Self confidence is an issue that affects everyone. It is a very common determinant of a positive outlook and I have found that over the years as I have continued to grow in both my professional & personal development that it is something that will hinder anyone from their full potential. I remember finishing up residency and starting to work and one day looking around wondering was this it? Now if you are familiar with my backstory I had wanted to become a doctor since I was about 8 years old and everything I did up until that point was to make sure that dream happened. But here I was sitting in the office wondering if I was doing enough with the position I had earned. I had so many ideas and thoughts that would run through my head that I would never take any action on because of the fear of failure. Then I began to realize that many people in similar professional positions had these same negative thoughts that didn't allow them to take a leap of faith on something they actually wanted to do.

So when I think the people I take care of on a daily basis who may not be where they want to be on the health aspect its true that the same principles of negative thinking and lack of self confidence are present. Imagine being diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and trying everything you can to change that only to find that it isn't enough. As a physician it's my duty to help build the self confidence my patients will need to overcome their health deficiencies. On this episode you are going to listen to me talk about how I have struggled with self confidence and how I used to be the main person stopping me from my greatness.

Links/Resources

• I'm in an Essence Magazine

In this episode you will learn:

• Why is self confidence an issue amongst even your top professionals
• What were some of the decisions that were holding me back
• What are some of the reasons why we suffer from a lack of self confidence
• How does having a low sense of self confidence affect our health and well-being

Social Links

• Join the lunch and learn community - www.drpierresblog.com/joinlunchlearnpod
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• Follow the podcast on twitter - @LunchLearnPod - use the hashtag #LunchLearnPod if you have any questions, comments or requests for the podcast
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Download the MP3 Audio file, listen to the episode however you like.

It is the bodies normal defense mechanism to keep us from doing things that will cause us harm. The conversation of death, grief & loss is one of those things that we avoid until we absolutely have to face it. For many health care providers these conversations can become daunting because the reaction is never the same for two families alike. I wanted to approach the subject because I have seen far too often families be more devastated by the lack of preparation for the inevitable than that actual event itself. This week I enlisted the assistance of Maria Davis-Pierre LMHC, who specializes in grief in loss to discuss not only what we as health care workers can do to help further the discussion but how families can start the process as well.

Links/Resources

• Day by Day Therapy (best way to contact for counseling services)
• Maria's Business Page
• Maria's Facebook Group

In this episode you will learn:

• Who is Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC
• How has she been so important in the way I practice medicine
• Why it is important to talk about grief & loss
• How she prepares mentally to discuss grief/loss with other families
• The stages of grief
• When is the right time to have the discussion
• What is the best way to start the conversation
• What is the biggest thing holding others back from discussing grief/loss

Social Links

• Join the lunch and learn community - www.drpierresblog.com/joinlunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on Facebook - www.facebook.com/lunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on twitter - @LunchLearnPod - use the hashtag #LunchLearnPod if you have any questions, comments or requests for the podcast
• For More Episodes of the Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry Podcasts

To share your thoughts:

• Leave a comment
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If you are looking to help the show out

• Leave a review on Apple Podcast because your ratings and reviews are what is going to make this show so much better
• Just like I said earlier subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud and tell just one friend to subscribe as well.

Download the MP3 Audio file, listen to the episode however you like.

It seemed like August in the hospital was bring all your liver problems to me month because I had way too many people being admitted to the facility with liver issues. It got me thinking that if I was going to work on preventing these things from happening than I needed to scream from the rooftops why your organ, the liver was so important. Some important fun facts regarding the liver includes it being the largest organ in the body, it's role in making you stop bleeding and exactly what happens when you get too much alcohol in you.

Links/Resources

• Mayo clinic

In this episode you will learn:

• What is the liver
• What is the function of this organ
• Causes of liver dysfunction
• Symptoms of liver dysfunction
• Patient examples of a liver gone bad

Social Links

• Join the lunch and learn community - www.drpierresblog.com/joinlunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on Facebook - www.facebook.com/lunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on twitter - @LunchLearnPod - use the hashtag #LunchLearnPod if you have any questions, comments or requests for the podcast
• For More Episodes of the Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry Podcasts

To share your thoughts:

• Leave a comment
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If you are looking to help the show out

• Leave a review on Apple Podcast because your ratings and reviews are what is going to make this show so much better
• Just like I said earlier subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud and tell just one friend to subscribe as well.

Download the MP3 Audio file, listen to the episode however you like.

This is a time where taking care of your health is so important with all the different changes in healthcare on the horizon. An important question to answer is do you still trust your doctor to be in charge of your health. On the episode today I discuss the importance of trusting your physician, we go into detail about different doctor/patient relationships and give some tips to improve patient satisfaction. I also give a chance to get a free audio based chapter of a book I am working on.

