General Medicine and Primary Care

Host Dr. Prathima Setty welcomes Dr. Eve Espey, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Associate Dean of Students at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, to discuss the comparative efficacies, side effect profiles, costs, and procedural methods for the latest long-acting reversible contraceptives available. Dr. Espey serves on the undergraduate medical education committee of the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics and on the Committee for Underserved Women of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

As many as 25% of patients taking statins may experience side effects. How should clinicians respond to the broad spectrum of side effects and variable severities reported? Host Dr. Alan Brown welcomes Dr. John Guyton, Associate Professor of Medicine and Assistant Professor of Pathology at Duke University School of Medicine, to discuss statin intolerance and the most effective methods for counseling patients who experience this issue. Dr. Guyton's team has developed approaches that help many patients who have trouble taking statin drugs find alternative ways to lower their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. Dr. Guyton is recognized nationally as an expert in clinical management of lipid disorders and is known for his earlier work on lipid deposition in the arterial wall.

Dr. Brian McDonough welcomes Attila Hildmann, author of the international bestsellers Vegan for Fun and Vegan for Fit. Mr. Hildmann's work to promote veganism from a practical, cost-conscious perspective has revolutionized the German-language cooking and diet book market, which is the second largest in the world after the U.S. He discusses the health benefits versus day-to-day challenges of incorporating veganism into one's life, and how primary care clinicians can become involved in helping patients transition to healthier dietary patterns.

The annual cost of chronic pain in the United States is as high as $635 billion a year, which is more than the yearly costs for cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Over 100 million Americans are affected by chronic pain, and by extension, pain is the number one diagnosis in primary care. Joining host Mimi Secor to discuss new insights on this ever-present malady is Brett Snodgrass, Family Nurse Practitioner in private practice in Bartlett, TN specializing in pain management and palliative care. She is President of the Greater Memphis Area Advanced Practice Nurses, and also hosts a popular blog called The NP Mom.

There are approximately 55 million women of menopausal age in the US. In fact, about 6,000 women reach menopausal age every day. For many, the spectrum of physical changes and their associated impacts on daily life aren't always anticipated or well understood. Clinicians of all levels have unique opportunities to provide guidance and treatment options for patients experiencing more severe effects of menopause; however, they don't always know what to ask, or how to ask it. To address this knowledge gap, host Mimi Secor welcomes Barbara Dehn, popularly known as Nurse Barb, a practicing Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, award winning author, and a nationally recognized health expert, to discuss clinical approaches to helping patients through the more difficult symptoms of menopause.

What are some of the causes of high triglycerides? What is the biggest health risk? And, for these patients, at what level is the risk greater for developing pancreatitis and coronary artery disease? Host Dr. Alan Brown welcomes Dr. Carl Orringer, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Cardiology Division, University of Miami Medical Center and Director of the Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine and LDL apheresis program. In this edition of Lipid Luminations, Dr. Orringer will discuss the management of the patients with triglycerides 200-499 mg/dl.

The CDC released a report on the prevalence of sexual violence and intimate partner violence (IPV) that stated about 36% of women in the US are raped or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner during their lifetimes. About 6% experience this in any given year. The costs are burdensome to the health care system and society, estimated at 2.3 to 7 billion dollars in the first year after the assault. What can physicians do to address this public health issue? Host family practitioner Dr. Jennifer Caudle welcomes Dr. Jane Liebschutz to answer these questions and provide insight to the important roles of the physician. Dr. Liebschutz is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Community Health Science and the Director of the General Internal Medicine-Family Medicine-Pediatrics Academic Fellowship at Boston Medical Center.

Recent data from the American Cancer Society documents over 14 million survivors of cancer living in the US at the present time. For these individuals, cancer rehabiliation is a critically important service that improves quality of life and, by extension, decreases morbidity and mortality rates. However, while cancer rehabilitation is mandated to be available to all cancer survivors throughout the US, not everyone has access to this care. How are healthcare systems addressing this disparity? Joining host Dr. Maurice Pickard to discuss this issue is Dr. Julie Silver, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Oncology Rehab Partners.

What are the differences in managing the Ebola virius in Africa versus the United States? It has been relatively controlled to date, but what are the major concerns in spreading? Host Dr. Brian McDonough welcomes special guest Dr. Kamar Adeleke, cardiologist in New Castle, Delaware, whose practice includes frequent travels to Nigeria where he teaches at affiliated medical schools.

Host Dr. Prathima Setty welcomes Dr. Kurian Thott, Chief of OB/GYN at Stafford Hospital, to discuss the best gynecologic minimally invasive surgery procedures in practice today. Dr. Thott has specialized advanced training in Urogynecology and pelvic reconstructive surgery, and he was awarded for outstanding laparoscopic skill in minimally invasive surgery by both the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) and Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS).