Health care drives the 'Conversation' on WPSU

University Park, Pa. -- The discussion about adequate health care has dominated the news recently. From town hall meetings to debates, health care reform is on the minds of Americans. But what is the future of the current system? Chris Calkins, director of outreach health initiatives at Penn State Outreach, will sort out the fact from the fiction on the next episode of "Conversations from Penn State."

"The unique part of the American health care system is that we allow the free market to determine who gets access to health care and what the costs and expenses are in that system," Calkins said.

Calkins brings an applied perspective to many of the health care challenges and policy questions facing the United States. His perspective is informed by previous administrative roles at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, the College of Health and Human Development, as an educator and through a variety of appointments in hospitals and other health care organizations.

"The conversation around health is much less about populations … and much more about the economic reality of an unsustainable growth rate," Calkins said. "We can't, as a country, afford to have the current system and the way that expenses are driven with it."

The show will air on the Big Ten Network at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23. The show also will air on WPSU-TV at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22. After this show, join Calkins on the Conversations Web site for a live chat and view the show at http://conversations.psu.edu/ online.

"Conversations from Penn State" is a new series, hosted by veteran interviewer Patty Satalia. The program offers thoughtful, in-depth exchanges with a broad range of remarkable people. In many cases, their trailblazing work has advanced their field and drawn national and worldwide attention.

For more than 20 years, Satalia has engaged dynamic individuals from all walks of life and areas of expertise. No matter the guest, Satalia approaches each conversation with the same dedication to research and with a passion for helping people share their stories and insights with the world.

WPSU serves central Pennsylvania with programming, educational services and community outreach. Its public media services produce, acquire and distribute programs that address local interests and reflect the diverse cultural, political, geographic and demographic characteristics of an audience within central Pennsylvania.