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Health Matters

Health Matters, produced locally by Red River Radio, airs Thursdays at 6 p.m. The producer is Ranae Moran. Hosts of Health Matters include Dr. Randall Brewer, Dr. Sanford Katz, Dr. Patrick Lavo and Red River Radio General Manager Kermit Poling. Psychologist Dr. Shelley Visconte (Ph.D., LPC-S, LMFT) hosts the Mental Health Edition of Health Matters the last Thursday of each month. Health Matters features guest physicians and health care specialists joining our hosts to bring you up-to-date information on topics that affect your health.  Listeners are provided the opportunity to call in with questions or comments during the show at 1-800-552-8502 or tweet a question via Twitter @rrrpublicradio.

Health Matters is currently supported by a grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Louisiana. 

Health Matters Disclaimer:
Health Matters is a program for informational purposes only. Consult your physician or health care provider for all health concerns. The opinions expressed on Health Matters are those of the individual guests and callers and do not represent the views of Red River Radio or LSUS. Health Matters is part of Red River Radio's Community Connections series of outreach programs. Guests on Health Matters are not compensated and are selected by relevance to the topic.  No fees are charged for participation in Health Matters.

  • Wendy Coker, Assistant Director of the Deaf Action Center in Shreveport, and LaToya Foster, Independent Living Specialist with New Horizons Independent Living Center, will join our host, Jenny Gregorio, LMSW, to talk about services available for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Questions will be taken at 1-800-552-8502.
  • Thursday, Jan. 26, 2022, at 6 pm. Host Jenny Gregorio, LMSW, explores the barriers and challenges faced by individuals and families that are experiencing homelessness with guest Christa Pazzaglia, Executive Director of Hope Connections. Questions will be taken during the show at 1-800-552-8502.
  • Thursday, January 19, 2022, at 6 p.m. It’s a brand-new year, and on this Health Matters, our topic will be “A New Year, A New You.” Julie Hartley, wellness dietitian and fitness coach with Willis-Knighton Health System, Libby Burkhalter, fitness expert, nutrition coach and owner of LibFit, and Dr. James Barnes, bariatric surgeon with Highland Clinic, will join our host, Dr. Randall Brewer, to offer their tips and advice to reach your health goals in 2023. Questions will be taken at 1-800-552-8502.
  • Health Matters, 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. A recent study found high levels of methamphetamines in Shreveport wastewater. Tune in for Health Matters, Thursday at 6 pm. Dr. Randall Brewer will be joined by Nicholas Goeders, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience and Executive Director, Louisiana Addiction Research Center at LSU Health Shreveport; and Kevin S. Murnane, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience and Director of Basic Science Research for Louisiana Addiction Research Center at LSU Health Shreveport, to talk about the study. Caddo Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Darin Marshall will also join in the conversation about meth use in our community. Questions will be taken at 1-800-552-8502.
  • Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at 6 p.m. Are there secrets to a successful marriage? Dr. Mark Vigen will be joined by Carole Pruitt, social worker and marriage and family therapist, and attorney Nyle Politz, who has 45 years of experience in family law. They will provide their tips on what to do—and not to do—within a marriage partnership to help ensure a lasting relationship. Also Joining in the conversation will be Ashley, who will share her insights from her personal marriage experience.
  • Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. November is awareness month for both Lung Cancer and COPD. Tune in for Health Matters, Thursday at 6 p.m. Dr. Sanford Katz will be joined by Dr. Ahmed Virani, pulmonologist and critical care physician, and Dr. Sergio Jaramillo, radiation oncologist, with Willis Knighton Health System and Jarrod Mitchell, Cardiac Rehab Coordinator at Willis Knighton Health System to talk about lung health and smoking cessation. Questions will be taken at 1-800-552-8502.
  • Thursday, October 26, 2022, at 6 p.m. What types of behaviors might children exhibit if they have experienced sexual abuse? Hannah Spears, LCSW, counselor with Gingerbread House; Olivia Ferguson, M.S., PLPC, NCC, counselor with Gingerbread House and Regional Child and Youth Trafficking Coordinator-Shreveport Region, and Jessica Miller, CEO of Gingerbread House in Shreveport, will join hosts Dr. Mark Vigen and Jenny Gregorio to answer this question and to discuss the effects and prevention of child sexual abuse. Questions will be taken during the show at 1-800-552-8502.
  • Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Mark Vigen, PhD, hosts this episode of Health Matters: Mental Health Edition. Dr. Vigen is joined by Ginny Fouts, licensed professional counselor, and guests from Overeaters Anonymous. OA is a fellowship of individuals who through shared experience, strength and hope are recovering from compulsive overeating and other eating disorders. More information on Overeaters Anonymous can be found at OA.org or locally at 318-677-4002.
  • Thursday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m. Dr. Sanford Katz hosts this Health Matters conversation on thyroid health and thyroid cancer. Guests include Dr. Joshua Maier, endocrinologist with LSU Health Shreveport and Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Dr. Ameya Asarkar, Assistant Professor of Otorlaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at LSU Health Shreveport and Staff Physician (Otolaryngology) at the Overton Brooks Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Karuna Dewan, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at LSU Health Shreveport and Director of the Ark-La-Tex Voice, Airway and Swallowing Center. Your questions will be taken at 1-800-552-8502 during the show.
  • Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, at 6 p.m. Dr. Sanford Katz is joined by Dr. David Berken, Dr. Stephen Hoge and Dr. Ben Feibel, orthopedic surgeons with Highland Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and consulting specialists for Rapid Orthopaedic Care in Shreveport, to talk about common orthopaedic injuries and chronic conditions.