The PQI Podcast

This week we sit down with Matt Saylor, PharmD, BCOP to discuss his personal brain tumor story and his career path into pharmacy. 

Matt has had a passion for healthcare from an early age and developed his interest in oncology based on many of his personal experiences and a fantastic oncology mentor in school.   Matt earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from The Ohio State University and then went on to complete 2 years of training – PGY1 at the VA in Columbus (OH) and then PGY2 Oncology at Emory in Atlanta.   After residency, he practiced at 2 large IDNs in North Carolina – Wake Forest in Winston-Salem and then Novant Health in Charlotte.  

 For the past 5 years, Matt has been a Medical Affairs Director for Health Systems Oncology at Merck, where he gets to blend his interest for advancing the oncology landscape and providing medical information to fellow pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.

This week, we sit down with Alice Rhoton-Vlasak, MD and Lauren Staley, ARNP to discuss fertility preservation in oncology patients.

Alice Rhoton-Vlasak, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained reproductive endocrinologist and a professor at the University of Florida Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology working in the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Many of her clinical efforts have focused on fertility and fertility preservation in cancer patients. She started a program called the UF Health HOPE network. This program has three prongs, including research, clinical, and education for all healthcare providers to become familiar with fertility preservation services. 

Lauren has worked at the University of Florida in the Division of Pediatric Oncology since 2011, serving as the Pediatric Solid Tumor Coordinator. She completed training through the NIH-funded ENRICH (Educating Nurses about Reproductive Issues in Cancer Healthcare) program. In 2019, Lauren joined the UF Health Reproductive Endocrinology group in the role of Oncofertility 
Navigator. Through this initiative, Lauren provides fertility preservation counseling for patients facing a new cancer diagnosis.
 

This week we sit down with Myron Rolle, MD, MSc to discuss his book The 2% Way - How a philosophy of small improvements took me to Oxford, the NFL, and Neurosurgery. 

Dr. Rolle is a chief neurosurgery resident and Global Neurosurgery Fellow at  Harvard-Massachusetts General Hospital, Rhodes Scholar, author, and former professional football player in the National Football League. He holds a Doctor of Medicine from Florida State University College of Medicine, a Master of Science in medical anthropology from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor of Science in exercise science from Florida State University. 

He developed and published the Rolle Scoring System, a public health rating scale used to determine a developing country’s governance around helmet safety to prevent traumatic brain injury. He has been recognized by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons for demonstrating the best operative technique in the reconstruction of upper extremity motor function using intercostal nerve transfers after a traumatic brachial plexus injury. 

Dr. Rolle is the chairman of the Caribbean Neurosurgery Foundation - a not-for-profit which houses capacity-building and health system-strengthening initiatives for improved neurosurgical care in the Caribbean. His foundation has impacted over 3.5 million people in the Caribbean through the upscaling of policy, service delivery, infrastructure, and workforce development. He is the best-selling author of The 2% Way - How a philosophy of small improvements took me to Oxford, the NFL, and Neurosurgery. You can find his book here. 
 

This week we sit down with Robert M Haberkorn, DDS, MBA, MLD to discuss oral cancer. Dr. Haberkorn graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and attended a surgical mini-residency at Baylor University for dental Implants. Immediately after graduation, he purchased a dental practice and began his career serving his patients in both metro and rural areas. His interest in treating oral cancer patients began in 1987, and he began his oral oncology career providing diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for the patients within his own practice, as well as those referred to him by other health care providers. He has been a huge proponent of early diagnosis and awareness of oral cancer and continues his crusade to make the communities he serves aware of the risk factors. 
 

Dr. Haberkorn acquired his first laser in 1990 and has since earned his Master’s in Laser Dentistry therapy utilizing soft tissue and hard tissue lasers as innovative treatment modalities for dental issues and for oral cancer patients needing diagnosis, treatment, and post-operative pain relief. He has earned an MBA from The University of Notre Dame.
 

Dr. Haberkorn is an alumnus of the Pankey Institute, a member of the American Academy of Oral Medicine, The Academy of Laser Dentistry, The American Association of Facial Esthetics, The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, The International Society of Oral Oncology, and is currently studying at The University of Florida for additional knowledge for the treatment of patients with Oral Cancer and Oral diseases in their Department of Oral Oncology and Oral Medicine. 
 

You can find more information on the Oral Cancer Foundation here.

The PQI Podcast is back with season 5! We’re thrilled to bring you another season of valuable insights from oncology experts across the globe, as well as heartwarming stories of hope and determination. We’re kicking off season 5 by welcoming Yen Nien (Jason) Hou, PharmD, Dipl.O.M, L.Ac, Herb Information Center Coordinator and Manager of the “About Herbs” website with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Jason shares enlightening insights about the Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Herb information center, a tool for the public and healthcare professionals that can help determine the value of using common herbs and other dietary supplements.

