Infectious Diseases

Host: Maurice Pickard, MD

Guest: Anthony S. Fauci, MD

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health discusses the sentiments and mood after the XVII International Conference on AIDS at Mexico City. He emphasizes the need for societies and individuals to implement effective and multifaceted treatment and preventive programs, advance human rights, and invest in AIDS and health care systems. Can therapies that are already at our disposal help stop this pandemic? Hosted by Dr. Maurice Pickard.

Host: Susan Dolan, RN, JD

Guest: Dave Gruber

How are states addressing preparatory needs for a pandemic influenza outbreak? How does a state's preparedness dovetail with other state and federal efforts? Dave Gruber, senior assistant commissioner for the division of health infrastructure preparedness and emergency response for the state of New Jersey, evaluates key preparedness indicators to measure progress in your state. More specifically, Mr. Gruber looks at state-level movement toward anti-viral stockpiling, in collaboration with national preparedness organizations. Susan Dolan hosts.

Host: Susan Dolan, RN, JD

Guest: Dave Gruber

It's been almost a century since the outbreak of Spanish flu in 1918, arguably our most significant struggle with pandemic influenza. Dave Gruber, senior assistant commissioner for the division of health infrastructure preparedness and emergency response for the state of New Jersey, briefly chronicles the breadth of our 20th century pandemic encounters, and examines how these events apply to our evolving understanding of the public health consequences. Very simply, what defines a case of pandemic influenza? Mr. Gruber also updates us on the details of a potential vaccine for prospective Avian flu scenarios. Susan Dolan hosts.

Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD

Guest: Gregory Zimet, PhD

Vaccines seem to always provoke controversy. Perhaps none so much as the HPV vaccine. Dr. Gregory D. Zimet, professor of pediatrics and clinical psychology at Indiana University School of Medicine, joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt to discuss the obstacles that may interfere with widespread acceptance of the HPV vaccine.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD

Guest: Philip Smith, MD

Guest: Lona Mody, MBBS

A major disaster scenario in the United States would likely overwhelm acute care hospitals. Nursing homes present one alternative location for providing care. In the case of a pandemic influenza outbreak, are these care facilities prepared to handle an overflow of patients? From an ethical standpoint, are they obliged to extend their services to the population at large? Dr. Philip Smith, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine, and Dr. Lona Mody, assistant professor of internal medicine in the division of geriatric medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, also examine the need for nursing homes to maintain open lines of local and regional communication with other facilities and public health officials. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD

Guest: Philip Smith, MD

Guest: Lona Mody, MBBS

Providing healthcare in an influenza pandemic would likely bring an all-hands-on-deck approach. The staff at nursing homes and other care facilities would be enlisted to supply treatment to their own residents, likely in addition to outside patients requiring immediate assistance. How can nursing home institutions train their care providers for the specific demands of a pandemic flu scenario? What would be the special needs of nursing home residents during this time? For a closer look at these questions and more, host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill welcomes Dr. Philip Smith, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine, and Dr. Lona Mody, assistant professor of internal medicine in the division of geriatric medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Guest: Ronald Hall II, PharmD

A drug that's been around for decades, vancoymcin is the medicine of choice for treating MRSA infections. While intravenous dosing recommendations are usually weight-based, vancomycin is often prescribed using a flat-dose strategy. Given the growing obesity epidemic in our country, it's worthwhile to ask whether we're underdosing our patients when we write for vancomycin using the conventional flat-dose. Dr. Ronald Hall II joins host Dr. Charles Turck to evaluate vancomycin dosing by weight.

Host: Cathleen Margolin, PhD

Guest: Kevin Ault, MD

Excessive alcohol and tobacco use are obvious risk factors for throat cancer, yet new research is revealing that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is also a significant risk factor for the disease. HPV, in fact, is partly responsible for the continuing rise in the incidence of throat cancer over recent years. Dr. Kevin Ault, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Emory Univerysity School of Medicine and one of the clinical investigators for the HPV vaccine, joins host Dr. Cathleen Margolin for a discussion about the link between HPV and throat cancer.

Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP

Guest: Martin Myers, MD

Patients are increasingly seeking accurate information about vaccine safety. Many reach out to friends and family and others scan media reports or search the Internet. But most patients still consider their primary care physician the main source for reliable information. Host Dr. Jennifer Shu welcomes Dr. Martin Myers, an internationally recognized vaccine expert and former director for the Department of Health and Human Service's National Vaccine Program Office. He is co-author of the book Do Vaccines Cause That?! A Guide for Evaluating Vaccine Safety Concerns. What are the most pertinent questions for our patients, and are you prepared with the answers?

Host: Michael Greenberg, MD

Guest: Sharon Mitchell, PhD

Dr. Sharon Mitchell joins host Dr. Michael Greenberg to detail her role in addressing healthcare for the adult film industry. Known to many as 'Dr. Mitch,' she describes her own transformation from adult film star to sexual health expert and founder of the Adult Industry Medical (AIM) Healthcare Foundation. She'll also give us an idea of the unique healthcare challenges of caring for adult film workers, and how the AIM Foundation is able to cater to the specific needs of these patients.