You probably have some idea of how medical cannabis affects your brain. But do you know the impacts of cannabis on women's health? Dr. Staci Gruber comes on the show to discuss the ins and outs of cannabinoids and its studied benefits! Learn how research on cannabis shows that it might help with endometriosis and menopause. Plus, Dr. Sharon shares her take on cannabis and asks all the questions you want answered.

Dr. Staci Gruber is the Director of the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core at McLean Hospital’s Brain Imaging Center and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on the application of neurocognitive models and brain imaging to characterize risk factors for substance abuse and psychiatric conditions. She has studied the impact of recreational cannabis use on the brain for over three decades using neurocognitive/clinical assessments, and multimodal brain imaging techniques. Her work has been the basis for national and international symposia, documentaries, and news stories, which ultimately helped inform public policy. Given the many inherent differences between recreational and medical cannabis users, Dr. Gruber launched Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) in 2014, the first program designed to clarify the long-term impact of medical cannabis use. MIND supports projects that aim to address the impact of medical cannabis on important variables including cognition, brain structure/function, clinical state, quality of life, pain, sleep, and other health-related measures. As director of MIND, Dr. Gruber has generated major contributions to the field as the first to assess medical cannabis patients longitudinally, first to acquire neuroimaging data in medical cannabis patients, and as PI of the first clinical trial of a full-spectrum, high-cannabidiol (CBD) product, which she formulated to treat anxiety. Additional, novel clinical trials have been approved and are currently underway. Dr. Gruber also launched the Women’s Health Initiative at MIND (WHIM), the first cannabis-focused research program designed to address women’s health and disorders that disproportionately affect women.

Resources:

https://www.mcleanhospital.org/profile/staci-gruber

https://www.drstacigruber.com/whim

https://www.drstacigruber.com/post/npr-marijuana-rescheduling

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Franchesca Diaz and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cardiologist Dr. Jayne Morgan joins to chat about all about the #1 cause of death for women: heart disease. She shares some of the causes (hint: it's mostly under our control) plus the ways menopause impacts heart health for women. Plus the two doctors discuss how artificial intelligence could change the heart health game by letting people monitor their blood pressure beyond the doctor's office.

Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/drjaynemorgan

Mayo Clinic - Strategies to Prevent Heart Disease

American Heart Association - Understanding Blood Pressure Readings

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Founder of the Kindred Space Birthing Center in Los Angeles, Kimberly Durdin joins Dr. Sharon to talk about midwifery care for expecting mothers and how birthing centers handle delivery differently than hospitals. Kimberly and Dr. Sharon also discuss the pros and cons of hospital births and get into why not every pregnant woman is a good candidate for delivering outside of a hospital.

Resources:

Kindred Space LA

Black Maternal Mortality

Historical Significance of Doulas and Midwives

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Did you know endometrial cancer cases are projected to rise significantly by 2050? Dr. Carol Brown comes on the show to explain why the Gynecologic Oncology speciality is so important for women to understand. Dr. Brown also discusses with Dr. Sharon why those numbers are on the rise, and what you can do to educate yourself on it. The doctors highlight how to ensure you know what type of treatment you should be getting when going to see a doctor as it can be treated and often curable if caught early. WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR HEALTH QUESTIONS! Submit them here.

Dr. Carol Brown is a gynecologic cancer surgeon and Chief Health Equity Officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she holds the Nicholls-Biondi chair for health equity and is Vice Chair of health equity in the department of surgery. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard and her medical degree from Columbia, and completed her clinical and research fellowships in gynecologic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Dr. Brown’s research, clinical, and advocacy work is focused on reducing and eliminating disparities experienced by medically underserved people affected by cancer. She developed and leads the Cancer Health Equity Research Program, a unique partnership between an NCI-designated Cancer Center and community oncologists that brings clinical trials and cancer genomic profiling to underserved patients in their local community. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the 2017 Minorities in Cancer Research American Association for Cancer Research Jane Cooke Wright Memorial Lectureship. Dr. Brown served as the 50th president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology and is currently a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons.

Resources:

https://www.sgo.org/

https://prescancerpanel.cancer.gov/members/brown

https://www.mskcc.org/experience/physicians-at-work/carol-brown-work

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/uterine-endometrial/improving-equity-endometrial-cancer-care

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Comedian and heart health advocate ShantaQuilette Carter joins the podcast to share the story behind her heart attack and multiple strokes. Carter shares how her age and lack of family history knowledge threw doctors off for years. Plus Dr. Sharon walks us through how heart attacks might appear for women and what signs you should definitely NOT ignore.

