Health Talk

Concussions are serious injuries that can alter the way your brain works, causing symptoms that range from painful headaches to difficulties with balance, vision, memory and reasoning. To learn more about what causes concussions, and how they can be treated, Tom chats with Doctor Matthew Daggy, a specialist in primary care sports medicine at the TriHealth Orthopedic and Sports Institute; Kellen Reed, a student athlete from Ross High School who recently recovered from a concussion; and his father Paul.

Lung Cancer symptoms typically don’t appear until the cancer has reached a very advanced stage, which is why it causes more deaths each year than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. To find out more about the latest advances in lung cancer treatment, Tom talks with Doctor Leanne Budde, a Medical Oncologist at the TriHealth Cancer Institute, and Cheech, one of her recent patients.

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign is underway, but many people have questions about when vaccines will be available, what side effects they may have, and what vaccination means for precautions like masks and social distancing. To help answer these questions, Tom talks with Dr. Stephen Blatt, TriHealth Medical Director of Infectious Diseases; Dr. Jonathan Buck, TriHealth Primary Care Physician; and Terri Hanlon–Bremer, TriHealth Vice President of Employer Solution and Population Health.

Experts agree that being kind to children and encouraging them to be kind to others play a significant role in their development and has implications for the adults they become. This episode of Health Talk by TriHealth features Denise Warrick, MD a Pediatrician from TriHealth Pediatrics; Sue Sivertson Ph.D., a Parenting Specialist from the Parent Connext program at Beech Acres Parenting Center; and Kim Adler, a parent and participant in the Parent Connext program. They explain the role of kindness in the development of children and their emotional intelligence and share some tips and examples of putting into practice.

Raising children in an atmosphere of kindness can be tough to do in the best of times, but parenting during a pandemic only adds to the challenges. To help parents understand how, this episode of Health Talk by TriHealth continues the conversation with Denise Warrick, MD a Pediatrician from TriHealth Pediatrics; Sue Sivertson Ph.D., a Parenting Specialist from the Parent Connext program at Beech Acres Parenting Center; and Kim Adler, a parent and participant in the Parent Connext program.

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed forms of cancer in the U.S., with nearly one out of eight women being diagnosed at some point in their lives. Nearly 65 percent of breast cancer cases are diagnosed before it spreads – greatly increasing the outlook for patients. But what about cases of metastatic breast cancer, where the disease has begun to spread? This episode of Health Talk by TriHealth features Amie Jackson MD, a medical oncologist with TriHealth Cancer Institute, who specializes in the treatment of breast cancer. Dr. Jackson talks about advances in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, as well as what women need to know about the warning signs and the importance of regular screenings. She is joined by her patient, Jean Bode, who shares her story about the successful treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Vaccinations play a major role in preventing disease worldwide and offer the promise of a healthy and safe post-COVID-19 world. This episode of Health Talk by TriHealth TriHealth Primary Care Physician John Proctor, MD and TriHealth Infectious Diseases Medical Director Stephen Blatt, MD who talk about the role of vaccinations on the overall health of you and your family. They address a wide range of topics including the eradication or near-eradication of certain diseases; myths and untruths about vaccinations; adherence to recommended schedules, especially during a pandemic; studies on the impact of vaccinations and other medications on the risk of developing COVID-19, what it will take to develop herd immunity to COVID-19 and the latest on the development of a COVID-19 vaccination.

Two out of three heart attacks happen to somebody experiencing their first heart attack. While all heart attacks are medical emergencies, one of the most dangerous is an ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) heart attack, during which one of the heart's major arteries (one of the arteries that supplies oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the heart muscle) is blocked. In the event of a STEMI heart attack, it is critical to take immediate action. This episode of the Health Talk by TriHealth podcast features an emotional story from Diane Fisher, who survived a STEMI heart attack. Diane is joined by her husband, her first responders from the Salem-Morrow Fire Department and Craig Sukin MD, a cardiologist with the TriHealth Heart Institute. The collective quick action by all involved were crucial for Diane’s survival and recovery.

Living with acute or chronic pain can significantly damage your quality of life, affecting any part of the body in people of any age. In this episode, you’ll learn how Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) specialists diagnose and relieve painful conditions. Tom chats with Doctor Tammy Musolino, a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist at TriHealth, and Stacy Rich, a double amputee who has faced a difficult battle with pain, made more challenging by the opioid crisis.

