Lurie Children's nationally ranked Division of Urology oversees one of the most experienced Multidisciplinary Valves Program (MVP) Clinic in the country. Their focus is treating children with a rare urological condition known as posterior urethral valves. Affecting only boys, PUV affects about 1 in 5,000 births and can lead to extreme damage to the kidney and bladder. Lurie Children's urologist Dr. Ed Gong and kidney specialist Dr. Kavita Hodgkins run the valves program and talk with us today about best practices in treating this rare and serious condition.

In the second episode of our discussion on seniors, today we are focusing on the special considerations the people in this population should take when deciding to incorporate cannabis into their treatment plans.

70% of older adults have 2 or more chronic conditions, and almost 40% of all seniors take 5 or more prescriptions! So polypharmacy is very important here. 

Dr. Les Matthews & Dr. Leigh Vincour are back in this episode to go over how to prescribe cannabis for this more complex population, and things you should keep in mind if you wnt to prescribe cannabis as well.

By 2030, it's estimated that 20% of the population will be over 65. And in the last 3 years, there has been a 75% increase in the number of seniors who are interested in medical cannabis.

In fact, the average age at Dr. Vincour's practice is about 79-80 years old. So why are all of these seniors all of a sudden interested in using cannabis, and why?

Dr. Les Matthews & Dr. Leigh Vincour are back in this episode to talk about why we are seeing this trend.

One of the only comprehensive fetal centers in the country, The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health at Lurie Children’s, treats patients with complex pregnancies. Among the rarest and most serious condition they see is twin to twin transfusion syndrome, a complication that affects 10 to 15 percent of identical twins. In this condition, the twins share a placenta which can lead to extreme prematurity and significant injury to major organs or even death. Fetal surgeons like our guest Dr. Amir Alhajjat are sometimes able to correct this condition in utero. Today, we talk with him about this serious condition and treatment for it.

The war on drugs was a huge failure, disproportionately hurting communities of color and poorer areas.

Smaller possession charges have been ruining people's lives for decades now, and we are only getting to a point in our culture and justice system where people are realizing this is not the way to move forward with the legal cannabis industry 

In this episode, Dr. Les Matthews & Dr. Leigh Vincour discuss what transpired in the past, and what efforts are underway to rectify those injustices.

When children suffer from heart failure and all medical options are exhausted, sometimes the next option is to use mechanical support to keep their heart going. The machine that supports this is called a Ventricular Assist Device, commonly known as a VAD.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago is the home to the #1 ranked pediatric Heart Center in Illinois and offers one of the highest-volume pediatric ventricular assist device (VAD) programs in the world. We hear from the leaders of that program at Lurie Children’s.

If you’re 65 or older, you may want to listen up. The annual enrollment period for Medicare is coming and if you miss deadlines, delay enrollment or choose the wrong plan, it can cost you money and access to the type of care you want. Reid Health Alliance Medicare plans provide benefits that can help members be healthier which in turn helps our communities to thrive. When you have your doctor and your health plan working together, you have a trusted partner beside you from start to finish.

If you've ever thought about going back to school for nursing, there's no better time than right now! Dr. Sharnee Moore-Jervis and Sidney Holmes discuss the St. Francis School of Nursing, careers in nursing, and more.

Spina bifida affects about 1,400 babies born each year. Children with the most severe forms of the condition can have difficulty walking, bowel and bladder issues and many other complications. The multidisciplinary Spina Bifida Center at Lurie Children's provides  comprehensive care for children and adolescents with spina bifida and other types of congenital spinal anomalies, from prenatal consultation through young adulthood.

Dr. Robin Bowman leads the center. She is a neurosurgeon who sometimes performs a surgery on babies diagnosed with spina bifida, repairing the condition and improving the prognosis for the child. We talk with her today about the latest in spina bifida treatment and care.

As acceptance of cannabis use grows in the United States, the law is trying to catch up.

And with all the buzzwords and news reports coming out about different states and their cannabis policies, it can be difficult to keep up with what's legal where.

In this episode, Dr. Les Matthews & Dr. Leigh Vincour break down the definitions and differences between legalization & decriminalization and what that means for medical cannabis users.