INTERVIEWS

Laila Tai, PMP, Director of Individual Giving and Corporate Partnership at Girls Inc., headquartered in NYC, and Risa Rose, Director of Professional Relations at Allergan Aesthetics discuss the Girls Inc. and Allergan Aesthetics partnership to bring “Empowering Confidence Workshops”, now in its third year, to high school-aged girls interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). The two-part mentoring program is designed to provide STEM-interested mentees from underserved communities in New York, Chicago, Houston and Atlanta, with the tips and tools they need to feel empowered and confident as they look towards their future education and career goals. Laila and Risa are joined by Dr. Caroline Robinson, board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist and founder of Tone Dermatology in Chicago, who shares her own experience looking for a STEM role model, her road to dermatology, and what it means to her to be a mentor to young women. 

When a woman tests positive for HPV, it is vital to quickly determine whether or not she is likely to develop cervical cancer. In this segment, Dr. Carolyn Kay, Medical Affairs Leader in Cervical Cancer Solutions at Roche Diagnostics discusses a new study published in the “International Journal of Cancer” (Sep 18, 2021) that found that using Roche Diagnostics’ FDA approved CINtec PLUS Cytology dual-stain biomarker technology as a triage test can help clinicians determine who needs immediate follow-up and who would benefit from further observation and screening, a much less invasive approach.

Dr. Elysa Marco, MD, Executive Director of Neurodevelopmental Medicine at Cortica Healthcare and Research Associate at the University of California San Francisco discusses her experience working with youth living with ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions during this time of extreme change and challenges that the pandemic has brought. She can share details about the need for including new approaches for treatment, including brain training with digital therapeutics to improve patients’ health and lives. 

Approximately 1 in 8 mothers in the United States report experiencing symptoms of PPD each year. A new survey announced by HealthyWomen, sponsored by Sage Therapeutics, Inc., reveals the crucial need for maternal mental health planning and the opportunity for healthcare providers to support women in this process. Dr. Kristina Deligiannidis, MD, Director, Women’s Behavioral Health at Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health; Associate Professor of Psychiatry and OBGYN, Zucker School of Medicine, discusses ways HCPs can close this gap, and help prepare moms and their support systems. Dr. Deligiannidis also shares key findings from the survey and a new program called Check On Mom. 

Returning guest, Dr. Jeffrey Stark, MD, Head of US Medical Immunology at UCB discusses new data from a network meta-analysis (NMA) demonstrating that bimekizumab was associated with the lowest number needed to treat (NNT) to achieve Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 (almost clear) and PASI 100 (completely clear) skin clearance levels compared with other approved biologic therapies used for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis within 16 weeks. These data were presented at the 2021 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference and AMCP Nexus 2021. 

Screening and earlier detection are key in the fight against cancer. Exact Sciences is at the forefront of multi-cancer earlier detection, which has the power to close the screening gap and to get at that 70% of cancers that currently do not have routine screening options. Jake Orville, General Manager of Pipeline at Exact Sciences, shares his perspective on the latest innovations in multi-cancer earlier detection and other emerging technologies and talks about Exact Sciences’ proprietary testing platform, which can identify the minute fragments of circulating tumor DNA and proteins expressed that are causative across many types of cancer. 

Christina Perkins, Vice President of Product Management & Strategy for NaviNet discusses news surrounding the No Surprises Act requirements and deadlines. She talks about NantHealth’s NaviNet that gives providers an easy way to enter information necessary for payers to process an explanation of benefits (EOB) request. It’s an easy way for the payers and providers to collaborate and electronically document the info needed so all parties involved in the patient’s care understand the cost estimate and therefore recommend the appropriate level of care. NaviNet also ensures that provider directory info is reviewed and up-to-date.

For patients suffering from chronic pain or movement disorders who don’t live close to a care provider or have difficulty accessing care for a variety of circumstances, a new first-of-its-kind virtual technology has the potential to increase access to optimal treatment. Dr. Juan Ramirez from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and his patient Darryn Wright are here to discuss this new technology called the Abbott NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic. 

November is Stomach Cancer Awareness Month and National Caregivers Awareness Month and joining us today is gastrointestinal medical oncologist Dr. Samuel Klempner and Christy Leonard, a caregiver and advocate, whose husband Tony battled stomach cancer. 

In this episode, NBA player Jared Butler shares his experience being diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) alongside his mother, Juanea Butler, who carries the genes associated with HCM. They also discuss their involvement in Bristol Myers Squibb’s new resource called “Could it be HCM” to raise awareness of this inherited disease.