In this episode of Prescribed Listening, host Tessa Lackey talks to Dr. Mersiha Hadziahmetovic about radiation therapy, a common but often misunderstood cancer treatment. Dr. Hadziahmetovic explains what radiation therapy involves, what patients can expect, and the various indications for its use. She also debunks myths related to radiation, clarifies potential side effects, and provides practical advice on how patients can manage their treatment, including dietary considerations and the importa...
Jan 31, 2025•30 min
What happens as you transition from receiving cancer treatment to that cancer-free diagnosis? In this episode of Prescribed Listening, Nurse Practitioner Jodi McClain, who also works with UToledo Health’s Survivorship Clinic and the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center, joins us to discuss cancer survivorship. We discuss the evidence-based decisions that go into what happens after cancer treatment, survivorship appointments at UToledo Health and tips for managing your mental health. Show notes: America...
Dec 20, 2024•12 min
So, you've been diagnosed with cancer. Now what? Dr. Danae Hamouda from Oncology and Hematology and Dr. Mersiha Hadziahmetovic from Radiation Oncology at UToledo Health discuss what you can expect after a cancer diagnosis. They provide an overview of what to anticipate with radiation therapy or chemotherapy, how to talk about your diagnosis with loved ones, how to get clear answers to your questions, clinical trials, and how UToledo Health supports you every step of the way. To schedule an appoi...
Dec 06, 2024•31 min
If you plan on watching the total solar eclipse on April 8 with your family, we are discussing how you and your kids can view it safely with Dr. Svitlana Zhukivska with UTMC Family Medicine. We discuss dos and don’ts for eclipse glasses, and the repercussions for not having the right type of protection for yours and your kid's eyes, and helping your kids understand why using eclipse glasses are important. If you are interested in attending UToledo's Eclipse celebration, you can learn more at htt...
Apr 02, 2024•11 min
For some, the holidays bring up a lot of emotions surrounding the loss of a loved one. In this episode of Prescribed Listening, host Tessa Lackey discusses tips to manage your grief over the holiday season with Behavioral Health Care Manager Hannah Gullikson from UTMC Department of Psychiatry.
Dec 20, 2023•17 min
Whether you are just starting out as a caregiver for someone with dementia, or have been one for a while, this episode is for you. Host Tessa Lackey, discusses tips to help caregivers care for patients with Alzheimers and other forms of Dementia with Dr. Dionis Kononov from physical wellbeing, to their mental wellbeing for both caregiver and patient. We also look at what is important to focus on when getting started on this journey, and how to work through unexpected challenges after a diagnosis...
Nov 17, 2023•39 min
Recently, the US Preventative Services Task Force changed the breast cancer screening guidelines to recommend starting screening at 40 years old instead of 50 years old. In this episode of Prescribed Listening, Host Tessa Lackey discusses the latest breast cancer screening guidelines and how they apply to you with Dr. Danae Hamouda from UTMC oncology and Hematology. We also discuss genetic testing and if it’s right for you, how to know the risks of breast cancer and how to reduce your overall ri...
Oct 20, 2023•32 min
Burnout is difficult to work through, and when you’re on a recovery journey, it can be more challenging. In this episode of Prescribed Listening, host Tessa Lackey talks to Dr. Tanvir Singh from UTMC Psychiatry and the UTMC Recovery Center about how to work through burnout while on your recovery journey. We discuss how to prevent burnout, how to know when you are experiencing it, tips to manage inevitable stress and continue to practice healthy habits. If you are interested in scheduling an appo...
Sep 22, 2023•31 min
Recently The World Health Organization classified the artificial sweetener most commonly found in diet pop, aspartame, as a possible carcinogen. We talk to Dr. Srini Hejeebu from UTMC Internal Medicine about what WHO and the FDA are saying about aspartame, how you should go about consuming it and other artificial sweeteners, especially if you are a diabetic or suffer from migranes and discuss some natural alternatives. You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Srini Hejeebu at 419.383.5614 ....
Sep 08, 2023•24 min•Season 7Ep. 1
You can avoid some heart and vascular problems, help yourself age in a healthy way and live a healthy life by going on this diet. In this episode of Prescribed Listening, we are breaking down the Mediterranean diet with Dr. Rajesh Gupta from UTMC Cardiovascular Medicine . Host Tessa Lackey discusses with Dr. Gupta how you can incorporate methods of this diet into your daily habits, recipe ideas, what kinds of sugary foods you should be eating, and what you can do to improve your next cup of coff...