ShantaQuilette Carter, famously known as HeyShantaQ, is a force of nature—an award-winning humorist, entrepreneur, and two-time stroke and heart attack survivor who turns life’s challenges into powerful lessons of resilience, joy, and empowerment. With her signature humor and authenticity, she has built a community of over 2 million followers, generating 1 billion+ impressions across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. As a nationally recognized health equity advocate and founder of Quiddity Media & Entertainment and Girl Be Natural, she uplifts women and underrepresented creators while raising awareness of health disparities. 

Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/heyshantaq/

American Heart Association - Heart Attack Symptoms in Women

American Heart Association - Stroke Symptoms

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Did you know people with reproductive organs can have as many as 1 million eggs in their body?

Dr. Lucky comes on to talk all things egg related: egg freezing, IVF, other modes of fertility, and the ideal age when it comes to harvesting. Both doctors offer resources to check out when it comes to national statistics plus, how to go about finding clinic evaluations. Dr. Sharon and Dr. Lucky also debate genetic testing, advances in technology and regression in legality.

Dr. Lucky Sekhon is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, and obstetrician-gynecologist, as well as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. She is the author of The Lucky Egg, a comprehensive, myth-busting guide to understanding reproductive health and overcoming infertility — written to empower anyone navigating the complex and often confusing world of fertility. Widely recognized for her expertise in egg freezing, IVF, and LGBTQ+ family building, Dr. Sekhon is a trusted voice in reproductive medicine known for blending cutting-edge science with deeply compassionate patient care. Submit your questions to Dr. Sharon!

Resources:

https://www.sart.org/

https://theluckyegg.com/

The Lucky Egg book

And check out ASRM for guidellines

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

00:15:41:05

Physician, health advocate, and author Dr. Uché Blackstock joins the show to talk about health equity and her work to advance it. The NYT bestselling author of Legacy, A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine, he talks about the detrimental effects of racism, how disparities in the U.S. healthcare system affect everybody, and how we can all begin to address these inequities. Plus, she shares how the recent rollback on DEI programs and policies has impacted her work. Do you have health questions? Submit them here.

Resources:

Advancing Health Equity

Turn health equity talk into action: 5 steps for health systems

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How much can you actually do to avoid getting cancer? Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee sits down with Dr. Sharon and shares what we've learned about cancer in the last 15 years. His four new major chapters added to the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Emperor of All Maladies shares how differently we look at cancer, since the book was first published. So much has changed in the universe of cancer, the understanding of its causes; our attempts to prevent it; and in the revolutionary new treatments that are being put out every week. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Have questions? Submit them here.

Siddhartha Mukherjee is an Indian physician, biologist, and author. He is best known for his 2010 book, The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, that won notable literary prizes including the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, and Guardian First Book Award, among others. It is a NYT top 100 Book of the Century and Best Book of the Year, as well as a Time All-Time 100 Nonfiction book.

Resources:

• https://www.cancer.columbia.edu/profile/siddhartha-mukherjee-md
• https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/siddhartha-mukherjee
• https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3032451.Siddhartha_Mukherjee

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New York Times and 1619 Project journalist Linda Villarosa joins Dr. Sharon to talk in-depth about the viral article discussing the study on hair relaxers and their link to a higher risk of cancer. How real is the risk? Dr. Sharon digs into the study and Linda speaks on her journalistic findings. Do you have health questions? Submit them here!

Linda Villarosa is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, where she covers race, inequality and public health. Her award-winning work has examined HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality, environmental justice, COVID-19 racial health disparities and life expectancy. A former executive editor of Essence Magazine, she is the author of the book Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation. The New York Times named it one of the top five nonfiction books of 2022 and it was a finalist for the 2023 Pulitzer Prize.  

Resources:

Linda’s website

Read Linda's article here

American Cancer Society - Cervical Cancer Prevention and Detection Guidelines

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Board certified psychiatrist Dr. Judith Joseph talks with Dr. Sharon about her research on the large number of people experiencing high functioning depression. Dr. Judith, at the forefront of this first of its kind research, lays out the inspiration and details behind this study. Plus Dr. Sharon and Dr. Joseph go through the steps it takes to reclaim your joy while going through the thick of it! Do you have health questions? Submit them here.

Dr. Judith Joseph MD MBA is a board-certified psychiatrist, researcher and award-winning content creator who specializes in mental health and trauma. She is chair of the women in medicine initiative at Columbia University, clinical assistant professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU Principal Investigator at Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, New York City’s Premier Clinical Research Site. Her National Bestselling book, “High Functioning” is based on the first-of-its-kind study on high functioning depression which she conducted in her all-women research lab in New York City. This study is the first peer-reviewed published study in the world on High Functioning Depression. Dr. Judith uses her platform of over 1 million followers to educate her community about mental health topics and she trains doctors at NYU about how to use various forms of media to educate the public about mental health issues.

Resources:

High Functioning Book

Dr. Judith Joseph Site

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.