whole-Person Care From Concept to Practice Host: James Millward, DMSc, PA-C Guests: Amber Danielecki Buzzi, MSPAS, PA-C, and Phyllis Peterson, MPAS, PA-C
This episode of Vital Minds is a collaborative effort between the nccPA Health Foundation and the PA Foundation and is part of the PArtners in Mental Health Initiative. This initiative leverages a collective impact change strategy to improve the nation’s health by advancing the roles of PAs and strengthening partnerships to address issues impacting mental health and substance use disorders. Achieving that goal means encouraging all PAs, regardless of discipline or practice setting, to be champions of mental healthcare and to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Join the movement today.
Resources: nccPA Health Foundation - Mental Health SMI Adviser SMI Adviser - My Mental Health Crisis Plan app American Psychiatric Association - "New app will help people with serious mental illness develop a crisis plan" American Hospital Association - Behavioral Health Integration: Treating the Whole Person Medical Group Management Association - Integrated behavioral health in a clinical primary care setting HRSA Health Center Program - Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration HealthAffairs - How We Are Integrating Behavioral Health Into Primary Care
Episode 18 - August 2020 Topic: Preventing Prescription Opioid Misuse Host: James Millward, DMSc, PA-C Guest: Laura Katers, MS, MCHS, PA-C
Resources: View the Foundation's full suite of resources: "Preventing Prescription Opioid Misuse: Empowering Future Providers Through Education" View other SUD resources, including "Shutting Down Stigma Against SUD" video
Episode 17 - June 2020 Topic: COVID-19: Emotional Toll on Healthcare Providers Host: James Millward, DMSc, PA-C Guests: Catherine Judd, MS, PA-C, CAQ-Psychiatry, DFAAPA, and Charles Raison, MD
Support for this episode of Vital Minds is provided by Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
Resources: National Center for PTSD - "Managing Healthcare Workers’ Stress Associated with the COVID-19 Virus Outbreak" Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Learning Network - Coping During COVID-19 Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Learning Network - "Preparing for COVID-19-Induced PTSD Among Health Care Providers" Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Learning Network - "Strengthening Our Well-Being During COVID-19"
Episode 16 - May 2020 Topic: PA School and Beyond: Perspectives From PA Student Leaders Hosts: James Millward, DMSc, PA-C, and Andrea Lowe, PA-C Guests: Cooper Couch, PA-S; Kaci Hardsock, PA-S; and Katie Ganser, PA-S
Resources: AAPA Career Central - Become a PA AAPA Member Central - Pre-PA 9 Reasons to Become a PA 6 Steps to Become a PA
Episode 15 - March 2020 Topic: Meeting a Growing Need: PAs in Palliative Care Guest host: Andrea Lowe, PA-C Guests: Rose Direny-Jean, PA-C, and Rose Rutherford, PA-C
Resources: PAs in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (PAHPM) - PAHPM.org Oman Medical Journal - "Palliative Care: Time for Action" Mayo Clinic - "Understanding Palliative Care and Hospice" BMJ Open - "What matters most for end-of-life care? Perspectives from community-based palliative care providers and administrators" The American Journal of Medicine - "Public Awareness and Perceptions of Palliative and Comfort Care" The Ochsner Journal - "The Role of Palliative Care at the End of Life" Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) - 8-Step Protocol
Vital Minds is a podcast of the PA Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that promotes better health and wellness by providing PAs and PA students with philanthropic opportunities and resources. Each Vital Minds episode features a conversation between host James Millward, an early career PA, and a guest expert on a topic of relevance to the PA and healthcare provider audience, ranging from mental health to obesity to pain management and many more.
Episode 14 – February 2020
Topic: Beyond the Baby Blues: Addressing Postpartum Depression
Host: Andrea Lowe, PA-C
Guests: Kathleen Ehrhardt, MMS, PA-C, and Jacob Wills, PA-C This episode of Vital Minds is a collaborative effort between the nccPA Health Foundation and the PA Foundation and is part of the PArtners in Mental Health Initiative. This initiative leverages a collective impact change strategy to improve the nation’s health by advancing the roles of PAs and strengthening partnerships to address issues impacting mental health and substance use disorders. Achieving that goal means encouraging all PAs, regardless of discipline or practice setting, to be champions of mental healthcare and to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Join the movement today.
Resources:
- nccPA Health Foundation – Mental Health
- CDC – “Depression Among Women”
- National Institute of Mental Health – “Postpartum Depression Facts”
- Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Learning Network – “Counseling Interventions Can Prevent Perinatal Depression”
- Postpartum Support International
- SMI Adviser – “What treatments are available for postpartum depression, or depression after childbirth?”
- SMI Adviser – “Using Antidepressants in Pregnancy”
- SMI Adviser – “Perinatal Psychiatry”
- Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale