In this episode we'll be exploring three examples of folks fighting to protect healthcare spaces in Rhode Island.

This April, we acknowledge Black Maternal Health Week. We'll hear a recent conversation between Dr. Farah Shafi, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island’s chief medical officer; Ana Sofia de Brito, a certified nurse midwife at Women & Infants, and Stacy Waters, executive producer of the RI PBS docuseries, "The Risk of Giving Birth", as together, they highlight the inequities in maternal health outcomes for black and brown birthing people and offer recommendations on what can be done within the healthcare system to address this crisis.

Next, we revisit the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island Safe Zone program, protecting healthcare spaces for the LGBTQIA+ population with the add of five exciting new facilities certified.

Finally, we sat down with Libby Swan, Executive Director of Rhode Island Mission of Mercy, to discuss their no-cost, two-day clinic, providing needed access to oral healthcare for Rhode Islanders with barriers to this care.

Click here to watch "The Risk of Giving Birth" on RIPBS.

Learn more about Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island's Safe Zone program.

Find out more about RIMOM two-day dental clinic here.

Be healthy. Be well. And keep your eyes on the Rhode.

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, we are joined by two women who are passionate about addressing health equity. Carolyn Belisle is Blue Cross’s Managing Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Carrie Bridges is Vice President of Community Health and Equity for Lifespan Health System. We sat down for a frank discussion about the state of women’s health equity, health equity overall, and the tremendous work needed to turn change into transformation.

Be healthy. Be well. And keep your eyes on the Rhode.