Illuminating Health

Bridging Physical and Mental Health Care

During the perinatal period, one in five women in the United States experience a mental health issue such as postpartum depression or anxiety. But accessing mental health support can be difficult, particularly as a new parent.
Kara Birch, a dual board-certified family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, designed and launched a telehealth-based integrated mental health service at a community-based obstetrics and gynecology clinic in San Francisco.
In this episode, Birch is joined by colleague Jane Abanes, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who also provides care at the clinic, to discuss how this innovative program is enhancing access to psychiatric care and improving patient’s mental health and well-being.
The guest host for this episode is Kira Prokopakis, a student in the school’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty.
Please note that this episode contains material of sensitive nature. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to get 24/7 support.
To access postpartum support, please contact (800) 944-4773 or visit postpartum.net.

How and Why Music Heals

Many of us know from personal experience that music positively impacts our well-being. But a growing body of research demonstrates music’s impact on our physical health, including brain health. How does music support healthy aging? Why does playing and listening to music reduce stress? 
Julene Johnson, a cognitive neuroscientist and co-director of the Sound Health Network, who studies how music impacts healthy aging and older adults living with dementia, and Sheri Robb, a board-certified music therapist who studies music interventions for children and adolescents living with cancer and their caregivers, discuss the healing power of music. The guest host for this episode is Hannah Katagiri, a student in the school’s Family Nurse Practitioner specialty.

Dear Future Health Care Leaders

If you had one minute to address your future health care leaders, what advice would you give them?
In honor of commencement season, we invite you to listen to messages shared with UCSF School of Nursing graduates that serve as important reminders for all of us engaged in the essential work of improving health and health care for our communities.

The Nurses Whose Advocacy Changed Patient Care During the AIDS Crisis

In the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, nurses played a crucial role in caring for patients and forever transformed health care. Cliff Morrison, the nurse who launched the country's first in-patient AIDS unit in 1983, and Carol Dawson-Rose, an early leader in international patient-centered AIDS prevention and care, share their experiences about providing care at the height of the AIDS crisis — and what nurses today should do to be strong advocates.  

How to Cultivate a Welcoming and Inclusive Environment

What does it take to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment, especially during times of change and uncertainty?
Mica Estrada, associate dean of Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach and a social psychologist, and Emebet Aklilu, director of operations for the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach, discuss what is needed and what each of us as individuals can do to help create and sustain an inclusive environment — whether at school, in the workplace or in the community.
The guest host for this episode is Jacob Virtusio, a student in the school’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty.

Shedding Light on Diabetes, the Rise in Prevalence and Improving Care

About 38 million people in the United States have diabetes, and one in five of them don’t even know they have it. 
In this episode of Illuminating Health, professor Carolina Noya discusses what’s contributing to the rise in type 2 diabetes in the United States, what groups are most impacted and a pilot program she is leading that is showing promising results for patients struggling with managing diabetes. 
The guest host for this episode is Oluchi Okwu, a student in the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty.  
Illuminating Health is the official UCSF School of Nursing podcast that sheds light on health and health care issues that affect our daily lives. Listen in to short conversations with today’s leading health experts. This episode is produced by Katherine Tam and Lisa Klope in the UCSF School of Nursing's Office of Communications. 

Why Nurses' Voices are Critical to Shaping Health Policy

“Nurses are born advocates,” alumnus and nurse Jason Bloomer said. “It’s one of the most fundamental things that makes a nurse a nurse, beyond keeping our patients safe.” In the third episode of Illuminating Health, professor Stella Bialous and Bloomer share their experience shaping health policy and discuss why nurses are uniquely positioned to lead change. The guest host for this episode is Erin Ear, a student in the school’s Family Nurse Practitioner specialty. 

What We Must Do to Transform Care for People Experiencing Homelessness

Nearly 600,000 people across the U.S. are experiencing homelessness. What kind of health issues do people who are unhoused face, and how does that affect the health care system? What practical solutions are needed to improve care for people experiencing homelessness?
In the second episode of Illuminating Health, professor Heather Leutwyler and Taylor Cuffaro, a doctoral student and co-founder of the school’s street nursing team, discuss the challenges people who are unhoused face with health care access and how effective the street nursing model has proven.
The guest host for this episode is Dennys Balestra, a student in the school’s Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner — Occupational/Environmental Health specialty.
Illuminating Health is the official UCSF School of Nursing podcast that sheds light on health and health care issues that affect our daily lives. Listen in to short conversations with today’s leading health experts. 

Why We Need First-Gen Grads in Nursing and Health Care

Across the U.S., more than 40 percent of college graduates are the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree. What does it mean to be a first-gen student? Why is it so important to have first-gen nurses engaged in improving health and health care?
In the inaugural episode of Illuminating Health, Christina Keny, a first-gen graduate and doctoral candidate at the UCSF School of Nursing, and Laura Wagner, professor and founder of FirstGenRN — the first program of its kind nationwide — share their personal experiences and advice.  
The guest host for this episode is Mark Tungol, a student in the school’s Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist specialty and the president of the Associated Students of the School of Nursing at UCSF. 
Illuminating Health is the official UCSF School of Nursing podcast that sheds light on health and health care issues that affect our daily lives. Listen in to short conversations with today’s leading health experts.