As 2025 draws to a close, millions of Americans stand at the edge of a healthcare cliff. Sister Mary Haddad, President and CEO of the Catholic Health Association, returns to The Healthy Project to sound the alarm on an urgent policy crisis that threatens to undermine healthcare access for working families nationwide.

Following the passage of major Medicaid cuts in July that will affect 10 million people, enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act are set to expire at the end of the year. The result? An estimated 4.2 million more Americans are losing coverage, with millions facing dramatic cost increases. For rural communities already struggling with limited resources, the impact could be devastating.

This episode examines the intersection of healthcare policy, economic justice, and human dignity. Sister Mary draws on Catholic social teaching to frame healthcare access not merely as a policy preference but as a moral imperative rooted in the inherent worth of every person. She offers a clear-eyed assessment of how hospital closures, emergency department overcrowding, and the loss of telehealth flexibilities create a perfect storm threatening the most vulnerable among us.

Beyond diagnosis, this conversation explores solutions. What must Congress do immediately? How can healthcare systems balance mission-driven care with financial sustainability? What role should everyday citizens play in advocacy? And perhaps most importantly: what does hope look like when systems are breaking down?

In This Episode:

The Immediate Crisis

 * Understanding the connection between July's Medicaid cuts and expiring tax credits
 * Why 4.2 million working Americans face losing coverage
 * The "sticker shock" families are experiencing during open enrollment
 * Congressional gridlock and the December deadline

Rural Healthcare Under Pressure

 * Lower median incomes meeting higher insurance costs
 * The competitive disadvantage of rural insurance markets
 * Hospital closures and service reductions on the horizon
 * The hidden costs: hotel stays and hours-long drives for basic care

Emergency Departments as Safety Net

 * Why ERs become primary care when coverage disappears
 * The economic burden of treating delayed, acute conditions
 * Federal mandates and the impossible position of hospitals
 * Triage challenges when systems are overwhelmed

The Telehealth Question

 * How COVID revealed telehealth's essential role
 * Temporary extensions vs. permanent policy solutions
 * Access equity and the digital divide
 * Real stories from rural South Dakota

Moral Framework & Advocacy

 * Healthcare as inseparable from human dignity
 * Operating as a "ministry that functions as a business"
 * The responsibility of citizens to engage with the government
 * Moving from despair to concrete action

Looking Forward

 * Strengthening existing coverage systems
 * The critical need for primary care investment
 * Acknowledging that U.S. healthcare is "broken"
 * Building coalitions across providers, payers, and government

Sister Mary's perspective is particularly vital for those interested in the social determinants of health, healthcare economics, policy advocacy, and faith-based approaches to social justice. Her framing of hope as "concrete actions" rather than abstract aspiration offers a powerful counter-narrative to policy fatalism.

Guest: Sister Mary Haddad, RSM, President & CEO, Catholic Health Association of the United States

Resources: Learn more and take action: www.chausa.org [http://www.chausa.org]


Show Notes

Healthcare at the Precipice: Sr. Mary Haddad on the Looming Coverage Crisis

This episode explores how technology and healthcare intersect. We talk with Jhonatan Bringas Dimitriades, MD, CEO of Lapsi Health, about Keikku, the first FDA-cleared smart stethoscope with an AI scribe. You will hear how this tool impacts clinical workflows, patient communication, and the broader healthcare system.

Key points covered
• How clinicians use AI during real-world visits
• Measurable time savings in documentation
• Data privacy and HIPAA/GDPR compliance
• Effects on clinician burnout and emotional fatigue
• Future applications of AI in public health and care settings
• Skills health professionals need as tech advances


Why it matters
• You see how AI tools shape medical decision-making and patient engagement
• You get insight into how tech adoption fits into social systems and workplace culture
• You hear practical examples that support ongoing conversations in public health and social science


Think about this
• How does technology influence trust in the patient-provider relationship?
• What skills will workers need as AI expands in healthcare?
• What policies should protect patients and providers as these tools grow?

