S4E6: Supporting the VA health system. We discuss the proposed cuts to the VA Health System with Guests and Veteran Advocates Steve Conner and John Paredis from Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The Veterans administration has played an important role for our nation’s veterans and the proposed cuts may hit it hard.

We have a fascinating conversation with pediatrician Dr David Gottsegen regarding his new book, "Mending the Body with the mind: Harnessing Children's Superpowers to heal and stay healthy". We also discuss his views as a practicing pediatrician on autism and vaccines.

We interview Dr Geeta Nayyar "Dr G" regarding misinformation in healthcare. Her book "Dead Wrong" is the focus of our conversation on the problem and a path forward to manage mis and dis-information.

We discuss the role of and training of Nurse Practitioners in Healthcare with Jon Liebman, MPH, NP, former medical director and primary care NP at a federally qualified health center in Massachusetts

We interview three Williams College pre-med students on their ideas of a career in medicine. They recently took a class on healthcare and are we discuss the future of medicine with them.

We had a great discussion with Dr Greg Adaka, an Emergency Physician who has practiced in Nigeria, the UK, and the US. He is currently medical director for Miami-Dade County Corrections where he spends time thinking about health systems. We compare the three health systems and have fun along the way. What can we learn to improve the US health system?

We interview Dr Neil Kudler, a primary care physician who has practiced HIV care, Palliative Care and is medical marijuana certifier in Massachusetts. We talk about caring for patients with complex needs and the role of Cannabis in healthcare.

We talk about Food, Nutrition, Food insecurity and the impact on health with Lorraine Cordereio PhD Professor of Nutrition and Anna Maria Siega-Riz, PhD, MS, Dean School of Public Health both at UMass-Amherst. Access to healthy food is one of the most important Social Drivers of Health and we also discuss a unique project in Springfield MA working to end food insecurity through a health clinic partnership and food prescriptions.