Health starts long before we enter a doctor’s office. In this episode, Rana Sakr, MD, a physician and public health advocate, explores what it really means for a community to be healthy, beyond medicine. Drawing on her work with the Center for Contemplative Studies and her public health studies at West Chester University, Rana shares how social factors like language access, transportation, education, and community design all influence well-being.
She discusses the importance of health literacy, mental health support for youth, and the need to make trusted information easier to find. The conversation also highlights how local spaces like libraries and parks can become hubs for connection, awareness, and healing. Together, the hosts and Rana reflect on how collective effort and open dialogue can move a community toward health equity, belonging, and shared resilience.
Highlights from the episode:
• What defines a healthy community beyond medical care
• The role of social determinants like access, environment, and literacy
• Why mental health support for youth is a growing priority
• How health literacy empowers families and reduces stigma
• The challenge of finding trustworthy health information online
• Libraries as neutral, public hubs for community health education
• The importance of collective, cross-sector collaboration for lasting impact
