Midmorning Weekend: Healthcare

The caduceus, a symbol of the medical profession.
Caduceus, an insignia representing Herme's staff used as a symbol of the medical profession.
MPR file photo

Segment 1: The health care puzzle

In their discussions with President Obama on health care reform, industry officials agreed to take steps to slow the growth of health spending. Midmorning speaks with one health care industry official about how companies can cut back, and how reform might change health care as we know it. Simon Stevens is executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group and chairman of the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform. From 1997-2004, Stevens served as British Prime Minister Tony Blair's health policy director.

(Original Program)

Segment 2: MPR's News Fellows discuss health care

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A diverse group of MPR News Fellows talks about how the rising cost and decreasing access to quality health care has affected them. The News Fellows will meet several times in 2009 to analyze President Barack Obama's first year in office. The event was recorded at the UBS Forum on May 18. (Original Program)

Segment 3: Spirituality and the patient-doctor bond

A specialist in ovarian cancer forms a close friendship with a college professor fighting to survive the disease. In the process, Dr. Lois Ramondetta travels an unexpected spiritual path. Lois Ramondetta, MD is Author of "The Light Within: the Extraordinary Friendship of a Doctor and Patient Brought Together by Cancer." She's associate professor of gynecologic oncology at the University of Texas's M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

(Original Program)