University doctor makes presentation about radio show

 Dr. Merrill Miller, whose Colgate radio program is seen as a prospective model for other colleges, recently spoke about her health-related show at a meeting of the New York state and New England college health associations.

Miller, the university’s director of student health services, began her radio show ‘What’s Up, Doc” about a year ago. It airs at 7 p.m. Sundays on WRCU (90.1 FM).

Miller spoke to nearly 300 participants at the groups’ meeting, held Oct. 29-31 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. She gave a 75-minute presentation about her show to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, health educators, and student peer advisers.

Miller discussed her planning for the show and the intricacies of doing it weekly, detailing issues such as selecting topics and guests, handling advertising, and techniques for carrying out on-air discussions.

Miller regularly includes Colgate faculty and students on the show. Some topics are more general and traditional, Miller said, such as men’s health care. Others tend to coincide with campus or national events, such as a ‘safe partying’ discussion preceding Colgate’s spring party weekend and a show about AIDS during AIDS awareness week. Miller also uses questions students frequently ask at the campus health center as a resource for programs.

One of Miller’s favorite shows featured a panel discussion of four seniors who had suffered some health problems during their time at Colgate. They discussed what it was like being an injured or ill student, and the strong support they received, Miller said. Another favorite show featured members of the Southern Madison County Ambulance Corp (SOMAC).

Miller’s proposal to speak at the Saratoga Springs event was reviewed, and eventually accepted, by the executive board of the association. Only a handful of speakers were selected.

‘I was delighted to share the information and the work that we’ve already done here so that other people can see both how much fun it is and be able to help give information to their students, as well,’ Miller said.

‘[Doing the show] is so much fun. I did a radio show when I was in college and that’s what gave me the idea to do it here. It really is like having a conversation. And the hour goes so quickly that by the end of it, we’re planning to have the guests come back again because there is so much more we want to cover.’