Pediatric infectious disease expert Jana Shaw, MD, talks about the return of measles. Cardiologist/historian Harold Smulyan, MD, discusses the death of movie star Clark Gable. "The Healing Muse" editor Deirdre Neilen, PhD, shares the new edition of Upstate's literary journal.

Psychiatrist and researcher Joshua Gordon, MD, PhD, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, talks about suicide and abuse in children, depression, chronic stress and other issues. Upstate pediatrician Joseph Domachowske, MD, and medical student Dan Farrell tell about their research in Ecuador on a common respiratory infection in infants. Pathologist Matthew Elkins, MD, PhD, explains the work of Upstate’s laboratories, which have recently moved and expanded.

Upstate radiation oncologist Linda Schicker, MD, explains how radiation therapy works and what patients can expect during and after treatment. Radiation therapy is typically used to treat some solid tumors, such as in prostate or breast cancers, rather than cancers in the blood, such as leukemia. Schicker sees most of her patients in the Upstate Cancer Center's Oneida satellite office.

Editor Deirdre Neilen, PhD, unveils the new issue of The Healing Muse, Upstate's literary and visual arts journal. The cover includes a picture from photographer Michael Greenlar of a woman who is a member of the Algonquin people and lives in the bush of Quebec, Canada. Neilen speaks about the role of literature in medical education and the quest to find writing that inspires. She also talks about a second just-published volume she helped edit -- the poetry of Bonnie St. Andrews, PhD, titled "Round & Ripe & Wise," which is available for free to anyone who orders The Healing Muse. St. Andrews, an Upstate professor, founded The Healing Muse and died in 2003 of cancer.

Some people with painful osteoarthritis are unwilling or unable to have a surgical knee replacement. They may instead seek relief from physical therapy, over-the-counter pain relievers, precription pain killers or steroid injections. Now Central New Yorkers have another option: a cooled radiofrequency procedure called "Coolief" -- a blend of "cool" and "relief." Xiaoli Dong, MD, an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, explains how the procedure is done, its risks and how its results compare with other treatments.

Joseph Domachowske, MD, and fourth-year medical student Dan Farrell tell about their research in Ecuador on RSV -- respiratory syncytial virus -- and environmental factors that may impact its frequency and severity. RSV is the most common lower respiratory tract infection in children under the age of 1. Domachowske is a pediatric infectious disease physician at Upstate. Farrell is the recipient of a fellowship awarded by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

One of the main tools doctors use to find out what is going on with patients and what treatments might work relies on the results of laboratory testing. The labs at Upstate are overseen by the pathology department, which underwent a recent relocation and expansion. Assistant professor Matthew Elkins, MD, PhD, explains the benefits of the recent move.

Upstate Director of Employee and Student Health Jarrod Bagatell, MD, provides information on the need for flu shots. Lung cancer expert Leslie Kohman, MD, explains why lung cancer screening is important. Psychiatrist Sunny Aslam, MD, tells about efforts to provide mental health care and addiction treatment to people living on the streets or in shelters.

Pharmacist Ali Scrimenti, PharmD, tells about the new shingles vaccine. Psychologist Jeffrey Schweitzer, PhD, discusses depression in people who have cancer. Visiting lecturers from Truman Medical Centers in Kansas City, Mo., share strategies for maintaining compassion without fatigue.

Joshua Gordon, MD, PhD, the director of the National Institute of Mental Health, talks about a variety of topics, including newly released data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. That work focuses on 10,000 9- and 10-year-old children and will follow them for 10 years to learn more about how adolescent brains develop. Already, Gordon says, researchers are concerned about the high rate of suicidal thoughts and exposure to abuse among these children. Gordon, who came to Syracuse to lecture at Upstate Medical University, also addresses schizophrenia, depression and the effects of chronic stress.