MedStar Health DocTalk

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: What to Know

Did you know that Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States in men and women combined? March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. On this episode of our DocTalk podcast, we’re discussing colon cancer. Dr. Priyanka Kanth, the Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital talks about every aspect of colon cancer from symptoms, stages, causes, and treatment. Having accurate facts about colon and r...

Breaking down barriers: A candid discussion on colorectal cancer screening with Dr. Dana Sloane

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Young people and heart health featuring Miss D.C. 2023

In this heart-stirring episode of MedStar Health DocTalk, we delve into the alarming trend of heart attack fatalities among the young. With heart disease steadfastly holding its ground as the leading cause of death in the U.S., our host Debra Schindler sits down with cardiologists Dr. Barbara Srichai and Dr. Estelle Jean from the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute to dissect the why's and how's of this disturbing rise. The episode takes an unexpected turn with the inspiring story of Jude ...

Let's talk AFib, or atrial fibrillation

Electrophysiologist Dr. Richard Jones, of the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, talks about symptoms and treatment for the full spectrum of the most common form of cardiac arrythmia: atrial fibrillation.    Are you feeling a flutter in your chest, or maybe your smartwatch is signaling an irregular heartbeat? It's time to tune in to your heart's health because atrial fibrillation (AFib) is not just a condition for the textbooks—it's a growing concern for millions.  In the latest episod...

Bone health and fracture prevention program

Hand surgeon, Dr. Avi Giladi and endocrinologist Dr. Malik Cheikh discuss why their specialties lend to a fracture prevention program; why bone fractures are risky, particularly for seniors, as well as treatment and prevention tips. For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

The athlete's heart

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

The athlete's heart: A deep dive into sports cardiology with Dr. Aubrey Grant

In our latest podcast episode, Debra sits down with Dr. Aubrey Grant, a sports and performance cardiologist at Medstar Health, who offers a deep dive into sports cardiology, the athlete's heart, and its capacity to remodel itself. Dr. Grant, a graduate of the only sports cardiology fellowship in the country, shares his unique insights into the physiological wonders of high-performance athletes. He explains how the heart, much like any other muscle, remodels itself in response to the demand...

Multiple sclerosis 101

Board certified neurologist Dr. Tamar Harel discusses the complex autoimmune disorder, multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is triggered by the immune system  attacking the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers, known as myelin, as something foreign. Symptoms include fatigue, loss of coordination, pain, and memory and vision loss. For details on diagnosis and treatment options, listen to this week's episode of MedStar Health DocTalk with host, Debra Schindler.  debra.schindler@medsta...

Cervical cancer: prevention, diagnosing and treatment

Dr. Irinia Tunnage of MedStar Health, talks with host Debra Schindler about the signs, symptoms, screening and treatment of cervical cancer.  For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Endometrial cancer is uterine cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 66,000 new cases of uterine cancer are currently diagnosed each year. Unlike most cancers in the Unites States, endometrial cancer, the most common type of uterine cancer, has been increasing in both incidence and death rates and there is no way to effectively screen for it. That’s why it’s important to understand the risk factors for and symptoms of endometrial cancer as well as how it is diagnosed and treated. During this podcast, Dr....

Lung cancer: what is it, where is it, and how do we treat it?

Medical oncologist Dr. Joshua Reuss, an expert in lung cancer, mesothelioma and thymoma, and pulmonologist Dr. Rebecca Krochmal, an expert in benign and malignant airway and pleural disease, both with MedStar Georgetown  University Hospital in Washington, D.C., address questions related to finding and treating lung cancer. To listen to and download all episodes, visit: https://www.medstarhealth.org/news-an.... Learn more about Dr. Reuss: https://www.medstarhealth.org/doctors.... Learn more...

Transradial approach to uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)

There’s a game changer in the treatment of uterine fibroids. Women whose lives are compromised by pain, long periods, severe bleeding, anemia and other symptoms of the muscular tumors, can opt for an embolization through the wrist. Known as transradial uterine fibroid embolization, or UFE, the doctor access the uterus though a single tiny opening in the wrist, while the patient is under twilight sedation. Most procedures take less than an hour and patients go home the same day. Dr. Brian Swe...

