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Health Is the Key: Daily Summaries Delivered
by 1199SEIU Benefit and Pension Funds
The Health Is the Key podcast is dedicated to you, our 1199SEIU members — healthcare workers who all too often put the health and well-being of others ahead of your own. By tuning in, you will learn how you can make your own health a priority with the latest information from leading medical experts, mental health professionals and other health leaders. You will learn about the wealth of programs, services and other resources the Benefit Funds provide to support you, wherever you are on your health journey.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 6 days ago3 min
Key Note: Your “Why” Matters!
Our September episode focused on the power of food to prevent and treat diabetes, hypertension and other chronic conditions. Our guest, Dr. Michelle McMacken, Executive Director for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals, joined us to discuss the innovative program she created at H+H and the impact this approach can have on your overall health. In this month’s Key Note, Dr. McMacken reveals the important first step to help kick-start your health journey and shares why where you start may matter more than you think. The Takeaway We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/member-feedback. Drop us a line at our social media channels: Facebook // Instagram // YouTube. Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician to know your numbers. Get to know your numbers at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts. For information about the Lifestyle Medicine Programs at NYC Health + Hospitals, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/services/lifestyle-medicine-program or call the “Broccoli Hotline” at (347) 507-3695. Find healthy recipes and meal-prep tips at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/food-as-medicine. Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices. Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on building healthy meals, managing stress and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: www.youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists. Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. Guest Bio Michelle McMacken, MD, FACP, DipABLM, is Executive Director of Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal public healthcare system in the U.S. A practicing internist at New York City’s Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, she also directed Bellevue’s Adult Weight Management Program from 2005 to 2022. In 2019, Dr. McMacken founded the innovative Bellevue Lifestyle Medicine Program, among the first of its kind in a safety-net setting. She now leads the expansion of this program to a total of seven sites throughout New York City. The interdisciplinary program, which has received national attention and high demand for services, aims to improve cardiometabolic health in high-risk communities by combining support for lifestyle change with strategies to address health-related social needs. An Associate Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Dr. McMacken has received the faculty “Teacher of the Year” award three times. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Yale University and her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She has presented at numerous academic conferences, including the American College of Physicians and the American Diabetes Association. She is board-certified in both internal medicine and lifestyle medicine.
- 2 weeks ago21 min
The Lifestyle Rx to Fight Diabetes, with Dr. Michelle McMacken
To celebrate National Fruits and Veggies Month, we’re dedicating our September episode to healthy eating! We’re so fortunate to be joined by Dr. Michelle McMacken, Executive Director of Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals. Dr. McMacken discusses the innovative program she created at H+H that uses lifestyle medicine to treat and prevent diabetes, as well as other chronic conditions such as heart disease and hypertension. A plant-based diet is at the heart of the program, but Dr. McMacken emphasizes that even small changes can produce big results. One of her simplest tips? Take a “low-hanging fruit” approach…by eating more fruit! Combined with three other healthy habits—regular exercise, avoiding tobacco and maintaining a healthy weight—a nutritious diet can help reduce the risk of everything from type 2 diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol to heart disease, certain cancers and even dementia. The Takeaway We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/member-feedback. Drop us a line at our social media channels: Facebook// Instagram // YouTube. Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician to know your numbers. Get to know your numbers at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts. For information about the Lifestyle Medicine Programs at NYC Health + Hospitals, visit nychealthandhospitals.org/services/lifestyle-medicine-program or call the “Broccoli Hotline” at (347) 507-3695. Find healthy recipes and meal-prep tips at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/food-as-medicine. Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices. Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on building healthy meals, managing stress and more: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists. Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. Guest Bio Michelle McMacken, MD, FACP, DipABLM, is Executive Director of Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal public healthcare system in the U.S. A practicing internist at New York City’s Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, she also directed Bellevue’s Adult Weight Management Program from 2005 to 2022. In 2019, Dr. McMacken founded the innovative Bellevue Lifestyle Medicine Program, among the first of its kind in a safety-net setting. She now leads the expansion of this program to a total of seven sites throughout New York City. The interdisciplinary program, which has received national attention and high demand for services, aims to improve cardiometabolic health in high-risk communities by combining support for lifestyle change with strategies to address health-related social needs. An Associate Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Dr. McMacken has received the faculty “Teacher of the Year” award three times. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Yale University and her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She has presented at numerous academic conferences, including the American College of Physicians and the American Diabetes Association. She is board-certified in both internal medicine and lifestyle medicine.
