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Primary Care Today

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Primary Care Today features conversations with clinical experts representing a wide range of medical specialties to highlight the latest trends in primary care practice, from clinical pearls to updated guidelines, health informatics, and practice management. This series is hosted by Dr. Brian McDonough, a nationally recognized clinical expert, teacher, and public speaker in primary care.
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Episodes

Not Quite a Cancer Vaccine: Selling HPV & Cervical Cancer

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection remains one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in both females and males, with about 9 in 10 people contracting HPV at some point in their lives. Host Dr. Brian McDonough is joined by Samantha Gottlieb, medical anthropologist and author of Not Quite a Cancer Vaccine: Selling HPV and Cervical Cancer. They explore the history of Gardasil, a vaccine developed for HPV but marketed primarily as a cervical cancer ...

Feb 19, 20180

Rethinking Pain Management in an Opioid Epidemic: Prevention and Treatment Updates

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP According to a report from the Trust for America’s Health, an estimated 1.6 million people could die from drugs, alcohol, and suicide in the next ten years. This is a 60% increase from the past decade. Host Dr. Brian McDonough talks with John Templeton Jr, President of Footprints Beachside Recovery Center in Florida, about treating addiction and what doctors need to know about reducing opioid addiction risk in their pain medication management....

Jan 30, 20180

Beyond Opioids: Alternative Options for Pain Management

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Over 33,000 lives were lost to opioid overdose in 2015, translating into 91 people dying each day, according to the most recent CDC data. Reducing exposure to prescription opioids, for situations where the risks of opioids outweigh their benefits, is a crucial part of reversing this trend. Host Dr. Brian McDonough explores alternative options to prescription opioids with addiction specialist Dr. Isaac Alexis, Medical Director of the Lifeline Addiction Center i...

Jan 26, 20180

Keeping the "Fit" in Fitness: How to Avoid Exercise Pitfalls

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Exercise can improve your health and reduce the risk of developing several diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Host Dr. Brian McDonough chats with veteran personal trainer and exercise therapy specialist Bobby Whisnand about ways to to keep your workout "working out" and how to avoid exercise pitfalls.

Jan 15, 20180

Best in Show: The Health Benefits of Therapy Dogs

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Several studies have shown that therapy dogs help to reduce people’s pain levels and anxiety. Therapy dogs have also been found to increase patients’ physical, mental, emotional and social states and improve their quality of life. Host Dr. Brian McDonough talks with David Frei, co-creator of Angel on a Leash, a charity supporting therapy dog programs that serve health care facilities, about how therapy dogs bring comfort, affection and happiness to people in c...

Dec 11, 20170

Altering the Collision Course: Protective Effects of Omega-3 Intake on Concussions

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP There is nearly a 20% chance that each of us will suffer a concussion this year. More concerning yet, over 30% of those concussions will lead to a long-term, potentially permanent disability. Many studies have explored how the use of Omega-3 fatty acids may add some measure of resilience within the brain to withstand injury in those at significant risk. Host Dr. Brian McDonough chats with Dr. Michael Lewis, founder of the nonprofit Brain Health Education and R...

Dec 05, 20170

5 Simple Steps to Kick Your Patients' (& Your Own) Sugar Cravings

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the average American consumes between 150 to 170 pounds of refined sugars every year. Excessive sugar consumption is linked to a long list of health problems, from obesity and cardiovascular disease to joint inflammation and ADHD, but most of us can’t seem to be able to stop eating sugar no matter how hard we try. Joining Dr. Brian McDonough to address the growing threat of sugar addiction is health edu...

Dec 05, 20170

Spanning Broadcast Medicine to Big-Wave Surfing: The Life, Career and Hobbies of Dr. Bob Arnot

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Dr. Bob Arnot is an award-winning medical correspondent for NBC and CBS News and served as MSNBC’s chief foreign correspondent in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also worked as an Olympic physician and is a sports enthusiast who competes in Ironman events, triathlons, marathons, big-wall ice climbing, Himalayan climbs, the 100-mile Canadian ski marathon, 24-hour bike races, big wave surfing and stand-up paddling. Host Dr. Brian McDonough sits down with Dr. Arnot to t...

