INTERVIEWS

Segment Overview: Dr. Mary O’Connor, Chair of the Movement is Life Executive Steering Committee, along with Steering Committee Member, Dr. Carla Harwell, discuss an effort that is underway to try and eliminate patient care disparities that maybe due to gender, racial and ethnicity in health treatment.

Guests: Dr. Mary O’Connor & Dr. Carla M. Harwell

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio:  Dr. Mary O’Connor is the inaugural Director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Care (CMC) at Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Health, bringing together the medical disciplines of orthopaedics, rheumatology, spine, sports medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, nutrition and behavioral health to create a Center focused on integration, innovation and invigoration of patients, providers and payers. Leveraging the strength of Yale as a research institution, CMC is committed to creating the treatments of tomorrow in musculoskeletal care.

Carla M. Harwell, MD is the Medical Director of University Hospitals Otis Moss Jr. Health Center located in an urban area of Cleveland, the Fairfax community, offering primary care services to many residents in both Cleveland and the greater Cleveland community. There she has a special interest in reducing healthcare disparities that exist in that African American community.

Guests: Dr. Robert A. Smith & Debra Stansberry

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Dr. Robert A. Smith is a cancer epidemiologist and Vice President of Cancer Screening at the National Office of the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University School of Medicine, and an Honorary Professor, Centre for Cancer Prevention, Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine at Queen Mary University of London. His primary research interests are cancer epidemiology, evaluation of cancer prevention and early detection programs, quality assurance in the delivery of health services, and cancer rehabilitation and survivorship. He received his PhD from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1983.

Debra Stansberry – With no family history of breast cancer, Debra thought her doctor-recommended mammogram would be routine. After receiving a diagnosis of Stage 1 breast cancer, Debra remembers being upset and surprised, then angry. Like most busy mothers, Debra had a lot going on in her life and even more plans for the future, and cancer was not a part of her vision. After several months of treatment, she came out on the other side as a survivor. Now, nine years later, Debra credits her screening, which led to an early diagnosis, as a key part of her survivorship.

Segment Overview: Dr. Robert Smith from the American Cancer Society and Breast Cancer survivor, Debra Stansberry, talk about some common screenings that everyone should know about.

Guests: Dr. Russel Ashinoff & Dr. Lisa Schneider

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Dr. Ashinoff is Double Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and The American Board of Surgery. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS). He has been named a Castle Connolly Top Plastic Surgeon as well as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for Cancer. He has also been recognized as a Top Doctor by Inside Jersey Magazine. Additionally, Dr. Ashinoff has been included on the lists of Top Surgeons and Top Plastic Surgeons since 2008 by The Consumer Research Council of America.

Dr. Schneider is an expert microsurgeon, trained in and practicing all major aspects of plastic and reconstructive surgery. A strong advocate for women and women’s health issues, she emphasizes patient-centered care combined with the highest level of technique. Dr. Schneider has a long-standing interest in breast reconstruction, whether by using implants or the body’s own tissue. She also is the co-director of the Center for Lymphedema Surgery at the Institute for Advanced Reconstruction, where she performs free lymph node transfer, lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) as well as other related procedures and directs multi-hospital prospective clinical trials in order to advance the treatment of this disease.  

Segment Overview: Dr. Russell Ashinoff and Dr. Lisa Schneider, co-directors at the Center for Lymphedema Surgery at The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction discuss one of their cases, Anna Forte, who was diagnosed with lymphedema several years after being cancer free from her melanoma. Drs. Ashinoff and Schneider are among the few physicians to offer a number of pioneering surgical treatments for lymphedema.

Segment Overview: Dr. Lenny Guarente, world-renowned scientist in the field of aging and a professor at MIT, talks about Elysium Health and a product called BASIS.

Guest: Dr. Lenny Guarente

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Leonard P. Guarente is the director of MIT’s Glenn Laboratory for the Science of Aging, where he is a Novartis Professor of Biology. Dr. Guarente is best known for his research in longevity, in which his lab discovered that sirtuins, a type of protein, slow the aging process in a wide variety of organisms. He is the author of “Ageless Quest: One Scientist’s Search for Genes That Prolong Youth.” In addition, Dr. Guarente is also co-founder and chief scientist of Elysium Health, a company dedicated to delivering scientific breakthroughs in health and making them accessible to consumers.

Segment Overview: Dr. Gregory Fontana, a member of the medical advisory board with Xeltis, a clinical-stage medical device company pioneering a restorative approach in heart valve therapy, talks about the emerging technology with their Xeltis Heart Valve Therapy.

