Open Mics with Dr. Stites

It's called "the Angelina Jolie effect." More women than ever are having their breasts or ovaries removed, just in case, they get cancer. Risk-reducing surgery. We ask doctors when it makes the most sense and hear from one woman who made a drastic decision based on her genetics.

Steve Thon, kidney recipient and Cindy's uncle A diehard Kansas Jayhawks fan, eight years ago Steve started experiencing renal disease. He felt sick all the time and was close to going on dialysis right before his niece surprised him with a call about being a living kidney donor.

Silvia Byer learned she had breast cancer while she was thousands of miles from home, on vacation, overseas. She had no clue one of the world's leading experts in her specific kind of cancer was waiting for her back home. The treatment and research that helped Silvia, and countless other future patients.

Living with epilepsy means never knowing when the next seizure will strike. What happens when you treat the seizures at their source? Meet one man reclaiming his life thanks to a unique brain implant.

We've all heard about the new group of medications, GLP-1 drugs, and the FDA has approved these and others to help people lose weight. When used for the right reasons, like avoiding pre-diabetes for example, these injectable drugs can be lifesaving. But the weight loss from these medications alone won't provide all the health benefits you need. You've got to exercise! And there is now research and science to back that up.

Chief medical officers from around the region discuss plans for COVID, flu, and RSV in the upcoming months. Guests include Dr. Jennifer Watts, chief emergency management medical officer, Children's Mercy; Dr. Mark Steele, executive chief clinical officer, University Health; Dr. Chaksu Gupta, FCAP, CMO, Liberty Hospital; Dr. Jennifer Schrimsher, public health officer, Douglas County; infectious disease physician, Lawrence Memorial Hospital; Dr. Cliff Jones, vice president, subspecialty medicine, Stormont Vail Health; and Dr. Elizabeth Long, CMO, Olathe Health.

Most patients walking into an Emergency Department get treated and go home. We meet one man who ended up needing to be rushed to the operating room, as well as the emergency surgeons standing by for cases like his. Guests include Dr. Jennifer Hartwell, section chief, emergency general surgery, and Mary Perry, RN, clinical program coordinator, emergency general surgery.