On Saturday, April 23rd, our host Dr. Marianne Ritchie welcomed the return of Dr. Paul Offit, a world-renowned expert in the study of viruses, vaccines, and immunology.

He talked about updates on the COVID vaccine, boosters, and everything we’ve learned in these past two years since the initial outbreak of COVID-19.

Mark Tykocinski, MD

Paul A. Offit, MD

• Director of the Vaccine Education Center and Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at CHOP
• Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Penn

Your Real Champion® – “Yes, We Can-dy! A Kiss for Billy Penn”

Mr. Rich Loughran is an eighth-grade teacher from Newtown Middle School who not only teaches history but makes history!

He and fellow teacher Matt McCarthy along with eight students were guests of Lt. Governor Fetterman and observed a session of the PA State Senate. They learned the value of being engaged citizens as they heard their idea presented in a Senate Resolution – to make the Hershey Kiss the state candy.

Front row – Rich Loughran, Senator Collett, Cameron Forsyth, Varsha Garimella, Lana Hakma, Emily Kennedy, Elaine Liaw, Audrey Thomson, and Kacie Welch [missing Kaitlyn Landers], Matt McCarthy

Back row – Senators Santarsiero and DiSanto.

Each week we highlight the Real Champions in your life! Your family, friends, or colleagues who go the extra mile to help others in their community. Know someone who should be featured? Nominate them now!

Check out all of our past Champions →

On April 16th, 2022 Your Radio Doctor host Dr. Marianne Ritchie took a trip to Space – The Next Frontier with 4 wonderful guests! 

On April 8, history was made when the company called Axiom Space successfully launched the first commercial mission to the International Space Station. All four space travelers were private citizens. 

Listen to our show now to meet our guests, three physician-scientists from Thomas Jefferson University who were chosen to send experiments as part of this Ax-1 mission. 

Mark Tykocinski, MD

Mark Tykocinski, MD

• Provost and Executive VP for Academic Affairs
• Thomas Jefferson University
• Anthony and Gertrude DePalma Dean
• Sidney Kimmel Medical College

Adam Dicker, MD, PhD, FASTRO, FASCO

Adam Dicker, MD, Ph.D., FASTRO, FASCO

• Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology
• Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Paul Chung, MD

Paul Chung, MD

• Associate Professor of Urology
• Co-Director, Men’s Health Program
• Director, Reconstructive Urology and Jefferson Urology Alumni Association
• Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

John P. Hanifin, Ph.D.

John P. Hanifin, Ph.D.

• Assistant Professor of Neurology
• Associate Director, Light Research Program
• Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Your Real Champion

“Hoagies 4 Hope”

The Student Council members of Clearview Regional High School bring students, faculty, family, and friends together to make “Hoagies 4 Hope” which they sell each year on the morning of Super Bowl Sunday.  

As they raise money to help people facing illness or other tragedies, they also bring the entire community together as a family!

Each week we highlight the Real Champions in your life! Your family, friends, or colleagues who go the extra mile to help others in their community. Know someone who should be featured? Nominate them now!

Check out all of our past Champions →

Our host Dr. Marianne Ritchie talks with Anesthesiologist, Dr. Angelo Andonakakis about anesthesiology. Sedation, whether it’s for an elective procedure, an operation, or an emergency situation. 

Learn “what to ask” and “what to tell” the person providing the anesthesia. 

Our guest has vast experience in providing safe anesthesia with remarkable compassion and is recognized for his excellent skills in teaching medical students, residents, nurse anesthesiologists, and colleagues.

Angelo Andonakakis, DO, MBA

• Department of Anesthesiology, Section Head of Anesthesiology, Special Procedure Unit at Cooper University Hospital
• Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology, and Assistant Professor of Urology at Cooper Medical School at Rowan University

Your Real Champion

“Mending Broken Hearts”

Champions, Laurie Burstein-Maxwell and Lee Maxwell share their heartbreaking and inspiring journey.

Dan Maxwell was a high school senior who had it all. He had lots of friends, stellar grades, and played 3 different sports … but was overwhelmed by depression and his family still grieves his loss from suicide.

Dan’s parents Laurie and Lee have found some comfort by establishing the DMAX Foundation. The mission is to remove the stigma of mental illness by establishing DMAX Clubs on college campuses which provide safe spaces for young people to talk about their struggles without judgment and support each other – helping to strengthen mental health and emotional well-being.

Learn more about their Annual Virtual Education event happening on April 20th.

Heart Health:

Our guest this week is a highly respected cardiologist and an expert in abnormal heart rhythms. Since the first pacemaker was inserted into a human being 60 years ago, great advances have been made in these lifesaving devices including pacemakers and defibrillators. Our host Dr. Marianne Ritchie welcomes Philadelphia Cardiologist, Behzad Pavri, MD for a wonderful conversation with heart ❤️ !

Dr. Behzad Pavri

• Professor of Medicine
• Sidney Kimmel Medical College
• Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Program

Our Real Champion

“But Now I See”

Dr. Joe Rinaldi has a beautiful perspective about the big picture of life with remarkable wisdom well beyond his 27 years and a positive attitude that is contagious.