Guest: Dr. Gregory Fontana

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Dr Gregory Fontana is the National Medical Director for Cardiovascular Research, at the Hospital Corporation of America, Nashville, Tennessee. He is also the Director and Chairman of Cardiothoracic Surgery, CardioVascular Institute, Los Robles Hospital and Medical Centre, Thousand Oaks, California and Director of Cardiovascular Research at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, Tennessee. Dr Fontana, was President of the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS) from 2015-2016 and is certified in Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Widely published, Dr Fontana is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), and American Medical Association (AMA). He also sits on the scientific advisory board of the International Academy of Cardiology. Dr. Fontana has been recognized as one of ‘America’s Top Doctors’ each year from 2002-2014.

Guest: Dr. Cris Beer

Presenter: Tabetha Moreto

Guest Bio: Dr. Cris Beer is an integrative/holistic medical doctor, author, corporate speaker, and media doctor. As an expert in integrative medicine, she specializes not just in treatment of illnesses, but in the attaining of optimum health. Dr. Beer has particular interests in preventative health, lifestyle medicine, hormone health, weight loss, fatigue and sleep problems, digestive issues, as well as women’s health. 

Segment Overview: In today’s interview, Dr. Beer talks about how healthier guts reduce our reliance on antibiotics and lessen their side effects as well as the issue regarding antibiotics resistance. She also discusses about World Antibiotics Awareness Week 2017. For more information about gut health, please visit www.blackmores.com.au.

Guest: Steven Gregg, PhD

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Joining at the start of 2014, Steve brings a wealth of business experience to the leadership of the NAFC. Prior to joining NAFC, Steve led marketing and communication initiatives within the  pharmaceutical, healthcare, consumer packaged goods and technology industries for over twenty companies. His career has ranged from scientific investigation for a global sports beverage to global brand management for Fortune 100 companies. In terms of philanthropic interests, Steve has served on the board of directors of the International Swimming Hall of Fame as well as provide strategic guidance to Swim Across America, an organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events. Steve is an accomplished swimmer. During his swimming career, he has medaled in nearly every major world event, including two World Aquatic Championships, the Pan-American Games, the FINA Cup (now know as the Pan-Pacific Championship, and the Olympic Games. When not working or swimming, Steve enjoys his down time in Charleston, SC where he lives in a 200 year old carriage house with his wife Jennifer and their two (sometimes) well-behaved dogs.

Segment Overview: Steven Gregg, PhD, Executive Director of the National Association For Continence (NAFC), discusses a recent survey surrounding Overactive bladder (OAB) that the NAFC conducted in light of National Bladder Health Awareness Month in November 2017.

Guest: Scott Balderson

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Stafford (Scott) Balderson is a physician’s assistant in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. He is responsible for preoperative patient evaluation, first and second assisting in the OR, postoperative patient management in inpatient and outpatient setting, precepting students, management of OR schedule, recruiting and participation in research. Throughout his career, Scott has been recognized for outstanding work in his field, has helped author numerous abstracts, publications and chapters, and has delivered more than 100 presentations. He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery, and the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants. Scott graduated from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL with a B.S. in Physician Assistant Studies. Scott was part of Taylor Bell Duck’s healthcare team at Duke University where she had surgery to remove her left lung.

Segment Overview: Scott Balderson talks about his work as part of the care team for Taylor Bell Duck, a 21 yr old with lung cancer, and his involvement with ‘Your Cancer Game Plan‘ a collaboration between Merck, the cancer advocacy community and cancer patients.

Segment Overview: Dr. Bradley B. Price, MD, talks about prenatal vitamins, some common misconceptions about them and the upcoming policy decision from a private company to code all prenatal vitamins as over-the-counter, significantly impacting affordability and access – particularly among women on Medicaid.

Guest: Dr. Bradley B. Price, MD  

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: After growing up in Austin, Dr. Bradley B. Price went to Stanford University and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed a residency in ob-gyn at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He has practiced in Austin since 1977. Dr. Price and his wife Inez have two sons, Stephen, a radiologist in San Antonio, and Matthew, a full-time musician. Dr. Price’s interests include exercise as medicine, exercise in pregnancy, and triathlons. He completed the Hawaii Ironman in 2001 and 2003. In 2012 he won the world championship for his age group in Ironman 70.3.

 Segment Overview: In line with Lung Cancer Awareness 2017, Taylor Bell Duck talks about her lung cancer journey and her work partnering with  ‘Your Cancer Game Plan’ in collaboration with Merck, CancerCare and leading patient advocacy organizations.

Guest: Taylor Bell Duck   

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Taylor Bell Duck, a non-smoker was diagnosed with lung cancer when she was 21 years old. In 2005, Taylor arrived at college expecting to play for the Division 1 team, but her health started to become an issue.  She experienced painful numbness in her feet and recurring pneumonia that forced her to quit the sport she loved. During her junior year, a sharp stomach pain resulted in a trip to the ER where she learned that her left lung was completely collapsed and had a large mass. After undergoing surgery to remove part of her lung, Taylor has shown no evidence of disease for the past nine years.  Now cancer-free, Taylor brings inspiration and hope to others through her work with advocacy organizations and most recently Your Cancer Game Plan.