INTERVIEWS

Dr. Lisa Anderson, CEO, President and co-founder of Paragonix Technologies, Inc., a company delivering a new standard in organ preservation and transport, discusses a new research study called GUARDIAN-LUNG (Global Utilization And Registry Database for Improved preservAtion of doNor LUNGs) to look at lung preservation and how the way the organ is preserved and transported impact the success of the transplant. 

Shannon Resetich, Global Franchise Head, Rare Diseases at Sanofi Genzyme discusses the company’s Humanitarian Aid Program started 30 years ago. The program is largely focused on patients with lysosomal storage disorder (LSDs) diseases who need enzyme replacement therapies. She talks about how this humanitarian program helps to ensure patients with LSDs have access to treatment no matter where they are located or what they can afford. She also discusses how the program works effectively, the partnerships they have forged and the support that the program provides to elevate the standards for rare disease care in the communities around the world. She shares Sanofi Genzyme’s vision moving forward and why this type of program is so essential and should be part of a pharmaceutical company’s mission. 

Pain Awareness Month is September and Dr. Alan Rechter, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, from Orthopoedic Associates in Houston, TX, discusses the newest method of effectively managing postoperative pain without opiods. He will explain why this latest development is such an important step in helping patients who are undergoing a variety of procedures.

Carla Mack, Global Head of Professional Affairs at Alcon discusses the company’s latest innovation, TOTAL30®, the first-and-only monthly replacement, water gradient contact lens that feels like nothing even at day 30. This lens offers a new solution to the ‘say nothing’ patients and helps to better retain more contact lens wearers. 

August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Awareness Month, and this year (2021) also marks the first anniversary of the FDA approval of Evrysdi (risdiplan) to treat SMA in adults and children two months and older. Here to talk about how this treatment has improved patient’s lives is Eric Arnold, a 35 year old lawyer in West Virginia who is grateful for the new treatments available to SMA patients and its transformative impact. He is joined by Dr. Karen Chen, CEO of the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation who offers insights into this rare and debilitating disease and the current treatment landscape.

Michael Frank, CEO and Chairman of Revive Therapeutics discusses the Phase 3 trial of Bucillamine, a well known prescribed anti-inflammatory drug in Japan and South Korea, as an oral at-home pill treatment option for mild-moderate to severe COVID-19. 

Dr. Andy Lazris, MD, and Dr. Erik Rifkin, PhD, co-founders of the Center for Interpreting Health Benefits and Risk discuss their new book “Understanding COVID-19 Risks: An Image is Worth More Than 1,000 Words”, (July 2021). They also talk about the Benefit-Risk Characterization Theatre (BRCT) which they developed and how they believe this can be an essential tool in clearing up a lot of confusion with COVID-19. They share the latest update on COVID and Delta and what the biggest concerns are right now.

​​Jasmin Makar, MD, a pediatrician with Stanford Children’s Health, discusses ways kids can stay safe as they go back to school, the importance of seasonal vaccines and year-round wellness checks.

Margaret Moline, PhD, Executive Director, Neurology Business Group at Eisai discusses her work developing the first insomnia treatment to be approved by the FDA in the past five years.  She talks about the importance of sleep, sleep hygiene and the increased prevalence of insomnia due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vincent Myers, President and co-founding member of DIGroup Architecture, an award winning design firm in New Brunswick, New Jersey discusses why senior living has become a “health care product” according to “Senior Housing News” in their ‘Top Ten Trends for 2021’ and where architectural design fits into this new dynamic.