20-Minute Health Talk

World Trade Center health program: Caring for 9/11 first responders

Only 20 people survived the collapse of the Twin Towers and were pulled from the rubble on September 11, 2001. Two of them were saved by Scott Strauss and Eddie Reyes. The now-retired NYPD police officers joined 20-Minute Health Talk on the 20 anniversary of 9/11 in 2021 to share their stories and discuss the long-term health hazards they live with as a result of exposure to toxic fumes. Today, 23 years to the day, we revisit this somber, but important conversation, which also involved Jacqueline Moline, MD, MSc, who directs the Northwell Health World Trade Center (WTC) health program in Queens. She is also senior vice president of Northwell’s Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention department. She explains who qualifies, how it benefits 9/11 first responders and lessons learned from her experience leading the WTC health program. 

More resources:

• Never forget the 9/11 responders who risked their lives
• World Trade Center health program improves survival, longevity for 9/11 first responders
• Retired NYPD officers: We dug through the World Trade Center rubble, looking for our brothers
  
• New trial tracks long-term effects of burn pit exposure among veterans
• Burn pits: Understanding the problem, identifying solutions
• 5 ways to improve veterans health care services
  

Inside a psych unit: Therapeutic insights from HBO's "One South" (Part 2)

In Part 2 of our conversation on 20-Minute Health Talk, Sandra Lindsay, RN, continues the discussion with the creators of HBO’s One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit and clinical psychologist Laura Braider, PhD. This episode dives deeper into the therapeutic skills highlighted in the documentary, including radical acceptance, mindfulness, and opposite action. Dr. Braider and filmmakers Alexandra Shiva and Lindsey Megrue explain how these techniques are not only helping patients at One South but can also be applied to everyday life to manage stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges. They also explore the impact on staff and what Dr. Braider's team does to cope. 

Meet our guests

• Laura Braider, PhD, clinical psychologist and associate vice president of behavioral health at Northwell Health; associate vice president of Northwell's Behavioral Health College Partnership
  Alexandra Shiva is an award-winning filmmaker and co-founder of Gidalya Pictures. She is known for her compelling documentaries highlighting social issues and human stories, including One South (2024), How to Dance in Ohio (2015) and more.
  Lindsey Megrue is a producer with Gidalya Pictures. Also a director, she is known for her work on films like One South (2024), We Are Witnesses (2017), and Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2012).

Inside a psych unit: Behind the scenes of HBO's "One South" (Part 1)

In this episode of 20-Minute Health Talk, Sandra Lindsay, RN, sits down with the filmmakers of HBO's groundbreaking documentary series One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit.  Also joining them is one of the clinicians featured in the doc, Laura Braider, PhD. Together, they explore the origins of this powerful two-part series, the challenges of working in an in-patient psychiatric unit, and the vital role of Northwell's unique Behavioral Health College Partnership at Zucker Hillside Hospital. You'll hear what it's really like for patients, healthcare providers — and filmmakers — inside this psych unit, and how the documentary is shedding light on mental health care like never before.

 

Meet our guests

• Laura Braider, PhD, clinical psychologist and associate vice president of behavioral health at Northwell Health; associate vice president of Northwell's Behavioral Health College Partnership
• Alexandra Shiva is an award-winning filmmaker and co-founder of Gidalya Pictures. She is known for her compelling documentaries that highlight social issues and human stories, including One South (2024), How to Dance in Ohio (2015) and more.
• Lindsey Megrue is a producer with Gidalya Pictures. Also a director, she is known for her work on films like One South (2024), We Are Witnesses (2017), and Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2012).

More on One South

• Media coverage
• Press release: Northwell Health featured in new HBO original two-part documentary. 
• One South: A psychiatric unit and a documentary. Read more.

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My menopause story: Host Sandra Lindsay reveals her experience

In this episode, host Sandra Lindsay, RN, opens up about living with menopause with the goal of demystifying this phase of life and providing others in the same situation with hope and guidance. Sandra emphasizes the importance of finding certified menopause experts, and her OB/GYN, Jane Noah, MD, NCMP, and clinical health coach, Nadia Bey, M. A. /NBC-HWC, both weigh in as well. Dr. Noah helped Lindsay understand her symptoms and guided her through hormone replacement therapy; Nadia offered information about non-medicinal interventions for menopause, like diet, sleep and exercise. All three share their insights and advice on menopause treatment, symptoms and management.

