Firearm Storage & Safety

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Thomas E. Kottke, Kathleen Anderson, & Thea Williams about firearm storage and safety.Dr. Thomas E. Kottke is the medical director for well-being at HealthPartners, a professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, and a health services researcher at the HealthPartners Institute. With a background in internal medicine, cardiology, and public health, his work focuses on preventive care and community well-being.Kathleen Anderson is a clinical social worker, mother of three, and a volunteer educator with Be SMART, a national campaign dedicated to promoting secure firearm storage. Through education and advocacy, she helps raise awareness about the role safe storage plays in preventing accidental shootings, suicides, and gun theft.Thea Williams works at Hennepin County Medical Center, supporting families who have lost a loved one to firearm violence. She oversees multiple community outreach programs connected to the Next Step Program, a hospital-based violence intervention initiative. Her work includes managing the Monthly Women’s Group, the Harriet Initiative, and the Summer Basketball program, all aimed at fostering healing and community engagement.Join us for an insightful discussion on firearm safety, the importance of secure storage, and practical steps to help protect families and communities.Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.comBrought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.More about their work can be found at huemanpartnership.org.