Links/Resources

• Reasons why minorities don't trust the health system

In this episode you will learn:

• Why is important to have a good relationship with your doctor?
• Why it is important to trust your doctor?
• Different factions of the doctor/patient relationship
• What can physicians do to improve patient relations.

Social Links

• Join the lunch and learn community - www.drpierresblog.com/joinlunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on Facebook - www.facebook.com/lunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on twitter - @LunchLearnPod - use the hashtag #LunchLearnPod if you have any questions, comments or requests for the podcast
• For More Episodes of the Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry Podcasts

To share your thoughts:

• Leave a comment
• Share this show on Twitter, Facebook

If you are looking to help the show out

• Leave a review on Apple Podcast because your ratings and reviews are what is going to make this show so much better
• Just like I said earlier subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud and tell just one friend to subscribe as well.

Download the MP3 Audio file, listen to the episode however you like.

Sexually transmitted diseases have become a mainstay in the primary care setting but with recent reports that the numbers are on the rise a Public Health crisis may not be too far behind. Today were are going to be focusing on just three STDs, syphilis, gonorrhea & herpes simplex. Because of the recent legal troubles Usher has been having regarding herpes transmission I thought I would shed some light on just how prevalent it was and should you get tested today.

Links/Resources

• CDC on Herpes
• CDC on gonorrhea
• CDC on Syphilis

In this episode you will learn:

• Learn about Syphilis, Gonorrhea & Herpes Simplex
• Why it is becoming a public health crisis
• Antibiotic resistance becoming a problem
• Infection versus exposure

Social Links

• Join the lunch and learn community - www.drpierresblog.com/joinlunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on Facebook - www.facebook.com/lunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on twitter - @LunchLearnPod - use the hashtag #LunchLearnPod if you have any questions, comments or requests for the podcast
• For More Episodes of the Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry Podcasts

To share your thoughts:

• Leave a comment
• Share this show on Twitter, Facebook

If you are looking to help the show out

• Leave a review on Apple Podcast because your ratings and reviews are what is going to make this show so much better
• Just like I said earlier subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud and tell just one friend to subscribe as well.

Download the MP3 Audio file, listen to the episode however you like.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in men. In 2017 almost 160,000 people with diagnosed with prostate cancer with many more going undiagnosed. There are major symptoms associated with prostate cancer but the most common one will surprise you. Learn today why your doctor's are missing the boat on treating you for prostate cancer and if you are an African American male you don't want to miss out on this topic.

Links/Resources

• Free PDF for Prostate Disorders
• Learn more about skin cancer
• Why socioeconomics play a huge role in health care

In this episode you will learn:

• What is prostate gland?
• What can go wrong?
• Common facts about prostate cancer?
• Risk factors, symptoms
• The major symptom of prostate cancer
• Prostate cancer in the African American male

Social Links

• Join the lunch and learn community - www.drpierresblog.com/joinlunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on Facebook - www.facebook.com/lunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on twitter - @LunchLearnPod - use the hashtag #LunchLearnPod if you have any questions, comments or requests for the podcast
• For More Episodes of the Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry Podcasts

To share your thoughts:

• Leave a comment
• Share this show on Twitter, Facebook

If you are looking to help the show out

• Leave a review on Apple Podcast because your ratings and reviews are what is going to make this show so much better
• Just like I said earlier subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud and tell just one friend to subscribe as well.

Download the MP3 Audio file, listen to the episode however you like.

It is a disease that affects women almost 90% percent of the time. Toni Braxton, Selena Gomez, Seal, Nick Cannon all suffer from the disorder lupus. This autoimmune disease is chronic in its presentation, has no triggers on what causes it but still manages to effect 1.5 million yearly and is responsible for 140,000 hospital visits per year. It's a disease that I will also keep an eye on because my very first patient suffered from the disease. On the episode today we talk about Lupus, go into detail about the specifics behind the disease and who & what gets affected.

As promised on the episode here are a list of just some of the symptoms associated with the disorder

• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Fatigue
• Hair Loss
• Fevers
• Sores in your mouth
• Finger tip color changes
• Skin sensitivity
• Skin rashes
• Chest pain when breathing

Links/Resources

• National Organization
• Drugs that can cause SLE

In this episode you will learn:

• What is Lupus
• Facts about Lupus
• Symptoms and how its diagnosed
• 3 most common types
• What do I see in the hospital regarding the disease

Social Links

• Join the lunch and learn community - www.drpierresblog.com/joinlunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on Facebook - www.facebook.com/lunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on twitter - @LunchLearnPod - use the hashtag #LunchLearnPod if you have any questions, comments or requests for the podcast
• For More Episodes of the Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry Podcasts

To share your thoughts:

• Leave a comment
• Share this show on Twitter, Facebook

If you are looking to help the show out

• Leave a review on Apple Podcast because your ratings and reviews are what is going to make this show so much better
• Just like I said earlier subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud and tell just one friend to subscribe as well.

