Pharmacy Focus

Expert discussed the potential of pelareorep, a novel immunotherapeutic agent, in treating advanced or metastatic breast cancer, particularly in HR-positive, HER2-negative patients, and the plans for further clinical development of pelareorep in this indication.

Thomas Chen, MD, PhD discussed his innovative approach to brain cancer treatment through NeOnc, Inc. 

In this episode, host Dr. Christina Madison interviews Jessica Steier, DrPH, PMP, CEO of Vital Statistics Consulting, and the founder and CEO of Unbiased Science, on her journey in public health and entrepreneurship. In a period of misinformation and disinformation, both Madison and Steier discuss the importance of creating informed, evidence-based decisions within health care.

Data-Based and Evidence-Informed Decisions: Using her podcast, Unbiased Science, Dr. Jessica Steier explains that she doesn’t intend to tell people what scientific opinions to have. Instead, she encourages listeners to use data and factual information to create their own evidence-based decisions to avoid falling for misinformation and disinformation.

Misinformation Versus Disinformation: Dr. Steier explains that the difference in these terms revolves around intent. Misinformation refers to the unintentional spreading of inaccurate information, whereas disinformation is the intentional spread of false information. Dr. Steier also highlights a study conducted by the Center for Countering Digital Hate which found 12 people were responsible for the bulk of disinformation surrounding vaccines.

The Benefits of Social Media: Although social media has been harmful in spreading misinformation and disinformation, Dr. Steier and Dr. Christina Madison discuss how it has been beneficial in emphasizing previously underdiscussed topics. As an example, they note the pain that women experience during IUD insertion, and how the mass discussion of that topic has encouraged health care practices to begin offering solutions and additional education.

 Connect with Jessica Steier on LinkedIn!

Expert shares reasons why many women are behind on their annual breast cancer screenings, along with the latest cutting edge treatment in the breast cancer space. 

The Alzheimer disease treatment landscape is rapidly changing, with several new FDA-approved antibody therapies that target amyloid plaque and aim to slow disease progression. While the controversial approval of aducanumab faced challenges, newer drugs like lecanemab and donanemab have shown more promising results in clinical trials, demonstrating cognitive benefits. Additionally, the pipeline includes novel therapies targeting tau protein and other mechanisms. Advancements in biomarker development, including plasma and imaging tests, are also enabling earlier diagnosis and the potential for preventive treatments before the onset of clinical symptoms.

Experts Include:

Pamela Spicer, neuroscience expert and therapy area Director, Citeline

Martin Tolar, MD, PhD, founder, president, CEO, Alzheon

Sharon Cohen, MD, FRCPC, medical director, site principal investigator, Toronto Memory Program

In this episode, host Dr. Christina Madison interviews the co-CEOs of Healthcare Advocate Summit Melissa Paige, BPHM, CPhT, MTM, president of National Association of Medication Access & Patient Advocacy (NAMAPA), and Elizabeth Johnson, CEO of MedicoCX, and president and co-founder of NAMAPA on Healthcare Advocate Summit and its mission. They describe how collaboration, education, and advocacy can go a long way in improving access to medications and health care.

Medication Access: Medication access is a complex, systemic issue. The high cost of medication is a significant barrier for many patients, and navigating the health care system to obtain necessary medications can be confusing and overwhelming for many patients.

Health Care Providers are Crucial in Improving Medication Access: Health care professionals can play a vital role in advocating for patients and assisting them in obtaining their prescribed medications. Understanding the complexities of medication access can empower health care providers to better support their patients.

Patient Advocacy is Essential for Driving Change: Organizations and individuals dedicated to patient advocacy can create significant impact by raising awareness, lobbying for policy changes, and providing support to patients. Sharing personal stories can be a powerful tool for driving change in health care disparities.

Collaboration and Education are Key: Partnerships between health care providers, patient advocacy groups, and policymakers are essential for addressing the medication access crisis. Educating patients, health care providers, and the public about medication access issues is crucial for creating lasting change.

Olivia Kinney, PharmD, a national pharmacy practice manager at Kroger, emphasized the importance of pharmacists addressing the growing issue of vaccine hesitancy. She noted that common reasons for hesitancy include concerns about adverse effects, misinformation, access barriers, and social/political influences. Kinney advised that pharmacists can build trust by actively listening to patients' concerns, providing relevant and consistent education, and leveraging their position as trusted healthcare providers. She highlighted the value of pharmacists is in collaborating with other community organizations to improve vaccine access and literacy. Overall, she encouraged pharmacists to take a proactive, relationship-building approach to addressing vaccine hesitancy and improving vaccination rates.

In this episode, host Dr. Christina Madison interviews Dr. Frank North, president of the National Pharmaceutical Association and assistant professor at the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy. They discuss North's leadership journey and advocacy efforts to increase representation and support for minority pharmacists, while emphasizing the importance of mentorship, networking, and collaboration within the profession.

Key Takeaways: 

Importance of Mentorship: North discussed how essential good mentors are, and having mentors who look like you, especially for underrepresented minority groups in pharmacy. North credits his success to consistent mentorship and support from peers who were also non-traditional pharmacy students.

Advocacy for Increased Representation: Representation and inclusion of minority voices in healthcare policy and decision-making are critical to a healthy profession. North talks about his involvement in building relationships with external groups like the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Medical Association, and the success doing so had on amplifying the needs of the Black community.

Join Pharmacy Organizations: Madison and North talked of the importance of joining relevant pharmacy organizations, especially affinity groups, for professional development, networking, and supporting students and early-career pharmacists from underrepresented backgrounds.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Jennifer Dunphy, DrPH, MBA, MPH and Nelly Awkar-Lazo, MD, discuss the rise in young-onset cancer, the gut-colon cancer link, and the importance of healthy lifestyle choices for cancer prevention.

In this episode, host Dr. Christina Madison interviews Aleata Postell, group director of pharmacy business development, Walmart, to discuss the significance of specialty pharmacy services—particularly related to HIV care—in public health. Postell highlights how Walmart has initiatives that support HIV care and testing.

Community Pharmacy's Role in Public Health: The episode highlights the critical role community pharmacies—such as Walmart—play in public health, particularly in providing accessible specialty care and HIV services. By meeting patients where they are and integrating services into a familiar setting, community pharmacies can effectively support patients' comprehensive health needs, including specialized care for HIV.

Importance of Reducing Stigma and Enhancing Education: Aleata Postell shares her personal motivation and experiences, emphasizing the need to reduce stigma around HIV and other specialty conditions. Education and awareness, both within the community and among health care providers, are crucial for improving care and ensuring patients feel comfortable seeking treatment and support.