Healthy, Happy, and Wise Podcast Series

A series of podcasts from Northern Light Health to heal, inspire, and inform. We strive to improve our health and the health of our communities through connections and conversation.     

Does it Tick you off? When vector-borne diseases spread due to climate change
Sustainable Healthcare | Season 2 | Episode 8

Does it Tick you off? When vector-borne diseases spread due to climate change

In this episode of Sustainable Healthcare, we discuss the relation between the spread of ticks across Maine and the changing climate. If you’ve spent any time outdoors in Maine, you know ticks are showing up further north in our state and earlier in the year. They are more than just a nuisance and can carry diseases like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Our guest to discuss this topic is Andrew Donovan, Associate Vice President of Infection Prevention for Northern Light Health.

Tim Talk

Equity in healthcare

Northern Light Health President and CEO Tim Dentry explores issues of social and medical justice through inspiring conversations with those working towards meaningful change.

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Sustainable Healthcare

Climate sustainability in healthcare

Northern Light Health connects the dots between our changing climate and its effect on patient care, healthcare operations, and the environment.

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Pathways

Exploring careers in healthcare

What’s it really like to be an orthopedist, a phlebotomist, or a hospice nurse? We’ll show you a day in the life story of our diverse and talented employees.

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Access to Childbirth Services: Maternal Health Care in Rural Maine
Tim Talk | Season 5 | Episode 54

Access to Childbirth Services: Maternal Health Care in Rural Maine

Childbirth is a transformative moment in the lives of new parents. To deliver healthy, happy babies, it is critical that expectant mothers have access to high-quality maternal care. Tim talks with John Ronan, President of Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital, and Carrie Barnes, Nurse Manager of Obstetrics about access issues, amid decreasing birth rates in rural Maine, and how Northern Light Health is approaching maternal health services.

EMTs and Paramedics
Pathways | Season 2 | Episode 4

EMTs and Paramedics

Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics are in high demand across the state of Maine. Within four months, you can obtain your EMT license and in less than a year you could become a Paramedic. If you’re looking to get your foot in the door, Emergency Medical Service careers are a great way to do it. The “calm in the chaos,” Brent Watson and Rich Wilson join host Emily Tadlock to chat about what they do, why they love it, and how their careers have progressed.

Embracing the Power of Aging: Redefining the Workforce in Maine
Tim Talk | Season 5 | Episode 53

Embracing the Power of Aging: Redefining the Workforce in Maine

Join us on the latest episode of Tim Talk as we dive into the power of aging with two incredible guests: Jessica Maurer, Executive Director of the Maine Council on Aging, and Catharine Maclaren, Vice President of Talent and Diversity at Northern Light Health. In this episode, we explore the value in older workers, as we also address how to combat ageism in the workplace. Tune in to find the silver lining of Maine's aging population.

MHRT-C (Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician – Certified)
Pathways | Season 2 | Episode 3

MHRT-C (Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician – Certified)

Looking to get into the mental health side of healthcare, but unsure where to start or how to do it? Lexus Howland, an MHRT-C explains her job, how she helps people, and how she got her certification in less than two years. Her time as an MHRT-C has given her perspective and launched her towards a new career goal. Hear it all in this week’s episode of Pathways.

Eliminating Desflurane: Pioneering Sustainable Anesthesia Practices
Sustainable Healthcare | Season 2 | Episode 7

Eliminating Desflurane: Pioneering Sustainable Anesthesia Practices

We dive into the critical issue of anesthetic gases and their environmental effect. Join us as we explore how Dr. Sarah Smith, Chief of Anesthesia at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, is leading the charge to eliminate desflurane from the operating room. Discover how this transition is making a significant difference in reducing the carbon footprint of Northern Light Health.

Island Home Care and Hospice
Tim Talk | Season 5 | Episode 52

Island Home Care and Hospice

Maine's rocky coastline is dotted with many islands and many island residents who know access to many things including healthcare can be a challenge. Joining the conversation about healthcare access solutions for Maine island communities is Christina Sawtelle, resident care manager of Island Commons, Anthony Pastore, DO, medical director of Northern Light Home Care and Hospice, and Jana Grant, MSOT/L BCG, Chronic Care Management, also of Northern Light Home Care and Hospice.

Medical Assistant
Pathways | Season 2 | Episode 2

Medical Assistant

Medical Assistants are the link between patient and physician. In this episode we sit down with experienced Medical Assistant Zandra Maclean and a newly certified Medical Assistant Madeleine Dow to chat about their job. As we learned, there's a lot more to this profession than one might think.

Framing the conversation of sustainability in healthcare
Sustainable Healthcare | Season 2 | Episode 6

Framing the conversation of sustainability in healthcare

Environmental sustainability doesn’t have to be divisive. In this episode of Sustainable Healthcare, we share ways we can all find common ground. Cecilia DeLoach Lynn, Vice President of Sustainability for Advocate Health, discusses with Tim Doak, Chief Sustainability Officer at Northern Light Health, how we can frame the conversation around sustainability in ways that can resonate with a broader sector of the public.

