Clinician's Roundtable

Host: Renée Simone Yolanda Allen, MD, MHSc., FACOG Many menopausal and perimenopausal women are faced with the decision of whether synthetic or bioidentical hormone therapy is the best option for them. There are many pros and cons for each, but questions surface from patients and clinicians alike on comparative safety and efficacy profiles. Host Dr. Renee Allen welcomes Dr. Jocelyn Slaughter-Moore, a board-certified practicing OB/GYN at Heras Healthcare for Women. They talk about the differences between bioidentical and synthetic hormones, and whether bioidentical hormone therapy is a safe option for women.

Host: Patrice L Basanta-Henry, MD, MHSc, FACOG Advances in technology have resulted in increased information being available for pregnant woman. With this increased information has come a rise in the number of requests for termination of pregnancy for fetal indications. However, termination of pregnancy remains a controversial issue in the area of women’s health. Women requesting second trimester terminations may face significant legal barriers as well as poor access to providers and/or facilities that are able to provide the procedure. Host Dr. Patrice Basanta-Henry chats with Dr. Reagan Theiler, Division Director for General Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of Ryan Residency Training Program at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Center and the controversy surrounding second trimester termination.

Host: Patrice L Basanta-Henry, MD, MHSc, FACOG According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, between 14% and 23% of women will struggle with some symptoms of depression during their pregnancy. This condition often goes unrecognized and untreated in part because of safety concerns in using medications or other therapeutic methods during pregnancy. Host Dr. Patrice Basanta-Henry talks with Dr. Nzinga Harrison, a board-certified physician in addiction medicine and psychiatry and Chief Medical Officer for Anka Behavioral Health, Inc about the current recommendations for depression screenings in the pregnant patient.

Host: Ana Maria Rosario Guest: David Gandell, MD Genital Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infection is a major public health problem. A dramatic upsurge in genital HSV infections have been documented from several prominent studies, making recognition, treatment, and patient counseling strategies more important than ever. Joining host, Ana Rosario at the Women's Health Annual Visit in Deerborn, MI, is Dr. David Gandell, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rochester and attending phsyician at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Host: Ana Maria Rosario Guest: Anita L. Nelson, MD Joining host Ana Maria Rosario at the Women's Health Annual Visit in Deerborn, MI, is Dr. Anita Nelson, professor emeritus at UCLA and professor and chair of OB/GYN at Western University in California. The two discuss patient barriers to accessing IUDs and implants in a rapidly growing contraceptive market.

Host: Patrice L Basanta-Henry, MD, MHSc, FACOG Approximately just 0.5% of all births occur before the third trimester of pregnancy, yet these very early deliveries result in the majority of neonatal deaths and more than 40% of infant deaths. Care for infants born at the threshold of viability, less than 24 weeks of gestation and with body weights less than 1000 grams, poses many difficult clinical, social, and ethical questions among clinicians and families. Host Dr. Patrice Basanta-Henry speaks with guest Dr. Fyama Wenner, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Atlanta Maternal Fetal Medicine, about special care considerations for extremely preterm infants, as well as effective counseling strategies for families.

Host: Shira Johnson, MD Opiate addiction is rapidly becoming one of the biggest health crises in the United States today. Opiates have killed more than 28,000 people in 2014 and opioid deaths outnumber motor vehicle accidents and gunshot fatalities. Dr. Shira Johnson talks with Dr. Kenji Oyasu, the Executive Medical Director for Brightside Clinic in Northbrook, Illinois. They discuss common misconceptions about medically-assisted treatments for opiate addiction.

Host: Renée Simone Yolanda Allen, MD, MHSc., FACOG Mid-level providers such as nurse practitioners help fill gaps in health care coverage across the country. Yet while NPs have the ability to work independently in a variety of ways including administering treatments, providing consultations, and authorizing use of medical equipment, several practice barriers impede their efforts to provide highest quality care. Host Dr. Renee Allen chats with Patrick Washington, a board-certified nurse practitioner in Family Medicine, about the roles NPs play in the healthcare industry and ways to overcome practice obstacles in the era of health care reform.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Today’s culture of stress is driving people to pharmaceuticals and other dangerous outlets as coping mechanisms. What strategies should people employ to mitigate stress and manage their time better? Host Dr. Matt Birnholz sits down with Dr. Patricia Sulak, Endowed Professor at Texas A&M University to talk about the dangers of stress.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have made several recommendations regarding the practice of umbilical cord blood banking. Host Dr. Matt Birnholz speaks with Dr. Jordan Perlow, Associate Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ, about the newest guidelines set forth from ACOG.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD The simple act of going out to eat can be a tricky proposition for people dealing with gluten intolerance or sensitivity issues. A new portable device is aiming to help people with this problem by allowing them to test food’s gluten content and help find foods that they are able to eat. Host Dr. Matt Birnholz talks with guest Carla Borsoi, Vice President of Marketing at 6Sensor Labs, about how this device will assist people living with gluten intolerance or sensitivity issues.

