Minnesota plays a unique role in the arena of health, with impactful political/cultural moments, and important contributions from institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Hazelden, UCare, among others. Over the decades, MPR News and American RadioWorks have produced a breadth of reports and programming specifically dedicated to the subject of health. This collection includes interviews, debates, speeches, and documentaries that provide greater detail to the many facets of healthcare, from both a local and national perspective.
April 4, 1971 - Benjamin Spock speaking at Augsburg College. Address was in honor of the Minnesota 8, sponsored by the Minnesota 8 Defense Committee. Topics of Spock’s address were on politics, social injustice, environment, and health. Spock’s speech was initially interrupted by women right’s protesters, reading excerpts from his book that the protesters viewed as marginalizing women.
May 2, 1972 - MPR’s Paul Gruchow reports on the efforts of Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) to have toys deemed dangerous by group removed from retail stores.
May 30, 1972 - MPR’s Paul Gruchow interviews Dr. Charles H. Mayo II about health security and the problems of current healthcare system.
May 31, 1972 - MPR’s Paul Gruchow interviews Dr. Charles H. Mayo II about national health insurance. Mayo formed a Minnesota organization to push for passage of national health legislation.
August 4, 1972 - MPR’s Paul Gruchow talks with community Mankato drug stores on the struggles of medication costs and cooperatives.
October 2, 1972 - Consumer should be aware of the cost of prescription drugs and the cost should be standardized. Neighborhood drug stores cost more than the discount drug store.
October 5, 1972 - MPR’s Martin Granger interviews author Benjamin Spock about his writing and political criticism of him.
October 6, 1972 - Dr. John Bonica expert on pain discusses the application of acupuncture for use as anesthesia in surgery. The history of acupuncture and its use in China and now the United States.
October 6, 1972 - St. Cloud was chosen by a committee that had a shortage of medical training for their medical community. The medical community is looking to boast their training and offerings such as x-rays.
October 18, 1972 - Brian Peterson speaks to the need for improved health care. Decentralized health care institutions. Charles McCrary speaks for the hospital. Physicians retiring and new people are moving into neighborhood, a neighborhood which desperately needs a hospital.