Renowned neurologist and researcher Dr. Ray Dorsey unequivocally writes that we’re “fueling the rise of Parkinson’s with continued and increased use of toxic chemicals that pollute our food, water, and air.” He co-authored the New York Times bestseller, “The Parkinson’s Plan: A New Path to Prevention and Treatment,” which explains that fewer than 15% of Parkinson’s disease cases are linked to genetics.

Parkinson’s disease is now the fastest-growing neurodegenerative condition in the world, affecting more than 1 million Americans.

Dr. Dorsey discusses evidence linking Parkinson’s risk to pesticides used on farms and golf courses, solvents used in dry cleaning, and long-term exposure to industrial chemicals. He also outlines why he believes Parkinson’s is not an inevitable consequence of aging and why prevention should be a national priority.

At the same time, this conversation addresses a key point of debate. Representatives from the chemical industry have pushed back on these conclusions, arguing there has been a rush to judgment and that some large studies do not support a causal link between specific chemicals and Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Dorsey responds directly, pointing to decades of toxicology data, animal studies, and historical evidence that he says warrants action now rather than further delay.

“I don’t think we’re rushing to judgment at all. A century of evidence is long enough. The real question is why safer alternatives were not introduced years ago,” says Dr. Dorsey.

Join “Conversations on Health Care” hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter to learn why Dr. Dorsey believes cleaning up our environment may be one of the most powerful public health tools we have right now.

And, as we begin a new year, we have a new look. “Conversations on Health Care” is now part of the Moses/Weitzman Media Group. The show will continue to bring you top national thought leaders in public health, health policy, and innovation, and offer the same in-depth conversations that have been our hallmark for more than 15 years.

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We’ve invited noted health care leader Dr. Sachin Jain back to “Conversations on Health Care” to share his predictions for the year after many came true last year.

Click the interview to get his take on:

• Whether artificial intelligence’s growing influence in the health care sector could hit a road bump in 2026
• If the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative can build on its policy achievements to date
• Why the GLP-1 revolution could suffer setbacks in the next 12 months

Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter also examine why his many fears about DOGE didn’t materialize and why he believes health equity efforts are bouncing back.

And, as we begin a new year, we have a new look! “Conversations on Health Care” is now part of the Moses/Weitzman Media Group. The show will continue to bring you top national thought leaders in public health, health policy and innovation and offer the same in-depth conversations that have been our hallmark for more than fifteen years.

Let us know what you think!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The new Rural Health Transformation Program aims to improve “healthcare access, quality, and outcomes” with $50 billion aimed at making changes to the healthcare delivery ecosystem. Keeping an eye on the state applications, the federal money awarded and how it will be used is Sarah Jane Tribble, lead rural health reporter at KFF Health News.

On this episode of “Conversations on Health Care,” hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Tribble as she offers a clear-eyed look at what this funding can and cannot do.

“This funding came as part of the big tax and spending bill, at a moment when rural America was facing deep Medicaid cuts,” Tribble explains. “The conversation in Congress was that this would help make up for those losses.”

But she warns that transparency and accountability will determine whether the program succeeds.

“I want to see the full applications posted publicly,” Tribble says. “We need to be able to hold officials accountable and make sure rural Americans are actually getting the benefit Congress intended.”

The conversation also surfaces some unexpected ideas tucked inside state proposals. From drones delivering prescriptions in Alaska to robotics improving maternity care in Alabama, states are experimenting with technology to reach communities where in-person care is scarce and broadband access remains unreliable.

At the heart of the discussion is a larger question about expectations.

“I don’t want anyone to hear ‘better than nothing’ when we talk about rural health care,” Tribble says. “I don’t want my grandmother or my mother to have better than nothing. I want them to have the best standard of care.”

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.