On this bonus episode Sandra Lindsay, DHSc, MA, MBA, RN , speaks with Tara Liberman, DO , executive director for Northwell Health’s Hospice Care Network, about the role that culture plays in end-of-life care. They discuss racial disparities in the use of hospice, how cultural beliefs can actually influence people’s perception of pain, and what providers need to know to deliver care in a culturally sensitive manner. This bonus edition of 20-Minute Health Talk continues the conversation from the p...
Nov 09, 2022•16 min•Ep. 96
From pain and symptom management to emotional and spiritual support, hospice care can improve and even extend life for some patients with advanced illness, as well as offer respite for their families. Yet, this vital resource is severely underutilized, particularly in New York, which ranks 50th among all states in the utilization of hospice. On this episode, two palliative care experts discuss barriers to care and debunk the most common myths about hospice. Guests: Tara Liberman, DO , is executi...
Nov 02, 2022•20 min•Ep. 96
While most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years of age or over, about 1 in 10 diagnosed with breast cancer are under 45, and often their cancer is in a later stage when it’s discovered. On this episode, Nina Vincoff, MD , clears up the confusion around mammogram guidelines. She says every woman should go through a risk assessment at a younger age to determine their risk — something most do not discover until their first mammogram. For those at high risk, this can have deadly conseq...
Oct 26, 2022•22 min•Ep. 95
Despite the best efforts of heart health experts, only 56% of women recognize that heart disease is their No. 1 killer; among African American women that number drops to just 25%. Jean Cacciabaudo, MD , medical director at Huntington Hospital, renowned cardiologist and member of Northwell Health's Katz Institute for Women's Health, sits down with Sandra Lindsay, RN to discuss the differences between men and women when it comes to heart disease, what health systems are doing to address disparitie...
Oct 19, 2022•13 min•Ep. 94
Cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of both women and men in the United States. Most of us will need to see a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon at some point in our lives. But, how do you find the best doctor who is right for you? On this episode, three experts representing different subspecialties within cardiovascular health offer advice to patients facing the question: How do I pick a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon? Jeffrey Kuvin, MD , is senior vice president of Cardiology fo...
Oct 05, 2022•22 min•Ep. 94
"Police officers see everyone on their worst day," says Katelyn Jetelina, PhD , a guest on this week's 20-Minute Health Talk. This constant exposure to high-stress situations takes a considerable toll on an officer's emotional well-being, yet few seek help despite suffering higher rates of depression, substance use, burnout, PTSD and anxiety than the general public. Tragically, more police officers die by suicide than in the line of duty. On this episode, we speak with health care experts workin...
Sep 21, 2022•22 min•Ep. 93
While the Covid vaccines were developed and deployed in less than a year, the messenger RNA (mRNA) technology that powered them took more than five decades to develop. On this episode, we speak with two researchers who played a key role in advancing the science: Katalin Kariko, PhD, adjunct professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania and a senior vice president at BioNTech; and Drew Weissman, MD, PhD, the Roberts Family Professor of Vaccine Research in Penn's Perelman School of M...
Sep 07, 2022•21 min•Ep. 92
For the 5 million veterans who served overseas in the last couple of decades, burn pit exposure continues to pose a threat to their well-being. Toxic fumes have triggered breathing troubles and other serious health conditions in more than 12,500 veterans between 2007 and 2020. Our guest, Anthony Szema, MD , has worked not only to diagnose and treat these burn pit-related issues, but better understand them through research and advocacy. He recently joined several patients and fellow advocates at ...
Aug 24, 2022•20 min•Ep. 91
Recovering from surgery can be difficult — and opioids actually make it tougher. In addition to side effects such as nausea, lethargy and potential breathing problems, this potent painkiller also carries the risk of addiction for about 3 to 4 percent of surgical patients. That number climbs to about 8 percent for bariatric surgery patients because they may also be battling joint pain stemming from their weight issues. On this episode of the podcast, two bariatric surgeons share how they are limi...
Aug 09, 2022•22 min•Ep. 90
It sounds like science fiction, but researchers today are unlocking the body's natural healing ability as part of an emerging field of science called regenerative medicine . Although the field is relatively young, some regenerative treatments are already approved to help repair joints and relieve pain, allowing some patients to avoid surgery altogether. Two leaders in the field detail their research into current and future clinical applications within orthopedics. Kenneth Zaslav, MD , is directo...