This is Ep. 3 of our series on menopause. Episodes 1 and 2 are available in our feed. 

• Ep. 1: Menopause: Symptoms, stigma and the truth about hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• Ep. 2: The menopause movement: Breaking the silence

Episode resources

• The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials and Clinical Practice
  A Review - JAMA study
• What is menopause?
• Women have been shamed and stigmatized over menopause for years
• 5 Ways to Manage Your Menopause
• It’s not just you ... sex after menopause may not always be so easy
• Vaginal Bleeding After Menopause: Yes, It Happens
• Veozah, Explained: How It Treats Hot Flashes
• How To Stay Healthy After Medical Menopause
• Living Your Best Life Post-Menopause
• Can Periods Restart After Menopause?
• Can You Get Pregnant After Menopause?

Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube. 

For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit http://bit.ly/2Z7iHFL and explore our many opportunities.  

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The menopause movement: Breaking the silence

In this episode, three inspiring women share their menopause journeys: Shani McGraham-Shirley, a popular fitness instructor and motivational speaker; Emmy Award-winning journalist Tamsen Fadal; and certified nutrition coach Stephanie Shaw. This episode, Part 2 of our three-part series on menopause, highlights the growing movement of women speaking up about the stigma surrounding this natural yet often misunderstood phase of life. Through sharing their personal stories, Shani, Tamsen and Stephanie provide invaluable insights and inspire women everywhere to join this movement, seek proper care, and reclaim their health and well-being.

 

Episodes 1 and 3 are available in our feed. 

• Ep. 1: Menopause: Symptoms, stigma and the truth about hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• Ep. 3: My menopause story: Host Sandra Lindsay reveals her experience

Meet our guests

• Shani McGraham-Shirley, CEO, Yahsuh Fitness Ltd., a renowned fitness instructor and motivational speaker, shares her eye-opening realization that many women, unaware they're entering perimenopause, feel as if they're losing their minds. Shani’s passionate advocacy reveals the gap in medical care and the unnecessary suffering women endure due to a lack of proper diagnosis.
• Tamsen Fadal is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, women's health advocate and certified integrative health coach. Tamsen’s journey from confusion and fear to empowerment and education highlights the urgent need for awareness and support.
• Stephanie Shaw, a certified nutrition coach, host of the Hello, Hot Flash podcast and menopause educator recounts her nearly two-year battle for a diagnosis, involving 18 doctors across four states. Her story of resilience and discovery of holistic health solutions serves as a beacon of hope for women navigating similar challenges.

Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube. 

For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit http://bit.ly/2Z7iHFL and explore our many opportunities.  

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Menopause: Symptoms, stigma and the truth about hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Despite being a condition that impacts more than half the world’s population, menopause remains understudied, over-stigmatized and clouded by myths and misconceptions. To help clear up the confusion, host Sandra Lindsay, RN, speaks with leading menopause experts and advocates about the emerging science and improved solutions for this difficult time of life. In Ep. 1 of this three-part series, Sandra welcomes Vanessa Soviero, MD, an OB/GYN and certified menopause practitioner, to discuss the wide range of physical and emotional changes that occur during menopause. Dr. Soviero delves into familiar symptoms and ones that are less common, explaining how to manage menopause effectively, while stressing the importance of making informed health decisions and embracing this new stage of life with confidence. She also has advice on what to look for in an OB/GYN and explores all that Northwell's Katz Institute for Women’s Health initiative is doing to ensure all women get the care they need. 

This is Ep. 1 of our series on menopause. Listen to episodes 2 and 3 in our feed now. 

• Ep. 2: The menopause movement: Breaking the silence
• Ep. 3: My menopause story: Host Sandra Lindsay reveals her experience

Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube. 

For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit http://bit.ly/2Z7iHFL and explore our many opportunities.  