Listen and reflect on how innovation, behavior, culture, and care systems interact.


Resources Mentioned:

 * Website: https://www.keikku.health/
 * Connect with Jhonatan: LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X
 * Physician burnout research [https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/us-physician-burnout-hits-lowest-rate-covid-19]

Stay Connected & Support the Show:
Want to keep up with conversations like this that challenge the status quo and center community voices? Sign up for The Healthy Project newsletter at www.healthyproject.co for exclusive insights, resources, and updates you won't want to miss.

Love what you're hearing? Support independent podcasting that prioritizes truth over trends. Join THP+ for just $5/month and get bonus content, early access to episodes, and the satisfaction of knowing you're fueling more conversations that matter.
Visit www.healthyproject.co to subscribe and support today.

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How AI Tools Like Keikku Are Reshaping Clinical Work and Patient Care

What happens when organizations racing to survive suddenly scrub "equity" and "justice" from their websites—without asking the communities they serve? Dr. Philip Alberti, founding director of the AAMC Center for Health Justice, joins host Corey Dion Lewis for a powerful conversation about the real cost of changing language without changing process.

In this episode, Philip breaks down why speed matters, how community engagement isn't optional, and what it really means to build health equity for ALL communities—yes, including white ones. From navigating existential threats to imagining cross-racial movements for justice, this conversation challenges health equity professionals to hold the line on values while adapting to a hostile landscape.

Whether you're a health equity champion feeling the squeeze, a leader struggling with messaging, or someone who believes thriving communities are possible for everyone, this episode offers both validation and a roadmap forward.


Show Notes

In This Episode:

[00:00] Introduction - The LinkedIn post that started it all: "The more our organizations change their language, the less their communities trust them"

[03:10] The real existential threats facing health equity work—and the hidden cost of quick compliance

[05:29] Why the speed of institutional language changes sent the wrong message to communities

[08:18] The "health equity tourists" who jumped ship—and why that might not be all bad

[09:09] If health equity benefits everyone, why is it so divisive in 2025? Where did we lose the thread?

[11:25] Addressing the elephant in the room: health equity for ALL communities, including white ones

[13:10] Unpacking the false narrative that health equity creates winners and losers

[16:30] Why Black and Brown champions shouldn't have to build bridges—and Philip's fantasy nonprofit "The Daves"

[18:09] What's truly non-negotiable when it comes to language and messaging

[19:00] The 10 core principles of authentic community engagement from the National Academies model

[22:01] How to actually start building community partnerships (spoiler: just listen first)

[24:43] The organizational infrastructure changes that make community engagement possible

[27:57] What gives Philip hope: surprising public opinion data showing cross-ideological agreement

[31:49] Real-world example: Community Works and building relationships across political divides

[32:14] Health justice as both aspiration and operational framework—making the process the product

Key Resources Mentioned:

 * AAMC Center for Health Justice: AAMCHealthJustice.org
 * AAMC Principles of Trustworthiness Toolkit
 * AAMC CHARGE [https://www.aamchealthjustice.org/get-involved/aamc-charge] (Collaborative for Health Equity Act Research Generate Evidence) - free to join, 1,800+ members
 * Dr. Philip Alberti's article: "Health Equity Benefits All Communities [https://www.milbank.org/quarterly/articles/health-equity-benefits-all-communities-including-white-ones/]" 
 * National Academies model of assessing meaningful engagement
 * Dr. Sarah Gollust's communication research on population health equity
 * Community Works organization featured in The Nation
 * The Vital Conditions for Health and Well-being

Guest Bio:

Dr. Philip Alberti is the founding director of the AAMC Center for Health Justice, where he leads work at the intersection of community engagement, health equity research, and policy change. A community-engaged scientist and pr

How Changing "Equity" to "Fairness" Overnight Destroys Community Trust | Dr. Philip Alberti

83,000 Americans die needlessly every year due to health inequity and systemic racism in healthcare. Dr. George Rust has spent 40 years fighting health disparities in America's most underserved communities, from migrant farmworker clinics in rural Florida to leading public health initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Rust reveals the structural inequities, racial health gaps, and preventable suffering he's witnessed throughout his career in medicine and public health. He shares hard-won lessons about earning trust in marginalized communities, navigating cultural competency challenges, and building coalitions for systemic change in American healthcare.