Jason is a pharmacist, traditional Chinese medicine herbalist, and coordinator of the herb information center at the Integrative Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.  He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from The State University of New York (SUNY), School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and completed a Postgraduate Year 1 community pharmacy residency, both in Buffalo, New York. He received Master of Science degree from the New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, board-certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.  Jason is a registered pharmacist and licensed acupuncturist in New York State.  His expertise is in the use of dietary supplements and botanical products. Because many cancer patients use herbal supplements, there is an urgent need for reliable information on herb-drug interactions. Jason applies his experience in the areas of pharmacy and botanicals to consult and to educate patients and other healthcare professionals about the proper use of herbs and supplements.You can find the resources Jason references in the podcast below:

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/membershiphttp://www.aboutherbs.com/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-023-07577-xhttps://prezi.com/snygsdsan8mn/acupuncture-as-a-remedy-for-painhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7HMZlPcjBQhttps://www.mskcc.org/departments/division-subspecialty-medicine/integrative-medicine/programs/herbal-formulations-cancer-supportive-carehttps://www.consumerlab.com/

This month, we celebrate Cancer Immunotherapy and its impact on people's lives. In our season 4 finale episode of The PQI Podcast, we have the privilege of sitting down with Mary Elizabeth Williams, who shares her inspiring story of overcoming metastatic melanoma and advocating for better access to clinical trials. Mary Elizabeth, a courageous stage 4 metastatic melanoma survivor, participated in a groundbreaking Phase 1 immunotherapy trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering. She became one of the pioneering individuals to receive nivolumab, a cutting-edge treatment. Just three months into the trial, her remarkable progress showed no signs of disease. Join us as we delve into her journey, highlighting the transformative potential of immunotherapy.

For the past several years, Mary Elizabeth has been chronicling her adventures with Stage 4 melanoma and working toward a better healthcare experience for all of us. She is a doctoral student of Medical Humanities at Drew University and has written for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Salon, Time, and Health. Her recent book, A Series of Catastrophes and Miracles, A: A True Story of Love, Science, and Cancer, is on her experience with metastatic melanoma — and the groundbreaking immunotherapy clinical trial pioneered by Nobel winner James Allison — that saved her life. Her book can be found here.

On this week's episode of The PQI Podcast, we sit down with Bijoy Telivala, MD, to delve into the realm of anticoagulant therapy.

Dr. Telivala, holding Board Certifications in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine, currently practices at Cancer Specialists of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida.

Originally from India, Dr. Telivala completed his M.B.B.S. at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College. He further pursued his medical education and training, earning his Doctor of Medicine from Temple University in Pennsylvania, where he also completed his hematology/oncology fellowship. With a passion for patient care and guidance, Dr. Telivala cherishes the collaborative environment he works in, surrounded by a dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and support staff who share the same primary goal of improving patients' lives.

"The compassion and empathy offered by the team as CSNF is truly unmatched.”

This week we sit down with Jennifer Byer, MD and Rachel Clark to discuss the Sugar Bloom Foundation. 

Dr. Jennifer Byer earned her medical degree and completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa, FL. In 2014, she was awarded a Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the Moffitt Cancer Center/University of South Florida. She is currently an oncologist at Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute. 

In honor of her mother, Sugar, and those courageously battling cancer, Rachel Clark established the Sugar Bloom Foundation. Tired of sterile waiting rooms, dreary hospital spaces, and anxious environments, Rachel embarked on a mission to fill these spaces with love, faith, and a profound sense of empathy and connection.

Rachel lives in Vero Beach with her husband and two children. She and her husband own a veterinary clinic and founded Community Health Coalition, a charity that vaccinates canines in remote areas of Africa against rabies. 

On this week's episode of The PQI Podcast, we sit down with experienced oncology pharmacy technicians Janine Brodeur, CPhT, COPhT, Nora Hansen, CPhT, COPhT, and Taryn Newsome, CPhT!We discuss the vital role of oncology pharmacy technicians in patient care, the Oncology Pharmacy Technician Association (OPTA), and the value of OPTA's new oral oncology certification for technicians.

More information on OPTA’s certification can be found here.

This week we sit down with Craig Olson to discuss Brain Cancer Awareness Month, his role as a caregiver, and his book Defeating the Unbeatable. Craig is a National Board-Certified teacher, podcast host of Defeating Weekly, and author of Defeating the Unbeatable. His book is based on his experience with his first wife, Rachael, and her battle with brain cancer. It shares knowledge he feels will benefit others going through similar situations. His weekly podcast provides skills with action steps that people can take and apply to their own lives.

More information on Craig’s book and podcast can be found here.