Everything is connected in the digital age. How can this benefit patients who need to receive care outside of their regular provider network due to an unforeseen circumstance? In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to Kim Webster of the North Carolina Health Information Exchange Authority about NC Health Connex, which is a database that allows patient information to be accessed across systems statewide. Katlyn and Kim will talk about how HIE works, what information is (and is not) sha...

If you have ever used MAHEC’s FindMyCare WNC (aka ITACC) Map or Dashboard, you know what a great source of information it is to find care locations across the 18 westernmost counties. In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to the team from NC Maternal Mental Health MATTERS about their collaboration to add a mental health filter. They will discuss why it is important to include mental health resources, as well as how they were identified and categorized. Note: This e...

In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to guest speakers Aimee Feste, CNM and Kiran Sigmon, MD, who will dive into the challenges and treatment options surrounding perimenopause and menopause, offering practical advice for healthcare providers and women navigating these life stages. They also share some information on hormone testing limitations, the role of hormone therapy, non-hormonal treatments, and key resources available for healthcare providers and patients. Resources The Menopause...

In this episode, our guest speaker Leah Donatelli, LCMHCA, explores the profound impact of eating disorders on various aspects of a person’s life, particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum period. We discuss misconceptions, the importance of nourishment, and the need for an interdisciplinary approach to treatment. Our guest emphasizes the role of self-compassion in recovery and the importance of focusing on behaviors rather than weight. Resources Carolina Resource Ce...

Substance Use Disorder can affect anyone at any time, even during pregnancy.. Our friends at Project CARA, Carriedelle Fusco, Nurse Practitioner, and Olivia Caron, Pharmacist Practitioner, sat down with Thomas Baker, a Davidson Impact Fellow at MAHEC, to dive into the ever-evolving field of addiction medicine, focusing on the complexities of opioid use disorder and emerging substances. They also reflect on how the landscape of addiction treatment has shifted over the decades, and ...

Breastfeeding can be an important part of a baby’s health and development. But what about families who are affected by substance use disorder? this episode, a partnership with Project CARA, Dr. Amy Marietta, FM and Olivia Caron, Pharmacist Practitioner, and Georganna Cogburn IBCLC, will talk about how to support lactation and infant feeding in patients who use substances or are being treated for SUDs. Using the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine guidelines as a key resource, they w...

Paid family leave is not only good for the health and the wellness of employees and their families, but it also benefits the employers who offer it. Tina Sherman from the national maternal advocacy group MomsRising, explains why in this episode. Learn about how more companies are realizing the positive impact this policy can have, and what is being done to help more workers have access to it when needed. You’ll also hear about the role MomsRising plays in helping turn paid family ...

In this episode, our co-host Dr. Amy Santin interviews Family Medicine champions from around North Carolina. During this episode, they discuss the critical issue of improving maternal health outcomes across the state, particularly during the first postpartum year. Experts emphasize the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in reducing maternal mortality, focusing on the transition from intrapartum care to the first postpartum year and interconception care. They also explore how diffe...

If you enjoyed our episode on Centering Pregnancy, you will want to listen to this episode. Our host Chama Woydak returns to interview Dr. MacNamara who shares insights into the Centering Parenting Program—a transformative approach to supporting new parents. We’ll explore how this group model of care fosters a supportive, educational, and inclusive environment for parents, helping them navigate the challenges of early parenthood. Resources Centering Healthcare Institu...

Have you ever thought about how families can benefit from receiving care alongside others going through the same stages of pregnancy? Our host Chama Woydak talks to Amanda Brickhouse Murphy, a Certified Nurse Midwife at MAHEC, and Kelley and Matt, new parents who participated in the Centering Pregnancy program. They will explain the Centering model and how it differs from traditional prenatal care. Kelley and Matt will share their own experiences, and how the Centering program hel...

When Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina in the fall of 2024, many families were left without access to power and clean water for weeks or even months. This made commonplace tasks such as safely storing pumped breast milk nearly impossible. Brandi Harrison, a certified lactation consultant based in WNC, discusses her experience helping families navigate infant feeding during this crisis, and shares lessons learned to help others prepare for future disasters. Resources Nort...

