Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Connor Lonning, Bubba’s uncle, coach, & youth development advocate, and Tony Ayala about Bubba’s Fund and its mission to turn unimaginable loss into a powerful legacy of life-saving tools, joyful play, and lasting impact for children.

Bubba’s Fund is a donor-advised fund of the La Crosse Area Community Foundation, created in memory of Charlie Lonning Weber (“Bubba”). After his sudden passing, his family and community turned their grief into action by launching an initiative to ensure every state-licensed childcare center in La Crosse is equipped with an AED. As of December 2025, this goal was achieved. For Bubba's Fund this is just the beginning - they are now supporting efforts to scale AED access and close the gap statewide through smart policy, community partnerships, and sustainable solutions— so childcare providers have both the training and lifesaving equipment to match.

Lear more about Bubba's story, Bubba's Fund, and how you can get involved at www.bubbasfund.org

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Tory Schafer, Senior Director of Yoga at Life Time and nationally recognized meditation, yoga, and sound healing practitioner, about yoga and health.

Tory Schafer brings a rich, multidisciplinary perspective shaped by years of teaching and leadership across North America. With specialties in Vinyasa, Yin, Yoga Nidra, pranayama, and vibrational therapy, his work blends yogic wisdom, somatic awareness, and trauma-informed practice. Drawing from a background in music and performance, Tory creates immersive experiences that emphasize presence, intention, and attunement—helping individuals reconnect with their inner harmony through embodied practice and sound.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Robin Austin, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, about menopause and the often-overlooked realities of midlife women’s health.

Dr. Austin brings more than 20 years of clinical experience spanning pain management, women’s health, and integrative health. With both a DNP and PhD in Nursing Informatics—and dual training as a chiropractor and nurse—her work blends clinical insight with data science to address whole-person needs. Her research focuses on chronic pain and menopause, and she is a Research Mentee with the The Menopause Society as well as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the American Medical Informatics Association.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Julie Brock, owner of Julie Brock Consulting, about community engagement.

Julie is a strategist who helps individuals, teams, and organizations move from ideas to measurable action through human-centered systems. Her work draws on co-design, CliftonStrengths®, Results Based Accountability, and stress management and resiliency—grounded in deep listening, connection-making, and a willingness to disrupt the status quo so people can lead with confidence and purpose. Julie brings experience across K–12 education, workforce development, community-based organizations, business, and higher education, and holds degrees in English and Human Development.

Learn more about Julie Brock and their work at https://juliebrock.net/

Join us for an insightful conversation about community engagement.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Mary Gray, Director of Rehabilitation at HealthPartners, about falls and fall prevention.

Mary oversees rehabilitation services across HealthPartners’ community-based hospitals and clinics, including cardiac rehabilitation. A licensed physical therapist with 27 years of experience, she brings deep expertise and passion for geriatrics—particularly fall prevention, dementia and age-friendly care, osteoporosis management, and frailty. Beyond her professional work, Mary is also a caregiver to her 95-year-old father living with dementia, giving her both clinical and personal insight into the realities of aging and safety.

Join us for an enlightening discussion about falls and fall prevention, and stay tuned to gain fresh perspectives on how proactive, age-friendly strategies can help older adults stay safe, independent, and thriving.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Steve Kopecky, Professor of Medicine and Preventive Cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, about blood pressure and the updated guidelines.

Dr. Kopecky is a consultant and chair of education in the Division of Preventive Cardiology within the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He also serves as director of the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Clinic, Statin Intolerance Clinic, and the Cardiovascular Emergency Department Consult Service. A nationally and internationally recognized leader in cardiovascular disease prevention, Dr. Kopecky’s work focuses on the role of lifestyle in heart health and innovative treatments for elevated cholesterol, particularly in patients with genetic risk factors. He is the best-selling author of Live Younger Longer: 6 Steps to Prevent Heart Disease, Cancer, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, and More, has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Heart Health.

Join us for an enlightening discussion about what the new blood pressure guidelines mean for patients and clinicians, and stay tuned to gain fresh perspectives on how prevention, lifestyle, and early intervention can improve long-term heart health.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Ellie Wilson, Executive Director of the Autism Society of Minnesota, about Autism Spectrum Disorder and the evolving landscape of support across the lifespan.

Ellie Wilson brings two decades of experience supporting children, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum. With a background in public health administration and policy, Ellie has completed advanced fellowships through Minnesota LEND (Leadership and Education in Neuro-Developmental Disabilities) and the National Institute of Educational Leadership. Her work spans recreation programs, K–12 and post-secondary education, emergency response systems, clinical and therapeutic settings, and community living environments. Ellie is widely recognized for building energized, collaborative partnerships that strengthen inclusion, acceptance, and equitable access for individuals with autism and other disabilities.

Learn more about Ellie's and Autism Society of Minnesota's work here

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Ronda Marie Chakolis-Hassan, President of the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, and Dr. Ai-Ja Jackson, licensed pharmacist, about Medication Management—and explore the central question: “Should we just medicate?”

Dr. Ronda Marie Chakolis-Hassan, PharmD, MPH, exemplifies the intersection of clinical expertise and public health advocacy in pharmacy practice. An alum of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, her diverse career spans 15 years in Pharmacy Benefit Management and over 5 years as a Medication Therapy Management pharmacist in community practice. Her commitment to healthcare equity shines through her work addressing infant mortality, opioid abuse prevention, and her service on the Minnesota Department of Human Services Drug Formulary Committee, where she helps shape medication access policies across the state.

Dr. Ai-Ja Jackson, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist with over five years of experience in hospital and specialty pharmacy settings. Having begun her career in acute care in Baton Rouge, she now focuses on U.S. specialty biologics access and pharmacogenomics program implementation to improve patient outcomes. Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Jackson is deeply committed to advancing health literacy and mentorship as a Wellness & Education Program Strategist at Victory Rock Prep and a Board Member at Edison Academics. Her work bridges patient care, education, and community impact, highlighting how pharmacists can drive both clinical excellence and social change.

Join us for an enlightening discussion about when medication is the right solution—and when it might not be.

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Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/