Muslim-American Identity, Doctors with Disabilities, Stress

Guest: Asma Uddin, JD, Director of Strategy, Center for Islam and Religious Freedom, founder, AltMuslimah.com When the media or non-Muslims talk of Islam, we tend to act as if there are just two Muslim communities: the terrorists and the non-terrorists. As if every peaceful Muslim living in the US is cut from the same cloth.  But, in fact, American Muslims are the most racially diverse religious group in the country. They’re Arab, African, African American, South Asian, European, Latino and White American – the list goes on. Many, but not all, are immigrants to the US. They have different cultures, speak different languages, and practice Islam in slightly different ways. So what does it mean to be a Muslim American?

Guest: Dhruv Khullar, MD, Physician, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Healthcare Policy Researcher, Cornell University  People with a disability – that’s nearly one in five Americans – are less likely to receive routine medical care: things as basic as flu vaccines and cancer screening. One reason for this disparity is that doctor’s offices and clinics may not have accommodations, such as exam tables with adjustable height. Another reason is the social stigma associated with disability. Part of the solution to this problem is encouraging more people with disabilities to become doctors.

Guest: Bruce Ellis, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Anthropology, University of Utah Children living in high-crime neighborhoods or extreme poverty are considered “at-risk” and in need of special intervention to help them overcome the problems that come with growing up in such a stressful environment. But University of Utah psychology researcher Bruce Ellis suggest that approach is like focusing on a half-empty glass, instead of acknowledging the other half that is actually full - of skills kids acquire from being in high-stress environments. He says nurturing those skills could offer benefits.

Guest: Suniya Luthar, Foundation Professor of Psychology, Arizona State University, Professor Emerita, Columbia University, Teachers College Kids from upper middle-class homes would seem like the last group we need to worry about as a society. They’re not dealing with hunger, poverty or lack of basic healthcare. They go to the best high schools and most elite colleges.  But young people from this very group are a new focus of public health officials because their drug and alcohol abuse rates are two to three times higher than the national norm.

Guest: Ayalla Ruvio, PhD, Assistant Professor of Marketing, Eli Broad College of Business, Michigan State University Julie Rose knew she was in for a treat on Sunday nights growing up when her dad put on an apron and grabbed a spatula. Spam and cheese pancakes doused with maple syrup were his specialty. It was never clear why Frank Rose loved Spam so much … might have been from his days in the Air Force during the 70s. Or maybe he – like millions of people the world over – just bought into Hormel’s brilliant marketing, which has kept Spam on grocery shelves for 80 years.  Julie’s Dad’s Spam and Cheese Pancake Recipe \-Make regular pancake batter (Dad liked Bisquick and Krusteaz) \-Dice Spam and cheddar cheese into ½ inch pieces and add to prepared batter \-Cook pancakes on griddle \-Slather in butter and maple syrup!

Guest: Adrien Chopin, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher in Visual Neuroscience, UC Berkeley Threading a needle usually takes a few stabs. Getting the thread into that tiny hole on the first try is just plain luck. Perhaps our depth perception is a bit lacking. There’s a specific visual skill involved in threading a needle, catching a ball, parking a car. And a small study out of the University of California, Berkeley suggests people who are successful in certain profession excel at this thing called 3D vision.