Tinnitus can feel like a mystery — a constant ringing, buzzing or whooshing that no one else can hear. In this episode of Meaningful Medicine with Novant Health, neurosurgeon Dr. Kevin Shah breaks down what’s really happening inside the brain when tinnitus strikes. Listeners will learn what causes tinnitus, when it’s a sign of something more serious, and what can be done in terms of treatment.

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In this episode Dr. Mohammad Shahnawaz, pediatric neurologist and epileptologist at Novant Health, explains what you need to know about pediatric epilepsy. Learn essential guidance on pediatric seizures, seizure first aid, recognizing absence seizures and generalized convulsions, and when to seek emergency care. Dr. Shahnawaz also covers diagnostic tools like EEG and MRI and how they inform treatment. 

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Imagine treating a complex liver tumor without making a single surgical incision.

Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center recently became the first hospital in the Carolinas to offer histotripsy, a noninvasive method to destroy liver tumors without surgery. The technique uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to shatter tumor cells while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues. 

In this episode of Meaningful Medicine, we sit down with Dr. David Sindram, a hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon at Novant Health Cancer Institute. He breaks down how this remarkable technology works, why it represents such a massive breakthrough in cancer care, and how it is delivering renewed hope to patients and their families.

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Hormone replacement therapy is having a moment, but for many women, it’s still confusing, misunderstood or even a little intimidating. In this episode, Dr. Tyler Pierce, OB/GYN and lead of our women's healthcare team in Summerville, South Carolina, breaks down what’s fact, what’s fiction and what’s changed when it comes to hormone therapy.

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Dr. Jeffrey Beecher, a neurosurgeon with Novant Health, shares information on signs of strokes and aneurysms and the importance of timely treatment. Dr. Beecher also discusses leading-edge brain tumor treatment techniques available in the Wilmington region.

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This episode explains how modern minimally invasive spine surgery shortens hospital stays and improves outcomes. Dr. J. Alex Thomas, a neurosurgeon, walks listeners through procedures, what patients can expect during recovery and the importance of physical rehab.

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Understand your back and neck health. Take the Spine Health Assessment quiz 

In this episode, we talk with orthopedic specialist Dr. Edward Blocker about how to stay active while avoiding common injuries from sports like tennis, pickleball, and golf. Dr. XX shares practical tips on warming up, recognizing warning signs of joint problems, and why timely orthopedic care matters. Whether you’re a weekend athlete or a daily walker, you’ll learn how to keep moving safely. 

Learn more about Edward Blocker, MD  

Today we’re digging into a topic that touches nearly all of us at some point in life -- pain and the myths we often subscribe to that can keep us hurting longer than necessary. Pain isn’t just something you “have to live with,” and chronic discomfort doesn’t always mean you’re worn-out or out of options.

Here to help us separate fact from fiction is Dr. Kent Cochran, an anesthesiology and pain medicine specialist with Novant Health. Dr. Cochran has spent more than a decade helping patients manage everything from back and nerve pain to diabetic neuropathy, using evidence-based strategies that challenge some of the most persistent misconceptions about pain. Whether you’ve heard that pain is just part of aging, that medication is the only solution, or that nothing can be done when pain lingers - today we’ll unpack it all with an expert who sees the real science - and the real patients - every day.

In this episode of Meaningful Medicine with Novant Health, pediatric hematologist Dr. Felipe Bautista joins us to talk about the realities, breakthroughs, and daily triumphs of caring for children with sickle cell disease.

Dr. Bautista explains what sickle cell disease is, how it affects children differently than adults, and why early, coordinated care is so essential. We explore promising advancements from new medications to curative therapies, as well as the emotional and practical support families need along the journey.

This conversation offers clarity, hope, and a deeper understanding of how Novant Health is working alongside families to help kids with sickle cell disease live fuller, healthier, and more comfortable lives. 

Learn more about Felipe Bautista, MD 

In this episode, we discuss the critical importance of early detection of lung cancer with Dr. Nathaniel Meier, a pulmonologist at Novant Health. You'll learn about the impact that timely screenings for those with a history of smoking can have on patient outcomes. Dr. Meier also discusses lung nodules and the use of minimally invasive lung cancer biopsy technology. 

Learn more about Nathaniel Meier, MD