INTERVIEWS

Dr. Erin Crane, MD, MPH, gynecologic oncologist  with the Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute and Bobbie, an ovarian cancer patient discuss the prevalence of ovarian cancer, risk factors, the importance of biomarker testing, the diagnosis journey, and important questions to ask after diagnosis.

Claude Royster, VP and GM of Healthcare Select Specialties, Health & Wellness at Synchrony discusses recent research revealing that more than one-third of orthopedists are experiencing burnout, the factors contributing to orthopedist burnout, and the impact on patients. He talks about the use of new financial technologies in healthcare, and how Synchrony can help streamline financial processes in the doctor’s office.

Vin Singh, Founder and CEO of BullFrog AI, a precision medicine company, discusses their bfLEAP Platform and how leveraging the power of AI and machine learning can quickly digest and analyze large sets of data and reveal insights about treatment response against patient populations which will improve selection for clinical trials and boost success rates.

Mary Beth Cicero, CEO ​and co-founder of 3Daughters discusses the development of the company’s lead product candidate, a frameless self-assembling intrauterine device (IUD) therapy for contraception. Unlike the T-shaped IUDs currently on the market, the 3Daughters team is combining physics and geometry to form a copper-made triangular magnetic-shaped IUD that self-forms in a woman’s uterus. This allows for women to have a simpler, smart, and more sophisticated alternative to birth control. The Company’s proprietary Glider™ for insertion (i-Glider) is far less painful and a simple magnetic retriever (r-Glider) completes the cycle – no strings needed.​

Colleen Acosta, CEO and Co-Founder of Freya Biosciences, a biotech company dedicated to advancing women’s reproductive health discusses the critical needs facing women’s healthcare and the complexities of reproductive health for families and individuals worldwide. She talks about what it means to be a female leader in bioscience, the significance of her leadership role, the broader responsibilities that go along with it, and the experiences that led her to where she is now.

Richard T. Lee, MD, Cherng Family Director’s Chair, Center for Integrative Oncology at City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, discusses his oral presentation at the Society for Integrative Oncology International Conference titled “Reasons and Types of Medical Cannabis (MC) Use by Patients with Cancer Receiving Treatment at a Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC).” He talks about a $100 million gift from the founders of Panda Express to create a first-of-its-kind, national integrative oncology program that brings together Eastern and Western medicine for cancer patients. Lee is the first researcher in the country to receive funding from the National Cancer Institute to conduct a clinical trial studying the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical compounds in cannabis, for the treatment of chronic chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, a common nerve-damaging side effect of treatment.

Dr. John Laird, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Peripheral Vascular Health at Medtronic, and Terry Litchfield, President of Access Solutions and a patient advocate discuss a new national survey conducted by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) in partnership with Medtronic that has uncovered a potential gap in awareness for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients undergoing hemodialysis when it comes to awareness about minimally invasive options for hemodialysis access point creation. They talk about the impact that knowledge and choice have on dialysis patients and their care partners and offer insights into the benefits of options available outside of surgery for eligible ESKD patients.

Dr. Timothy Hand, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Mellon Institute, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh discusses new research on the influence of breast milk antibodies in shaping infant immunity, particularly regarding necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Pranob Bhattacharya, DrPH, MS, MBA, Vice President, Head of Oncology  Clinical Operations at Astellas discusses the acceptance of the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)  for regulatory review of zolbetuximab, for the potential first-line treatment of patients with certain types of gastric cancer.

Dr. Robert Biernbaum, D.O., Chief Medical Officer for WellNow Urgent Care discusses how to identify and treat tick bites, the best ways to protect your family from tick bites, and when to seek medical advice.