THE REAL COST OF HEALTH INEQUITY: Research shows that eliminating the Black-white gap in health outcomes would save 83,000 lives annually. In Atlanta alone, closing premature death rates between Black and white populations would restore 43,000 person-years of life every year to Black communities. These aren't just statistics—they represent grandmother-years, wisdom-years, and family-years lost to needless suffering caused by barriers to healthcare access, discrimination in medicine, and social determinants of health.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:

 * Why health disparities persist in American healthcare and how systemic racism drives preventable deaths
 * The concept of "trust adjacency" and how healthcare providers earn trust in communities of color
 * What 40 years serving underserved populations taught one doctor about cultural humility and respect in medicine
 * How COVID-19 exposed America's public health vulnerabilities and political interference in science
 * The difference between "me all vs. we all" – individual autonomy versus community responsibility in public health
 * Real stories of needless suffering: from the $500 hand surgery barrier to cervical cancer from lack of pap smears
 * Lessons from Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. David Satcher, and Dr. Louis Sullivan on health justice
 * Why respect matters more than you think in clinical settings and the "Lou Sullivan name tag" story
 * The Tallahassee measles case and what happens when ideology trumps evidence-based medicine
 * How to avoid physician burnout while fighting for social justice and health equity
 * Building coalitions and community partnerships for sustainable systemic change

ABOUT DR. GEORGE RUST: Dr. Rust is a public health physician and professor at Florida State University with over 40 years of experience in community health, health policy, and medical education. His career spans Cook County Hospital in Chicago, the Farmworker Health Association in rural Florida, and 25 years at Morehouse School of Medicine, where he worked alongside public health legends Dr. David Satcher (former U.S. Surgeon General) and Dr. Louis Sullivan (founding president of Morehouse School of Medicine and former Secretary of Health and Human Services).

His new book, "Healing in a Changing America: Doctoring a Nation of Needless Suffering" (Johns Hopkins University Press), examines how America's healthcare system creates preventable suffering through structural inequities, racial discrimination, and barriers to healthcare access. The book offers a roadmap for achieving health justice and eliminating health disparities across race, class, and geography.

WHY THIS MATTERS NOW: America is undergoing demographic transformation into a multicultural, pluralistic democracy, yet health inequities continue to widen. With political polarization affecting public health policy, attacks on diversity initiatives in medical education, and ongoing debates about vaccine mandates, quarantine protocols, and government intervention in healthcare, this conversation offers critical insights for healthcare professionals, policy makers,

83,000 Lives Lost to Health Inequity: Dr. George Rust | The Healthy Project

How do families in under-resourced communities access timely and comprehensive hearing care for infants who are deaf or hard of hearing? In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast, Corey Dion Lewis speaks with Pamela Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP, and Dr. Lauren Ramsey about the social, cultural, and systemic barriers that prevent many families from getting the services they need.

Together they explore:

 * How health literacy, transportation, and medical mistrust impact early intervention outcomes
 * The promise of teleaudiology in providing timely care and bridging community gaps
 * Policy and insurance limitations that restrict equitable access to hearing services
 * Why building trusted relationships is essential for long-term engagement and support
 * What policymakers, advocates, and community organizations can do right now to expand access

This conversation brings a social science perspective to healthcare delivery, technology, and equity. It’s a call to action for professionals, advocates, and community leaders to rethink how services are delivered and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.

