Good Health, Better World
Stronger communities begin with good health — for everyone. And good health means caring for both the body and the mind.
In Season 2 of Good Health, Better World, you’ll hear from experts about the ways we can improve our overall health when we uncover, deliver, and destigmatize the support needed to manage emotions, handle stress, and build healthy relationships.
You’ll hear independent viewpoints from community and government leaders, and from experts and clinicians from UPMC Health Plan.
The Good Health, Better World podcast, sponsored by UPMC Health Plan, brings experts together to discuss some of health care’s most important (and often challenging) topics.
Season 1, Episode 5: Access for One, Access for All
How can we create more inclusive care for the LGBTQ+ community, and what role can a health insurer play?
In this episode, we hear from Shireen Haq, a program director in UPMC Health Plan’s National Network Development & Strategic Expansion team. She works with providers that care for underserved populations to develop strategies and initiatives that impact the accessibility and quality of care for their patients.
We also hear from Sarah Rosso, executive director of the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation in Pittsburgh. The nonprofit organization offers services and supports, as well as training for organizations to improve their capacity to serve LGBTQ+ clients and staff.
The views and opinions expressed by the participants of this podcast are not necessarily those of UPMC Health Plan, Inc. or its affiliates.
Meet the Host

Dr. Ellen Beckjord, MPH, is host of the Good Health, Better World podcast.
Ellen is a behavioral scientist, epidemiologist, and licensed clinical psychologist working at the intersection of population and digital health.
Her work focuses on promoting health, wellness, and health behavior change. She is vice president of population health and clinical optimization for UPMC Health Plan based in Pittsburgh.
Ellen trained at the University of Vermont, where she worked with cancer survivors and their families, at Vanderbilt University, and at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
She completed post-doctoral research at the National Cancer Institute in the Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch within the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences. She spent nearly five years in academic medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and Hillman Cancer Center.
Ellen also is the co-author of “Porchtraits” in which she interviewed people in Pittsburgh during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic about what they were learning, missing, enjoying, what surprised them, and what they felt hopeful about.
Ellen’s guiding principle: “Lead with love.”
This podcast is proudly presented by