First hour: An update on the crisis in Puerto Rico, and cultural competency in medical care
Second hour: How can American end its oil addiction?
A new study from researchers at Harvard estimates that nearly 5,000 people may have died in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria. That's more than 70 times the death toll reported by the government, and more than twice the number of deaths from Hurricane Katrina. Faculty members and research fellows at the University of Rochester Medical Center were part of the response team in Puerto Rico, helping medical personnel on the island set up mobile medical units. Prior to the hurricane, the URMC team was conducting research projects in Puerto Rico, and came to understand the differences in medical infrastructures between the mainland and the island. Members of that team will join us to discuss cultural competency in medical care, the challenges in bringing aid to devastated areas where caregivers may not speak the patients' language, and how to help resident medical personnel care for their people. Our guests:
- Dr. Tim Dye, associate chair of research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rochester Medical Center
- José Pérez-Ramos, a native of Puerto Rico and current doctoral student in Translational Biomedical Science at the University of Rochester
- Hilda Rosario Escher, president of the Ibero American Action League
Then in our second hour, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe recently wrote that ending America's oil addiction will be a lot harder than many people think. Our panel discusses the practical challenges and possible solutions to creating a national infrastructure without oil. In studio:
- Sue Hughes Smith, member of Rochester People's Climate Coalition
- Suzanne Hunt, founder of Hunt Green LLC and director of strategic development at Hunt Country Vineyards
- Tim McGowan, founder and co-leader of Citizen's Climate Lobby of Rochester
- Eric Hittinger, assistant professor of public policy at RIT