Jun 09, 2023•38 min•Season 6Ep. 12
As you spend more time in the sun let's talk about what you need to know about sunscreen for yourself, your loved ones who are sensitive to the sun, and the rest of your family. Host Tessa Lackey, talks with UTMC Dermatology PA-C, Nina Rettig about how to find relief if you are really sensitive to the sun, tips for boosting your bodies protection from the sun naturally, tips for getting some color on your skin before vacation, and how you could get a sunburn from your margarita on the beach? You...
May 26, 2023•34 min•Season 6Ep. 11
What can skin cancer look like, and how do you know when to talk to a doctor? Host Tessa Lackey discusses with Dr. Danae Hamouda from UTMC's Department of Oncology and Hematology, who is most at risk for skin cancer, methods to check your skin, how to help prevent skin cancer, and her recent study on Melanoma survival trends. May is Melanoma Awareness Month. You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Hamouda at 419.383.6644 .
May 12, 2023•40 min•Season 6Ep. 10
As school sports start back up and the weather is nice enough to go outside for a run again, how do you get back into your workout routine after taking a break? In this episode of Prescribed Listening, host Chrissy Billau talks to Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. David Sohn about how to safely get your body ready to perform at its best, when to know if you pushed yourself too hard, and how to avoid an injury. You can schedule an appointment with Dr. David Sohn through the UTMC Orthopae...
Apr 28, 2023•41 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Cases of substance abuse, and addiction to drugs and alcohol, remain high since the pandemic. Host Chrissy Billau sits down with UTMC Psychiatrist Dr. Tanvir Singh to discuss what the difference is between substance abuse and addiction, what you should look for in yourself or a loved one struggling with drugs and alcohol, what substance abuse looks like for the person going through it, and how you can support someone you love going through the signs and symptoms of substance abuse. Learn more ab...
Apr 25, 2023•33 min•Season 6Ep. 8
There are a lot of misconceptions related to organ donation, so let’s ask the expert. In this episode of Prescribed Listening, host Chrissy Billau talks to Dr. Obi Ekwenna, a Transplant Surgeon from The University of Toledo Medical Center’s Urology Department, about living organ donation addressing common myths, the truth about how organ donation may not only save someone else’s life, but your own, and programs available to protect organ donors and the gift you make. To learn more about northwes...
Apr 14, 2023•37 min•Season 6Ep. 7
What if you could reach your health goals and enhance your overall wellbeing by improving certain areas of your lifestyle? Our host Chrissy Billau talks to Psychologist Dr. Julie Brennan and Independent Clinical and Sports Counselor Dr. Angele McGrady about how the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine — restorative sleep, a whole-food, plant-based diet, physical activity, stress management, positive social connections and avoiding risky substances — can help. We discuss how stress impacts your body...
Mar 31, 2023•49 min•Season 6Ep. 5
In part two of our discussion about women’s mental health we focus on the mental health struggles within motherhood. Our host, Chrissy Billau, talks to Psychiatrist Dr. Victoria Kelly about how to recognize postpartum depression in yourself, how to support a new mom, why kids can be so mean, the importance of self-care, and how to be happy. If you missed part one of this episode, tune in on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. You can schedule an appointment with UTMC Psychiatry at 419.383.5695 ....
Mar 17, 2023•27 min•Season 6Ep. 6
This one's for the ladies (or if you’re looking to understand the mind of a woman better)! Did you know than 1 in 5 women in the U.S. have experienced a mental health condition in the past year? In Part One of this episode of Prescribed Listening, we talk about women's mental health — from societal expectations and balancing their roles in life to the increases in ADHD and anxiety in women. Our host, Chrissy Billau, talks to Psychiatrist Dr. Victoria Kelly about how to check in on your mental he...
Mar 03, 2023•30 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Traditionally the winter months bring on seasonal cold and flu. In this episode of Prescribed Listening, we hear from Dr. Michael Ellis, Chief Medical Officer for The University of Toledo Medical Center. Dr. Ellis discusses steps to prevent and protect yourself and others from those dreaded winter colds and flus.
Nov 23, 2022•28 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Do we really need 8 glasses of water a day? What is right for your body’s hydration? In this episode of Prescribed Listening, we look at common themes from our last season about hydration and how it works in our body. Host Chrissy Billau talks to University of Toledo Physician and Family Medicine, Dr. Coral Matus, about how to know if you’re dehydrated or if your over hydrated, how athletes should prepare your body for longer workouts, and if you feel like you are going to the bathroom every hou...
