Bone Talk

As the National Osteoporosis Foundation celebrates 35 years of helping others be bone strong, NOF’s Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Thompson, sits down with internationally respected osteoporosis researcher, Dr. Susan Greenspan. Dr. Greenspan serves as Professor of Medicine in the Departments of Endocrinology and Geriatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Her professional focus is on how osteoporosis affects elderly women. Both her personal and professional life have taught her that it’s never too late to treat osteoporosis—and it’s never too late for wellness. Join us as Dr. Greenspan uses real-life examples of her patients, Henry, Rose, and Margaret, to illustrate various treatment options.

In our latest podcast, National Osteoporosis Foundation Chief Executive Officer Liz Thompson interviews Dr. Felicia Cosman, an osteoporosis specialist and endocrinologist. Dr. Cosman serves as Medical Director of the Clinical Research Center at Helen Hayes Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physician and Surgeons in New York. In this episode, Dr. Cosman discusses the enormous strides in the research of and treatments for osteoporosis — particularly medications —since she started her career in the field more than 30 years ago. For Dr. Cosman, this work isn’t just her profession; it’s deeply personal. She not only comes from a family with a history of the disease, but has herself been diagnosed with osteoporosis.

At one time or another, the role of caregiver will enter our lives — sometimes unexpectedly and without preparation. It may come in the form of providing care for an aging parent, for a loved one who has fallen ill or is recovering from surgery, or for a dear friend. Or we might require care ourselves. It is estimated that approximately 70 million Americans serve as volunteer caregivers for a loved one. They juggle the roles of nurse, therapist, financial planner, social worker and personal assistant — oftentimes while working full time themselves. These people provide about 90 percent of the caregiving done in the U.S. In this podcast, Barbara Hannah Grufferman, National Osteoporosis Foundation bone health ambassador and trustee, interviews Amy Goyer. Amy is AARP's family & caregiving expert, and an author, speaker and consultant. She has authored numerous publications, including AARP's Juggling Life, Work, and Caregiving. Together Barbara and Amy discuss the ways in which people can receive training and other support as they take on the complex and invaluable role of caregiver for a loved one.

Barbara Hannah Grufferman, nationally recognized author of “Love Your Age: The Small-Step Solution to a Better, Longer, Happier Life”, shares her strategies for early diagnosis of and customized treatments for osteoporosis. As an NOF board member and author, Barbara is passionate about both healthy aging and osteoporosis education. It is estimated that nearly half of all women over age 50 will break a bone due to the effects of osteoporosis. What makes the disease so elusive is that no symptoms appear until a sufferer fractures a bone. The good news is that osteoporosis is generally preventable and, for those with the diagnosis, treatable. In this latest postcast, Barbara offers invaluable advice that, regardless of whether you suffer from osteoporosis or simply want to reduce your risk, can help each of us protect our ability to live our best life.

Proactive healthcare is key to the wellbeing for older adults — especially for postmenopausal women. In this first episode of a new series on bone health, Elizabeth Thompson, CEO of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, interviews Dr. Ethel Siris, Director of the Toni Stabile Osteoporosis Center at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Sirus discusses why postmenopausal women are particularly vulnerable to osteoporosis, and offers strategies for dealing with the disease, as well as encouraging insights on why it is never too late to lessen your chance of bone loss and fracture — even into your 90s!