Hope for Keinbocks disease: the mysterious wrist condition

For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Hope for Kienbock's disease: the mysterious wrist condition

Kienbock’s disease, a debilitating condition where a wrist bone collapses and dies, has no known cause. Typically affecting young men in their teens or twenties, untreated Kienbock’s disease can result in progressive arthritis in the wrist and loss of function. For no clear reason, the lunate, one of eight small bones in the wrist, loses blood supply and the bone collapses. But how common is this extremely painful disease? And how can it be treated? On this episode of DocTalk, the chief ...

Let's talk liver masses

Liver masses or lesions are increasingly being identified incidentally during imaging tests and through bloodwork for unrelated conditions. While most are benign, many are complex making them difficult to accurately diagnose and treat. That’s why it’s important to see a specialist who can determine the specific type and nature of the lesion as the most appropriate treatment can vary greatly. During this podcast, Dr. Abhinav Sankineni, an interventional gastroenterologist, and Dr. Edward McCa...

Returning to play in sports medicine

Sports medicine orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Hinton, and athletic trainer and DPT McKenzie Bane talk about the wrap-around care necessary for not only a successful return to play, but to return to performance. It's never soon enough for an athlete. Topics covered include commotio cordis, preparation for catastrophic events on the athletic field and the evolution of sports medicine. For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Return to Play in Sports Medicine

Sports medicine orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Hinton, and athletic trainer and DPT McKenzie Bane talk about the wrap-around care necessary for not only a successful return to play, but to return to performance. It's never soon enough for an athlete. Topics covered include commotio cordis, preparation for catastrophic events on the athletic field and the evolution of sports medicine. For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

What's an electromyography (EMG)? And why do I need one?

From a test that lasts an average of 40-minutes, patients with nerve injuries or neuro-muscular conditions can learn a lot about the health of the nerves signaling messages to muscles. The test is called an electromyography, or EMG.  Neurologist Dr. Derrick Fox of MedStar Health explains why the test is useful, who should be tested, what information is gleaned from it, how it is conducted, and more.... For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth.org/doctalk.

Understanding menopause

Night sweats, hot flushes, female discomfort and dryness, anxiety, and weight gain are just a few symptoms of menopause. How does a woman get there? What are the facts and myths about this change that can make a woman feel less feminine and outdated?  On MedStar Health’s podcast DocTalk, Christina Enzmann, MD, a gynecologist and menopause specialist at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore, brings a fresh approach to explaining and treating menopause. She explains the stages of meno...

Understanding peripheral artery disease?

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk. By the time we reach our 40’s, about 10-million Americans have some degree of plaque build-up in the arteries, called atherosclerosis. Deposits of that plaque in the arteries can impede or block the blood flow to the legs. It’s called peripheral artery disease, or P-A-D, PAD- and you may not even know you have it.   To make an appointment with Jason Crowner, MD, FACS at t...

Understanding thyroid cancer

The thyroid gland is a small butterfly shaped organ that secretes hormones that help regulate metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Though uncommon, when cancer grows in the thyroid, it's not often aggressive, and very treatable when found early.  Dr. Vinay Gupta, a surgical oncologist at MedStar Health, talks with host Debra Schindler about diagnosing and treating thyroid cancer.  For more information on thyroid cancer, go to MedStarCancer.org. Or for a consult with...

Lung nodules

Lung nodules are found in up to half of adults who get a chest x-ray or CT scan. Often called a spot on the lung or a shadow, they usually don’t cause any noticeable problems. However, in some cases, they can be an early sign of cancer. That’s why it’s important to seek follow-up care to accurately diagnose and monitor lung nodules. During this podcast, Dr. Ziv Gamliel, chief of Thoracic Surgery at The Angelos Center for Lung Diseases at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center discusses lung ...

CyberKnife® radiation treatment for prostate cancer

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.  CyberKnife®, also known as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), is non-surgical, highly precise, targeted radiation, with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Unlike conventional prostate radiation therapy that can take up to 40 sessions, CyberKnife treats prostate cancer in only five treatments. This treatment is extremely accurate and painless. This treat...

