New School of Medicine podcast explores impact of environment on our health

Medical students at SIU School of Medicine in collaboration with WSIU Public Broadcasting have created ‘So ILL,’ a new podcast that explores the relationship between the environment and our health. 

Shortly after their arrival on the Carbondale campus, new medical students are taught about the social determinants of health: how the factors a patient experiences outside the doctor’s office – in their home environment, access to transportation and fresh food, personal safety, etc. – can influence their health. Understanding these daily conditions can lead to better treatments and outcomes for the patient.

The podcasts will take a similar holistic approach, spotlighting ways the environment can affect our health, especially within rural communities, and supply listeners with simple steps that they can take to make a positive change.

Each episode features students having conversations with an expert in their field of study, discussing topics such as microplastics, health care waste, green burials and more. The collective goal is to raise awareness, learn ways to improve upon the impact we have on our environment, and share the information with listeners, patients, members of the community and institutions. 

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