Healthcare is Human
Since 2020, Healthcare is Human (HIH) has been telling authentic healthcare stories.
Dr. Ryan McCarthy created HIH in Martinsburg, WV, to give voice to individuals who were under-represented as the Covid-19 pandemic began. Since then, HIH has grown exponentially and is now a complex narrative medicine initiative. Writer, poet, and narrative medicine expert Renée K. Nicholson co-hosts the podcast.
Molly Humphreys, native of Shepherdstown, WV, photographer on the project, has captured hundred of images of healthcare workers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Visit HIH on Facebook and Instagram to see these incredible photos . Molly's world class portfolio can be found by searching for Piccadilly Posh.
Kym Mattioli produces the podcast.
HIH is supported by grants from the West Virginia Humanities Council, WVU Foundation, and generous donors across West Virginia.
Our first exhibit "Wild, Wonderful and Brave: Fighting the Pandemic in the Eastern Panhandle" ran at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA, from June 2022-June 2023.
Our most recent exhibit was in the Pylons Commons at the Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center in Morgantown, WV, feom September 2023 through June 2024. Dozens of the best photographs were featured alongside poetry by Marc Harshman, Torli Bush, Renée K. Nicholson, and Randi Ward. Our companion film, HEALTHCARE IS HUMAN, directed by Corwyn “Cory” Garman, can be viewed inside the William A. Neal Museum.
Original music for our films and museum exhibitions is composed by Robert Sears and Jared Sims. Isaac McCarthy plays the banjo on the podcast.
Healthcare is Human has been featured in 100 Days in Appalachia, West Virginia Public Radio, Synapsis, INSider, KevinMD, and the Gold Foundation.
A book is in development as is HIH curricula at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. HIH is a signature program of the WVU Internal Medicine Residency at the Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV.
Find us on TED.com to hear our origin story.
Healthcare is Human
Mountain Metabolics: Tabitha Physioc, Hospital Social Worker
Healthcare is Human: Mountain Metabolics continues an in-depth look at individuals working in obesity, diabetes, and metabolic healthcare in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. We meet Tabitha Physioc, a hospital-based social worker, who tells Healthcare is Human, “Hospital social work is all about empowerment, giving people the opportunity to make their voices heard.”
“I remember twenty years ago when I wouldn’t see churches involved, but I know many churches in the community who have health-related ministries. Or, they have a nurse or a social worker and their church is a hub for filling out documents like advanced directives. And I remember when that felt strange to me, but that is a piece of the healthcare system that has moved into the faith space.”
“Insurance and transportation are two of the hardest issues that we have in our community. And, with chronic conditions… like diabetes, it is very hard with insulin because many folks in West Virginia struggle with insurance, and diabetic drugs are so expensive.”
This episode includes the original poem, Reviewer’s Notes, read by its author, Renée K.Nicholson. Music written and performed by Robert Sears.
Healthcare is Human was created by Ryan McCarthy and is a signature program of the Internal Medicine Residency at the Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV.
This podcast is engineered by Kym Mattioli.
Photography by Molly Humphreys, native of Shepherdstown, WV, whose world-class portfolio can be found by searching for Piccadilly Posh Photography.
Healthcare is Human is supported by the West Virginia Humanities Council, WVU Medicine, and generous donors in our community.
Isaac McCarthy plays the banjo to open and close the show.
Healthcare is Human is featured on TED.com, KevinMD, Synapsis, Narrative Mindworks, and 100 Days in Appalachia.
#healthcareishuman
Be sure to visit Healthcare is Human on Facebook and Instagram. If you have a great idea for a podcast, we would love to hear from you.
