The On-Air Advocate

As we continue our Heart of it All Series for American Heart Month, I am so excited to welcome, Dr. Nicole Lohr, Cardiologist & Board President, American Heart Association. Dr. Nicole Lohr is the current Board President of the Metro Milwaukee Board of Directors for the American Heart Association. She is also a cardiologist at the Zablocki VA Medical Center, as well as an Associate Professor and the Medical Director of Cardiovascular Clinical Trials at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Not enough women know that heart disease is their greatest health threat. Among females ages 20 and older, 44.7% had some form of cardiovascular disease, and 90% of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease at some point in their lives. Paying attention to risk factors and living a healthy lifestyle can help keep heart disease at bay.Women's heart attack symptoms can also be different than symptoms in men, so it is very important than women know what to look for. Dr. Lohr is passionate about the mission of the American Heart Association and volunteers her time, sharing important heart health information and educating women on what they can do to lessen their risk. Listen in as Dr. Lohr shares the importance of women's heart health and making sure your listening to your body. Resource: American Heart Association at www.Heart.org The On-Air Advocate at www.OnAirAdvocate.com

As we support National Cancer Prevention Month, I am so excited to welcome back, Wendy Garvin Mayo, APRN, ANP-BC. Wendy Garvin Mayo is an Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Cancer Caregiver Consultant, Author and Speaker. She is also the Founder of SHAPE Partners, a collective resource with the mission of empowering current and former cancer caregivers, family members, and friends in optimizing their health and wellness. Wendy has clinical experience in caring for patients with solid tumors and hematology malignancies in both the outpatient and inpatient settings. She also has experience in Oncology Research and Development. Listen in as Wendy shares the Three Levels of Cancer Prevention. Thanks for listening in : www.onairadvocate.com

As we kick off our Marfan Awareness Series, I am so excited to welcome , Adam Bitterman, DO. Adam D. Bitterman, DO, is an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He is a board certified, fellowship trained foot and ankle orthopaedic specialist and has a focus in treating conditions of the lower leg. His clinical interests include arthritis of the foot and ankle, deformity correction, Achilles tendon disorders, and sports-related injuries to the ankle and foot. He is highly skilled in arthroscopic, minimally invasive, and open approaches for various conditions surrounding the lower foot and ankle. Dr. Bitterman is a graduate of Binghamton University and pursued his medical education at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at North Shore-LIJ Plainview Orthopaedic Consortium before graduating from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois where he completed his foot and ankle fellowship training. While in Chicago, he worked alongside the team physicians for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox. Additionally, he won the Jorge A. Galante Research Fellow Award for his work on Achilles tendinosis. Adam serves as the co-chair of the Research Committee for the Plainview Hospital Orthopaedic Residency program. His research interests include clinical outcomes after foot and ankle surgery, Achilles tendon pathology, patient comprehension, infection control and residency training. He has co-authored several peer-reviewed articles in orthopaedic journals and book chapters in orthopaedic textbooks. Dr. Bitterman has lectured to his peers as well as allied health professionals on various topics involving the lower extremity at local, regional and national meetings. Dr. Bitterman, who has Marfan syndrome, has been a volunteer for The Marfan Foundation for many years, leading educational workshops at the Foundation's annual conference and presenting educational webinars. In 2020, he was named to the Foundation's Professional Advisory Board, which is comprised of the country's leading experts on Marfan and related conditions. Listen in as Dr. Bitterman helps us Get to Know Marfan. Learn More About Marfan at www.marfan.org or the On-Air Advocate at www.OnAirAdvocate.com

As we kick off our Heart of it All Series for American Heart Month, I am so excited to welcome , Stacy Amstadt, Communications Director and Kelsey Gumm, Heart Disease Survivor and Volunteer at American Heart Association.

About Stacy:

Stacy Amstadt has been with the American Heart Association for 4 years. Her career at the AHA, is driven by her own experience as a congenital heart defect survivor. She was born with Aortic Stenosis with a Bicuspid Aortic Valve, and when she was 17, she underwent open heart surgery to repair her valve. Going through a major surgery at such a young age taught her not to let her struggles define her and to take everything day by day. It also helped lead her to her current career path. Her heart journey is not over yet…she will need to have to have her aortic valve replaced sometime in the next few years.

About Kelsey:

Kelsey Gumm was just a few weeks into Navy boot camp training, when she first passed out, She woke up in the back of an ambulance and doctors sent her on her way, after telling her she had overexerted herself and was dehydrated. These episodes continued over the next ten years, each with a trip to the ER and a diagnosis of dehydration, exhaustion or an anxiety attack.

But in 2016, Kelsey experienced an intense blackout. She couldn't feel her arms and legs and a colleague commented on how gray she looked. The nurse practitioner decided to put in a cardiology consult. After two echocardiograms and an EKG, the doctor said, "Petty Officer Gumm, I don't know how to tell you this, but your career in the Navy is over" and went on to explain that she has a rare heart condition called left ventricular non-compaction. All of the fainting that she'd been experiencing, was ventricular tachycardia, irregular heart rhythms that could have killed her.

Within a month of that doctor's visit, Kelsey was medically retired from life in the Navy, a life that she had known and loved, and had to learn to live her new normal: a life with heart disease. She has since, had a pacemaker and defibrillator implanted in her chest and visits with her cardiologist regularly.

In 2019, Kelsey served as one of eight national spokeswomen for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement. She loves sharing her story, helping other women realize that there is still life after heart disease, and reminding them to be an advocate for their health.

Listen in as we learn more about the American Heart Association and Stacy & Kelsey share their personal Heart stories.