Nov 20, 20170

Treating Hip Fractures in Elderly Patients: An Orthopedic Surgeon's Perspective

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Out of the approximately 340,000 hip fractures that occur in the US each year, 9 out of 10 of them happen to people older than 65. Hip fractures in an older population can result in significant complications including pneumonia and blood clots, among others. Host Dr. Brian McDonough sits down with Dr. Derek Donegan, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery in the Division of Orthopedic Trauma at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to talk about som...

Oct 27, 20170

Sharing Tools and Assessments for Suicide Prevention Worldwide

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 44,193 Americans die by suicide each year. The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) has been developed as a means of helping users identify whether someone is at risk for suicide, assessing the severity and immediacy of that risk, and gauging the level of support that the person needs. Host Dr. Brian McDonough talks with Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber, Founder and Director of the Columbia L...

Oct 27, 20170

Addressing Rheumatic Diseases: Diagnostic and Treatment Updates

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP With more than 100 different disorders, rheumatic diseases comprise one of the most prevalent disease groups in the industrialized world. In fact, a third of the population will be affected by a rheumatic disease at some point during their lifetimes. Host Dr. Brian McDonough sits down with Dr. Carol Langford, Chair of the Committee of Education at the American College of Rheumatology, about the diagnostic and treatment challenges of rheumatic diseases....

Oct 08, 20170

Immune Cells: Are They the Key to Better Allergy and Infection Therapies?

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Allergies occur when your immune system mistakes a normally harmless allergen for a dangerous invader and moves to destroy it, producing an allergic reaction. What exactly causes this response, and what are the best treatments to combat it? Host Brian McDonough chats with Dr. Avery August, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, about his research regarding how allergens affect the immune system....

Sep 23, 20170

Food-Proof: A USDA Expert's Tips for Avoiding Food Poisoning

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Every year, 1 in 6 Americans get sick from eating contaminated food. USDA Food Safety expert Sarah Lichtman joins host Dr. Brian McDonough to discuss ways to safely handle food, prevent food poisoning, and minimize risk of foodborne illnesses.

Sep 20, 20170

Millennials & Mental Health: A Generation Wrestling with Depression & Anxiety

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Millennials report higher incidence and prevalence rates of depression than any previous generation. Why is this, and what can be done to help these patients? Host Brian McDonough speaks with Dr. John Huber, Chairman for Mainstream Mental Health, about the reasons why millennials are struggling with depression and anxiety, and tips for helping these patients handle the unique stressors in life they are facing.

Sep 06, 20170

The Angry Smile: Exploring the Psychological Impacts of Passive-Aggressive Behavior

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Guest: Signe Whitson What is passive-aggressive behavior, and what can (or should) people do when confronted with it? Host Brian McDonough sits down with Signe Whitson, author of the book The Angry Smile: The New Psychological Study of Passive-Aggressive Behavior at Home, at School, in Marriage & Close Relationships, in the Workplace and Online. Ms. Whitson is an educator on bullying, crisis intervention, and child and adolescent emotional and behavioral h...

Aug 25, 20170

Rethinking Nicotine: The Campaign to Break the World's Tobacco Habit

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Cigarette smoking is one of the leading cause of preventable death in North America, an unfortunate statistic that is rapidly replicating across the rest of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts based on current trends that cigarette smoking will kill a billion people this century. But what can be done to reverse this trend? Host Brian McDonough talks with David Sweanor, Adjunct Professor of Law, and Chair of the advisory committee for the Ce...

Aug 25, 20170

Unraveling Health Disparities for Women with Parkinson's Disease

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Guest: Allison Willis, MD More men than women are diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease by almost a 2 to 1 margin. However, women receive supportive surgery less often than men, and their symptoms are more severe on average by the time surgical options are taken. Host Brian McDonough chats with Dr. Allison Willis, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, about gender differences in diagnosing and manag...

Aug 25, 20170

Olive Oil: The Secret Ingredient Preventing Alzheimer's Disease?

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP The Mediterranean Diet, rich in plant-based foods, is associated with a variety of health benefits, including a lower incidence of dementia. Extra-virgin olive oil, a specific ingredient used abundantly in this diet, is now speculated to help protect people against cognitive decline. Host Brian McDonough talks with Domenico Pratico, Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Microbiology at the Center for Translational Medicine at the Louis Katz School of...