Host: Renée Simone Yolanda Allen, MD, MHSc., FACOG Midlevel providers help fill the gap in health care coverage across the country. Nurse practitioners, in particular, have the distinct capabilities to work independently in a variety of areas including consultations, treatments, and authorization of durable medical equipment. Host Dr. Renee Allen chats with Patrick Washington, a board-certified nurse practitioner in family medicine, about the role NPs play in the healthcare system, how education requirements are evolving, and where NP duties differ from those of physician assistants (PAs).

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Integrative medicine is an approach to care that purports to address a more wholistic range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental influences affecting a person’s health than traditional care models. How did this field come into prominence, and where is it headed? From the floors of the A4M Meeting in Las Vegas, Dr. Matt Birnholz talks with James LaValle, clinical pharmacist, nutritionist, and author, about the rise of integrated medicine and how clinicians are incorporating its principles in someone’s life.

Host: Patrice L Basanta-Henry, MD, MHSc, FACOG Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome, complicate up to 10% of pregnancies worldwide. Hypertension is the leading medical problem encountered in pregnancy and, despite major advances in medicine, remains one of the greatest causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Host Dr. Patrice Basanta-Henry speaks with guest Dr. Fyama Wenner, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Atlanta Maternal Fetal Medicine, about updated recommendations for the management of hypertensive disease in pregnancy.

Host: Renée Simone Yolanda Allen, MD, MHSc., FACOG Obstetrical emergency care units offer pregnant women highly-specialized emergency care as a better alternative to the traditional emergency room visit. These units have been proven to increase patient satisfaction and improve emergency room wait time lengths. Where are they being utilized, and what are the barriers to implementing them nationwide? Host Renee Allen talks with guests Dr. Brian Gilpin, National Clinical Director of Operations for OB Hospitalists at Mednax National Medical Group, and Dr. Christopher Swain, Founder and Chief Medical Officer for Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG). They discuss the benefits and challenges of obstretical emergency care units.

Host: Shira Johnson, MD Guest: Charles N. Walker, MD Dr. Shira Johnson speaks with Dr. Charles Walker, Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Department of Urology at Yale University School of Medicine. The two focus on erectile dysfunction as a common complication for patients dealing with diabetes and heart disease, and ways that clinicians can help patients manage this problem through lifestyle modifications. Dr. Walker also introduces emerging pathophysiological understandings of ED as a potential predictor of diabetes.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Patricia Sulak, MD The American Heart Association instituted a Strategic Impact Goal to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular deaths and disabilities by 20% by 2020. Host Dr. Matt Birnholz chats with Dr. Patricia Sulak, Endowed Professor of the Texas A&M University College of Medicine about the 7 key health metrics to reduce cardiovascular deaths including blood pressure, physical activity, and healthy diet, among others.

Host: Renée Simone Yolanda Allen, MD, MHSc., FACOG Babies born before 37 weeks gestation face many challenges in their first weeks of life. For premature babies to thrive in the NICU, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all preterm babies weighing less than 1500 grams be fed human milk. However, this recommendation creates a dilemma for mothers who are unable to supply their own breast milk and must therefore turn to donation programs to feed their babies. Dr. Renee Allen chats with Scott Elster, CEO of Prolacta Bioscience, about the goals of breast milk donor programs to improve health outcomes for critically ill preemies, while also reducing NICU costs.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Ronald J. Wapner, MD Innovations in medical genetics are changing the practice of obstetrics and gynecology. With advancing knowledge of underlying genetic predispositions, doctors can provide more precisioned care plans for patients in women's health centers. Dr. Matt Birnholz talks with Dr. Ronald J Wapner, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of Reproductive Genetics at Columbia University, about how the ever-changing field of medical genetics is revolutionizing OB/GYN treatment options and patient care.

Host: Renée Simone Yolanda Allen, MD, MHSc., FACOG Many physicians are daunted by the contract negotiation process for a new job. They often worry that employers will retract their offers if candidates try and negotiate for a more favorable contract. Dr. Renee Allen sits down with Arden Miller, JD, attorney with Cohen, Pollack, Merlin and Small P.C. in Atlanta, Georgia to talk about best practices for contract negotiation. They discuss guidelines physicians should employ while going through this process and ways to ensure an agreement is reached that is mutually beneficial to all involved.