Download the MP3 Audio file, listen to the episode however you like.

Somehow I went this far without talking about a disease that a day doesn't go by that I don't see it one way shape or form. Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects almost 30 million people here in the United States. It cost the health care system approximately $250 billion each year to take care of and the co-morbidities associated with diabetes are as long as a grocery lists. I have told my students in the past that diabetes isn't something I wished on my worst enemy for very good reasons which we will talk about today.

Links/Resources

• Why I wouldn't wish it on my own enemy
• Organization website

In this episode you will learn:

• What is diabetes
• Startling facts on diabetes
• Symptoms of the disorder
• Three most common types of diabetes
• What is it like in the hospital setting

Social Links

• Join the lunch and learn community - www.drpierresblog.com/joinlunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on Facebook - www.facebook.com/lunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on twitter - @LunchLearnPod - use the hashtag #LunchLearnPod if you have any questions, comments or requests for the podcast
• For More Episodes of the Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry Podcasts

To share your thoughts:

• Leave a comment
• Share this show on Twitter, Facebook

If you are looking to help the show out

• Leave a review on Apple Podcast because your ratings and reviews are what is going to make this show so much better
• Just like I said earlier subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud and tell just one friend to subscribe as well.

Download the MP3 Audio file, listen to the episode however you like.

In my office more often than not "the rock" in the family is concerned about being over burdened. Its a very common theme to see with those who serve as the mental "rock" in their family because everyone tends to come to them because they are seen as the problem solvers. My biggest gripe is that for many of the "family counselors" they tend to have no one that they can lean on for emotional support so they are burdened with not only their personal issues, but the issues of everyone else.

On this episode I try to implore the family counselors of the world to stop this practice immediately because it is slowly killing them mentally and emotionally. There is a reason counselors, therapist & doctors like myself go through the training we do because you have to learn how to deal with the problems of others but not let it affect your own.

In this episode you will learn:

• Help you identify if you are the problem
• Why people are trained to be counselors
• Why it is detrimental for your personal well being taking on the emotional burden of others
• Techniques to lessen the load
• Why just going to church isn't helpful

Social Links

• Join the lunch and learn community - www.drpierresblog.com/joinlunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on Facebook - www.facebook.com/lunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on twitter - @LunchLearnPod - use the hashtag #LunchLearnPod if you have any questions, comments or requests for the podcast
• For More Episodes of the Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry Podcasts

To share your thoughts:

• Leave a comment
• Share this show on Twitter, Facebook

If you are looking to help the show out

• Leave a review on Apple Podcast because your ratings and reviews are what is going to make this show so much better
• Just like I said earlier subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud and tell just one friend to subscribe as well.

Download the MP3 Audio file, listen to the episode however you like.

To get a medical license or even renew your medical license we are required to take a 1-2 course on domestic violence. I remember seeing it listed and being pretty excited because I had learned about its serious effects from a public health perspective.

Some of the numbers are startling with one in four women and one in seven men over the age of 18 being a reported victim of abuse. Quite often its the physicians whether it be in the emergency room or in the routine often visit who could serve as the first line protectors IF they recognize the signs and are able to help.

On this episode I talk about certain cues that I look for in patients that prime me to dig in a bit deeper when I feel the situation arises because a majority of your patients will not just come out & say I am being abused. The great physician is one who recognizes when is the right time to take some action. Also, in this episode we talk a little bit about teen dating violence because as the numbers will suggest domestic & intimate partner violence is rampant.

Links/Resources

• National Network to stop DV
• Information on Teen Dating Violence
• DV hotline

In this episode you will learn:

• What can your doctor do to help
• Statistics on domestic violence
• Factors affecting teen dating violence
• Find out how men are affected by domestic violence

Social Links

• Join the lunch and learn community - www.drpierresblog.com/joinlunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on Facebook - www.facebook.com/lunchlearnpod
• Follow the podcast on twitter - @LunchLearnPod - use the hashtag #LunchLearnPod if you have any questions, comments or requests for the podcast
• For More Episodes of the Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry Podcasts

To share your thoughts:

• Leave a comment
• Share this show on Twitter, Facebook

If you are looking to help the show out

• Leave a review on Apple Podcast because your ratings and reviews are what is going to make this show so much better
• Just like I said earlier subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud and tell just one friend to subscribe as well.

Download the MP3 Audio file, listen to the episode however you like.