INTERVIEWS

The annual Astellas C3 Prize (Changing Cancer Care) is a global challenge to advance ideas beyond medicine that can make a big impact in the cancer community.  The 2020 grand prize winner is Dr. Omolola Salako, from Lagos, Nigeria, Founder and CEO of Oncopadi, an app that connects cancer patients with the specialists and hospitals they need to access care.

Dr. Barbara Giacomelli, PharmD, Vice President of Advisory Services at McKesson RxO, McKesson Pharmaceutical Solutions and Services discusses the critical role that technology plays in pharmacy operations particularly regarding drug therapy oversight for patients, as well as the need to safeguard against cyberattacks that have an impact on pharmacy services, patient care, financial transactions, and confidentiality. 

Rick Anderson, President and General Manager, North America, at DarioHealth discusses how the company’s digital health and therapeutics solutions make better health easy for people managing chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and musculoskeletal. DarioHealth offers a compelling combination of best-in-class digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), medical devices and health coaching to deliver hyper-personalized interventions and experiences. Mr. Anderson explains how DarioHealth is empowering behavior change in users to alleviate the burden of chronic conditions through simple, clinically-proven digital tools and coaching. 

Movement Disorders Specialist, Dr. Drew Falconer, Co-Director, Inova Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center in Fairfax, VA discusses the launch of Abbott’s NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic, the first technology in the U.S. that allows patients to receive stimulation settings from their doctor without ever leaving their homes. This practice-changing advancement allows patients to remain safe from the COVID-19 pandemic, but still receive the essential care they need for pain or movement disorders.  NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic can also help people who may have inadequate access to healthcare, urban or rural, giving them an alternate solution to traveling any distance and to receive much-needed care.  The NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic is compatible with Abbott’s suite of neuromodulation technologies.

Returning guest, Dr. Julie Harper, owner of Dermatology and Skin Care Center of Birmingham and Galderma consultant discusses Galderma & AKLIEF® (trifarotene) Cream, 0.005% launch of the “Me Being Me” campaign crafted in response to today’s increasingly digital-focused world.  The campaign aims to shed light on the connection between acne and self-confidence and equip acne sufferers with the information they need to talk to their dermatology provider about treatment options.  She talks about the emotional impact acne has on patients, even in a virtual setting, why acne sufferers are interested in connecting with a dermatologist now more than ever and the important role dermatologists can play in treating acne and improving patients’ quality of life.  She covers available treatment options, the rise of adult-onset acne, and tips for connecting with patients virtually to discuss treatment.

How Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) became the newest gift to gut health. A look at how the third largest component in human milk is now being produced in powder and capsule form as a product for adults who want to improve their gut health, immunity, and cognitive function. Beau Berman, co-founder of Layer Origin Nutrition in New York, delivers a brief history of HMOs and discusses their potential.

Dr. Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D., founder of the Self Talk Institute and best-selling author of more than twenty-five books in the field of mental health and personal growth, including the classic “What to Say When You Talk to Your Self,” “Negative Self-Talk and How to Change It” and the “365 Days of Positive Self-Talk” series discusses his new SelfTalkPlus.com app which helps people learn positive self-talk via self-talk sessions covering all key areas of life including stress and anxiety, weight loss, self-esteem, organization, relationships, finances, dealing with negatives, staying focused, and much more.  SelfTalkPlus is for all age groups – from younger children and teens to adults and seniors.

Dr. Anthony Bleyer, a nephrologist at Wake Forest Baptist Health in North Carolina and co-author of this study discusses real-world data shared at the National Kidney Foundation’s Spring Clinical Meeting (April 2021) on KRYSTEXXA (pegloticase injection) use in dialysis patients with advanced renal disease and uncontrolled gout.  Previously presented at the American Society of Nephrology 2020 meeting, the data suggests that KRYSTEXXA is well-tolerated as an effective management option for dialysis patients. 

Most people who suffer a stroke aren’t treated in time to prevent long-term and often permanent effects on speech, cognition and motor function. Dr. Shahid Nimjee, MD, PhD, a neurosurgeon at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center discusses a study providing hope for unprecedented stroke recovery by “retraining” skin cells to become blood vessel cells to help repair damage to brain tissue. Researchers studied the process in mice and found that those treated with this innovative cell therapy regained 90% of their motor function. MRI imaging showed damaged areas of the brain were repaired within a few weeks.  The study is published in the journal “Science Advances”.(March 19, 2021)

Dr. Navneet Majhail, M.D., M.S., Director, Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Cleveland Clinic, and an Incyte Ingenuity Award judge discusses the Incyte Ingenuity Award Program which was created to support people impacted by graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).  This condition can occur after an allogeneic stem cell transplant where the donated cells initiate an immune response and attack the transplant recipient’s organs, leading to significant morbidity and mortality.  The 2021 Incyte Ingenuity Award program has been expanded to now include a second $35,000 award in addition to the original $100,000 award to better support projects of different scales.  Open for entries until June 30, 2021.