Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry

In this episode of Real Physician Reacts we will be discussing a potential threat this winter with what my colleagues are calling a tripledemic.

There are plenty of reasons to be concerned about the three diseases of RSV, Flu & Covid, and why after a couple of years of social isolation, mask-wearing & vaccinations why we may in line for a storm in the hospitals.

Click here to watch the full video on YouTube

Several discussion points today;

• What is a tripledemic?
• How prepared should you be
• What do healthcare workers need to look out for this coming winter season?

Links

• Tripledemic Puts U.S. Hospitals In 'Crisis Mode

Let's talk about how to deal with the unexpected...

Losing someone who is dear to us is like losing a part of ourselves, too. Once a thing like that happens, we just cannot be the same person, with the effect of their loss forever engraved in our being.

Also, communicating with someone who is grieving is no easy thing either. And as unfortunate as it already is, society has made it a taboo that people now choose to avoid attending to their need to grieve.

Indeed, grieving isn't easy; never will it be. But this is exactly why it is important that we choose to understand how grief works instead of staying away from it.

It is normal, and there are no 'finish lines' for it. Tune in to today's episode as Niesia enlightens us about this as she reassures us that it's okay to not be okay, that it's perfectly normal for us to cry our hearts out and feel.

Niesia Garza, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and registered play therapist. She is the owner and CEO of Daniel's Harbor Therapy Center, a therapy center inspired by and in honor of her late son Daniel whom they lost at the young age of 2, where they help patients who are going through trauma and grief.

In this episode, Neisia educates us on how society views grief, and what needs to be changed about it. She also discusses some ways how to handle grief along with the assurance that it's completely normal to address it.

Why you need to check out this episode:

• Understand the concept of grieving and why it is normal to behave differently when in the stage of grief;
• Learn how to deal with someone who is grieving, along with the understanding that someone who has gone through loss will never be their same old self again; and
• Find out why grief should be normalized and not be considered "taboo"

"Everybody grieves differently. There's never a right or wrong way to grieve; there are unhealthy ways and healthy ways, but not a right or wrong way to grieve." – Niesia Garza

Notable Quotes:

"I just want to help other families for them not to feel like there's something wrong with them or they're crazy just because they're grieving."– Niesia Garza

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Remember to subscribe to the podcast and share the episode with a friend or family member.

Listen on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, and Spotify

Links/Resources:

• Niesia's Website
• Niesia's Instagram
• Niesia's LinkedIn
• Niesia's Twitter
• Niesia's Facebook

In this episode of Real Physician Reacts we will be about Bias in Medicine and how it affects not only the patients but also the healthcare workers. Seeing acts of bias whether they are big or small happen daily in healthcare and the cumulation of these problems is why we have many of the healthcare disparities we see today.

There are reasons why non-white patients receive fewer cardiovascular interventions and few renal transplants, why white medical students believe black people have higher pain tolerances, and why there are differences in pregnancy-related deaths among black women.

It is why conversations like these need to continue to happen and be addressed head-on.

Click here to watch the full video on YouTube

Several discussion points today;

• Why is implicit bias so dangerous?
• How has the system of medicine continued to add to the problem?
• What do healthcare workers need to look out for in their own personal bias?

Links

• Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health
• Implicit Bias and Racial Disparities in Health Care
• Implicit Racial/Ethnic Bias Among Health Care Professionals...

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Let's talk about how a physician chooses between medicine and music...

Why neglect what keeps your heart and life in the true essence of bliss when you can enjoy your passion while practicing and excelling in your profession?

One of the most common misconceptions around the practice of medicine is that when you are a professional in this field, you should not dare do anything else aside from taking care of your patients.

It is a noble act, yes. It is something that you love, no doubt. But regardless of how much you love your job, if you're in it just because and/or for altruism, at the end of the day, you'll still end up going through burnout.

That is why it is important to treat our jobs as professions and have a life outside of that. Join us today as Dr. Steven shares how he manages to keep that balance between his passion for music and medicine.

Dr. Steven Bradley is an anesthesiologist and an assistant professor at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. In his podcast The Black Doctors Podcast, he interviews professionals who are part of the minority like himself, giving encouragement and motivation to his listeners. Also, he also enjoys playing and producing music. He also records and edits all the audio for his show.

In this episode, Dr. Steven shares how he continuously works the balance between his passion for music and his career in medicine, as he and Dr. Berry exchange thoughts as to why and how having a life outside of the hospital doors plays a key role in happiness.