- Aug 19, 20264 min
Key Note: How Vaccines Are Put to the Test
To mark National Immunization Awareness Month, we explored the power of vaccines with Dr. Rebecca Choudhury in our August episode. In this month’s Key Note, Dr. Choudhury lays to rest concerns about vaccines’ safety, walking us through the rigorous approval process they undergo before they reach your doctor’s office or pharmacy. Her insights highlight why vaccines remain one of the most effective ways to protect not only our own health but also the health of our loved ones, co-workers and communities. The Takeaway We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/member-feedback. Drop us a line at our social media channels: Facebook // Instagram // YouTube. For vaccine information and resources created especially for healthcare workers, visit the Immunization Action Coalition’s website: www.immunize.org. To find info on everything from vaccine schedules and FAQs to testimonials, visit www.vaccineinformation.org. Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician to know your numbers: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyrelationships. Get to know your numbers at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts. Relieve stress with mindfulness classes at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyminds. Find healthy recipes and meal-prep tips at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/food-as-medicine. Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices. Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on building healthy meals, managing stress and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: www.youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists. Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. For information and resources created especially for healthcare workers, visit the Immunization Action Coalition’s website: www.immunize.org. To find info on everything from vaccine schedules and FAQs to testimonials, visit www.vaccineinformation.org. Guest Bio Rebecca Choudhury, MD, is an Infectious Disease Physician and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She also serves as the Hospital Epidemiologist and Medical Director of Infection Prevention at Mount Sinai Queens. After completing her undergraduate studies at Columbia University, Dr. Choudhury earned her medical degree from Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. She then pursued her residency in Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt University before finishing with an Infectious Disease Fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center. With her board certifications in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Dr. Choudhury's clinical interests include general infectious diseases, HIV care, antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention. Dr. Choudhury is also involved in research, with her interests including hospital-acquired infections and quality improvement. Along with other members of the Mount Sinai Health System Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Stewardship teams, she has worked on studies related to decreasing blood culture contamination rates and hospital-acquired bloodstream and antibiotic-resistant bac
- Aug 5, 202625 min
The Power of Vaccines, with Dr. Rebecca Choudhury
It’s National Immunization Awareness Month, so for our August episode, we take a closer look at one of the greatest public health achievements of all time: vaccines. For decades, vaccines have helped protect millions of people from serious diseases and saved countless lives along the way. To help us better understand why vaccines remain so important, we’re joined by Dr. Rebecca Choudhury, an Infectious Disease Physician and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Choudhury gives us a crash course in vaccines—how they work, how they’re tested for safety, who should get them (spoiler: pretty much all of us) and when, and why they continue to be one of our best tools for staying healthy. The Takeaway We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/member-feedback. Drop us a line at our social media channels: Facebook// Instagram // YouTube. For vaccine information and resources created especially for healthcare workers, visit the Immunization Action Coalition’s website: immunize.org. To find info on everything from vaccine schedules and FAQs to testimonials, visit vaccineinformation.org. Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician to know your numbers: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyrelationships. Get to know your numbers at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts. Relieve stress with mindfulness classes at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyminds. Find healthy recipes and meal-prep tips at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/food-as-medicine. Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices. Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on building healthy meals, managing stress and more: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists.
- Jul 15, 20262 min
Key Note: GLP-1 Shots vs. Pills
In our July episode, we went beyond the headlines to get the facts about GLP-1 medications with Dr. Holly Lofton, Director of the Medical Weight Management Program at NYU Langone. In this month’s Key Note episode, Dr. Lofton explains how the new oral GLP-1 medications compare with injections and shares important information that can help patients make informed decisions about their care. The Takeaway We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/member-feedback. Drop us a line at our social media channels: Facebook // Instagram // YouTube. Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician to know your numbers: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyrelationships. Get to know your numbers at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts. Relieve stress with mindfulness classes at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyminds. Find healthy recipes and meal-prep tips at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/food-as-medicine. Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices. Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on building healthy meals, managing stress and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: www.youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists. Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. Guest Bio Holly F. Lofton, MD, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery at NYU Langone Health, where she has served as director of the Medical Weight Management Program since 2012. Here, she designed the popular New You program to help her patients obtain results while fostering nutrition education and placing emphasis on a healthy lifestyle. She is currently involved in clinical research pertaining to the pharmacotherapy to treat weight recurrence after bariatric surgery as well as clinical drug trials. In her faculty role, Dr. Lofton continues to educate students and other physicians about diagnosing and treating obesity. She also educates the general public about the importance of maintaining a healthy weight through lectures, workshops, and written, audio and video media. She has served on the board of the Obesity Action Coalition, the Bariatric Medicine committee for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and the Obesity Medicine Fellowship Council. In 2021, Dr. Lofton was also appointed as the Medical Director of the NFL Alumni Wellness Challenge, which aims to optimize health in former athletes.