Replay with James Varner
Tim Talk | Season 4 | Episode 51

Replay with James Varner

We look back at a conversation from 2021 with James Varner, long-time civil rights leader and activist from the Bangor region as we celebrate the life and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on his teachings. As part of this reflection Varner offers his valuable insights as a prominent community leader and one who attended the historic 1963 March on Washington where Dr. King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.

Sonography
Pathways | Season 2 | Episode 1

Sonography

We are starting a brand-new season of our Pathways podcast. This season we are focused on careers in healthcare which need two years or less of schooling or training. Kicking our season off is Nicole Rice, Ultrasound Supervisor at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. Nicole gives us a snapshot of what sonography is and what it takes to get started in this well-paying, career.

A look back at Season 4
Tim Talk | Season 4 | Episode 50

A look back at Season 4

In this episode we highlight Tim’s conversations on health equity, patient communication, building a diverse workforce, and health disparities in minority populations. Listen in, as we look back and look forward to our upcoming season 5, starting in February!

Season One Recap
Pathways | Season 1 | Episode 11

Season One Recap

Host Emily Tadlock sits down with Talent Acquisition Manager, Jessica Chubbuck to go over some of their favorite snippets from the first season of Pathways. From funny culture shocks to inspiring stories, it was a season you don’t want to miss.

Sustainable Healthcare Recap of Season 1
Sustainable Health | Season 1 | Episode 5

Sustainable Healthcare Recap of Season 1

We are getting ready for our second season of new episodes, but first a look back on our first season. We had some great discussions about healthcare and climate change, the action being taken, the buildings we work in, and how health equity fits into the conversation. Please take a listen!

Climbing the career ladder: Nursing Leadership
Pathways | Season 1 | Episode 10

Climbing the career ladder: Nursing Leadership

We started this season of Pathways with an episode on newly graduated nurses. We've covered a whole gambit of different areas of the nursing profession. Now, we finish off the season speaking with two nurses who are now leading in their profession. Shannon Jagger, Director of Nursing Excellence at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and Lindsay Holmstrom, AVP of Clinical Professional Development sit down to discuss how their nursing careers have propelled them up the ladder to leadership.

A different prospective: International Nursing
Pathways | Season 1 | Episode 9

A different prospective: International Nursing

Northern Light Health has been welcoming international nurses for some years now. Nurses from many different countries. On this episode of Pathways, we chat with Isabel Echano, an International Nurse from the Philippines, now living and working at Northern Light AR Gould Hospital in Presque Isle, Maine. Northern Light Health's Community Coordinator Vicotria Haskel helps shed some light on just how many International Nurses we have living and working in Maine with Northern Light Health.

It's not JUST patient care: Critical Care Nursing
Pathways | Season 1 | Episode 8

It's not JUST patient care: Critical Care Nursing

Critical care nursing is more than just patient care, it's also family care. Michelle Harding, Nurse Manager of the Cardiac Critical Care Unit at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, discusses what she says is a challenging but rewarding career. AVP of Patient Care Services and RN Jake Zisette joins in the conversation and talks about the role critical care nurses play in patient care as well as family care.

Making the nursing profession more accessible and affordable: Earn-While-You-Learn and Rural Nursing Education at Northern Light Health
Pathways | Season 1 | Episode 7

Making the nursing profession more accessible and affordable: Earn-While-You-Learn and Rural Nursing Education at Northern Light Health

Northern Light Health's Earn-While-Your-Learn and Rural Nursing Education programs are making it easier than ever to go back to school to become a nurse and afford it. Host Emily Tadlock sits down with Certified Nursing Assistant and Nursing Student Andrew Barnes to talk about how these programs have made it possible for him to fulfill his dreams of becoming a nurse. Clinical Educator, Carol Silsby explains how it all works and how her path as a nurse led her into education.

Serving a critical need in Maine: Psychiatric Nursing
Pathways | Season 1 | Episode 6

Serving a critical need in Maine: Psychiatric Nursing

More than 200,000 adults in Maine have mental health conditions. It is more important than ever to build a stronger mental health system that provides the care, support and services that Mainers require. A big step is building up our psychiatric nursing workforce. But what is it really like? Psychiatric nurses Mackenzie Tefft (now Mackenzie Densmore) and her sister, Miranda McKim explain what it's really like working at Northern Light Acadia Hospital.

Rural Nursing in Maine
Pathways | Season 1 | Episode 5

Rural Nursing in Maine

We're headed up to Greenville, Maine to speak with VP of Nursing Operations at Northern Light CA Dean Hospital, Brad Gilbert and the Director of Quality and Risk Management Dawn Stone. While Northern Light CA Dean Hospital is rural, the coverage area for the hospital is almost the size of Rhode Island. Gilbert and Stone both speak to the essential need for rural healthcare, especially in this area of the state. Plus, there's a brand-new hospital, some amazing accolades, and Gilbert takes us through his nursing career across the country.