CyberKnife® Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.  CyberKnife®, also known as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), is non-surgical, highly precise, targeted radiation, with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Unlike conventional prostate radiation therapy that can take up to 40 sessions, CyberKnife treats prostate cancer in only five treatments. This treatment is extremely accurate and painless. This treat...

Social determinants of health

The color of your skin, the community you belong to, and the place you call home are the largest predictors of health and longevity, according to a recent research article. These, and other non-medical factors are called social determinants of health. Learn more from Drs. Luke Carlson and Andrea Gaspar from Care Transformation about how MedStar Health is helping their communities on the latest episode of our podcast DocTalk.  For more episodes of MedStar Health DocTalk, go to medstarhealth....

Social Determinants of Health

Veterans’ Health Administration Adds MedStar Georgetown University Hospital to Its National Solid Organ Transplant Network

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.  Veterans across the country who are in need of a life-saving liver or kidney transplant now can receive these procedures at one of the top transplant centers in the nation, MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute, thanks to the recent inclusion of the MedStar Health program in the Veterans Health Administration network. The newly established relationship expands veterans’ ...

Veterans’ Health Administration adds MedStar Georgetown University Hospital to its National Solid Organ Transplant Network

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.  Veterans across the country who are in need of a life-saving liver or kidney transplant now can receive these procedures at one of the top transplant centers in the nation, MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute, thanks to the recent inclusion of the MedStar Health program in the Veterans Health Administration network. The newly established relationship expands veterans’ ...

Transforming the treatment of brain and spine tumors

Though rare, there are more than 100 different types of brain and spine tumors, making them complex to diagnose and treat. Because of this, a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment that brings together specialists that include neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, neuro-oncologists, and other experts is essential for the best outcomes. During this podcast, Dr. Teresa Wojtasiewicz, a neurosurgeon; medical oncologist Dr. Mahsa Mohebtash; and radiation oncologist Kelly Or...

Advanced Heart Failure

Advanced heart failure

Over 6 million adults in the United States are living with heart failure. Simply put, heart failure means that the heart isn’t pumping as well as it should be. While this is a serious condition, many people with heart failure can lead a full life when it is managed properly. It’s important to recognize the symptoms and understand the various treatment options –from medical management through transplant. Dr. Erika Feller, a MedStar Health heart failure and transplant cardiologist, shares her ...

Advancements in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk. What are some of the most recent advancements in targeted treatments for patients with GI cancers? Have there been any recent advancements in how we use immunotherapy to treat GI cancers? And how do patients with localized GI cancers like rectal and pancreatic cancer benefit from having access to a multidisciplinary care team? Dr. Ben Weinberg is gastrointestinal medical on...

Complex lead extraction for cardiac implantable electronic devices

Approximately one million pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators, and resynchronization devices are implanted worldwide each year, including more than 300,000 in the United States alone. Today’s cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are reliable and effective. However, what happens when a pacemaker or a cardiac defibrillator needs to be removed? And why would it need to be removed? Dr. Rachel Harrison, cardiac surgeon, and Dr. Sunjeet Sidhu, cardiac electrophysiologist discuss the reaso...

Complex Extraction of Cardiac Device Leads

Cyberknife for the treatment of prostate cancer

Due, in large part, to advances in treatment, more men are surviving prostate cancer than ever before. Through the use of state-of-the-art technologies, such as CyberKnife, which makes it possible to deliver targeted radiation directly to the tumor—painlessly and without an incision—many patients are experiencing better outcomes with fewer side effects than other treatment options. Dr. Stephen Ronson, MD, a radiation oncologist at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and MedStar Health Bel...

Cyberknife for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Due, in large part, to advances in treatment, more men are surviving prostate cancer than ever before. Through the use of state-of-the-art technologies, such as CyberKnife, which makes it possible to deliver targeted radiation directly to the tumor—painlessly and without an incision—many patients are experiencing better outcomes with fewer side effects than other treatment options. Dr. Stephen Ronson, MD, a radiation oncologist at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and MedStar Health Bel...