Why you need to check out this episode:

• Learn how to balance your career and passion and why you should do so;
• Find out why you should approach your career in medicine with a sense of professionalism and not of altruism; and
• Discover how identifying and limiting your interests could bring you true happiness.

"They say that medicine is for those people that could not possibly see themselves doing anything else, and I 100% reject that theory. I personally view medicine as a career, and I approach it with a sense of professionalism and not necessarily of altruism." – Dr. Steven Bradley

Notable Quotes:

"It's okay to make mistakes, to learn from those mistakes, and to share my flaws because we all have flaws. But within us all have flaws, we also have strengths. And if we work together and combine those, I personally think the society as a whole would be in a much better spot." – Dr. Steven Bradley

Sign up at www.listentodrberry.com to join the mailing list.

Remember to subscribe to the podcast and share the episode with a friend or family member.

Listen on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, and Spotify

Links/Resources:

• Dr. Steven's Website
• Dr. Steven's Instagram
• Dr. Steven's Podcast
• The Black Doctors' Apple Podcast

In this episode of Real Physician Reacts we will be discussing the appropriate backlash Florida's Surgeon General and Harvard Trained Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo has received after his almost comical press release where he recommended all men ages 18-39 avoid mRNA vaccines based on faulty evidence.

Click here to watch the full video on YouTube

Several discussion points today;

• What is Florida's stance on mRNA vaccines?
• Why was the backlash so swift and immediate?
• What can we derive from the "study" performed by the state of Florida?

Hear my thoughts tonight on this news and why Dr. Ladapo deserves all the academic backlash he's receiving.

Links

• Scientists pan analysis Florida's surgeon...
• Guidance for mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines

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Let's talk about breast cancer awareness...

Why is it important that we talk about diseases like breast cancer for a month-long, especially in today's time?

According to data, in the year 2022, around 287,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, 51,000 with non-invasive breast cancer, with 43,000 of these women dying from this disease.

This is a disease that affects a lot of people and families and thinks about it. What if your mom, your grandmother, your sister, your wife, or your friend is part of this list?

Breast cancer is no joke; it's something we need to worry about. The clock is ticking. Join Dr. Berry today as he educates us on breast cancer and its risks.

In this episode, Dr. Berry discusses why talking about breast cancer is important as he gets on the facts and encourages people to take action and be aware.

Why you need to check out this episode:

• Recognize the importance of talking about diseases like cancer for a month-long, especially breast cancer this October;
• Understand why knowing your family history is key to survival when dealing with or preventing cancer; and
• Find out why it should be everyone's job to bring awareness and save people's lives from such diseases

"It's my job; it's your job. It's everyone's job to make sure that the awareness, that the foot is on the gas, to make sure we don't sleep at the wheel when it comes to breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate, any cancer, but especially when it gets a whole month to talk about." -Dr. Berry Pierre

Notable Quotes:

"This is why I talk about those who are overwhelmed by the healthcare system, and unappreciated – because people's lives are at stake if you don't have a voice of reason… If people's lives are at stake, then this is a life-or-death situation." – Dr. Berry Pierre

Sign up at www.listentodrberry.com to join the mailing list.

Remember to subscribe to the podcast and share the episode with a friend or family member.

Listen on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, and Spotify

Links/Resources:

• Dr. Berry's Social Pages
• How to Perform a Breast Self-Exam
• THE PINK RIBBON: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In this episode of Real Physician Reacts we will be discussing the news from President Biden's decision to pardon all people convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law.

Click here to watch the full video on YouTube

Several discussion points today;

• Why it's an important first step?
• What is next for marijuana legislation state-wide?
• Why it's important for the medical community

Hear my thoughts tonight on this news on marijuana legislation and what I hope to see moving forward for the medical community.

Links

• Biden pardons marijuana offenses...
• The White House Twitter post

Sign up at www.listentodrberry.com to join the mailing list. Remember to subscribe to the podcast and share the episode with a friend or family member.

Let's talk about why patients are overwhelmed by the healthcare system too...

A lot of times, especially in healthcare, we talk a lot about what the workers and the system are experiencing, but for some reason, we never seem to really include a huge part of that system in the discussions; the reason why the system is still there and going – the patients.

More often than not, the stress and weight we, the healthcare professionals, go through in our day-to-day practice get passed onto our patients, resulting in their own overwhelm. And this can get really scary because it could lead to them avoiding proper care.