In this episode, Katlyn Moss talks to Emily Taylor from the AFE Foundation about the pregnancy complication of Amniotic Fluid Embolism, and how the AFE Foundation helps to support and educate medical professionals. Emily shares her own story about surviving AFE and how this experience inspired her to dedicate herself to raising awareness. You will learn what AFE is, why it is often difficult to diagnose, and how it affects the patient, their family, and their care team. Emily will also ...

We are proud to kick off Season 4 of our podcast by featuring an amazing community organization, Babies Need Bottoms. Katlyn Moss talks to Megan Lyons Leimena, from Babies Need Bottoms, a nonprofit diaper bank that serves all of Western North Carolina. To address the problem of diaper needs, Babies Need Bottoms provides diapers and diapering supplies through community-based partner organizations throughout the region. They talk about how a diaper bank operates, and how lack of access to...

Tune in to this episode to hear all about the Interactive map and dashboard for Transitions, Access, and Continuity of Care (ITACC). This resource provides an overview of reproductive healthcare and substance use treatment resources across the 18 westernmost counties of North Carolina. Use it to connect patients to providers or to find a service near you! Enjoy! Podcast Survey: https://redcap.mahec.net/redcap/surveys/?s=XTM8T3RPNK Social Media Facebook: Just Us: Before...

On this episode of “Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond” we will hear from the team at the 4th Trimester Project about how they built their revolutionary postpartum toolkit. The team highlights how the tool came to be and what makes it so unique. Spoiler alert: one of those things is the input from real moms! Tune in to learn more and we hope you enjoy it! Podcast Survey: https://redcap.mahec.net/redcap/surveys/?s=XTM8T3RPNK Social Media Facebook: Just Us: Before, Birth and Beyond Podcas...

In this episode, we dive into Project CARA, a groundbreaking initiative based at MAHEC in Asheville, NC, designed to improve care for pregnant and parenting individuals with substance use disorders. We explore the innovative hub and spokes model of care that Project CARA employs to extend its reach and impact across multiple counties in WNC. We hope you enjoy this episode! Podcast Survey: https://redcap.mahec.net/redcap/surveys/?s=XTM8T3RPNK Social Media: Facebook: Just Us: Before, Birt...

Listen to this episode of Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond to understand more about intimate partner violence and the effects it can have on citizens right here in WNC. Join us in raising awareness of this tragic reality and learn about resources right here in the mountains. Podcast Survey: https://redcap.mahec.net/redcap/surveys/?s=XTM8T3RPNK Social Media Facebook: Just Us: Before, Birth and Beyond Podcast Instagram: @justus.podcast.wnc Resources Helpmate Domestic Violence Se...

This week we are joined by 4 RNs across the state! Katlyn Moss, BSN, RN, one of the hosts of our podcast, is the Region I Perinatal Nurse Champion. This means her job is to provide equitable and evidence based maternal health information to the western part of the state through the MHI grant. She works with 5 other Perinatal Nurse Champions across the state and this podcast highlights their shared “I Gave Birth” bracelet project. The “I Gave Birth” bracelet project is an educational initiativ...

This week’s guest is Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody who is a reproductive psychiatrist and the director of the UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders. She has been involved in the clinical trials for the new medications to treat postpartum depression. Take a listen to this episode to learn all about these medications and the possibilities they provide for postpartum depression treatment. We hope you enjoy! Podcast Survey: https://redcap.mahec.net/redcap/surveys/?s=XTM8T3RPNK Social Med...

Did you know that government assistance for those below the poverty line does not include period products?This is where Project Dignity comes in! For this week’s episode we sit down with the team at Project Dignity and discuss what their program provides,the beautiful way it got started and more. Enjoy! Podcast Survey: https://redcap.mahec.net/redcap/surveys/?s=XTM8T3RPNK Social Media Facebook: Just Us: Before, Birth and Beyond Podcast Instagram: @justus.podcast.wnc Resou...