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The fight for age-friendly health care in America

As we live longer, some even into their 100s, those 65 and older have become the fastest-growing population in the U.S. While an incredible victory for public health, it also presents a unique set of challenges, to which Maria Carney, MD, says the country's health system must quickly adapt. On this episode, she and her co-author Michael Dowling join host Sandra Lindsay, RN, to discuss their new book, The Aging Revolution: The History of Geriatric Health Care and What Really Matters to Older Adults. Along with their fellow co-author, Charles Kenney, they share the remarkable history of geriatric medicine in the U.S. and highlight those who devoted their careers to easing suffering and improving the lives of aging adults. 

 

Meet the experts:

• Michael Dowling is president and CEO of Northwell Health and author of After the Roof Caved In, released in 2022, and Leading Through a Pandemic, released in 2020. 
• Dr. Carney is chief of geriatric and palliative medicine, and medical director of post-acute services at Northwell Health; she also served as Nassau County health commissioner.

Get more expert insights from leading experts in the field — Northwell Newsroom. 

Watch this episode of Watch episode on YouTube. 

For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit http://bit.ly/2Z7iHFL and explore our many opportunities.  

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ACL tears and the menstrual cycle: Is there a connection?

This fall, nearly 200 female college athletes from Pace University will help Amy West, MD, try to answer a question that has troubled her since her college sports career: What effect, if any, does the menstrual cycle have on sports-related injuries? In a first-of-its-kind study, Dr. West, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Northwell Health, will be particularly interested in ACL injuries; compared to men, women have three to six times greater risk of an injury to this knee ligament. On this episode, Dr. West discusses her study, the dire need to improve injury prevention in female athletes across the board, and what women can do now to reduce their risk of injury. 

Podcast transcript

This is Part 2 of our series focusing on women’s health. All year long, we’ll be covering topics affecting women, from issues around ovarian and lung cancer to federal funding for women’s health research, to the lack of gender-specific studies, which we covered in Ep. 1, featuring two prominent leaders in women's health, Stacey Rosen, MD, and Nisha Parikh, MD. You can listen to that episode in our feed. 

Get more expert insights from leading experts in the field — Northwell Newsroom. 

Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube. 

For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit http://bit.ly/2Z7iHFL and explore our many opportunities.  

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Women's health: Funding better research, saving more lives

For the first time in 30 years, the federal government is taking action to improve women's health through funding better research, a move that took shape in March with President Joe Biden's executive order promising hundreds of millions of dollars in funding. The administration says this initiative, supported by numerous federal agencies, will galvanize new research on a wide range of topics, such as heart disease, menopause, autoimmune disorders,  migraines, certain cancers. It will also address the barriers that women face in joining clinical trials, among other proposed actions. 

The last major initiative around women's health research came in 1993 with the passage of a law requiring women and minorities be included in all clinical research. Despite these efforts, women, and in particular minority women, continue to be underrepresented today. On this episode, host Sandra Lindsay, RN, speaks with Stacey Rosen, MD, and Nisha Parikh, MD, MPH, about the new push from the Biden Administration, the need to remedy these disparities, and what health systems, businesses, community groups and individuals can do to help. 

About the experts: 

• Dr. Rosen is a renowned cardiologist and the Executive Director for Women's Health at Northwell Health.
• Dr. Parikh recently joined Northwell as its system director for the Women's Heart Program in the Cardiovascular Institute and Katz Institute for Women’s Health.

Get more expert insights from leading experts in the field — Northwell Newsroom. 

Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube. 

For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit http://bit.ly/2Z7iHFL and explore our many opportunities.  

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How good leadership equals good health — for people and businesses

When you hear words like abundance and scarcity, you think of food, water and other essentials. For Laura Freebairn-Smith, PhD, author of "Abundance Leaders: Creating Energy, Joy, and Productivity in an Unsettled World," those words apply to styles of leadership. As she explains to host Sandra Lindsay, RN, these concepts can guide you in becoming a better leader, co-worker, partner and person. Listen in as they explore the intersection of leadership and health and reveal how embracing abundance leads to a fuller, happier life.

About the expert

Prior to co-founding OPG, where she is a partner, Laura served as Director of Yale’s Organizational Development and Learning Center, which she helped create. She has also consulted for the New York Times, Lemann Foundation and ESPN.

Get more expert insights from leading experts in the field — Northwell Newsroom. 

Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube. 

For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit http://bit.ly/2Z7iHFL and explore our many opportunities.  

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