Health

  This is the second part of the Public Forum on the Affordable Care Act held recently in Portland. The forum provided a brief overview of the ACA, an analysis of the constitutional issues to be argued to the Supreme Court, and a discussion of the law and its impact on Mainers.

  Recently A Public Forum on the Affordable Care Act was held in Portland. The forum provided a brief overview of the ACA, an analysis of the constitutional issues to be argued to the Supreme Court, and a discussion of the law and its impact on Mainers. This is Part one of a two-part series.

  March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Understanding and treating brain injuries.  Whether the result of a concussion, car accident or fall, brain injuries can strike at any time. They discussed the latest developments helping those who have suffered a brain injury. 

Host Keith Shortall spoke with:

Dr. Mark Kiefner, Clinical Director, Goodwill Neuro-rehab,

Dr. Paul D. Berkner, D.O., FAAP, Medical Director/Team Physician, Colby College; President of the Maine Concussion Management Initiative,

  The topic discussed was Maine's critical shortage of dentists, and how a new dental school at the University of New England may help address the problem.  Also discussed were ways to overcome problems in the access to care and some of the latest trends and advances in dentistry.

Dental Care in Maine  - Jennifer Rooks spoke with:

Frances Miliano, Executive Director, Maine Dental Association

James Koelbl, Founding Dean, University of New England College of Dental Medicine, 

  McKay Jenkins, author and professor of English and Director of Journalism at the University of Delaware focused on the connections between the chemicals we are exposed to and health.

Jenkins discussed how synthetic chemicals, such as BPA, that are used in common products make their way into our bodies. In his book, What’s Gotten Into Us, he wrote a lot about Maine's "Body of Evidence" study in which 13 Maine people were tested for dozens of chemicals used in common products.

  During his "State of the State Address," Governor LePage (R) urged lawmakers to close the $220-million budget gap at the Department of Health and Human Services. Commissioner Mary Mayhew, State Senator Margaret Craven (D-Lewiston), and a panel of experts discuss.

Host Keith Shortall speaks with:

Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew

State Senator Margaret Craven (D-Lewiston)

  Health Care journalist T.R. Reid spoke at the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce's Portland's Eggs & Issues series. Reid's addressed how the Health Care industry in the U.S. compares globally. Reid's appearance was sponsored by the Maine Health Management Coalition.

This talk was recorded November 10, 2011 in Portland.

  The Health Care for Maine Alliance held its 1st annual policy conference in Hallowell recently where the topic of discussion was the recently passed federal Affordable Care Act. The keynote speaker was Wendell Potter – the former top communications aide, turned whistleblower, at CIGNA - the global health Insurance and service company. He shared his thoughts on this new law.

This talk was recorded October 5, 2011 at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell.

  The speaker is T.R. Reid, former Washington Post correspondent, NPR contributor on international affairs, and author of "The United States of Europe and The Healing of America – A Global Quest of Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care.” He spoke in Portland at an event focused on healthcare opportunities for Maine.

  Ron Pollack, Founding Executive Director of Families USA, discusses how the new Healthcare Reform legislation will affect Maine’s growing baby boomer and senior population and the businesses and institutions that serve them.

Families USA is the national organization for healthcare consumers. Ron Pollak is a frequent guest on a variety of television and radio programs, such as ? The PBS NewsHour, CNN, and is often quoted in such leading newspapers as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.

  This Speaking in Maine talk is titled: "Taiwan's Health Reforms: Lessons for the U.S. and Maine" and the speaker is William Hsiao, an architect of Taiwan's universal health care system.

Dr. William Hsiao is the K.T. Li Professor of Economics at the Harvard School of Public Health.

This talk was recorded on October 18, 2010 at the Harwood Center at Bates College.

Visit the Harward Center for Community Partnerships at Bates College website

  Speaking in Maine features Marc Braverman of Oregon State University. He discuss his research on smoking control in both Norway and the U.S. He outlines the differing responses and the resulting changes.

Braverman also describes a recent international tobacco control effort that offers hope for reducing tobacco’s worldwide threat to health.The diseases that smoking causes have taken a toll on global health for decades.

  Dr. David Howes is President and CEO, Martin's Point Health Care based in Portland, Maine. In his ten years as president, Dr. Howes has built the organization into Maine's largest non-profit primary care practice.

Dr. Howes joined Martin's Point Health Care in 1989 as a family physician. In 1991, he was appointed medical director for the entire Martin's Point network. Dr. Howes earned his medical degree from Dartmouth, and completed residencies in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

  Even as a toxic tragedy unfolds in the Gulf, thousands of hazardous chemicals already permeate every aspect of our lives,in plastic water bottles, electronics, even children’s toys, with consequences for environmental and human health. Speaking in Maine offers insight into this issue with a talk by Environmental Journalist & Author Elizabeth Grossman.