Thompson On-Air

What does spiritual care look like in a hospital, and do you have to be religious to benefit? Janice Lum, director of spiritual care services at Thompson Health and a board-certified clinical chaplain with a nursing background, joins host Dave Carro to explore a service that reaches beyond religion. They discuss how clinical chaplains work alongside the medical team to support patients and families facing serious illness, fear, and difficult treatment decisions. Janice shares how her team approaches conversations when family members disagree, why listening is central to the work, and how care is shaped by each person’s needs and beliefs. The conversation also explores the different ways chaplains connect with people, how patients and families can request a visit, and the support available to hospital associates navigating challenges at work or in their own lives.

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• Visit our website at http://www.ThompsonHealth.com/podcast 

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Every fall, the same questions come back: Do I need a flu shot? Do my kids? Is RSV really that serious? Are COVID boosters still a thing? In this episode of Thompson On-Air, host Dave Carro talks with Stacey Gibbs, Thompson Health's Director of Infection Prevention, and Daniel Benz, a clinical pharmacist who manages Thompson's two outpatient pharmacies, about what respiratory virus season really looks like in the Finger Lakes. They explain how Australia's flu season previews our own, why this year's vaccine is well matched to the circulating strains, who is most at risk of serious illness, and which shots are recommended for which people — plus the warning signs that mean it is time to call your provider or head to the emergency department.

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• Visit our website at http://www.ThompsonHealth.com/podcast 

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In this episode of Thompson On-Air, Matt Janczak, vice president of long-term care at Thompson Health and administrator of the M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center, and Melodie Kolmetz, a physician assistant with the University of Rochester Medicine Geriatrics Group, join host Dave Carro to help families recognize when mom or dad needs extra help and how to choose the right kind. They explain the small, easy-to-miss warning signs - from unpaid bills to skipped activities - and how simple home changes like grab bars, better lighting, and clearing clutter can support safe aging in place. Matt and Melodie also walk through the full continuum of care, from in-home support and independent living to assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and how palliative care differs from hospice. They address the caregiver side too, including guilt, burnout, respite care, and how Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance fit into paying for it all. Above all, they explain why starting the conversation early and completing a healthcare proxy are among the best steps a family can take to protect a loved one's safety and dignity.

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• Visit our website at http://www.ThompsonHealth.com/podcast 

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In this episode of Thompson On-Air, board-certified family medicine physician and Thompson's Chief of Outpatient Medicine, Jonathon Lammers, MD, joins host Dave Carro to help listeners figure out where to go when a sudden illness or injury strikes: the emergency department, urgent care, or their primary care office. Dr. Lammers explains how severity should guide every decision, when to call 911 rather than drive, and what belongs in the ED - from heart attacks and strokes to deep lacerations, severe allergic reactions, and intense headaches. He walks through what really happens in the ED, why triage sees the sickest patients first, and how much activity is taking place behind the scenes even when the ED looks quiet. Dr. Lammers also demystifies urgent care, sharing that it can handle roughly 80 percent of what comes into an emergency room, depending on severity, and explains how the right-care decision looks different for children as well as older adults managing chronic conditions. Above all, he explains why a phone call to a primary care office is often the best first step, and why having a primary care provider in your corner is one of the best long-term health decisions you can make. 

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• Email us at [email protected]
• Visit our website at http://www.ThompsonHealth.com/podcast 

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How many times have you left a doctor's office thinking of three things you forgot to mention? Most of us get somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes with our primary care provider, and it goes fast.

In this episode of Thompson On Air, host Dave Carro sits down with Dr. Cynthia Teerlink, a board-certified family medicine physician at the Mary Clark Thompson Family Practice with more than 25 years of experience, to talk about how to make the most of that time.

Dr. Teerlink walks through what to do before you walk in the door, what actually happens during an annual physical, and why showing up even when you feel fine matters more than most people realize. She's candid about the importance of being honest with your provider, especially around mental health, stress, and other topics people tend to avoid, and explains why that honesty is what makes primary care work.

The conversation also touches on how technology is changing the visit itself. Thompson now uses ambient AI documentation via our electronic medical record (with patient permission), so providers can focus on the patient rather than a keyboard.

Whether you have a primary care doctor and want to get more out of your visits, or you haven't seen a provider in years and aren't sure where to start, this episode is definitely worth your time. Listen at thompsonhealth.com/podcast, or find a University of Rochester Medicine primary care provider near you at thompsonhealth.com.