Jul 26, 2022•21 min•Ep. 89
Medical research often depends upon the generosity of donors: In this episode we talk to philanthropy experts about the role of donations in driving medical breakthroughs and achieving health equity across all zip codes. The panel includes: Brian Lally , senior vice president and chief development officer for Northwell Health and head of Northwell's Foundation. Mark Butler, PhD , assistant professor in the Institute of Health System Science, part of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research....
Jul 13, 2022•21 min•Ep. 88
An estimated 38,000 Americans are diagnosed with HIV annually. An important tool in the effort to end the ongoing epidemic is an injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the first option to prevent HIV that does not involve taking a daily pill. The injectable form of the drug received FDA approval in late 2021 and has begun to hit the market. This is Part 2 of our conversation (Recorded May 16, 2022) with a panel of experts specializing in the HIV treatment and prevention. They discus...
Jun 28, 2022•23 min•Ep. 87
In recent months, more states have debated and even passed legislation that limits how health care is delivered to transgender individuals. In the last year alone, more than 20 such bills have been enacted nationwide. In Part 1 of this two-part episode (recorded May 16, 2022), we take a closer look at the impact these laws are having on transgender care with a panel of experts at the local, state and federal level. In part 2 (posting June 28) our experts discuss PrEP injectables, the newest trea...
Jun 21, 2022•23 min•Ep. 86
The overuse of opioids in health care over the last two decades has had devastating effects. The development of the ultrasound-guided nerve block has revolutionized the field of anesthesia and is part of an important and necessary shift in the conversation about how we manage pain. Not only championing its use in the surgical setting, Joseph Marino, MD , Northwell’s senior vice president for anesthesia, is now expanding its use to emergency departments in Staten Island, Westchester and Long Isla...
Jun 08, 2022•23 min•Ep. 85
On this episode of the podcast, we speak with two Northwell leaders who have led the effort to create and deploy a 24/7 consultation and support service to Ukraine. This real-time, doctor-to-doctor platform is now offering health care workers a vital resource, particularly for those displaced by the ongoing hostilities in the country. Eric Cioe-Pena, MD , director of Northwell's Center for Global Health, and Jonathan Berkowitz, MD , medical director for the Center for Emergency Medicine, discuss...
May 25, 2022•21 min•Ep. 84
For the millions of US patients who go to an ER or medical office with chest pain every year, doctors have several options for screening. New national guidelines recommend a quick and non-invasive heart scan known as CCTA for stable chest pain. Our guests today are leading experts in the field of advanced cardiac imaging and discuss the history and many applications of this technology, which produces a 3D image of the heart and can be used to rule out several potentially deadly conditions. The u...
May 10, 2022•25 min•Ep. 83
Jaw-in-a-Day accomplishes in one surgery and one day what used to take three surgeries or more. Prior to this revolutionary procedure, the process to get dental implants could take months, or even years, forcing patients to live without teeth. Using virtual surgical planning, a team of doctors can not only pre-fabricate teeth to implant on the day of surgery, they can improve the accuracy and efficiency of this difficult process. On this episode of 20-Minute Health Talk, we speak with the pionee...
Apr 26, 2022•22 min•Ep. 82
Diagnosing a disease usually requires a test or blood sample. But for women with endometriosis, diagnosis requires an invasive surgery. For April Summerford, a 36-year-old from Fresno California, that surgery actually worsened her disease. Wanting to do her part, she joined the ROSE study, which stands for Research OutSmarts Endometriosis. Led by Christine Metz, PhD , and Peter Gregersen, MD , the ROSE research team has spent the last seven years trying to find better treatments and less invasiv...
Apr 12, 2022•23 min•Ep. 81
There are only 73 lung transplant centers in the United States and, until recently, none on Long Island. As a result, many have fought an uphill battle waiting for transplant, including Lindsay Salguero-Lopez, 40. In late January, end-stage heart and lung failure left her near death, with transplant as the only treatment that could save her life. Fortunately, Northwell had just launched its program days prior. Even more fortunate, donor organs became available just three days later and in the ea...
Mar 31, 2022•23 min•Ep. 80
Millions of Americans live 30 miles or more from the nearest hospital. Not just an inconvenience, this access issue known as “ care deserts ” affects a shocking 80 percent of counties in the United States and can exist in both rural and urban areas. A scarcity of medical resources, however, does not have to doom the health of entire communities, says Onisis Stefas, PharmD , Northwell’s chief pharmacy officer and CEO at Vivo Health Pharmacy. He joins Alex Hellinger, DPT, MBA, FACHE , Northwell's ...
