The Rhode to Health: A Podcast from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island

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.

We're in the last few days of Black History Month, and during this time, we look back on and celebrate Black leaders from the past. But it's just as important to think about future leaders. Needed change can only happen when representation exists in the rooms where decisions happen. Today, on this episode, we hear from a Rhode Island leader who is building a pipeline of leaders of color for positions of influence throughout the state. Angie Bannerman Ankoma is vice president and executive director of the Equity Leadership Initiative (or ELI) at the Rhode Island Foundation. Angie sat down with Jenny Bautista-Ravreby, diversity, equity, and inclusion manager at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. They talked about the great work that ELI is doing to strengthen the leadership landscape in the Ocean State.

Learn more aboutThe  Equity Leadership Initiative here.

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

February is Heart Health Awareness Month, and today, we'll be engaging in conversations, and tackling some difficult topics on how to make your heart healthier. You'll hear from a Blue Cross associate who has learned to turn loss into activism. We'll be joined by Michelle Clark from the American Heart Association. And finally, a Blue Cross & Blue Shield Rhode Island dietitian will share insights on how to eat more heart-healthy without the heartbreaking decision to give up all your favorite foods.

Learn how you can help the American Heart Association here.

To meet with a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island dietitian call, click, or come by one of our five Your Blue Store Locations.

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

Join us as we look back on the 2023 Road to Health podcast season, reliving moments of happiness, connection, and community strength. In this episode, we'll chat with a Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island dietitian for tips on sticking to dietary resolutions. We'll hear from two practitioners using creative play to improve children's mental health. Explore the diverse definitions of joy from our employee business resource groups. Learn from a Rhode Island institution safeguarding dignity and hygiene health. Finally we'll celebrate the 20th birthday of the BlueAngel Community Health Grant. It's a journey through the year's inspiring stories and valuable insights on the road to wellness.

Here some of the episodes we featured segments from:

The Rhode to Resolution

20 Years: BlueAngel Community Health Grant

The Rhode to Black Health

The Rhode to Women's Health

The Rhode to Creativity

Rhode to LGBTQIA+ Allyship

The Rhode to Latinx Health

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

For the past eight years Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island has been working to create health settings that are transparently inclusive, safe, affirming and welcoming to LGBTIA+ people through the Safe Zone Program. We believe LGBTQIA+ Rhode Islanders deserve to be cared for by providers who show a commitment to LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Safe Zone certification has blossomed to include a wide variety of healthcare settings that meet the unique needs of this population where they are. The program now boasts 117 Safe Zone locations, 37 of which joined in our fall 2023 cohort. Scott Gowrie, Safe Zone program lead, cohosts, as we hear from several of these new Safe Zone providers and learn about their ongoing journey toward LGBTQIA+ inclusion and the pursuit of Safe Zone certification.

If you are a provider interested in learning more about the Safe Zone program go to:
www.bcbsri.com/providers/safezone-program

If you'd like to find a Safe Zone participating health care provider go to:
www.bcbsri.com/safezones

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

Blue Cross is dedicated to helping Rhode Islanders stay healthy as they age. And for good reason. Rhode Island's population is one of the oldest in the United States. And healthy aging means more than just maintaining physical health as we get older. It means aging with dignity, mental well-being, and secure access to social determinants of health like housing and food. Ensuring healthy aging is a big job. Of course, aging affects all of u. And that's why we're dedicating today's episode to this important topic. We'll speak with Maria Cimini, Director of the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging, learn about everything available to older Rhode Islanders at a Your Blue Store, and hear from a chef and a dietitian about how we can eat smarter as we age.
To learn more about the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging go to oha.ri.gov. If you need to report elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation and self-neglect call 401-462-0555. Reports can also be entered via a secure Web Intake line.
Click here to learn more about Your Blue Stores.
View the schedule of upcoming events such as exercise, education, or nutrition classes here.
You can find more information about the MIND diet here.