General Medicine and Primary Care

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 some of the challenges physicians face when treating hip fractures in elderly patients.

Host: David Weisman, MD

Guest: John Khoury, MD

For the first time, the FDA has approved a direct-to-consumer genetic test from 23andme that will inform patients if they are predisposed to diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's, and Celiac Disease among others.

Proponents applaud this decision, saying this will allow for people to know their genetic health risks and be more proactive about their health. Others argue that this information doesn’t tell the whole story since predisposition doesn't reflect someone's ultimate risk or likelihood of developing a disease. What are the benefits and liabilities of consumers' access to genetic testing?

Host Dr. David Weisman, Director of Clinical Trials at Abington Neurological Associates, sits down with Dr. John Khoury, Associate Director at Abington Memorial Hospital Sleep Disorders Center, to debate the merits and pitfalls of direct-to-consumer genetic testing.

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.

Host: Maurice Pickard, MD

Guest: Bonnie Rochman

With the ever-expanding array of prenatal and postnatal tests, from carrier screening to genome sequencing, parents’ access to this previously unknown information is altering perceptions of disability, redefining the question of what sort of life is worth living, and who draws the line. Is this technology a triumph of modern medicine or a Pandora’s box of possibilities?

Host Dr. Maurice Pickard chats with Bonnie Rochman, author of the book The Gene Machine: How Genetic Technologies are Changing the Way We Have Kids - and the Kids We Have, about the new frontier of gene technology and how it is transforming medicine, bioethics, health care, and the factors that shape a family.

Host: Paul Rokuskie

Researchers have been challenged for years by the simultaneous results of numerous studies into brain network connections in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Some results show strong connections, while others suggest the opposite. New research has helped bring some clarity to this ongoing paradox.

Host Paul Rokuskie is joined by Dr. Benjamin Yerys, a child psychologist in the Center for Autism Research (CAR) at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They talk about how it’s possible to see conflicting results and, paradoxically, for both to be true.

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.

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.

Host: Paul Rokuskie

Autism Spectrum Disorder affects communication skills as well as emotional & social development. Researchers have been studying the brain for decades to better understand how these developmental differences manifest as autism. Recent studies that measure rapid eye movement (REM) have been showing great promise in elucidating the origins and mechanisms of disease.

Host Paul Rokusie sits down with Dr. John Foxe to talk about his study on rapid eye movement, its implications on disease pathogenesis, and new insights it can bring to future autism research.

Host: Maurice Pickard, MD

Guest: Robert Pearl, MD

Most patients wrongly assume the “best” care is dependent mainly on the newest medications, the most complex treatments, and the smartest doctors. But according to physician and author Dr. Robert Pearl, Americans tend to look for healthcare solutions in the wrong places.

Host Maurice Pickard chats with Dr. Pearl, author of Mistreated: Why We Think We’re Getting Good Health Care—And Why We’re Usually Wrong, about the subconscious misperceptions that have become so commonplace in medicine today. Dr. Pearl explains how modifying the structure, technology, financing, and leadership of American healthcare could radically improve quality outcomes.

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.