Mar 15, 2022•23 min•Ep. 79
Researchers have identified more than 200 symptoms associated with the long-term effects of Covid-19, but much remains unknown. Peter Silver, MD and Sonali Narain, MD shed light on some of the mysteries that surround long Covid , also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). They offer context to the current state of the disease and actions being taken by the medical and research communities to combat and better understand it. Meet the experts Peter Silver, MD is the Chief Quality Offi...
Mar 10, 2022•20 min•Ep. 78
A group of medical professionals arrived in Guyana this week to deliver care, exchange knowledge and develop a plan to support the more remote areas of the South American country. This work is part of a five-year medical partnership between the Ministry of Health of Guyana and Northwell Health, through its Center for Global Health (CGH). Daniel Leon is among those who traveled 2,500-plus miles for the three-week trip. He shares his experiences and connection to Guyana, as well as his passion for...
Mar 03, 2022•21 min•Ep. 77
With the goal of cutting cancer deaths in half by 2047, the White House's Cancer Moonshot initiative is pumping $1.8 billion into cancer research over the next seven years. Achieving this goal, however, will require clearing research hurdles — including the lack of diversity in clinical trials, say Richard Barakat, MD , and David Tuveson, MD, PhD . They discuss the exciting research being funded by the Moonshot initiative, describe efforts to improve and diversify clinical trial recruitment, and...
Feb 23, 2022•24 min•Ep. 76
This Valentine’s Day we're celebrating a love for science and a special bond between two scientists. Kim Simpfendorfer, PhD, and Michael Ryan built a relationship while pursuing a career at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. They also discuss their experience of going through in-vitro fertilization , pregnancy, and the crucial role the Covid vaccine played in building their family. Sarah Pachtman , MD, a maternal/fetal medicine doctor explains what other couples should know about IVF...
Feb 14, 2022•21 min•Ep. 75
Demand for mental health services for children has once again accelerated as the latest Covid-19 surge impacts daily life. Lack of resources in the community have resulted in delays in care for children experiencing anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. Vera Feuer, MD, talks about the challenge of expanding mental health care access, and how health systems can partner with school districts to bridge that gap. She shares the success of the Northwell School Mental Health Partnership, which co...
Feb 08, 2022•20 min•Ep. 74
Kicking off Heart Health Month in February, we sat down with Stacey Rosen, MD , and Jennifer Mieres, MD , two leading experts and patient advocates in the field of cardiovascular disease in women. They highlight the importance of partnering with your doctor — as well as family, friends and colleagues — to identify and maintain heart healthy habits. They discuss the impact of access issues in health care and the history of bias in sex and gender research, and the work they are doing to change tha...
Feb 01, 2022•22 min•Ep. 73
In addition to Covid case counts, the need for testing has skyrocketed since the arrival of the omicron variant. With demand outpacing supply throughout most of December and January, labs nation wide have struggled to keep up. Dwayne Breining, MD , executive director of Northwell Health Labs, shares how his team was able to double their testing capacity using a new technology called LabGold . He explores how this highly reliable, low-cost testing platform — capable of processing up to 100,000 sp...
Jan 26, 2022•21 min•Ep. 72
Charles Schleien, MD , describes the effect the omicron variant has had on children amid the recent surge of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations. In addition, Dwayne Breining, MD , joins the podcast to answer common questions about Covid-19 testing. Meet the experts: Dr. Schleien is senior vice president and chair of pediatric services at Northwell Health and chair of pediatrics at the Barbara & Donald Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Dr. Breining is executive director of North...
Jan 20, 2022•20 min•Ep. 70
More than 1 in 5 Americans provide unpaid care to an adult family member or friend. Whether an act of love or sense of duty, carrying out this critical role takes a toll. On this episode, three experts in caregiving share practical tips, advice and resources to help guide listeners through this difficult and demanding time. They discuss caregiver support groups, planning for retirement, how hospital-based caregiver centers help and how Covid-19 has changed caregiving. Meet our guests: Maria Torr...
Jan 11, 2022•20 min•Ep. 69
The advent of the Covid-19 vaccines propelled us into 2021 and put a spotlight on the critical role of research and clinical trials. In this episode we spotlight five innovations coming out of the last year from researchers at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. The innovations aim to improve life for patients living with paralysis, schizophrenia, cardiovascular disease, Covid-19, brain cancer and PTSD. Chapters: 00:42 – Treating PTSD with inner-ear stimulation – Dr. Rebecca Schwartz ...
Jan 04, 2022•20 min•Ep. 68
