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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.

  • Thursday, Sept. 20, 2023, at 6 p.m. Dr. Patrick Lavo will be joined by Dr. Michelle Yetman, Clinical Psychologist at Children’s Center at LSU Health Shreveport; Dr. Laura Cassidy, Co-Founder and Board Chair of Louisiana Key Academy; and Pamela Barker, Principal at Louisiana Key Academy’s Caddo Campus to talk about the reading disorder dyslexia, how it is diagnosed and the resources available to help. Questions will be taken at 1-80-552-8502.
  • Sept. 7, 2023 at 6 p.m. This summer's extreme heat has sent some area young athletes to the hospital with heat related illness. On this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Randall Brewer talks about recognizing the signs of heat exhaustion caused by extreme temps or overexertion along with the prevention and treatment of some other common sports injuries. Guests include Dr. Shane Barton, Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at LSU Health Shreveport, Dr. Michael Nammour, Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at LSU Health Shreveport, Dr. David Berken, Orthopedic Specialist with Highland Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, and Alan Edwards, Athletic Trainer with Christus Health System.
  • Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at 6 p.m. In continuing our Health Matters look into maternal and infant health in Louisiana, on this Health Matters: Mental Health Edition, host Jenny Gregorio will talk with Paula Dye, a Statewide Nursing Consultant for Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visitation at the Louisiana Department of Health, to discuss two home visit programs – the Nurse-Family Partnership and Parents as Teachers. Paula is an RN with a master's degree in Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Systems.
  • Thursday, August 24, 2023. The U.S. ranks highest of any developed nation for infant mortality, and Louisiana's infant mortality rate is the second worst in the U.S., followed by Mississippi. Louisiana also has a high rate of maternal mortality. Andrea Gallo, reporter for The Advocate in Baton Rouge, recently took a deep dive into this issue.
  • Thursday at 6 p.m. On this Health Matters: Mental Health Edition, host Jenny Gregorio talks about the signs of child trafficking and help for victims with Sophia Herron Sanders, Director of Child Life & Community Engagement at Gingerbread House. Questions will be taken during the show at 1-800-552-8502.
  • Thursday, June 29, at 6 p.m. Host Jenny Gregorio is joined by Janet Miller and Andrew Ameen from the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling to discuss the three-digit national calling code, 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is providing help to community members in need. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline accepts calls from anyone who needs support for a suicidal, mental health and/or substance use crisis 24/7, and it’s free and confidential.
  • Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 6 p.m. Dr. Patrick Lavo talks with Dr. Wally Nawas, with Bossier Eye Institute, about maintaining healthy eyes and correcting vision problems. Questions will be taken during the show at 1-800-552-8502.
  • Thursday, May 25 at 6 p.m. Does social media affect mental health? Host Jenny Gregorio explores the possible effects of social media on the brain with guest Peri Gilbert-Reed with Shreveport Counseling and Restoration Center. Questions and comments will be taken during the show at 1-800-552-8502.
  • Thursday, May 18, at 6 p.m. When the weather warms up, it opens up so many more opportunities to enjoy outdoor sports. To tell us how we can stay safe and prevent sports injuries in the summer, Health Matters host, Dr. Patrick Lavo, will be joined by Dr. Charles W. Webb, Director of the Division of Sports Medicine and Director, of Sports Medicine Fellowship at LSU Health, and Dr. Cory Coehoorn, Associate Professor in Exercise Physiology at LSU Health Shreveport. Questions will be taken during the show at 1-800-552-8502.
  • Health Matters, May 4, 2023, at 6 p.m. It’s springtime, which can be a time of dread for those with seasonal allergies. On this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Anand Bhat, with Highland Clinic Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, will inform us about allergies, from seasonal allergies to food allergies, including a newly recognized major food allergen. He’ll also tell us about the latest allergy tests and treatments that can help improve the quality of life for allergy sufferers. Questions will be taken during the show at 1-800-552-8502.