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.
July 25, 1984 - PLEASE NOTE - The broadcast contains explicit language and graphic descriptions. Fred de Sam Lazaro, WSCD-Duluth reporter, presents a documentary investigating child abuse in northeastern Minnesota. The first widely publicized case of incest or child sexual abuse was the Cermak family - grandparents, uncles, aunts and parents, who were convicted about a year ago of repeated sexual abuse of children from their infancy through adolescence. Since the Cermaks, numerous other cases have been uncovered, and the prosecutor of the Cermak case, Kathleen Morris, says the problem is far more prevalent than most of us would like to believe.
August 1, 1984 - Curtis Pesmen, chief of research at Esquire magazine, discusses his new book, "How A Man Ages." Pesmen provides insight on what happen to a man’s body as he ages. Pesmen also answers listener questions.
September 7, 1984 - Arthur Caplan, associate for the humanities at The Hastings Center, speaking at a local medical conference. Caplan’s address was on the ethical problems of obtaining sufficient organs for transplant surgery.
September 7, 1984 - Steven Hillestad, vice-president of Marketing for Abbott Northwestern Hospital, speaking at "Delivering and Financing Medical Care" conference, sponsored by the Minnesota Newspaper Foundation. Hillestad’s address was titled "The Health Care Menu: New Entrees for the Market."
September 21, 1984 - Dr. Benjamin Spock discusses caring for babies and children. He also talks on geo-political issues. Dr. Spock also answer listener questions. Dr. Spock is author of numerous books, including “The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care.”
October 31, 1984 - Author Michael Harrington speaking at forum on hunger and poverty held at Macalester College. Harrington addressed the politics of hunger. After speech, Harrington answered audience questions. Harrington is the author of several books including “The Other America" and "The New American Poverty."
November 6, 1984 - Robin Duke, national co-chair of the Populations Crisis Committee and a consultant to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, speaking at Minnesota Meeting. Duke addressed the subject of global population. Duke is known for her long-standing interest in the problems of underdeveloped nations, especially in the area of women's health and family planning. She has made surveys of population programs in Bangladesh, India, Japan, Bolivia, El Salvador and Mexico. After speech, Duke answered audience questions. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
November 28, 1984 - MPR’s Jo Ann Shroyer reports on University of Minnesota-Duluth hypothermia study in the freezing waters of Lake Superior. Shroyer views and describes an actual human experiment in the dangerous waters.
December 31, 1984 - Nancy Amidei, director of the Food Resources Action Coalition, speaking to a Twin Cities forum sponsored by the Mayor's Task Force on Food Policy in Saint Paul. Amidei’s address was titled "The Politics of Food." Focus of speech was on the poor and hunger. Afterwards, there were follow-up responses by Cy Carpenter and Ruth Ann Wefald.
April 29, 1985 - MPR Journal host Gary Eichten presents a collection of reports and news items for Monday, April 29th, 1985. This was the first broadcast as MPR Journal, with Minnesota Journal program series being renamed.