Child Health Advocacy + Policy

Baker Institute for Public Policy

Clear, expert-informed conversations on child health and the policies that shape children’s lives, hosted by Heidi Russell, director of the Baker Institute Center for Health Policy.

  1. 1h ago

    19: Shaping Child Health Policy in the 90th Texas Legislature

    Heidi Russell speaks with Diana Forester, director of health policy at Texans Care for Children, about the key child-related issues likely to come before lawmakers in the upcoming Texas legislative session. The discussion covers early childhood intervention, child care workforce stability, continuous health coverage, and public health delivery across urban and rural communities. This conversation was recorded on Oct. 6, 2026. Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. Learn about the “Child Health Advocacy + Policy” podcast by subscribing to our “Health Beat” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter. Follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

  2. Oct 8

    18: Asthma, Housing Quality and Children's Health

    Heidi Russell speaks with Elizabeth Matsui about how substandard rental housing, indoor allergen exposures, and structural inequities contribute to pediatric asthma disparities in Texas and across the country. The conversation examines policy solutions ranging from housing mobility programs to Medicaid-reimbursed home remediation. This conversation was recorded on Oct. 2, 2026. Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. Mentioned in this episode: Dell Medical School Center for Health and Environment: Education and Research Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Rental Housing and Childhood Asthma Disparities Learn about the “Child Health Advocacy + Policy” podcast by subscribing to our “Health Beat” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

  3. Oct 1

    17: Forecasting Federal Health Policy Priorities for the Upcoming Year

    Heidi Russell speaks with Ambassador David M. Satterfield, director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy. The conversation examines how federal legislative priorities are established and explores potential policy directions that could shape child health, social safety net programs, and federal funding structures in the year ahead. Satterfield draws on his extensive public policy background to offer insights on legislative decision-making processes, the intersection of federal and state policy, and strategies for understanding national agendas before upcoming legislative sessions. This conversation was recorded on Aug. 31, 2026. Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. Learn about the “Child Health Advocacy + Policy” podcast by subscribing to our “Health Beat” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

  4. Sep 24

    16: Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Overcoming Barriers in Oncology Research

    Marking Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Heidi Russell speaks with Lia Gore, professor of pediatrics and chief of pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children's Hospital Colorado. The conversation explores how pediatric oncologists manage complex care and examines the policy frameworks shaping federal research funding, clinical trial access, and incentives for pediatric drug development. Gore also addresses the regulatory hurdles in bringing novel therapeutics to young patients and considers policy strategies to support long-term survivorship. This conversation was recorded on Sept. 10, 2026. Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. Learn about the “Child Health Advocacy + Policy” podcast by subscribing to our “Health Beat” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

  5. Sep 17

    15: Sickle Cell Awareness Month: Improving Outcomes for Pediatric Patients

    In observance of Sickle Cell Awareness Month, Heidi Russell speaks with Titilope Fasipe, associate professor of pediatrics and codirector of the Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Program at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center and Baylor College of Medicine. The conversation explores the role of pediatric hematologists in managing inherited blood disorders and examines policy frameworks governing newborn screening, Medicaid coverage, and access to emerging therapies. Fasipe also discusses systemic barriers and the critical transition from pediatric to adult healthcare settings. This conversation was recorded on Aug. 31, 2026. Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. Mentioned in this episode: Fight4Hematology Action Hub DSHS: Sick Cell Task Force TED: “How This Disease Changes the Shape of Your Cells”  Penn LDI Cost of Therapies Learn about the “Child Health Advocacy + Policy” podcast by subscribing to our “Health Beat” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

  6. Sep 10

    14: Child Immigration Health and Policy: Addressing Barriers to Equity

    Heidi Russell speaks with Luz Maria Garcini, director of the Center for Community Health at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, associate professor of psychological sciences, and Rice faculty scholar at the Baker Institute for Public Policy. The conversation examines how immigration policy, legal uncertainty, and structural barriers affect the physical and mental health of immigrant children and youth in mixed-status families. Garcini discusses the biobehavioral impacts of chronic stress, community-engaged research approaches, and policy strategies to expand healthcare access and resilience among young populations. This conversation was recorded on Aug. 19, 2026. Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. Learn about the “Child Health Advocacy + Policy” podcast by subscribing to our “Health Beat” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

  7. Sep 3

    13: Youth Civic Engagement in Healthcare Advocacy and Public Policy

    How can educators and community leaders help young people understand the difference between advocacy and public policy? In this episode, host Heidi Russell speaks with Shamier Bouie, founder and president of Community First Institute located in Houston, about practical strategies for introducing students to civic engagement and municipal decision-making. Bouie shares insights on how to explain legislative processes, empower student voices, and connect youth-led advocacy to tangible child health outcomes. This conversation was recorded on Aug. 11, 2026. Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. Learn about the “Child Health Advocacy + Policy“podcast by subscribing to our “Health Beat” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

  8. Aug 27

    12: Pediatrician Workforce Dynamics and Access to Child Healthcare in Texas

    Amid a nationwide shortage of primary care doctors, nearly 60% of Texas counties do not have a single practicing pediatrician, even as pediatricians disproportionately practice in major metropolitan centers, such as Houston, Dallas, and Austin. In the Season 2 premiere of "Child Health Advocacy + Policy," host Heidi Russell, director of the Center for Health Policy, examines the systemic factors shaping the pediatric workforce in Texas.   Drawing from her latest issue brief, Russell outlines how medical training timelines, primary care reimbursement structures, Medicaid exposure, and student loan repayments contribute to physician shortages. She also explores the demographic dynamics of Texas’ pediatrician workforce where women represent over 70% of practitioners, unpacking how practice location decisions intersect with regional healthcare infrastructure, pay equity, and access to maternal health services.   This conversation was recorded on Aug. 10, 2026.   Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform.   Mentioned in this episode:   Heidi Russell, “Distribution and Demographics of the Pediatrician Workforce in Texas,” Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, August 27, 2026. Learn about the “Child Health Advocacy + Policy” podcast by subscribing to our “Health Beat” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter.   You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

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About

Clear, expert-informed conversations on child health and the policies that shape children’s lives, hosted by Heidi Russell, director of the Baker Institute Center for Health Policy.

Information

  • Creator
    Baker Institute for Public Policy
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Child Health Advocacy + Policy