Contact Thompson On-Air

• Email us at [email protected]
• Visit our website at http://www.ThompsonHealth.com/podcast 

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Most of us have brushed off occasional digestive issues as just "something we ate," but in this episode of Thompson On-Air, host Dave Carro explores why it is vital to stop self-diagnosing and start listening to what your body is telling you. He sits down with board-certified gastroenterologists Dr. Raymond Thomas and Dr. Andrew Quinn from the Thompson Health Gastroenterology team, who discuss what it means to listen to your gut, when to seek specialist care, and how new technologies are advancing early detection of GI and liver issues. 

The doctors break down the complexities of gastroenterology, explaining how GI health impacts the entire body, from the esophagus to the liver and pancreas. They discuss the "red flags" that warrant a call to a specialist, such as difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, or changes in bowel habits, and clarify the latest screening guidelines for colonoscopies, which now recommend starting at age 45.

Key topics covered in this episode include:

• The "Prep" and the Procedure: A look at how colonoscopy preparations have improved and what patients can actually expect during the screening.
• Silent Risks of Liver Disease: Why liver health is central to digestion and how new technology like the FibroScan allows for non-invasive testing in an office setting.
• Innovations in GI Tech: How Capsule Endoscopy (the "PillCam") and Artificial Intelligence are helping doctors detect issues in the small intestine that traditional scopes can't reach.
• Medication Facts vs. Fiction: An evidence-based look at the safety and efficacy of PPIs (like Prilosec and Nexium) for acid reflux.

Whether you are due for a routine screening or are managing chronic symptoms, this episode provides essential insights into navigating specialty care within the University of Rochester Medicine network.

Contact Thompson On-Air

• Email us at [email protected]
• Visit our website at http://www.ThompsonHealth.com/podcast 

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In this episode of Thompson On-Air, host Dave Carro sits down with orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Nicholas Valente to explore what really happens when you stop “just living with” joint pain and start considering hip or knee replacement as a way to regain your quality of life. Dr. Valente walks through what is actually replaced in a joint, how modern implants and surgical techniques (including robotic-assisted options) have evolved, and why waiting too long can quietly shrink your world by limiting the activities and relationships you enjoy. He discusses how to know when it might be time for surgery, the non-surgical treatments often tried first, and what patients can realistically expect from the first days of recovery through the critical weeks of physical therapy. The conversation also addresses common fears and myths around age limits, same-day discharge, pain medications, and restrictions after surgery, emphasizing that the best outcomes come from shared decision-making with a trusted surgeon and a rehab plan tailored to the life you want to get back to living.

Contact Thompson On-Air

• Email us at [email protected]
• Visit our website at http://www.ThompsonHealth.com/podcast 

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In this episode of Thompson On-Air, host Dave Carro sits down with emergency physician and palliative care specialist Dr. Adam Cardina and nurse practitioner Alex Michaels to unpack what Advance Care Planning really is, why it matters at every stage of health, and how it can actually expand, not limit, the care options available to patients and families. Dr. Cardina and Alex explain how clarifying your values, naming a trusted healthcare proxy, and revisiting decisions over time can prevent chaos in a crisis and ensure your voice is heard even if you cannot speak for yourself. The conversation tackles common myths (including that Advance Care Planning is only for older adults or for end of life), offers simple starter questions families can use at the dinner table, and highlights how Thompson Health is weaving these conversations into everyday primary care so that planning becomes a normal, compassionate part of routine healthcare. 

Contact Thompson On-Air

• Email us at [email protected]
• Visit our website at http://www.ThompsonHealth.com/podcast 

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Thompson On-Air’s pilot episode takes listeners inside the world of robotic surgery with master surgeon Joseph A. Talarico, MD, F.A.C.S., Chief of Surgery at F.F. Thompson Hospital and president of the medical staff. Dr. Talarico explores what robotic-assisted surgery is, how it differs from traditional and laparoscopic approaches, and why it often means smaller incisions, less pain, shorter hospital stays, and a faster return to normal activity.​ Dr. Talarico explains how he uses the robot for many hernia, gallbladder, and colon cancer procedures, describing the robot as an extension of the surgeon’s hands rather than an autonomous machine. He addresses common misconceptions, outlines when robotic surgery is and isn’t appropriate, and emphasizes shared decision-making, detailed counseling, and careful use of non-opioid pain control to support safer recoveries.​ Drawing on roughly 3,000 robotic cases, Dr. Talarico discusses how the technology has advanced, how it improves precision and consistency, and why patients travel from across the country and even internationally to Thompson’s community-based hospital and Hernia Center of Excellence for robotic care.

Contact Thompson On-Air

• Email us at [email protected]
• Visit our website at http://www.ThompsonHealth.com/podcast 

Thanks for listening!