INTERVIEWS

Guest: Dr. Robert Heros

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Dr. Robert Heros has been with Spinal Diagnostics since January 2014, and brings a wealth of experience to the patients of the Portland area. He has practiced in Oregon for more than 9 years. He received his medical degree in 1999 from the University of Tennessee-Memphis College of Medicine and then completed his residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of North Carolina, where he served as Chief Resident in his final year. He was proud to serve in the United States Army Medical Corps as Chief of the Physical Medicine Department and Interventional Spine Services at Tripler Army Medical Center until 2007, where he wore the rank of Major.

Segment overview: Dr. Robert Heros talks about Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Therapy and the first implant of the Abbott neurostimulation device into Jason Bowling.

Guest: Dr. Stewart Washer
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Dr Stewart Washer has 20 years of CEO and board experience in medical technology, biotech and agrifood companies. He is currently Chairman of ASX-listed Orthocell Ltd (culturing tendon cells to repair damaged tendons), and Chairman of privately-held Minomic International Ltd (accurate non-invasive test for prostate cancer). Stewart has held several past senior executive roles including CEO of Celentis, and managed the commercialisation of intellectual property from AgResearch in New Zealand with 650 Scientists and $130m revenues. He was also a founder of a NZ$120m New Zealand based life science fund and Venture Partner with the Swiss based Inventages Nestlé Fund. Stewart resides in Australia.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, we are joined by the Executive Director of Zelda Therapeutics Dr. Stewart Washer here to talk about the results of their ongoing research into the effects of cannabinoids against various types of human breast cancers. While most successful treatments such as hormone therapy are options for breast cancer patients, triple negative breast cancer is more difficult to treat and usually require a combination of therapies, of which chemotherapy is a major one. The results from the study show that Zelda’s THC-rich medicinal cannabis oil formulation is another major potential treatment for this hard-to-treat cancer. Doctor Washer says that is where doctors are going to be excited as the company take this through – another weapon in the armour against breast cancer.

Guest: Chris Maddocks

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Chris Maddocks serves as the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the March of Dimes Foundation.  In this role, he directs the organization’s national strategies across marketing, media, direct response and digital efforts.

Segment overview: Segment 2:  Chris Maddocks, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the March of Dimes Foundation, talks about the collaboration with Ferring Pharmaceuticals to expand research needed to end premature birth and establish a 6th Prematurity Research Center in Europe.

Guest: Chris Maddocks

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Chris Maddocks serves as the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the March of Dimes Foundation.  In this role, he directs the organization’s national strategies across marketing, media, direct response and digital efforts.

Segment overview: Chris Maddocks, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the March of Dimes Foundation, talks about The March of Dimes and their work to prevent birth defects, infant mortality, and premature birth.

Guest: Judith K. Wolf, MD

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Judith K. Wolf, MD, joined Provista as the Chief Medical Officer in June 2016 from Vermillion, Inc. where she served as the Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Wolf is a Gynecologic Oncologist. Dr. Wolf serves as a board member of the Society for Women’s Health Research and co-founded the Sprint for Life 5K fundraiser, which supports the ovarian cancer research program at MD Anderson.

Segment overview: Dr. Judith K. Wolf discusses a new study that demonstrates that a blood test used with imaging can improve breast cancer detection and substantially reduce the use of potentially avoidable biopsies for women under 50.

Guest: Dr. AJ Alva

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Ajjai Alva, MBBS, is a medical oncologist at the University of Michigan specializing in genitourinary cancers of the bladder, kidney and prostate. His focus is on developing and optimizing precision oncologic care with use of next generation tumor sequencing and circulating cell-free tumor DNA assays to yield biomarkers to select and monitor patients on personalized therapies.  He was trained at the University of Maryland in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics before completing a hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Michigan.

Segment overview: Segment 3:  Dr. Ajjai Shivaram Alva, MBBS, from the Michigan Medicine Urology Oncology Clinic, discusses the crucial need for increased awareness and dialogue among patients, caregivers, and HCPs.