Nov 04, 2022•41 min•Season 5Ep. 2
This season we are expanding on common themes found in the last season. Such as, even if you know your own body, at what point should you talk to your doctor about a medication before taking it? Why does it matter? Host Chrissy Billau asks UTMC Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Srini Hejeebu why taking a supplement or medicine you saw on Tiktok without talking to your doctor may not give you the result you expected. Plus, how can you effectively communicate questions about what you think is going...
Oct 28, 2022•32 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Two of the top Googled Health Questions from the last few years are: "does cholesterol really count " and "how to lower blood pressure?" Our host Chrissy Billau asks Primary Care Physician, Dr. Kevin Phelps, what can you do to change your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers, what are the risks if your numbers are high, and how lifestyle medicine can change your life. You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Kevin Phelps at 419.383.5555 ....
Jul 22, 2022•26 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Two of the top Googled Health Questions from the last few years are "how to relieve constipation" and "should I go gluten-free?" How do you find relief, and should more people be avoiding gluten for their gut health? Our host Chrissy Billau talks to Dr. Benjamin Hart who works in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at UTMC what you can do if you or your kids are constipated, who needs to be on a gluten-free diet, how gluten reacts in your body, and when you need to see a doctor about constipation. Y...
Jul 15, 2022•43 min•Season 4Ep. 7
One of the top Googled health questions from the last two years is, "why can't I sleep?" Our host Chrissy Billau asks Dr. Andre Aguillon, a specialist in sleep medicine at UTMC, how to get good sleep as an adult and a child, if naps are helpful, how to calm your brain before bed, and recommended school start times for children and how it impacts their sleep. You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Andre Aguillon at the University of Toledo Medical Center by calling 567-420-1600 ....
Jul 08, 2022•34 min•Season 4Ep. 6
One of the top Googled health questions is, "are short workouts worth it?" Will a 10-minute workout into your busy schedule produce any progress on your fitness journey? Our host Chrissy Billau asks UTMC Physical Therapists Joe Dietrich DPT, ATC, and Tyler Schinharl PT, DPT, where you can start your exercise journey if you aren't sure, recommended workouts, the best time of day to work out, how to avoid injuring yourself during a workout and how to come back from an injury. You can schedule an a...
Jul 01, 2022•38 min•Season 4Ep. 5
One of the top Googled health questions from the last few years is, "what causes kidney stones?" Our host, Chrissy Billau, talks to Dr. Ahmed El-Zawahry from The University of Toledo Medical Center's Urology Department about what to watch for with kidney stones, how much water you should be drinking, UTIs, and the color and smell of your urine. You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Ahmed El-Zawahry at the University of Toledo Medical Center by calling the Department of Urology at 419.383.3578...
Jun 24, 2022•46 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Two of the top Googled health questions from the last few years are: "can you be fat and healthy," and "how many calories should I be eating?" Can you be what some might consider "fat" and healthy at the same time? Our host Chrissy Billau asks Registered Dietician Julie Smith, who works with UTMC Bariatric Surgery, what the risks of being too skinny or obese, signs of an eating disorder, fad diets, and how parents can manage feeding a picky eater. Learn more about Bariatric Surgery and our Regis...
Jun 17, 2022•36 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Two of the most Googled health questions in the last few years are "what is RSV, and "what is HPV?" Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic RSV and HPV has entered the conversation. Why is that? Our host Chrissy Billau asks Dr. Deepa Mukundan, a University of Toledo Physician and Infectious Disease Specialist, about RSV and HPV, how to talk to your kids about getting vaccinated, the latest on COVID-19, and where you can turn to for answers, in this episode of Prescribed Listening. You can schedule an a...
Jun 10, 2022•29 min•Season 4Ep. 2
One of the top Googled health questions from the last two years is, "Is a daily glass of wine healthy?" Our host Chrissy Billau asks Cardiologist Dr. Mark Burket whether wine is good for your heart, the types of exercise and diet you can be taking part in to benefit your heart health, and how significant pain in your legs may mean you need to see a doctor right away. You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Mark Burket at the University of Toledo Medical Center by calling (419) 931-0030 ....
Jun 03, 2022•32 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In this episode of Prescribed Listening from The University of Toledo Medical Center, orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Jacob Miller. Dr. Miller provides tips on a healthy and safe workout regime for the New Year.
Jan 21, 2022•12 min•Season 3Ep. 3