But worry no more, because if you are that patient who is overwhelmed by the healthcare system, or even worse – underappreciated by the healthcare system, you've found the show for you because Dr. Berry's here to help you. This episode is for you, to help professionals recognize your burden, too.

In this episode, Dr. Berry recognizes how patients also get overwhelmed by the healthcare system as he explains why healthcare workers need to prioritize their patients and help them get through that experience.

Why you need to check out this episode:

• Recognize that not only healthcare workers but also patients get overwhelmed by the system too;
• Understand the job we have as healthcare professionals to help our patients lift that burden of overwhelm and not blame them for that; and
• Know that it is of utmost importance for us to take good care of our patients, not passing on our stress to them if we don't want the system to crumble into pieces

"As the healthcare professional, I have to understand that the onus of taking away some of that burden on my patient is on me; not on the patient. Especially as healthcare workers, we cannot expect our patients to deal with the overwhelming stress of our healthcare system that we put upon them. We cannot expect our patients to deal with the overwhelming stress of their disease that's put upon them. We can't expect them to deal with all of that. We have to be there to help them lift some of that burden and help them move it along. That's really our job; that's really our goal." -Dr. Berry Pierre

Notable Quotes:

"If you're going to a system, again, you're the patient, and you're not feeling your best, you're feeling ill, let's say you're at your bottom, and you're relying on a workforce that also is being overwhelmed and underappreciated, bad things can happen. And unfortunately, if bad things can happen, the patients are going to be the ones who are going to take the hit. That's why content creators like me get on platforms and really focus on trying to educate how to make our patients empowered to go into these healthcare systems" – Dr. Berry Pierre

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Remember to subscribe to the podcast and share the episode with a friend or family member.

Listen on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, Spotify

Links/Resources:

• Dr. Berry's Social Pages

In this episode of Real Physician Reacts we will be discussing the recent guideline changes by the CDC in regards to the requirement of masks in healthcare facilities.

Click here to watch the full video on YouTube

Several discussion points today

• Recap of CDC's guideline change
• What does it mean for your friends & family members in these facilities?
• What do community transmission rates mean?

Hear my thoughts tonight on this masks requirement updates in the hospitals & other healthcare facilities

Links

• CDC News
• CDC COVID Data Tracker

Sign up at www.listentodrberry.com to join the mailing list. Remember to subscribe to the podcast and share the episode with a friend or family member.

Let's talk about your next COVID-19 booster...

Have you gotten your shots of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters already? If not, what's stopping you from doing so?

About two years ago, people had this thought that those who are going to get themselves vaccinated are soon going to grow a third arm and start walking like zombies. Unfortunately, it has spread so fast and people actually believed it, causing them to not get their shots.

But as we get closer to flu season, still with this pandemic going around, imagine getting both flu and the COVID disease. That is indeed scary; something I wouldn't wish to happen to anyone.

But if we really intend to protect ourselves, we should understand the importance of these vaccines in our fight against the pandemic.

Join me today as I talk about the recently approved bivalent vaccine.

In this episode, Dr. Berry opens our hearts and minds to why it's of much importance that we get our vaccines and boosters now, especially as we get closer to cold and flu season, in line with the recently approved bivalent vaccines that will help protect ourselves even more from new COVID subvariants.

Why you need to check out this episode:

• Understand that COVID is something we're going to have to live with, and getting out of this pandemic doesn't equate to a certain number of cases;
• Recognize the importance of the new bivalent vaccines in our fight against the recent COVID subvariants that have emerged; and
• Find out who is eligible to receive this bivalent booster from Moderna and Pfizer, when should you get it, and if it's safe for the public

"Go ahead, schedule your appointment with your local pharmacy. Get your COVID booster, especially at a time where the government involvement is still there, aka they're paying for it, because once this thing gets private – and it will go private – and all of a sudden, you need to be insured to get a COVID booster, it could get very, very scary. I don't want y'all to worry about that. Get yourselves taken care of." -Dr. Berry Pierre

Notable Quotes:

"For those who are looking for certain markers to say, 'yes, we are finally getting out of this pandemic,' I can assure you that having a consistent number of cases and a consistent number of deaths are not a recipe for someone who is out of the pandemic." – Dr. Berry Pierre

Sign up at www.listentodrberry.com to join the mailing list.

Remember to subscribe to the podcast and share the episode with a friend or family member.

Listen on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, Spotify

Links/Resources:

• Dr. Berry's Social Pages
• Annual Covid-19 Vaccinations