- Jul 1, 202623 min
Beyond the GLP-1 Buzz, with Dr. Holly Lofton
Originally developed to treat diabetes, GLP-1 medications soon made headlines for their impact on weight loss. But despite all the attention they've received, many people still have questions: How do these medications work? Are they safe? To get answers, we spoke with Dr. Holly Lofton, Director of the Medical Weight Management Program at NYU Langone. In this episode, Dr. Lofton explains the science behind GLP-1s, how they support weight loss and why adopting healthy lifestyle habits and working with your doctor are crucial to long-term success. The Takeaway We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/member-feedback. Drop us a line at our social media channels: Facebook // Instagram // YouTube. Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician to know your numbers: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyrelationships. Get to know your numbers at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts. Relieve stress with mindfulness classes at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyminds. Find healthy recipes and meal-prep tips at www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/food-as-medicine. Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices. Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on building healthy meals, managing stress and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: www.youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists. Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. Guest Bio Holly F. Lofton, MD, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery at NYU Langone Health, where she has served as director of the Medical Weight Management Program since 2012. Here, she designed the popular New You program to help her patients obtain results while fostering nutrition education and placing emphasis on a healthy lifestyle. She is currently involved in clinical research pertaining to the pharmacotherapy to treat weight recurrence after bariatric surgery as well as clinical drug trials. In her faculty role, Dr. Lofton continues to educate students and other physicians about diagnosing and treating obesity. She also educates the general public about the importance of maintaining a healthy weight through lectures, workshops, and written, audio and video media. She has served on the board of the Obesity Action Coalition, the Bariatric Medicine committee for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and the Obesity Medicine Fellowship Council. In 2021, Dr. Lofton was also appointed as the Medical Director of the NFL Alumni Wellness Challenge, which aims to optimize health in former athletes.
- Jun 17, 20266 min
Key Note: Migraine: Not Just a Bad Headache
In our June episode, we celebrated the Year of the Brain, as new discoveries continue to deepen our understanding of how the brain works. Dr. Anna Hohler, Director of Neurology for Northwell Health’s Westchester Region, joined us to share simple steps we can all take to support brain health. In this month’s Key Note, Dr. Hohler focuses on migraines—a common and often debilitating condition affecting millions – explaining what they are, who’s most at risk and how to treat and prevent them. The Takeaway We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/member-feedback. Drop us a line at our social media channels: Facebook// Instagram // YouTube. Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician to know your numbers: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyrelationships Get to know your numbers at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts. Relieve stress with mindfulness classes at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyminds. Find healthy recipes and meal-prep tips at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/food-as-medicine. Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices. Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on building healthy meals, managing stress and more: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists. Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. Guest Bio Anna DePold Hohler, MD, FAAN, is a distinguished neurologist, researcher and educator who recently joined Northwell Health to lead and enhance neurology services for its Westchester Region, as well as launch a new virtual neurology program across the 28-hospital system. An internationally recognized expert in movement disorders, she is deeply involved in research furthering novel therapies to treat Parkinson's disease. Dr. Hohler began her career in the U.S. Army, serving for eight years and achieving the rank of major.
- Jun 3, 202624 min
Secrets for a Sharper Brain, with Dr. Anna Hohler
Leading health experts have declared 2026 the Year of the Brain, and for good reason. Scientists are making exciting breakthroughs in understanding the body’s command center, from prevention to diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. The brain enables us to think, see, learn, move, feel emotions and connect with our fellow humans, so keeping it healthy is essential at every stage of life. For a refresher on all that the brain does for us—and how to keep it performing at its best—we’re joined by Dr. Anna Hohler, Director of Neurology for Northwell Health’s Westchester Region. Dr. Hohler shares insights on brain development and milestones, and explains how exercise, good nutrition, adequate sleep and stress relief work together to support a healthy brain. She also shares simple strategies—some that may surprise you—that you can use to keep your brain healthy and strong for years to come. The Takeaway We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/member-feedback. Drop us a line at our social media channels: Facebook// Instagram // YouTube. Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician to know your numbers: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyrelationships Get to know your numbers at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts. Relieve stress with mindfulness classes at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyminds. Find healthy recipes and meal-prep tips at 1199SEIUBenefits.org/food-as-medicine. Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices. Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on building healthy meals, managing stress and more: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists. Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: 1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. Guest Bio Anna DePold Hohler, MD, FAAN, is a distinguished neurologist, researcher and educator who recently joined Northwell Health to lead and enhance neurology services for its Westchester Region, as well as launch a new virtual neurology program across the 28-hospital system. An internationally recognized expert in movement disorders, she is deeply involved in research furthering novel therapies to treat Parkinson's disease. Dr. Hohler began her career in the U.S. Army, serving for eight years and achieving the rank of major.
About Health Is the Key
The Health Is the Key podcast is dedicated to you, our 1199SEIU members — healthcare workers who all too often put the health and well-being of others ahead of your own. By tuning in, you will learn how you can make your own health a priority with the latest information from leading medical experts, mental health professionals and other health leaders. You will learn about the wealth of programs, services and other resources the Benefit Funds provide to support you, wherever you are on your health journey.
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