Learn more about : The On-Air Advocate at www.OnAirAdvocate.com or The American Heart Association at www.Heart.org

As we continue our Wellness Week, I am so excited to welcome Dr. Erin Ellis, Naturopathic Doctor. Dr. Ellis Shares : In 2010 I was diagnosed with a rare form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma at age 31. I never thought in a million years I would have been diagnosed with cancer at such a young age, but it was the turning point in my life. I always wanted to be a doctor, but gave up on those dreams because I was sick of being in school, and instead worked in the bar and restaurants, but always knew I could do and be more. After 6 rounds of chemotherapy, a positive attitude with a side of determination and sass I became a survivor. Receiving this diagnosis and kicking its butt gave me the drive, the motivation and determination to get out of my own way and become that doctor that I always wanted to be. Not only did it give me my defining purpose in life, but I learned a lot about myself and really how strong I truly was. Having had a cancer diagnosis at such a young age, my mission and passion now is to empower those to take control of their health now before it is too late. This diagnosis proved to me that life is too short to feel sub-optimal and given the right tools, your body has the innate ability to heal itself. Listern in as Dr. Ellis shares the Importance of Well Woman's Exams, Routine Labs, Diet and Lifestyle. Learn more about Dr. Ellis at www.drerinellis.com For Information & Services Visit : www.OnAirAdvocate.com

As we kick off our Wellness Week, I am so excited to welcome to tomorrow mornings show, Daisy Vogt, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach.

Daisy is a born German but has lived in many different countries and cultures around the world. As a child she left Germany to Kenya, then to Thailand, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and most recently Jamaica. Now she resides with her husband, 2 kids and 2 fur babies in Orlando, Florida. She cares for her 18 year-old step son and is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, working with moms who also have special needs kids at home, utilizing mind and biohacking techniques to activate themselves to their fullest potential, so they can be happier and care better for their families.

Listen in as Daisy shares 8 Hacks for Good Caregiver Health.

As we kick off our Wellness Week, I am so excited to welcome to tomorrow mornings show, Anim Aweh, Licensed clinical therapist and clinical health educator. Anim is a licensed mental health therapist and health educator from Boston committed to helping her clients take control of their health before it controls them. Listen in as Anim explores ideas and strategies to help us take control of our health before it takes of us. Resource: Anim Aweh LCSW Therapy Over Silence

As we Kick Off our Spotlight Series for National Blood Donor Month, I am so excited to welcome to tomorrow's show, Craig Butler, National Executive Director and Radhika Sawh, Genetic Counselor, Board Member of the Cooley's Anemia Foundation. Craig Butler has been leading the fight against thalassemia for over half a century. Mr. Butler himself has been an active participant in that fight for over a decade, starting with the Foundation as National Communications Director in 2001. In addition to directing all communications-related activities in that capacity, he also served as the Principal Investigator on the Foundation's collaborative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help educate the thalassemia community about effective prevention strategies that can contribute to better outcomes for those with thalassemia. In addition to advocating on behalf of individuals with severe forms of thalassemia, Mr. Butler directs Cooley's Anemia Foundation efforts aimed at informing both the general public and specific at-risk populations about thalassemia trait. He also oversees programs to encourage all members of the public to donate blood, as treatment for thalassemia involves frequent lifelong transfusions. Mr. Butler is proud to be the author of "The Cooley's Anemia Foundation Storybook," a publication for children with thalassemia. Radhika holds a master's degree in genetic counseling and worked as the National Director of Patient Services for the Cooley's Anemia Foundation prior to joining the faculty of the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College. She is also a wife, a mother as well as an individual living and thriving with beta thalassemia major who frequently speaks on behalf of the New York Blood Center as a volunteer blood donor advocate. Listen in as Craig & Radhika share the great need for Blood Donors & Why Blood Donations Mean Life for Those with Thalassemia. Resource: Cooley's Anemia Foundation

As we continue our Spotlight Series for National Blood Donor Month, I am so excited to welcome to tomorrow's show, Laura McGuire, External Communications Manager for the American Red Cross.

Listen in as Laura of the American Red Cross - shares the essential need for blood donors, critical need for convalescent plasma and how you can give blood, give life & give back.

Learn More: www.redcrossblood.org

As we turn our focus back to National Family Caregivers Month, I am so excited to welcome to tomorrows show, Wendy Garvin Mayo, Nurse Practitioner, Cancer Caregiver Coach, Consultant & Advocate. Wendy Garvin Mayo is a Nurse Practitioner, Cancer Caregiver Coach, Consultant & Advocate, Author, Speaker. She is also the Founder of SHAPE Partners, a collective resource with the mission of empowering current and former cancer caregivers, family members, and friends in optimizing their mental and physical health. Wendy has clinical experience in caring for patients with solid tumors and hematology malignancies in both the outpatient and inpatient settings. She also has experience in Oncology Research and Development. She has a natural passion to help cancer patients and caregivers thrive in difficult situations. Wendy's nursing practice and personal experience have provided her with a firm understanding of the difficulty cancer diagnoses has on caregivers. A few years ago Wendy's aunt was diagnosed with glioblastoma and passed away in 2014. Wendy observed her aunts' transition from sisters to caregivers as they struggled through the initial diagnosis to treatment to hospice and untimely beyond her aunt's death. Wendy's professional and personal experiences with cancer caregivers motivated her to found SHAPE Partners and its four pillars – Partnership, Advocacy, Coaching, and Education. Listen in as Wendy shares the great need for cancer caregiver community's and strategies to empower cancer caregivers to optimize their mental and physical health through partnership, advocacy, coaching and education. Resource: SHAPE Partners