INTERVIEWS

America is addicted to…being addicted, and during the pandemic, COVID has accelerated the addictive mindset.  Dr. Donna Marks, licensed psychotherapist, addiction counselor and author of the breakthrough book “Exit The Maze” discusses her approach to treating addiction and shares her own journey as a former addict.

Enveric Biosciences recently announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire MagicMed Industries, a pharmaceutical drug discovery and development platform focused on new-generation psychedelic molecular compounds and derivatives.With this acquisition, Enveric will expand and complement its pipeline of naturally occurring cannabinoid compounds with a robust portfolio of psychedelic-derived molecules. Enveric aims to move into the clinic with novel cannabinoid and psychedelic-derived therapies to improve standard of care and serve unmet needs across multiple indications including oncology and CNS, such as PTSD. Upon closing, Dr. Joseph Tucker will be appointed Enveric Biosciences CEO and David Johnson as Executive Chairman. 

Ed Fairburn, artist and one of the millions who has lived with migraine, discusses his unique art form using maps as portraits to show the complexities of migraine. He is joined by neurologist and headache specialist Dr. Lauren Natbody who discusses the impact of migraine and the emerging understanding of the brain/gut connection.  They talk about a new educational program called “Reroute Migraine Relief“, which aims to raise awareness of the complexities of migraines.

Dr. Joan Merrill, MD, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Arthritis & Clinical Immunology Research Program, US, discusses new Phase 3 data presented during the annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2021) on anifrolumab that showed significant improvements in rash and arthritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Anifrolumab’s application in SLE is under review by regulatory authorities in the US, EU and Japan, with decisions anticipated in the second half of 2021.  

Dr. Robert Keenan, Adjunct Clinical Professor at Duke University School of Medicine discusses gout, how serious gout can be if left unmanaged which can lead to long-term issues like bone erosion and joint damage; and what it means to have uncontrolled gout, (meaning it can’t be controlled with treatment) which can lead to issues like chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease.  He talks about how stigma around the condition often prevents people from getting help because they think they are to blame for poor food choices but factors like genetics and preexisting conditions play a much larger role. 

Vision care must be a core part of the concept that “health is wealth.”  Dr. Mark Ruchman, Chief Medical Officer at Versant Health, a managed vision care and benefits company, discusses the social and financial impact of eye disease; everyday steps people can take to protect their eye health; the most common eye diseases and their financial costs; and how telemedicine is being integrated into treatment plans. 

Returning guest, Dr. Jeffrey Stark, M.D., Head of U.S. Medical Immunology at UCB discusses the new, ICD-10 sub-category, M45.A for non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the spine and sacroiliac joint, and the importance of this development for physicians, patients, and their families.  The new sub-category will be effective for diagnoses starting October 1, 2021. 

Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss globally. Dr. Carlos Martinez, Ophthalmologist at Eye Physicians of Long Beach, CA, discusses cataract risk factors, signs, symptoms and treatment options available. He talks about why he feels it is imperative for Latinos to be aware of risk factors and learn about the latest cataract lens options available. In his experience, Latino patients are more likely to develop severe cataracts earlier in life than other groups of people and are unfamiliar with cataract surgery, one of the most common and safest procedures to get. 

40 Years of HIV and AIDS: Incredible advancements have been made in the way we treat and manage HIV compared to the earliest days of the crisis, but there are still significant barriers preventing us from ending this epidemic. Returning guest, Dr. Kimberly Smith, Head of Research & Development for ViiV Healthcare discusses the research and innovation that is changing how HIV will be treated in the future, the current issues that still impact the HIV community, and the barriers that are preventing us from ending the HIV epidemic.

Zach Shemtob, based in New York, was among the first wave of people to be infected with COVID-19, but it wasn’t until a year later that he was finally able to confirm the diagnosis. Initially, Zach and his husband, David Lat, both experienced flu-like symptoms. Zach’s symptoms eventually subsided; however, David was hospitalized at NYU Langone Hospital for 17 days with COVID and suffered lung scarring and now has heart issues. Zach was never able to find out if he had COVID because tests were in such short supply and he kept testing negative with the antibody tests. While David slowly recovered, Zach wondered about his own diagnosis. Finally, Zach was able to determine he had COVID-19 through T-Detect™ COVID, the first and only clinical T cell-based test for patients to confirm recent or past COVID-19 infection. They now share the year long journey to the COVID diagnosis and how it impacted their family including their 3-year-old son and how they had to advocate for themselves in order to get a diagnosis. They share tips for other people who may be on the same journey.