Guest: Dr. AJ Alva  

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Ajjai Alva, MBBS, is a medical oncologist at the University of Michigan specializing in genitourinary cancers of the bladder, kidney and prostate. His focus is on developing and optimizing precision oncologic care with use of next generation tumor sequencing and circulating cell-free tumor DNA assays to yield biomarkers to select and monitor patients on personalized therapies.  He was trained at the University of Maryland in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics before completing a hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Michigan.

Segment overview: Segment 2:  Dr. Ajjai Shivaram Alva, MBBS, from the Michigan Medicine Urology Oncology Clinic, talks about the incidence of bladder cancer. the landscape, and how patients face unique challenges as a result of their disease.

Guest: Dr. AJ Alva  

Presenter: Neal Howard

Guest Bio: Ajjai Alva, MBBS, is a medical oncologist at the University of Michigan specializing in genitourinary cancers of the bladder, kidney and prostate. His focus is on developing and optimizing precision oncologic care with use of next generation tumor sequencing and circulating cell-free tumor DNA assays to yield biomarkers to select and monitor patients on personalized therapies.  He was trained at the University of Maryland in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics before completing a hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Michigan.

Segment overview: Segment 1:  Dr. Ajjai Shivaram Alva, MBBS, from the Michigan Medicine Urology Oncology Clinic, discusses the recent FDA approval of a treatment that uses the body’s own immune system against bladder cancer.

Guest: Peter Crock

Presenter: Wayne Bucklar

Guest Bio: Peter is an experienced public company senior manager with deep experience in marketing and technology development. In a 28-year career at Nufarm Limited (ASX: NUF), Peter held senior management roles in marketing, business development, and information technology. He led Nufarm’s new technologies division which involved the licensing and commercial development of several new agribusiness technologies. He also project managed the successful integration of newly acquired businesses and has extensive experience working with regulators in Australia and overseas. Since being appointed CEO of Cann Group, Peter has negotiated key collaborations and technology partnerships with a number of organisations, while also playing an instrumental role in helping the company secure the first regulatory licences for both medicinal cannabis research and cultivation to be issued under Australia’s new regulatory system.

Segment overview: In today’s segment, we are joined by Cann Group Limited CEO Peter Crock here to share information about their company as well as discuss the two licenses issued to the company from the Office of Drug Control (ODC). Cann Group has been issued with one medicinal cannabis permit and two cannabis research permits this year, making them the first Australian Medicinal Cannabis company to be issued with cultivation licences for both medicinal supply and research purposes under the Federal Government’s regulatory system. Their research license allows them to facilitate a research program being undertaken with CSIRO to develop unique cannabis extracts and the supply of plant material for manufacturing into medicinal cannabis products for patient use. Their recently issued medicinal cannabis license will allow them to produce Australian grown material for propagation purposes.

Guest: Drew Baird

Presenter: Henry Acosta

Guest Bio: Drew has been a qualified Personal Trainer for 5 years, he became a PT after personally experiencing the life-changing effects of fitness (it helped him overcome severe social anxiety, he was housebound at the age of 22). Drew started his online business in 2015 because he wanted to expand the number of people he could help and knew an online platform was much more accessible, especially for those who might find it tough to hit the gym due to a mental illness like anxiety or depression. Psychology around weight loss and happiness is something Drew is deeply passionate about, and he’s incredibly self-motivated to learn more. For the past 12 months he has been studying psychology, neuroscience and biology through prescribed textbooks.

Segment overview: In today’s segment, we welcome Drew from the online health and fitness platform Drew Baird Fitness here to share his thoughts about the current unrealistic portrayal of health and fitness. Currently, Drew is developing an interactive positive mindset course which will be a stand-alone product dedicated to examining the psychology behind bad habits and how to reinforce positive behaviour. He also runs live coaching calls over Zoom & Facebook Live twice a week and acts as a consistent point of support for members by personally answering any and all questions they have. Drew Baird currently employs 20 full-time staff members, has 150,000 followers on social media and has 15,000 clients across 4 countries (Australia, NZ, UK & Canada). Helping people, not just to lose weight and become physically fitter, but also to develop a more positive outlook and strengthen their mental health and coping mechanisms, is at the core of Drew’s business.