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!

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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.”

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New research. New technology. New possibilities.

On this special 2025 Rewind and Look Ahead episode of “Conversations on Health Care,” hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter turn their focus to the breakthroughs, discoveries and innovators shaping what comes next. “Health innovations and breakthroughs that seemed impossible years ago became closer to reality in 2025,” says Mark.

We revisit pivotal conversations with leaders driving real-world change, including:

1. Samantha Hutten (Michael J. Fox Foundation) on accelerating Parkinson’s research
2. Dr. Nora Volkow (National Institute on Drug Abuse) on addiction science and policy
3. Drs. Robert Pearl and Brian Anderson on the promise and risks of AI in health care
4. Dr. Kenneth Cooper, whose prevention-first vision is influencing modern care models

We also learned about major developments in Long COVID research, including global studies and clinical investigations aimed at understanding its causes and long-term impact.

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Health care policy faced major upheavals during the past 12 months and the effects are already being felt.

On this special 2025 Rewind and Look Ahead episode of “Conversations on Health Care,” hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter reflect on the moments that defined the year and what may come next. This episode is Part 1 of a two-part 2025 rewind.

The conversation revisits the passage of H.R. 1, which was the largest Medicaid reduction in the program’s history, and the ripple effects states and families are already experiencing. Mark and Margaret also look back on the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and the battle over extending the Obamacare subsidies.

In addition, we hear from national health policy leaders, reporters and advocates, including voices from CMS, KFF Health News, primary care, telehealth and the 340B community. The program also marked the 60th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, reflecting on the programs’ legacies and future during a transformative time.

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Eighty percent of maternal deaths in the United States are considered preventable. So why do they keep happening?

On this episode of “Conversations on Health Care,” hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter are joined by award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Irin Carmon for a thoughtful conversation about pregnancy, care, and what gets lost when she says systems stop listening.

Carmon’s new book, “Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America,” draws on 15 years of reporting and the stories of five women navigating very different parts of the American maternal health system. Rather than a political argument, the discussion focuses on lived experience, reporting and what compassion and accountability can look like in maternal health care.

“Pregnancy can be a gift. But nothing can truly be considered a gift when it comes wrapped in coercion or paternalistic silence,” Carmon wrote.

Through these stories, Carmon explores why preventable tragedies still occur, even in places with advanced health care, and what she has learned by listening closely to patients, families and clinicians.

“We know what makes a difference. Listening when someone says something doesn’t feel right is as sophisticated as you need to get.”

The episode touches on maternal mortality, postpartum care, midwifery models and why improving outcomes starts with recognizing the humanity of the person who is pregnant.

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Congress is scrambling to find a solution to the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of the year. Without action, premiums are set to rise sharply for millions of Americans, creating a major health care cliff as 2026 approaches.

Congressional reporters Sandhya Raman (CQ Roll Call) and Robert King (Politico) join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter to help make sense of the fast-moving negotiations and what is likely to happen next.

King captures the mood inside Congress as competing proposals circulate without leadership support. As he explains, “But right now, there has not been any indication from Speaker Johnson that he is going to be advocating for any of the compromise legislation that is being discussed in the House.”

Raman looks ahead to the broader forces that will shape the policy debate over the next year. She says, “I think affordability and the forms of that will be a big thing, whether or not we get any sort of deal on ACA or some of the other things that have been in the mix. Congress has been very interested in PBM reform and things like that to bring down health costs. So I think going into next year, regardless of what happens in the next couple weeks, that will be definitely something big to watch here.”

Together, their insights offer a timely look at why the subsidy cliff is proving so hard to solve, why the Senate’s competing plans are unlikely to pass, and how issues like abortion coverage and health savings account proposals are adding new complications to an already crowded landscape.

They also share their predictions for the top health care story of 2026, including the trends they believe will shape the year ahead for patients, providers, and policymakers.

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The doctor who once led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sees trouble ahead:

1. There’s been a significant decrease in people taking the COVID and flu vaccines
2. Europe is experiencing the worst flu season in years (an early indicator of problems in the U.S.)
3. CDC data show that Influenza infections are growing or likely growing in 41 states

“It’s not good…what we have seen from Europe is a very early and very severe flu season, something that could mean more hospitalizations.”

Dr. Tom Frieden says confusing vaccine guidance, limited access and weakened public health systems are contributing to fewer shots in arms. He also shares insights from his new book, “The Formula for Better Health: How to Save Millions of Lives—Including Your Own.” He explains his “See, Believe, Create” formula for building a healthier future and his broader call for a public health system that listens to communities and makes vaccination easier. Dr. Frieden now leads Resolve to Save Lives, which works to close the gap between proven, life-saving solutions and the people who need them around the world.

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