Texas Tech Health Check

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To celebrate Nurse Practitioner Week, we invited three NPs, Renee Garcia, APRN, Mandy Glikas, DNP, and Shawn Reeves, APRN, to describe what they do, how and why they became nurse practitioners and what advice they have for someone considering becoming one. In 2025, there were nearly 400,000 nurse practitioners. For over 60 years, nurse practitioners have been providing primary, acute and specialty healthcare to millions of patients. 

In 1965 at the University of Colorado, Loretta C. Ford, Ed.D, R.N., along with Henry Silver, M.D., co-founded the first nurse practitioner program. 

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Male infertility can be caused by a number of medical conditions, but masculinity is not one of them. Adnan Achkar, M.D., is a urologist at Texas Tech Physicians and an assistant professor in the Schol of Medicine. He explains what male infertility is, different causes, evaluation, how they treat it and more importantly, guidance in regard to treatment and even sperm retrieval. 

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As you prepare to celebrate Halloween with your kiddos, there are some things to keep in mind as you get ready to celebrate. Trevor Bassett, M.D., and Seth Smith, M.D., pediatricians with Texas Tech Physicians and both assistant professors in the TTUHSC School of Medicine, are the guests for this episode. They share with us things to consider as you and your child pick out costumes, plan your trick-or-treat route and decide what to do with the candy haul, especially your child has type 1 diabetes. 

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Allergy and respiratory illness season is upon us again. How can you tell the difference between allergies, a cold and other respiratory viruses and how can you protect yourself or manage your symptoms? James Tarbox, M.D., is an allergist and immunologist with Texas Tech Physicians and associate professor in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. Dr. Tarbox is back on our podcast to answer our questions about respiratory problems this time of year, including prevention, and talks to us about the lactose relief patch announced earlier this year for dairy milk allergies.

Previous episodes with Dr. Tarbox:

• Understanding Food Sensitivities to Dyes
• Understanding Food Allergies: Awareness, Prevention and Summer Fun
• Respiratory Allergies Symptoms, Treatments
• Allergies: Tarbox

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You don't have to spend a lot of time outside this fall to enjoy the benefits to your mental health. Even a small ritual, such as lighting a scented candle which reminds you of fall helps. Why do so many of us look forward to the autumn season, when the days are shorter and the weather colder? Logan Winkelman, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Counseling and Mental Health and Program Director for the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program within the School of Health Professions at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Winkelman is back on our podcast to explain why we look forward to the fall and the rituals, the weather, the sounds of birds or marching bands and the blazing colors on the trees and ground and even at the fair. She tell us why spending time outdoors and close to nature is good for our mental and physical health. 

Previous episode with Dr. Winkelman

• Decoding the Delight: Why We Feel Good After Cleaning

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September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Bilal Abid, M.D., a hematologist and oncologist with Texas Tech Physicians and associate professor in the School of Medicine, is our guest expert for the episode. He took the time to talk to us about blood cancers -- different types of blood cancers, symptoms, treatments, reoccurrences, and how even children are at risk and how we can support our loved ones and others if they’ve been diagnosed with a blood cancer.

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About 20% of children experience bullying annually, although it's likely underreported. Now that children have been back to school for a few weeks, parents might want to check on their child for any problems at school. Our expert for this episode is James Barnett, Ph.D., clinical child and adolscent psycholigst at Texas Tech Physicians and assistant professor in the School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Barnett defines what is considered bullying as defined by the state, warning signs to lok out for, how family members and caregivers should respond, including validating the child being bullied, how to report incidents and what long-term support is available. 

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Back-to-school sometimes means back to getting sick for some kiddos and their families. Stephanie Stroever, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. Dr. Stroever tells us why back-to-school season means more people will find themselves sick and what steps we can take to prevent us and our loved ones from getting sick. She also explains the differences among cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting and stresses the importance of washing your hands; and guides us on how to stop the spread if a family member does get sick.

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Routine cancer screenings have been proven to lead to better health outcomes and an increase in survival rates in the U.S. Finding cancer before it spreads can significantly improve outcomes. Bayless Drum, M.D., generalist in obstetrics and gynecology with Texas Tech Physicians and an assistant professor with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, explains that Pap smears detect cervical cancer and precancerous changes and how new screening recommendations have changed leading to a decrease in frequency. She emphasizes the importance of screenings and the HPV vaccine, which can reduce the risk of cervical cancer. Dr. Drum also assures us that while these exams might be uncomfortable, they’re important for early detection and prevention.

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Aging gracefully isn't limited to what we see on the outside. Older adults are better at setting boundaries, have more freedom and emotional intelligence and fewer stressors, plus they're able to focus on what's truly meaningful. Gayle Ayers, D.O., is a geriatric psychiatrist with Texas Tech Physicians and also is with the TTUHSC Garrison Institute in Aging Memory Clinic. She clarifies for us some misconceptions we might have about aging and older adults and how that contributes to agism, tells us the benefits of growing older and therefore wiser, and reminds us that we are all going to age, so we should just embrace it.

Previous episode with Dr. Ayers:

• How Social Isolation Affects Older Adults