Diagnosed with Best Disease, he is gradually losing his sight but realizes that everyone has a struggle and that everything happens for a reason. “I’m grateful to be going blind. What I’ve lost in sight, I’ve gained in vision”.

Each week we highlight the Real Champions in your life! Your family, friends, or colleagues who go the extra mile to help others in their community. Know someone who should be featured? Nominate them now!

Check out all of our past Champions →

This weekend we continue our two-part series on heart health with an update on cholesterol and when you should consider having a Coronary calcium count. Our host Dr. Marianne Ritchie welcomes the return of one of Philadelphia’s “Top Docs” who specializes in the prevention of heart disease and cholesterol management.

Helene L. Glassberg, MD

– Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

– Director Pre-Operative Cardiac Clinic, Penn Medicine

This week's "Real Champion" is Fr. Jim Cardosi

“Faith of Our Fathers”

Fr. Jim Cardosi is grateful for the 28 years of active duty as a Navy pilot and the beautiful marriage to his kind and loving wife which included 5 children.

When his beloved Cindy died at the young age of 51, he answered the call to yet another vocation, and now dedicates his service as a father to the community as a Roman Catholic priest. Joy does not just refer to a feeling of happiness. It’s an attitude that leads to selfless love.

Each week we highlight the Real Champions in your life! Your family, friends, or colleagues who go the extra mile to help others in their community. Know someone who should be featured? Nominate them now!

Check out all of our past Champions →

Among adults in the United States, treatment of hypertension is the most common reason for office visits and use of chronic prescription medications. Our guest is a leading Cardiologist who specializes in the prevention of heart disease with a focus on risk assessment, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and lifestyle modification

Helene L. Glassberg, MD

– Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

– Director Pre-operative Cardiac Clinic, Penn Medicine

Colorectal Cancer Screening: Why people hesitate and how the bowel prep has improved.

We continue our discussion of Colorectal Cancer Screening; reasons why people hesitate and improvements in the preparation for colonoscopy. Dr. David Johnson is an internationally recognized gastroenterologist who performed the first study that evaluated colonoscopy as a screening exam, then wrote the national guidelines for colorectal cancer screening and for the bowel prep.

Segments includes:

• Dr. David Johnson
• Coach Ashley Howard
• Mrs. Mary Lucks



On March 5, 2022, our host Dr. Marianne Ritchie was joined by Dr. Douglas Rex, an international expert regarding the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer. He also has the nation’s largest experience in removing large polyps and the world’s largest experience in completing colonoscopy in patients with previously incomplete exams.

Douglas Rex, MD:

• Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Indiana University School of Medicine
• Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus – Indiana Univ. Purdue Univ Indianapolis
• Professor Emeritus of Medicine
• Director of Endoscopy – Indiana University
• Master of the American College of Gastroenterology
• Master of the American College of Physicians

Each week we highlight the Real Champions in your life! Your family, friends, or colleagues who go the extra mile to help others in their community. Know someone who should be featured? Nominate them now!

Check out all of our past Champions →

On Sunday, January 30, 2022, our host Dr. Marianne Ritchie was joined by Kenneth M. Lankin, MD, MBA, MPH, FACOEM, Enterprise Medical Director of Jefferson Occupational Health Network.

The first goal of Occupational Medicine doctors is prevention; keeping the workplace safe and the workforce productive. They also diagnose and treat work-related injuries and illnesses, and follow the “return-to-work” process – health monitoring that optimizes time in which ill/injured workers can safely return to work and when their duties should be modified.

Your Real Champions of the week were Our Real Listeners!

January 30th, 2022 marks the two-year anniversary of Your Radio Doctor®. Our host, Dr. Marianne Ritchie, has spent many years teaching medical students, residents, and patients - often one at a time.  As the host of the only all-medical talk radio show in the greater Philadelphia region, she can impact thousands each week. She wants to be your voice... asking questions of experts from top medical centers around the country,  so you can make better decisions for yourselves and your loved ones. Thank you for tuning in each week and for your supportive emails!

On Sunday, January 23, 2022, as the final part of our three-part series on New Year's Resolutions, our host Dr. Marianne Ritchie was joined by Mark Stoutenberg, PhD, MSPH, an Associate Professor Chair for the Department of Kinesiology at Temple University for a discussion about the importance of physical activity and how to increase the amount of activity you get!

A sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity are prevalent and associated with poor health outcomes. Worldwide about 1 in 4 adults are physically inactive and we're seeing even more sedentary behaviors due to watching TV and time at the computer. Learn from a national authority about the value of physical activity, even if it's not programmed activity or exercise in the gym. It can add years to your life!

Clare spent many exciting years as a radio and TV personality. In her twenties, she survived several life-threatening allergic reactions and is thankful for every day since. Through the years she never liked running, but at age 55 she entered a 5K race to honor a friend's brother, and running soon became her sanctuary.