About the Guests

 * Pamela Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP – Speech-language pathologist, private practice owner, public health consultant, and advocate for equitable access to communication services.
 * Dr. Lauren Ramsey – Public health researcher and consultant with 20 years of experience in maternal and child health, health equity, and racial and ethnic health disparities.

Resources & Links

 * Connect with Pamela Rowe on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelaroweslp/]
 * Connect with Dr. Lauren Ramsey on LinkedIn
 * Reach out: hello@healthyprojectmedia.com

 Be part of the movement for health equity. Visit healthyproject.co [https://healthyproject.co]

 to sign up for the newsletter and join the community. 



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Teleaudiology and Health Equity: Expanding Access for Underserved Communities

In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast, host Corey Dion Lewis talks with Pam Orrin, COO and co-founder of GRIN, a digital oral health platform reimagining how care is delivered for underserved communities. Pam shares her journey from technology leader to health innovator, the challenges of addressing oral care deserts, and how GRIN’s accessible, affordable tools are transforming the way providers reach patients—no broadband required.

We explore why oral health must be recognized as a core social driver of health, the connection between oral disease and chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes, and the ripple effects that poor access to dental care can have on individuals, families, and the economy. Pam also offers valuable insights for health tech innovators on how to build equity into products from the ground up.

📌 Sponsored by GRIN – Learn more at https://www.get-grin.com/

Shownotes:
00:00 – Introduction & Welcome
00:45 – Meet Pam Orrin & the GRIN Mission
03:15 – Why Oral Health is Overlooked in Health Tech
06:35 – The Global Oral Health Crisis
09:00 – Early GRIN Impact Stories in Underserved Communities
12:20 – The Link Between Oral Health & Full Body Health
14:30 – Why Oral Health is a Social Determinant of Health
17:10 – Economic & Social Ripple Effects of Poor Oral Care
19:40 – Absenteeism, Malnutrition, and Hidden Impacts
23:30 – Building Equity into Product Design
25:15 – Serving Digitally Excluded Communities
26:40 – Measuring Equity, Efficiency & Behavioral Change
31:20 – Reducing Health System Burden
34:10 – Making Care Efficient for Patients & Providers
36:05 – Uplifting Communities Through Health Technology
38:25 – The Future of Digital Oral Health
43:20 – Advice for Health Tech Innovators
44:12 – How to Connect with GRIN
46:52 – Closing Thoughts

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Closing the Oral Health Gap with Technology | Pam Orrin, COO of GRIN

In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast, host Corey Dion Lewis sits down with Stacy Wells, a purpose-driven leader and DEI practitioner working at the intersection of behavioral health, education, and public service. From her early days in the classroom to her current role leading health equity efforts in Minnesota’s direct care and treatment system, Stacy shares the challenges and lessons of navigating systemic racism, healthcare disparities, and the politicization of equity work.

Together, they explore how cultural humility, lived experience, and community input must shape our systems of care, and why staying committed to the work matters now more than ever.

Follow and subscribe to The Healthy Project Podcast for more conversations that push health equity forward.

🔗 For health information and resources, visit:
www.healthyproject.co


📌 Shownotes:
00:00 – Welcome and intro to Stacy Wells
01:10 – Stacy’s shift from PR to education to public health
03:45 – Minnesota’s persistent disparities in education and health
06:30 – The intersection of youth education and healthcare systems
09:15 – Supporting individuals with complex behavioral health needs
13:30 – Why cultural humility matters in direct care
18:00 – Including lived experience in designing care
22:15 – When community feedback challenges systems
28:00 – Speaking truth in professional spaces
30:50 – DEI backlash and its toll
36:15 – Holding space for joy and rest as a Black woman in the work
42:00 – Why staying curious and connected is key
43:30 – Final thoughts and how to connect with Stacy Wells

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Stacy Wells on Health Equity, DEI, and Leading with Purpose

In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast, host Corey Dion Lewis is joined by Sister Mary Haddad, President and CEO of the Catholic Health Association of the United States. Together, they get into the pressing issue of proposed Medicaid funding cuts and the far-reaching implications for millions of Americans, particularly those in underserved communities. Sr. Mary offers expert insight into what these changes could mean for access to care, the healthcare workforce, and the moral responsibility we share in supporting those who are vulnerable. This is a timely and vital conversation about healthcare, equity, and advocacy.

