Stronger communities begin with good health — for everyone.
But how can we get there? Some people are more likely to develop chronic health conditions, simply because of where they live, their economic status, their level of education, and even access to grocery stores. These factors — and underlying inequities — influence the decisions people can make which may lead to life-altering consequences regarding their health. Experts recognize this set of factors with a name: social determinants of health.
Behavioral scientist and host Dr. Ellen Beckjord explores this key issue in eight episodes with other experts.
Episodes
Improving Health as a Community
In Episode 1, we hear from Father Paul Abernathy, who discusses the impact groundbreaking nonprofit, the Neighborhood Resilience Project, is having in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood. We also hear from Ray Prushnok, associate vice president of program development and executive director of the UPMC Center for Social Impact.
T...
Connecting Individuals to the Social Safety Net
How can people get the help they need, when they need it most?
In Episode 2, we learn more about ways to connect people to social services across Pennsylvania.
We hear from Dr. Dan Swayze, vice president of Community Services for the UPMC Health Plan and the director of operations for UPMC Innovative Homecare Solutions,...
Better Jobs, Better Health
What does a job have to do with your physical health? Plenty, as it turns out. In this episode, we hear about how innovative partnerships across the commonwealth are training people and helping them to gain employment.
For example, UPMC Health Plan’s Pathways to Work program helps its members gain training and jobs, through partners...
How a Home Helps Your Health
Those without stable housing are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions compared to those who have the security of a home, research shows.
In Episode 4, we hear from Everett McElveen, chief executive officer of Community Human Services in Pittsburgh, which helps people secure housing. We also hear from John Lovelace, p...
Access for One, Access for All
How can we create more inclusive care for the LGBTQ+ community, and what role can a health insurer play?
In this episode, we hear from Shireen Haq, a program director in UPMC Health Plan’s National Network Development & Strategic Expansion team. She works with providers that care for underserved populations to develop strategies and...
About the host
Dr. Ellen Beckjord
Vice President, Clinical Strategy and Program Optimization
UPMC Health Plan
Dr. Ellen Beckjord, MPH, is host of the “Good Health, Better World” podcast.
Ellen is a behavioral scientist, epidemiologist, and licensed clinical psychologist working at the intersection of population and digital health.
Her work focuses on promoting health, wellness, and health behavior change. She is vice president of clinical strategy and program optimization for UPMC Health Plan based in Pittsburgh.
Ellen trained at the University of Vermont, where she worked with cancer survivors and their families, at Vanderbilt University, and at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
She completed post-doctoral research at the National Cancer Institute in the Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch within the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences. She spent nearly five years in academic medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and Hillman Cancer Center.
Ellen also is the co-author of “Porchtraits” in which she interviewed people in Pittsburgh during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic about what they were learning, missing, enjoying, what surprised them, and what they felt hopeful about. A long-time member of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Ellen currently serves on the Board of Directors as President-Elect.
Ellen’s guiding principle: “Lead with love.”