Advancements in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk. What are some of the most exciting innovations in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer? What role do lung cancer screenings play in catching lung cancer at an earlier stage? And how does our multidisciplinary team determine the best course of treatment for a patient with lung cancer? Dr. Joshua Reuss is an award-winning thoracic medical oncologist at MedStar Georget...

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer

Though it’s a rare type of cancer, pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. That's because pancreatic cancer symptoms aren't obvious in early stages and there is no official screening for it yet. So, most people don't know they have it until it has advanced to a stage when it is challenging to treat. During this podcast, Dr. Edward McCarron, a surgical oncologist at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center with extensive experience diagnosing and trea...

Outpatient Joint Replacement

Outpatient joint replacement

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk. While some post-surgical patients like to be cared for in the hospital, other patients want to return home as soon as possible. Now for joint replacement, outpatient surgery is becoming the norm. But how does the hospital safely take care of its patients when they aren’t under their roof? On this episode of DocTalk, MedStar Health joint replacement surgeon Dr. Mark Hasenau...

Outpatient Joint Replacement

Complex Reconstruction of the Hand

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.  One of the medical legacies of World War II is combining the expertise of orthopedic, neurology and plastic surgery into one medical specialty: Hand Surgery. It was in 1947 when Dr. Ray Curtis was discharged from the Army and brought his expertise in hand surgery and reconstruction to MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. Seventy-five years later, the Curtis Nati...

Complex Reconstruction of the Hand

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.  One of the medical legacies of World War II is combining the expertise of orthopedic, neurology and plastic surgery into one medical specialty: Hand Surgery. It was in 1947 when Dr. Ray Curtis was discharged from the Army and brought his expertise in hand surgery and reconstruction to MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. Seventy-five years later, the Curtis Nati...

The Curtis National Hand Center and reconstructing hands

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.  One of the medical legacies of World War II is combining the expertise of orthopedic, neurology and plastic surgery into one medical specialty: Hand Surgery. It was in 1947 when Dr. Ray Curtis was discharged from the Army and brought his expertise in hand surgery and reconstruction to MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. Seventy-five years later, the Curtis Nati...

Living Kidney Donation

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.  Who is eligible to be a living donor? What are kidney swaps and exchanges? And can someone be a living donor even if they don't have a specific recipient in mind? Dr. Jennifer Verbesey specializes in kidney/pancreas transplantation for adults and children, and live donor nephrectomies. Dr. Verbesey is director, Living Donor Kidney Transplant at the MedStar Georgetown Trans...

Living kidney donation

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk. Who is eligible to be a living donor? What are kidney swaps and exchanges? And can someone be a living donor even if they don't have a specific recipient in mind? Dr. Jennifer Verbesey specializes in kidney/pancreas transplantation for adults and children, and live donor nephrectomies. Dr. Verbesey is director, Living Donor Kidney Transplant at the MedStar Georgetown Trans...

Hyberbaric Oxygen Therapy for Wound Healing

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is used to treat some chronic, non-healing wounds. Initially utilized to treat decompression sickness in divers, HBOT is now used for a number of medical problems, both chronic and acute. It is a simple yet effective treatment process in which a patient breathes pure oxygen inside a pressurized chamber, allowing the greatest amount of oxygen to make its way into the lungs. Since the healing process is highly dependent on having enough oxygen, exposing the bod...

Hyberbaric oxygen therapy for wound healing

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is used to treat some chronic, non-healing wounds. Initially utilized to treat decompression sickness in divers, HBOT is now used for a number of medical problems, both chronic and acute. It is a simple yet effective treatment process in which a patient breathes pure oxygen inside a pressurized chamber, allowing the greatest amount of oxyge...

Progress in Treating Early Stage and Metastatic Breast Cancer

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk. What are the most common types of breast cancer? How do doctors decide how we treat each type? Have there been advances that allow one to be more individualized in the treatment of women with early stage breast cancer? Dr. Claudine Isaacs, Medical Oncologist, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, has over 20 years of experience treating women with all stages of breast can...