Even if you can’t leave the house, there may be times when you or someone you care about needs to see a doctor. Fortunately, an emerging technology called Telehealth now makes it possible to receive certain types of care without leaving home. To learn more, listen to Tom’s discussion with key members of the TriHealth Telehealth team: Eric Peters, Director of Operations for Population Health Organization; Nick Kostoff, Senior Manager of Telehealth; and Doctor Michael Bain, Chief Medical Informatics Officer. Additional information can be found online at trihealth.com/now.

Devices known as cochlear implants enable many patients to overcome hearing loss. In this episode, Tom talks with TriHealth Otolaryngologist Doctor Brian Goico about how cochlear implants are enabling patients to regain their lost hearing. We also chat with Shanice McGrew, a 26 year old nursing student who recently received cochlear implants after a lifetime of progressive hearing loss. For a full transcript of this podcast, visit https://www.trihealth.com/dailyhealthwire/health-topics/speech-and-hearing/health-talk-podcast-cochlear-implants

Heart disease kills 1 in 4 people, making it the most common cause of death in the United States. Yet many of these deaths are preventable with simple lifestyle changes. In recognition of American Heart Month, Tom chats with Doctor Kathryn O’Keefe from the top-rated TriHealth Heart Institute and two of her patients. You’ll learn about the warning signs of heart disease and what you can do to reduce your risk. For more information visit TriHealth.com/heart.

When we think of childbirth, the first image that comes to mind is often a traditional hospital birth with a doctor. In today’s podcast, we’ll look at alternative options available to women with midwifery care. Tom talks with Sue Wenn, a Certified Nurse Midwife who delivers at Good Samaritan hospital, and Stephanie Barnette, who has delivered five children with TriHealth nurse midwives.

Opioid addiction is a growing concern in the United States, and Greater Cincinnati in particular. In this month’s episode Tom talks with two TriHealth physicians, Dr. Michael Marcotte and Dr. Kenneth Patton, who are helping to lead the search for safer and more effective alternatives. We’ll also hear from Jamie Ryan, a patient who was treated with traditional pain medication during her first C-section, and a newer Pain Pack treatment during her second.

Ovarian cancer is one of the more challenging forms to treat, especially when diagnosed at advanced stages. But that may be changing thanks to a specialized form of chemotherapy called Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC). Our guests include gynecologic oncologist Dr. Jack Basil and Farah Kahn, the first TriHealth patient to be treated for ovarian cancer with HIPEC.

Genetic counseling is one of the exciting developments in the recent trend toward personalized medical treatment. You'll learn how this rapidly-growing field can help people with a family history of cancer spot warning signs much earlier, improving the chance of successful treatment or even preventing cancer entirely.

Women with heart conditions are often told that they shouldn’t try to have children. But while the risks and challenges are real, in many cases they can be overcome. This month we talk with Doctor William Schnettler, Director of the TriHealth Center for Maternal Cardiac Care, one of the few multidisciplinary programs in the country that’s dedicated to helping women with cardiac conditions achieve their dream of having a baby.

Until recently, much of the damage caused by traumatic injuries and a variety of diseases couldn’t be reversed, but that could be changing thanks to a relatively new field known as regenerative medicine. Here in Cincinnati it’s already being used to treat chronic tendon injuries, osteoarthritis, and acute ligament and muscle injuries. Listen in to learn more about what regenerative medicine already offers today as Tom chats with Doctor Andrew Islam from the TriHealth Orthopedic and Sports Institute. You’ll also hear from Jake Hubbard, a local patient with firsthand experience of the dramatic results regenerative medicine is making possible.

Any form of cancer is a life-altering condition, but brain tumors also create many other challenges. Dr. Richard Curry, the only fellowship-trained Neuro-Oncologist currently practicing in Southwest Ohio, joins us to discuss how he’s helping patients to navigate the life-altering journey of brain cancer. We also talk with Bob Kehm, who is beating the odds after overcoming several brain tumors since 2012.

