In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark sits down with Richard (RJ) Kedziora, co-founder of Estenda Solutions, to explore the intersection of technology, data, and patient advocacy. With decades of experience in healthcare technology, RJ shares how he and his team design digital tools that help patients take control of their health while supporting providers and payers alike. They also discuss patient engagement, accessibility, and the future of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a healthcare professional, or a patient advocate, this conversation offers insights on building smarter, more empathetic digital health solutions.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website (https://ghlf.org/the-health-advocates) or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Health Advocates, we unpack a turbulent week in public health. The CDC’s Vaccine Advisory Committee (ACIP), now reshaped under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., met to debate changes to the COVID-19, MMRV, and Hepatitis B vaccine recommendations. Despite heated rhetoric and process irregularities, the committee ultimately kept broad access to COVID-19 vaccines — a short-term win for patients and a reminder that advocacy pressure works.

We also break down President Trump’s recent claims linking Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism, and his renewed suggestion of a connection between vaccines and autism. We review what the science actually shows, what public health experts are warning about, and what patients and families should know moving forward.

Tune in for clarity on a confusing week — and why these debates matter for access, trust, and the future of public health.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website (https://ghlf.org/the-health-advocates) or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This fall’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout is more confusing than ever. The FDA has narrowed eligibility to older adults and people with high-risk conditions, while major medical societies are urging broader access — and insurance companies are waiting for new guidance from ACIP, the advisory committee that’s been reshaped by RFK Jr.

In this episode of The Health Advocates, host Steven Newmark explains who qualifies as high-risk, what “off-label” vaccination means, how coverage is likely to work, and what parents, pregnant people, and adults should know heading into the fall season.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website (https://ghlf.org/the-health-advocates) or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode of The Health Advocates, we take a closer look at Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), a condition that affects tens of thousands of older adults each year in the U.S. but is often misunderstood. Host Steven Newmark is joined by GHLF’s Angela Degrassi, patient advocate Eileen Salsman, and two leading experts — Dr. Leonard Calabrese and Dr. Jeffrey Curtis — to unpack what PMR is, how it impacts daily life, and why a patient-centered approach to research and care is so important. Together, they explore symptoms, diagnosis, steroid treatment challenges, and emerging insights from new research and lived experience.

Special note: We invite you to a live webinar on Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) that will explore critical gaps in diagnosis and disease monitoring.

Date: Thursday, September 18th
Time: 6:30 PM Eastern
Location: Live on YouTube

To register, visit: https://www.research.net/r/RKW2FHZ

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website (https://ghlf.org/the-health-advocates) or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CDC Director Susan Monarez has been fired after less than one month on the job, sparking a wave of resignations by senior leaders and raising alarms about the politicization of public health. In this episode of The Health Advocates, host Steven Newmark unpacks what happened, why it matters, and what the loss of experienced leadership means for patients and communities. From vaccines to emergency preparedness, the future of the CDC — and public trust in science — is on the line.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website (https://ghlf.org/the-health-advocates) or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leaked draft of the Trump administration’s Make Our Children Healthy Again plan reveals a strategy to improve kids’ health that’s far less sweeping than many expected. Instead of bold action on processed foods and pesticides, the draft emphasizes “awareness” campaigns and industry-friendly guidelines, while reopening old battles over vaccines, fluoride, and even WiFi.

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven unpacks what’s actually in the leaked report, what’s missing, and why these proposals could reshape public health for children across the country. From school nutrition to pesticide regulation to vaccine safety, we break down what the draft means for families, industry, and the future of U.S. health policy.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website (https://ghlf.org/the-health-advocates) or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Steven is joined by Dr. Zameer Pirani, an interventional pain specialist and co-founder of the Afiya Spine and Pain Institute in Canada. Dr. Pirani shares his path to pain medicine, from early training in Ireland to his experiences with anesthesia and chronic pain fellowships. He discusses how the opioid crisis, gaps in the health care system, and the stigma surrounding pain patients shaped his career and passion for multidisciplinary, patient-centered care. Dr. Pirani also shares his insights on the challenges of treating invisible illnesses, building trust with patients, and why true healing requires listening, empathy, and a team-based approach.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website (https://ghlf.org/the-health-advocates) or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, host Steven Newmark breaks down four critical public health stories making headlines:

• Senators Angus King and Elizabeth Warren introduce a resolution to defend the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force amid reports that RFK Jr. may fire its members.
• What’s really at stake if the Task Force is dismantled—and how evidence-based guidelines are already saving lives, from colon cancer screenings to heart health.
• A deadly outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Harlem has claimed two lives and sickened dozens. What you need to know if you live in the area.
• The alarming defunding of mRNA vaccine research.

Science, policy, and prevention—all in one sharp, timely episode.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website (https://ghlf.org/the-health-advocates) or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.