The omicron variant is now the predominantly circulating variant of concern in the United States. It is more transmissible and may have the ability of immune escape. Time will tell if it leads to a more severe disease, but regardless of disease severity, we need to remain vigilant and get the vaccine, get boosted, wear our masks, and wash our hands. These are all additive layers of protection to prevent the spread of infection. 

We are joined by Caitlin Adams Barker who is a senior infection preventionist at Dartmouth Hitchcock. We talk to Caitlin about how we can reduce the likelihood of transmission as we plan to spend time with family through the holidays. Dr. Justin Kim also joins us for this episode. He is the hospital epidemiologist at Dartmouth Hitchcock and he gives us some higlights about the omicron variant and novel therapies for COVID-19. 

The information shared in this episode is meant for medical education and should not be considered as medical advice.

In this episode, We talk to Dr. Susanne Tanski, section chief and vice chair of pediatrics at Dartmouth-Hitchcock about the recently approved Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years old. She talks to us about the safety and efficay of the vaccines, how to weigh the risks and benefits, and what this means for our kids growth and development. 

The information shared in this episode is meant for medical education and should not be considered as medical advice. 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be one of the greatest challenges of modern medicine. Experts continue to do research on drugs that can help save lives of infected people and perhaps even prevent them from getting sick in the first place. In today's episode, we will be talking about updates on the treatment options for COVID-19.

Host Jessica Swain, senior infection preventionist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, is joined by Dr. Rebecca Wang Infectious Disease physician at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and medical co-director of the Comprehensive Antimicrobial Program. 

The information shared in this episode is meant for medical education and should not be considered as medical advice.

C. difficile is a germ that causes severe diarrhea and inflammation of the colon. It's estimated to cause almost half a million infections in the United States each year and about one in six patients who get a C difficile infection will get it again in the subsequent two to eight weeks. 

In this episode, senior infection preventionist, Caitlin Adams Barker talks to Cameron Griffin who is an infection preventionist and chair of the C. difficile prevention committee at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Dr. Michael Calderwood who is an infectious disease physician and the chief quality officer for Dartmouth Hitchcock about the treatment and prevention of C. difficile infections.

The information shared in this episode is meant for medical education and should not be considered as medical advice.

Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or other significant sources of stress. 

In this episode, Dr. Marshall Ward, Dr. Mahathi Komaragiri, Dr. Amogh Karnik, and Dr. Rima Mercado talk to psychologists Dr. Sivan Rotenberg, Dr. Mary Jankowski, and Dr. Eve Zukowski about building resilience through reframing your thoughts, focusing on what you can control, establishing a healthy stress management habits, and knowing when to seek support. We hope this episode gives you a road map on how to emerge stronger than before.   

In this episode, We talk to Dr. Lauren Gilstrap who is a heart failure and transplant cardiologist. Dr. Gilstrap walks us through cardiovascular risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 disease, acute and chronic cardiovascular complications of COVID-19, and the benefits of the vaccine for patients with heart disease. 

Marshall Ward, MD is a staff hospitalist  and Associate Section Chief of Hospital Medicine at at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. Amogh Karnik, MD is a Chief Medical Resident at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

If you have any questions for us, drop us a line at [email protected]!

In this episode, Amogh and Marshall chat with Dr. Ellen Eisenberg, Interim Section Chief of General Internal Medicine and Associate Professor of Medicine at Geisel, and Dr. Jeffrey Parsonnet, attending Infectious Disease physician and Professor of Medicine at Geisel. They discuss the post-acute complications of COVID, and how DH-H is working to provide a new avenue for patients with long term symptoms after acute COVID-19 through a collaborative, multidisciplinary clinic. Patients can be referred to this clinic directly by their primary care providers. For more information about this program, contact [email protected]. 

Marshall Ward, MD is a staff hospitalist  and Associate Section Chief of Hospital Medicine at at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. Amogh Karnik, MD is a Chief Medical Resident at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. 

If you have any questions for us, drop us a line at [email protected]!

In this episode, Amogh, Jose, and Rima chat with Dr. Richard Zuckerman. Dr. Zuckerman is an Infectious Disease specialist and the director of the Transplant and Immunocompromised Hosts Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. They review the data on tocilizumab, sarilumab, and other novel treatments that are being studied to treat COVID-19 infection. 

Rima Mercado, MD is a staff hospitalist and the Medical Director of the Medical Specialties Units at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Jose Mercado, MD is a staff hospitalist and Associate Hospital Epidemiologist at DHMC. Amogh Karnik, MD is a Chief Medical Resident at DHMC.