📌 Show Notes:

 * Introduction to Sister Mary Haddad and her role at CHA (00:33)
 * Overview of Medicaid and why it's essential (02:48)
 * Details on proposed funding cuts and their potential impact (04:50)
 * The urgency of the moment and why it matters now (08:51)
 * Who is most at risk from these changes (10:53)
 * Consequences for emergency rooms and healthcare access (12:23)
 * Discussion on work requirements and policy misconceptions (13:07)
 * Effects on state governments and local economies (15:30)
 * Broader societal impact beyond Medicaid recipients (16:30)
 * Consequences for healthcare providers and Catholic health systems (19:13)
 * CHA’s advocacy efforts and how citizens can get involved (23:44)
 * A message of hope and community resilience (27:36)
 * Where to learn more and take action (29:48)

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Medicaid at a Crossroads: A Conversation with Sr. Mary Haddad

What if the key to better health isn’t treatment—it’s prevention?

In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast, Corey Dion Lewis breaks down the true meaning of preventative health and why it matters. From early screenings to lifestyle changes, Corey explains how staying ahead of illness can save money, boost energy, and extend your life.

We cover:

 * What counts as preventative care
 * How early detection works
 * Why prevention puts you in control of your health
 * Simple steps you can take today

This isn’t about reacting. It’s about being ready.

Subscribe, rate, and share with someone who needs a reminder to book that checkup.

★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/coreydionlewis]

What Is Preventative Health? (The Most Overlooked Tool in Healthcare)

ITamar Blue, founder of Mental Happy, joins Corey Dion Lewis on The Healthy Project Podcast to explore how group therapy and community-based care are changing the future of mental health.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
 • Why group support is often more effective than one-on-one therapy
 • How Mental Happy empowers both participants and providers
 • The cultural and structural gaps in mental health care
 • Why more therapists are shifting to cash-based models
 • How virtual communities are breaking down stigma in Black mental health spaces

Whether you’re a provider, peer specialist, or just someone looking for emotional support, you’ll gain insights into what true community healing can look like.

Guest:

Tamar Blue
Founder & CEO, Mental Happy
Website: https://www.mentalhappy.com

Social Media Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamarlucienblue/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mentalhappy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mentalhappyhumans
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livementalhappy
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mentalhappyinc

★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/coreydionlewis]

Community Healing, Group Therapy & Mental Health Access with Tamar Blue of Mental Happy

The Healthy Project is hosted by Corey Dion Lewis, Clinical Health Coach for a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Because of his experience working directly with patients in underserved communities, Corey felt the need to speak up and address the issues and provide solutions to improve the healthcare experience for the ones that need it the most. The Healthy Project Podcast addresses topics related to health equity, prevention, diversity, and literacy for healthcare professionals addressing today's and tomorrow's biggest challenges. Thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry experts share their approaches to transforming healthcare into something meaningful and lasting.

The Healthy Project Podcast

Welcome to My City My Health, a podcast presented by The Healthy Project. This podcast is all about health equity and how social determinants of health can impact our communities. Join us as we speak with local community leaders who are making a difference in the health of their cities.

Each episode, we'll delve into topics such as culture, healthcare, prevention, community, and how these factors can impact health outcomes. We'll hear from experts in the field, as well as individuals who are on the ground working to make positive change.

Through these conversations, we hope to inspire listeners to take action and become advocates for health equity in their own communities. Together, we can create a healthier, more equitable world.

So join us for My City My Health, and let's explore the social determinants of health and their impact on our cities.

Corey Lewis

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