BY KAREN BOSSICK

Learn more about the COVID vaccines, changing the dynamics of domestic violence and dry needling to treat pain and normalize movement in St. Luke’s virtual Brown Bag Talks.

The next round of Brown Bag Talks kicks off Tuesday, Feb. 9, with a look at how caregiving has taken on new challenges this past year. They run through April 20, concluding with a look at how we can stop suffering.

Each Brown Bag Talk is held from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays. They are being presented virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All are free but registration is required.

To register visit stlukesonline.org/brownbag. Call St. Luke’s Center for Community Health at 208-727-8733 if you have questions.

The schedule:

• Feb. 9—Giving and Receiving: Addressing the Dynamics of Caregiving

  Dr. Michael Walton, specialty medical director for St. Luke’s, and Jeff Betts, the health system’s director of social and behavioral health, will look at the stress caregivers are feeling right now and steps they can take to boost resilience, regain balance, practice self-care while continuing to support friends, families and coworkers.

• Feb. 16—Understanding the Stress of COVID-19 on Our Adolescents

  Beth Bolen, a therapist and manager of St. Luke’s Children’s Center for Neurobehavioral Medicine, will discuss the impact the pandemic has had on adolescent mental health, substance use and social needs. She also will offer strategies for stress management, mindfulness and building resilience.

• Feb. 23—Understanding the COVID-19 Vaccine

  Dr. Julie Lyons, who works at the Hailey clinic, will address the concerns and confusion she hears regarding the vaccine. And she’ll address side effects, how the vaccines work and why two doses are required for efficacy.

• March 2—Health Care through MyChart, Telemedicine and Video Visits

  Amber Hastain, from the St Luke’s Health System’s Patient Access Quality & Education Team, and Courtney Christenson, Patient Access administration manager for St. Luke’s Health System, will walk viewers through how and when to use electronics and video to message or visit a provider, check on test results, schedule appointments and more.

• March 17—Dupuytren’s Contracture

  Dr. Derek Ipsen, an orthopedic and hand surgeon, will discuss this condition, which causes the tissues of the hands and fingers to thicken, possibly causing the fingers to deform into a bent or curled position.

• March 23—Comprendiendo la Vacuna del COVID-19.

  Dr. Peter Ferrar es un medico de practica familiar de la Clinica de St. Luke’s en Jerome y escucha de primera mano muchas de las preguntas que la gente tiene sobre las nuevas vacunas para el COVID-19. El Dr. Ferrara quisiera aprovechar esta oportunidad y presentar esta información para la comunidad Hispana/Latina para abordar les preocupaciones y la confusión que escucha de sus pacientes y de la comunidad.

• March 30—Dry Needling in Physical Therapy

  Anne Caldwell, a physical therapist, will exposure the use of dry needling to treat certain musculoskeletal and neuromuscular pain and to normalize movement and alignment to dysfunctional muscle fibers. This is different than acupuncture.

• April 13—Changing the Dynamics of Domestic Violence

  Advocate staff Darrel Harris, Monica Reyna, Jennifer Rangel and Cleo Muller will discuss the dynamics of domestic violence, how to help a friend and how we can all help prevent domestic violence in our communities.

• April 20—Can We Stop Our Own Suffering?

Ben Wagner, a licensed clinical professional counselor, will explain how suffering is often caused through our expectations, perspectives, mindsets and interactions. He will discuss how ingrained habits and patterns keep us attached to suffering and negative experiences that keep fueling suffering. And he will discuss simple changes that can put a stop to the ways we cause our own suffering.