Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD

Guest: Julie Salamon

We know graft-versus-host disease is a common complication in transplant patients. How can this also be happening at an institutional level? Julie Salamon's recent book, Hospital-Man, Woman, Birth, Death, Infinity Plus Red Tape, Bad Behavior, Money, God and Diversity on Steroids, offers a glimpse of her year-long journey through Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Salamon joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt to discuss the complex cross-cultural implications of 21st century American medicine.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Frank Leone, MD

Smoking-related morbidities and health complications are well-established. Even with social trends impinging on the freedom to smoke in convenient locations, many of our patients still can't kick the habit. Host Dr. Lee Freedman learns more about effective pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic ‘quit smoking' remedies from Dr. Frank Leone, associate professor of medicine and director of the Comprehensive Smoking Treatment Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Frank Leone, MD

The morbidities and health complications from smoking are certainly well established. But even with social trends increasingly making the life of a smoker more difficult, many of our patients still can’t kick the habit. Joining your host Dr. Lee Freedman, to discuss smoking cessation therapies is Dr. Frank Leone, pulmonologist and director of Comprehensive Smoking Treatment Programs at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Leone covers the origins of the habit, nicotine addiction, and how to best approach patients with both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments.

Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD

Guest: Thomas Saving, PhD

Give patients and providers incentives to manage costs. Teach patients to shop for healthcare and think twice before choosing unnecessary healthcare services. Incentivize patients to better manage their disease. These are some of the keys to funding our health care system according to our guest, Dr. Thomas Saving, director of the Private Enterprise Research Center at Texas A&M University, trustee of the social security and Medicare trust fund and author of the book, The Diagnosis and Treatment of Medicare. Join us to learn how economic policy can help fund healthcare. Hear also Dr. Saving's health care policy suggestions for the next administration.

Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD

Guest: Thomas Saving, PhD

In 75 years ½ of GDP of this country will be in healthcare if we continue to pay the way we are now says our guest Dr. Thomas Saving, director of the Private Enterprise Research Center at Texas A&M University. Dr. Saving speaks with host Dr. Bill Rutenberg about alternative sources of healthcare funding. They discuss taxes, health savings accounts and individuals paying for their own healthcare. The current payment system does not provide rewards for efficiency.

Host: Maurice Pickard, MD

Guest: Kristine A. Rapp

While relationships are changing between physicians and pharmaceutical companies, doctors still need pharma to provide direction with comparative drug efficacy, among other things. Kristine Rapp, vice president of global ethics and compliance at Hospira, Inc., speaks about the need for continuing medical education and other learning tools to be presented with impartiality and fairness. Dr. Maurice Pickard hosts.

Guest: Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD

Dr. Nancy Nielsen, the incoming president of the American Medical Association (AMA), delivers a moving inaugural speech to the 2008 AMA House of Delegates in Chicago. Dr. Nielsen touches on several major issues, with a broad focus on the economic challenges and scientific demands of rebuilding our healthcare system. She calls on the healthcare community, the insurance industry, employers and our government to work cohesively with our patients to battle "our real enemies: disease and untimely death."

Guest: Ronald M. Davis, MD

Dr. Ronald M. Davis, the outgoing president of the American Medical Association (AMA), delivers his final speech as president to the 2008 AMA House of Delegates in Chicago. Dr. Davis speaks to many issues, including the legacy we choose to leave on people we meet during the course of our lives.

Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD

Guest: George Sheldon, MD

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 limited the number of graduate medical education and residency positions. Is this act responsible for the physician workforce shortage? Dr. George Sheldon, professor of surgery at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, uses the 'perfect storm' analogy to explain why healthcare workforce shortages continue to grow. Host Dr. Bill Rutenberg explores solutions to workforce shortages with Dr. Sheldon, including mini-medical schools, opening more residency positions, nursing doctorates and more.

Host: Maurice Pickard, MD

Guest: William Gahl, MD, PhD

Guest: Stephen Groft, PharmD

Some patients wait years for a definitive diagnosis. Using a combination of scientific resources and medical expertise at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Undiagnosed Diseases Program now provides a place for physicians to refer patients when a diagnosis eludes them. In this segment, host Dr. Maurice Pickard, speaks with Dr. William Gahl, director of the Undiagnosed Diseases Program, and Stephen Groft PharmD, director of the Office of Rare Diseases at the NIH, about program logistics and resources, and the referral process for doctors.