Imagine losing strength and feeling in one or both of your hands. That’s just one of the challenges faced by some who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, a nerve disorder that can also cause pain and numbness. While many people have heard of carpal tunnel syndrome, there’s a lot of confusion about what actually causes it, and how it can be prevented or treated. It can even be challenging to learn more about carpal tunnel syndrome because of ongoing debates and disagreements in the medical community. Health Talk sat down with Doctor Thomas Kiefhaber from the TriHealth Hand Surgery Center, an Orthopaedic surgeon who’s spent 33 years helping patients overcome carpal tunnel syndrome and resume normal lives.

In this lively conversation, Doctor Catrina Crisp and Doctor Jennifer Yeung dispel the myths about pelvic health conditions that affect one in four women, and give sympathetic advice about getting relief — and getting your life back.

In our premier podcast we focus on robotically-assisted heart surgery. You’ll learn how it’s helping patients avoid the trauma of open-heart surgery, and the significant improvements to recovery times that it makes possible. Guests on today’s program include Doctor J. Michael Smith, Chief of Cardiac Surgery and Medical Director of the Minimally Invasive Training Center at Good Samaritan Hospital and the TriHealth Hatton Research Institute, and Dan Terlau, who had robotically-assisted heart surgery in 2017.

While COVID-19 has Greater Cincinnati residents under stay-at-home orders, many of our responsibilities haven’t stopped — especially for those of you who have children or are caring for adult family members. In this episode, Tom chats with a pediatrician and two clinical psychologists about how to stay sane during this unusual time. Guests include: Dr. Denise Warrick from TriHealth Pediatrics, Dr. Margaret Lemp from Northcreek Family Practice, and Dr. Lisa Braverman from Group Health Clifton.

There’s a special bell at the TriHealth Cancer Institute that patients ring to signal milestones in their treatment. It’s one of the ways we celebrate the success of a program that’s making a difference for cancer patients throughout Greater Cincinnati. This month, Tom talks with Kelly Krummen, an Oncology Nurse from the TriHealth Cancer Institute, and Stacy Anderson, a patient who recently got to ring that bell.

One of the most common heart disorders is atrial fibrillation, or AFib for short. It's an irregular heartbeat that can lead to heart failure and stroke. While several million Americans have symptoms of AFib, many people don’t realize just how serious a condition it can be. This month, Tom chats with Doctor Marshall Winner from the TriHealth Heart Institute and Scott Farwick, a patient who was able to resume his diving career thanks to the TriHealth Heart team.

Replacing a major joint in the human body — such as a hip, knee, or shoulder — can significantly improve your quality of life, especially if you suffer from pain, weakness in the joint, or limited mobility. Great strides are also being made to minimize and even eliminate some of the most common complications associated with total joint replacement. In this episode, Tom talks with Dr. Mark Snyder about some of the work that’s been pioneered right here in Cincinnati, which is having an impact on treatment practices nationwide and overseas. We also hear from Linda Maier, a patient who’s had two very different experiences with total knee replacement.

Reconstructive plastic surgery can play an important role by restoring the human body’s function in addition to repairing physical damage. This month, Tom chats with James Taylor (no relation to the artist), who nearly lost his right leg to a rare skin-destroying infection. We also welcome Dr. Binh Nguyen, a TriHealth specialist in aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery who saved Taylor's leg, and Taylor’s wife Connie, who faced difficult choices in her husband’s darkest hour.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and women. Unfortunately, symptoms of lung cancer don’t always show until advanced stages of cancer, when treatment options are limited. Recent medical research has shown, however, that screening high-risk individuals — especially those with a lifelong history of tobacco use — can dramatically improve survival rates by as much as 20 percent. This episode of Health Talk by TriHealth features lung cancer survivor Thomas Armstead, and his TriHealth team - primary care physician Chad Dunkle, MD and cardiothoracic surgeon R. Douglas Adams, MD, who has played a key role in developing TriHealth’s lung cancer screening program. They discuss Tom’s care the vital role of lung cancer screening in helping patients like him survive the disease.

Managing your body weight is a critical part of any healthy lifestyle, but for some people dieting and exercise just aren’t enough. This month Tom chats with Dr. Katie Meister, a specialist in bariatric surgery who’s helping Cincinnatians to get that weight of, keep it off, and return to doing the things they love. We’ll also hear from Lee Bird, one of Dr. Meister’s patients, who has made remarkable progress after gastric bypass surgery.