Taking nursing out of the hospital: Hospice Nursing
Pathways | Season 1 | Episode 4

Taking nursing out of the hospital: Hospice Nursing

We're continuing our stint outside of the traditional hospital, with Northern Light Home Care and Hospice. This week we're catching up with Hospice Nurse Allie Rhorer who went from Marine Biology to helping patients and their families in their time of need. Hear her story and delve deeper into what it's like working in this nursing specialty.

Taking nursing out of the hospital: Home Care Nursing
Pathways | Season 1 | Episode 3

Taking nursing out of the hospital: Home Care Nursing

We're headed out of the traditional hospital, where we've been for the past two episodes, and we're exploring something a little bit different. Jessica Muzzy is a home care nurse for Northern Light Home Care and Hospice. Instead of hospital hallways, she’s seeing patients in their living rooms. She takes us through a day-to-day and lets us in on why her job is so special.

A little bit of everything: Medical Surgical Nursing
Pathways | Season 1 | Episode 2

A little bit of everything: Medical Surgical Nursing

Our paths into healthcare can sometime take unexpected turns. For nurse Victoria Sanborn, COVID turned out to be a sharp turn. Hear how she says her experience shaped her. Nurse Emily Bennett also chats about her journey into healthcare and what it’s really like being on a medical surgical floor.

From the classroom to the hospital: New Graduate Nursing
Pathways | Season 1 | Episode 1

From the classroom to the hospital: New Graduate Nursing

Everyone’s path into nursing looks a little bit different. For Nurse Gillian Corcoran, it was a winding road. We chat with her about her choice to become a nurse and her transition from the classroom into her career with Northern Light Mercy Hospital. Sarah Varney, Director of Clinical Education at Northern Light Mercy Hospital explains how Northern Light Health works to make this transition as smooth as possible for our newest nurses.

Why climate change is so unfair to our most vulnerable
Sustainable Healthcare | Season 1 | Episode 4

Why climate change is so unfair to our most vulnerable

The elderly and people living in poverty face the greatest threats to their health by the changing climate. Learn what we can do and are doing to address this.

Healthy Buildings, Healthy People
Sustainable Health | Season 1 | Episode 3

Healthy Buildings, Healthy People

Have you ever thought about how the buildings you live, work, and play in can affect your health? In our latest Sustainable Healthcare podcast, we chat with licensed architect Ellen Belknap about how changes in sustainable building construction can improve our health and the health of our planet.

What does the Maine Climate Council Do?
Sustainable Healthcare | Season 1 | Episode 2

What does the Maine Climate Council Do?

One group that is working to help the state prepare for any changes in our climate is the Maine Climate Council, of which Hannah Pingree is the co-chair. She sits down with Tim Doak, Northern Light Health Vice President of Sustainability (and also a member of the council) to talk about the role of government, industry, and everyday citizens in mitigating any climate change impacts.

Healthcare’s role in climate sustainability – Overcoming obstacles and advancing solutions.
Sustainable Healthcare | Season 1 | Episode 1

Healthcare’s role in climate sustainability – Overcoming obstacles and advancing solutions.

In our inaugural episode we explore the connections between our health and our changing climate, and what hospitals can do to be a part of the solution.

Health disparities in minority populations
Tim Talk | Season 4 | Episode 49

Health disparities in minority populations

April is National Minority Health Month, a subject Tim explores with three woman from two generations of the same family who are well versed in the subject matter.

Educating the diverse workforce of tomorrow
Tim Talk | Season 4 | Episode 48

Educating the diverse workforce of tomorrow

Tim chats with one of the first PA Students from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta to complete a clerkship at Northern Light Health. As one of the leads of the program, Darmita Wilson, Northern Light Health Vice President, Medical Education and Research also offers perspective into how this program will help recruit a diverse workforce.

Meeting People Where They Are
Tim Talk | Season 4 | Episode 47

Meeting People Where They Are

Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, CEO of Grapevine Health has spent her whole life trying to see the world of healthcare through the eyes of patients. Her insights into how they feel about the way we talk to them is eye-opening and worth a listen. She shares those insights in the latest episode of Tim Talk, which is part of the Healthy Happy and Wise podcast series.

Health Equity in Action
Tim Talk | Season 4 | Episode 46

Health Equity in Action

What is health equity, why is it important? Emily Tolman, our associate vice president of Health Equity will explain our mission. Melissa Skahan, VP of Mission Integration at Northern Light Mercy Hospital provides a concrete example of health equity at work by detailing an exciting new partnership at Mercy that is providing housing, medical care, and educational opportunities to pregnant, homeless women seeking asylum in Maine’s largest city.