<![CDATA[The Problem List]]>American healthcare is complicated, but it doesn't have to be confusing. Join Dr. Elia R. Cole as we explore problems behind everyday experiences within the American health system and discuss tangible ideas to find a way forward. New episodes released the last Friday of every month.

]]>www.theproblemlist.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sun, 25 Oct 2026 21:53:35 GMTSat, 10 Oct 2026 16:44:08 GMT60Elia R. Cole<p>American healthcare is complicated, but it doesn't have to be confusing. Join Dr. Elia R. Cole as we explore problems behind everyday experiences within the American health system and discuss tangible ideas to find a way forward. New episodes released the last Friday of every month.</p>episodicElia R. Coletheproblemlist@gmail.comno<![CDATA[ Rethinking American Health Care: What Shapes Our Health with Genya Shimkin]]>What is the relationship between health and healthcare? In this series opener, host Dr. Elia Cole talks with Genya Shimkin, Associate Teaching Professor in Family Medicine at the University of Washington. Genya argues that health care is one piece of a much larger puzzle: roughly 80% of a person’s health comes from where they live, work, and learn. They cover the social determinants of health, the purpose of primary care, the case for universal coverage, and the trade-offs of a major system transition. 

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:39 Health vs. health care

05:04 Social determinants of health

08:59 The purpose of primary care

12:29 What a well-functioning system looks like

17:55 The case for universal health care

24:04 Trade-offs of a major transition

29:20 Bringing skeptics into the conversation


Correction

Genya quotes an “old saying” about not being single-issue voters because “we don’t live single-issue lives,” and attributes it to Angela Davis (while noting the possibility for error in this attribution). The quote is correctly attributed to writer and activist Audre Lorde: “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.”

Additional Resources:About the Guest

Genya Shimkin (they/she) is an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Washington, working in the Department of Family Medicine and the Department of Health Systems and Population Health. For over 15 years, Genya has worked in LGBTQ+ health, from community-care networks and healthcare disparities to health system capacity building and LGBTQ+-centered curriculum. In 2012, they founded Q Card Project LLC to improve communication between LGBTQ+ youth and their care providers. The Q Card is now used in almost all 50 states, plus Canada, Jamaica, and the UK. Genya holds an MPH in Community-Oriented Public Health Practice from the University of Washington and a BA in Human Rights and Russian Studies from Bard College.

Learn more: gnsmph.com | QCardProject.com

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Keywords: health vs. health care, social determinants of health, structural determinants of health, primary care, universal health care, health equity, health care reform, medical education costs, Medicare, VA, Affordable Care Act, family medicine, Genya Shimkin, Dr. Elia Cole, The Problem List


]]>a0fdf02e-1242-4e4b-9b0d-04ebd9aad9b7Thu, 22 Oct 2026 22:22:27 GMT<p>What is the relationship between health and healthcare? In this series opener, host Dr. Elia Cole talks with Genya Shimkin, Associate Teaching Professor in Family Medicine at the University of Washington. Genya argues that health care is one piece of a much larger puzzle: roughly 80% of a person’s health comes from where they live, work, and learn. They cover the social determinants of health, the purpose of primary care, the case for universal coverage, and the trade-offs of a major system transition. </p><b><strong>Timestamps</strong></b><p>00:00 Intro</p><p>01:39 Health vs. health care</p><p>05:04 Social determinants of health</p><p>08:59 The purpose of primary care</p><p>12:29 What a well-functioning system looks like</p><p>17:55 The case for universal health care</p><p>24:04 Trade-offs of a major transition</p><p>29:20 Bringing skeptics into the conversation</p><p><br /></p><p><b><strong>Correction</strong></b></p><p>Genya quotes an “old saying” about not being single-issue voters because “we don’t live single-issue lives,” and attributes it to Angela Davis (while noting the possibility for error in this attribution). The quote is correctly attributed to writer and activist <b><strong>Audre Lorde</strong></b>: “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.”</p><b><strong>Additional Resources:</strong></b><ul><li><a href="https://ysph.yale.edu/news-article/universal-health-coverage-could-save-one-trillion-dollars-and-114000-lives-every-year/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Universal health coverage could save one trillion dollars and 114,000 lives every year (Yale School of Public Health)</a></li><li><a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/evidence-base/the-spirit-level-at-15/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Spirit Level at 15 (The Equality Trust)</a></li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/to7Yrl50iHI?is=z12MmXz1E1IpPqV2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Urban Institute - Dr. Camara Jones Explains the Cliff of Good Health</a></li></ul><b><strong>About the Guest</strong></b><p><b><strong>Genya Shimkin (they/she)</strong></b> is an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Washington, working in the Department of Family Medicine and the Department of Health Systems and Population Health. For over 15 years, Genya has worked in LGBTQ+ health, from community-care networks and healthcare disparities to health system capacity building and LGBTQ+-centered curriculum. In 2012, they founded Q Card Project LLC to improve communication between LGBTQ+ youth and their care providers. The Q Card is now used in almost all 50 states, plus Canada, Jamaica, and the UK. Genya holds an MPH in Community-Oriented Public Health Practice from the University of Washington and a BA in Human Rights and Russian Studies from Bard College.</p><p>Learn more:<a href="https://gnsmph.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> gnsmph.com</a> |<a href="https://qcardproject.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> QCardProject.com</a></p><b><strong>Follow The Problem List</strong></b><ul><li>Website:<a href="http://theproblemlist.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> theproblemlist.com</a></li><li>Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-problem-list/id6821398622" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Listen and subscribe</a></li><li>Spotify:<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3dP7RoY2cVll8BlttkZiIS?si=2944e24d4c434097" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Listen and follow</a></li><li>YouTube:<a href="https://youtube.com/@theproblemlist" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> youtube.com/@theproblemlist</a></li><li>X:<a href="https://x.com/theproblemlist" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> @theproblemlist</a></li><li>LinkedIn:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-problem-list" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> The Problem List</a></li></ul><p><b><strong>Keywords:</strong></b> health vs. health care, social determinants of health, structural determinants of health, primary care, universal health care, health equity, health care reform, medical education costs, Medicare, VA, Affordable Care Act, family medicine, Genya Shimkin, Dr. Elia Cole, The Problem List</p><p><br /></p>no00:32:21 Rethinking American Health Care: What Shapes Our Health with Genya Shimkinfull<![CDATA[The Problem List - Trailer]]>After years of thinking about this idea, I'm finally making it happen.

The Problem List podcast launches in October—because American healthcare deserves better conversations.

Here's what I believe: Our healthcare system isn't broken; it's perfectly designed to produce the results it achieves. So the real question becomes: How do we improve this system to deliver better outcomes?

That's what this podcast explores. It's for healthcare consumers asking "How did we get here?" and for curious minds who believe we can do better.

New episodes launch in October on YouTube and all podcast platforms: @TheProblemList

Let's examine the problem list together.

]]>64f45349-cf5a-4b5d-96f2-7cdc6e4101f0Sat, 10 Oct 2026 16:46:33 GMT<p>After years of thinking about this idea, I'm finally making it happen.<br /><br />The Problem List podcast launches in October—because American healthcare deserves better conversations.<br /><br />Here's what I believe: Our healthcare system isn't broken; it's perfectly designed to produce the results it achieves. So the real question becomes: How do we improve this system to deliver better outcomes?<br /><br />That's what this podcast explores. It's for healthcare consumers asking "How did we get here?" and for curious minds who believe we can do better.<br /><br />New episodes launch in October on YouTube and all podcast platforms: @TheProblemList<br /><br />Let's examine the problem list together.</p>no00:01:171The Problem List - Trailerfull