Health Matters

This week our host, Faith Salie, talks to Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, a pediatrician at NewYork-Presbyterian’s Ambulatory Care Network and Columbia, about ways parents and caregivers can talk to their children about puberty and the changes that come with this stage in life. Dr. Bracho-Sanchez also discusses why puberty may be happening earlier and earlier in children.

This week our host Faith Salie is joined by Dr. David Majure, Medical Director of the Heart Transplant Service with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, to discuss the use of drugs like Ozempic and WeGovy as a treatment to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in certain adults. They explore the complex connections among weight, cardiovascular health, and inflammation, and how Dr. Majure uses these drugs in his work with patients.

Faith Salie talks with Dr. Anne Marie Albano, clinical site co-director of the Center for Youth Mental Health at NewYork-Presbyterian and a child psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. Dr. Albano describes how caregivers can foster confidence and independence in children and how to keep communication lines open when kids are processing big transitions and challenging issues. 

In this special live episode of Health Matters for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Courtney Allison sits down with Kiley Durham, a mom, artist, and multi-cancer survivor. They discuss Kiley’s cancer journey, and invite two doctors from Kiley’s care team to join their conversation and reflect on her treatment. Dr. Tessa Cigler, a medical oncologist, and Dr. John Ng, a radiation oncologist, celebrate Kiley’s resilience and how she beat the odds. They also talked about their approach to cancer care, which doesn’t just treat the disease, but surrounds each patient with everything it takes to fight it. 

This week, Faith talks with Dr. Morgan Busko, a sports medicine doctor with NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia and five-time ironman finisher. They discuss the vast health benefits of running, the best way to avoid injuries, and what to focus on to become a more efficient runner.

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we revisit our conversation with NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia breast oncologist Dr. Meghna Trivedi. She talks with Angelique Serrano about the major risk factors behind breast cancer, the most common genetic factors in cancer risk, and the kinds of prevention strategies that can limit genetic risks. 

This week, Faith talks with Dr. Cynthia Pan, a specialist in geriatric medicine and palliative care with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss the Sandwich Generation—people who find themselves caring for elderly parents and young children at the same time. Dr. Pan describes how common it is to be a caregiver for two different generations, and offers strategies for finding help, starting hard conversions, and avoiding burnout. 

Did you know there’s more serotonin in the gut than in the brain? The connection between our digestive health and our mental health are strong and surprising. To explore this link, Faith Salie talks with Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia and the Director of Clinical Research at Columbia’s Celiac Disease Center. He’s an expert on the connections between gastrointestinal health and the other systems in our body that rely on good digestion. He describes how GI diseases like Celiac have implications for mental health, and what anyone can do to support their digestive health.

This week, Faith is joined by Dr. Andrew Chan, a neurosurgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, to discuss the rising issue of Tech Neck. Dr. Chan explains the causes and symptoms of this modern condition, which is linked to poor posture when using devices such as cell phones and computers. He also offers advice on prevention and treatment, including stretches and strengthening exercises.

This week, Faith is joined by urologist Dr. Alfred Winkler from NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss prostate health and why it’s so important for men to get screened for prostate cancer. Dr. Winkler also shares how it’s among the most treatable cancers, and why some men can be under “active surveillance” and live with the slow-growing cancer with minimal impact on their lives.