Minnesota plays a unique role in the arena of health, with impactful political/cultural moments, and important contributions from institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Hazelden, UCare, among others. Over the decades, MPR News and American RadioWorks have produced a breadth of reports and programming specifically dedicated to the subject of health. This collection includes interviews, debates, speeches, and documentaries that provide greater detail to the many facets of healthcare, from both a local and national perspective.
November 5, 1986 - Mitch Snyder, homeless advocate, speaking at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth and sponsored by the College's Center for the Study of Peace and Justice. Snyder’s address was titled, “The Hungry and Homeless in America." Snyder is a member of the Washington D.C. based community for creative non-violence, which provides food, shelter and other help for about two thousand Washingtonians each day. Snyder has received attention for several acts of civil disobedience on behalf of homeless people and he is perhaps best known for his highly publicized fifty-one day fast in 1984. That fast reportedly helped convince President Reagan to release almost one million dollars in funds to begin converting an unused, federally owned building into a one thousand bed shelter for the homeless.
January 2, 1987 - On this Sportfolio program, Tom Copeland, Twin Cities physical therapist, discusses health and fitness. Copeland also answers listener questions. Opening segment of program is brief report on Jerry Burn’s animated comments at Minnesota Vikings press conference.
February 13, 1987 - Jan Smaby, president of Spring Hill Center, discusses public policy. Topics include AIDS, diversity, and politics. Smaby also answers listener questions. Ms. Smaby is co-host of the popular public affairs program, "Almanac" on public television. Smaby came to the job at Spring Hill last fall, after serving as director of Hennepin County's Human Service Department and as chairman of Minnesota's Sentencing Guidelines Commission. Spring Hill is a conference center just west of the Twin Cities where policy makers from many parts of the community can go to hash out ideas. It likes to place itself on the cutting edge of public policy, dealing with emerging issues, rather than ones that have been around for a while.
February 21, 1987 - On this Weekend program, Dr. Susan Erbaugh, director of Mental Health Services at Minneapolis Children's Medical Center, discusses infant through adolescent mental health. Topics include teenage suicide, two-home family dynamics, discipline, sibling relationships, and support systems.
April 7, 1987 - Dr. David Henry Feldman and Dr. Sylvia Feinburg, members of the department of child study at Tufts University, discuss childhood development and creativity. Topics include prodigies, autism, art, and gender differences. Feldman and Feinberg also answer listener questions.
May 10, 1987 - Midday presents the documentary “Williams Pipeline Under Fire: The South Dakota Story,” which looks into gasoline leaks and spills, as well as information about other unsafe and possibly illegal activities at Williams Pipeline Companies Sioux Falls, South Dakota terminal.
May 12, 1987 - Michael Osterholm, state epidemiologist for the State of Minnesota, answers questions about AIDS. Osterholm discusses the impact of disease in Minnesota and the view of AIDS as an epidemic.
June 6, 1987 - On this Weekend program, Ken Kline, child psychologist, discusses children in the summer. Topics include independent time, summer school programs, camps, chores, family vacations, and part-time parenting. Kline also answer listener questions.
July 17, 1987 - MPR’s Jerry Cassidy reports on the ongoing concerns and efforts to address pollution of Lake Superior waters. A growing culprit is coming from the toxic airborne sources.
August 4, 1987 - Tom Kalitowski, executive director of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, discusses air and water quality, hazardous waste, and other current pollution issues. Kalitowski also answers listener questions.