Aug 25, 20170

Redefining the Vegetative State: How Imaging Measures Consciousness

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Vegetative state is commonly defined as "wakefulness with awareness." Patients with a vegetative state diagnosis will show only reflex behavior, are not able to follow commands and are unable to communicate. This barrier in the inability for patients to communicate can make it difficult for doctors to measure their level of consciousness. In fact, some patients who are believed to be in a completely vegetative state may be more aware of what's going on than pe...

Aug 12, 20170

Understanding Millennial Outlooks: The Shift Toward Social Responsibility

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Recently, Millennials (those born after 1980) have become the largest generation in the U.S. workforce and are also the fastest-growing population of customers in the marketplace. By extension this makes them a dominant player in the health care field, both as patients and providers. But Millennials exhibit different attitudes toward employment, consumerism, health, and wellness compared to previous generations, with greater emphasis on social responsibility. ...

Aug 04, 20170

The Case for Medical Interoperability: Why Health Information Systems Must Work Together

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Interoperability refers to the capacity for computer systems and software to exchange information and interpret that shared data. The ability for machines to communicate efficiently within healthcare systems offers a myriad of vital benefits to patients and providers. For instance, as data becomes more mobile, personal health information entered by clinicians can begin to reach patients wherever they are and whenever they need it. Dr. Brian McDonough sits down...

Jul 28, 20170

Radiation Nation: The Effects of Cell Phones on Children's Brains

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Could constant cell phone use be damaging children's brains? Host Dr. Brian McDonough chats with Daniel Debaun, author of Radiation Nation: The Fallout of Modern Technology, " about how electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation produced by modern technology such as cell phones, tablets, laptops, Wi-Fi, and smart meters may be emerging as a health threat with many unknown consequences.

Jul 17, 20170

Preparing for MACRA in Your Primary Care Practice

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Guest: Katherine Schneider, MD What does MACRA mean to the clinical practice environment, and how will it impact your own practice? Dr. Katherine Schneider, President and CEO of the Delaware Valley Accountable Care Organization, discusses how MACRA is affecting physician practices. Host Dr. Brian McDonough joins her to outline what physicians can do to prepare for the changing landscape of payment through Medicare.

Jul 07, 20170

Linking p53 Variation to Breast Cancer Risk in African American Women

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP It's widely known that genetics, family history, race, and other factors all play important roles in cancer risk. But what kinds of roles do they play, specifically, and how can we leverage these understandings into better primary care? Dr. Brian McDonough is joined by Dr. Maureen Murphy, research scientist at the Wistar Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Murphy has spent the past twenty years studying how genes affect breast cancer risk in women...

Jun 19, 20170

The Biophysics of Minimizing Brain Damage After Hemorrhagic Stroke

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Guest: Annalisa Scimemi Hemorrhagic strokes account for about 200,000 strokes per year. Of those who survive, about 66 percent suffer some permanent brain damage. Our guest, biophysicist Dr. Annalisa Scimemi, has been studying the receptors in the brain that may contribute to brain damage immediately after hemorrhagic stroke. Alongside host Dr. Brian McDonough, she will discuss how to lessen the effects of brain damage following a stroke....

Jun 12, 20170

Finding Calm in Your Daily Life: Lasting Meditation Techniques

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Guest: Michel Pascal Most of us struggle to be productive during the workday due to daily stress. The task of decluttering our minds proves challenging. On this segment, Michel Pascal, author of the book Meditation for Daily Stress: 10 Practices for Immediate Well-being , speaks with host Dr. Brian McDonough about ways to achieve calmness and improve productivity in our daily lives. He provides meditation techniques that reduce stress, de-clutter minds, and he...

Jun 07, 20170

Head's Up! Why Wearing Bike Helmets Can't Be Overlooked

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Guest: Howard Spiva Wearing a helmet is an overlooked but critical safety precaution, particularly among children. Attorney Howard Spiva knows the lifelong struggle of individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries, having devoting much of his career to providing helmet safety education for children. Joined by host Brian McDonough, Mr. Spiva discusses important details about helmet safety, the current status of helmet laws, and continuing efforts to redu...

May 29, 20170

The Financial Burden of Cancer: Report from the American Cancer Society

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Host Dr. Brian McDonough chats with Jennifer Singleterry, Senior Analyst of Policy and Legislative Support for the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network, about the organization's new report revealing monetary burdens for cancer patients.

May 22, 20170
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