MedStar Health DocTalk

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 National Hand Center is the only trauma designated center in the state for the hand and upper extremity, and the only Congressionally designated hand center in the United States. The unsurpassed expertise at the Curtis National Hand Center includes innovative procedures for complex hand reconstruction surgeries.
 
Today, we talk with Curtis National Hand Center attending surgeon  Dr. Ryan Katz at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, to learn more about the hand center, the specialty, and complex reconstruction of the hand.

For an appointment with Dr. Katz or any Curtis National Hand Center expert, call 410-554-6560. 

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 Transplant Institute, and surgical director, Pediatric Kidney Transplant at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. For interviews with Dr. Verbesey, or for more information about this podcast, contact Matt Holzapfel, [email protected].

 Learn more about Dr. Verbesey here: MedStarHealth.org/Verbesey

Learn more about: Becoming a Living Organ Donor

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 oxygen to make its way into the lungs. Since the healing process is highly dependent on having enough oxygen, exposing the body to high levels of oxygen stimulates its natural healing capabilities.

For more information about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, visit MedStarHealth.org/WoundHealing or call 443-444-4275.

 For interviews with Dr. Martin, or for more information about this podcast, contact Debra Schindler, regional medical relations director at [email protected].

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 cancer. She is also the Associate Director of Clinical Research and Leader of the Clinical Breast Cancer Program at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. For interviews with Dr. Isaacs, or for more information about this podcast, contact Matt Holzapfel, [email protected].

 Learn more about Dr. Isaacs here: MedStarHealth.org/Isaacs

Learn more about: Breast Cancer treatment at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk. Meet Dr. George Hennawi, physician executive director of Geriatrics and Senior Services for MedStar Health. Caring for an elderly adult can be rewarding but can come with many challenges. Caregiver burnout is common. So, who is taking care of the caregiver? Learn more about how getting questions answered, explaining health conditions, and find resources can make a difference in the life of a caregiver.

Go to MedStarHealth.org/SuccessfulAging  for more information about senior care.

For interviews with Dr. George Hennawi, contact Debra Schindler, regional director of media & public relations: [email protected].

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.

Lung cancer has historically been the nation’s deadliest cancer, claiming the lives of more than 135,000 annually. But with advances in screening for lung cancer in recent years, along with new screening guidelines, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is hoping to change these statistics. In fact, the new guidelines nearly double the number of people eligible for lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography  (CT) scans. During this podcast, Dr. Duane Monteith, regional director of Thoracic Surgery for MedStar Health in the Baltimore Region, discusses the new screening guidelines and why they beneficial. 

Dr. Monteith sees patients at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and MedStar Health Bel Air Medical Campus.

 For interviews with Dr. Monteith, or for more information about this podcast, contact Regional Media Relations Director, [email protected].

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.
Who needs Breast Surgery? What types of surgery do patients often get for breast cancer? And what are some of the new, exciting surgical innovations in the field of breast surgery? Dr. Lucy Maria De La Cruz is Chief, Breast Surgery and Director of the  Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. For interviews with Dr. De La Cruz, or for more information about this podcast, contact Matt Holzapfel, [email protected].

 Learn more about Dr. De La Cruz here: MedStarHealth.org/DeLaCruz

Learn more about: Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.
What are the most common causes of shoulder pain? And how is a reverse shoulder replacement different from a regular shoulder replacement? Dr. Brent Wiesel is an Orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in shoulder and elbow surgery. Listen to Dr. Wiesel explain when someone should seek medical attention for a shoulder issue, what are the warning signs or symptoms that a person might need care, the typical course of a shoulder injury diagnosis, and more. Dr. Wiesel is chief of the shoulder service at the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute, and he performs surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. For interviews with Dr. Wiesel, or for more information about this podcast, contact Matt Holzapfel, [email protected].

 Learn more about Dr. Wiesel here: MedStarHealth.org/Wiesel

Learn more about: The MedStar Orthopaedic Institute

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women…a fact attributed in part, to advances in screenings. When found early, it is easier to treat successfully. That’s why mammograms, along with clinical breast exams and general breast awareness, are vital for the early detection of breast cancer.  

During this podcast, Dr. Daria Abolghasemi, a breast surgeon at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and MedStar Health Bel Air Medical Campus, discusses breast cancer risk factors, the importance of regular screenings, and more.

For more information about this podcast, contact Debra Schindler at [email protected].

To learn more about Dr. Abolghasemi,  go to https://www.medstarhealth.org/doctors/daria-m-abolghasemi-do, or to make an appointment, call: 443-777-6500.

Comprehensive, relevant and insightful conversations about health and medicine happen here… on MedStar Health Doc Talk.
 The pituitary gland is the size of a pea, yet it releases many of the hormones that allow us to live our lives. From its location at the base of the skull, it controls temperature sensations, stress levels, menstrual cycles, and more. Given the gland’s small size, pituitary tumors are sometimes so tiny that an MRI doesn’t even pick them up. 

 Listen as neurosurgeon Dr. Jugal Shah discusses pituitary tumors from diagnosis through recovery. He’ll also explain treatment options, including how he can now operate on pituitary tumors through the nose, as opposed to through the skull.  

 Dr. Shah sees patients at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and MedStar Harbor Hospital in Baltimore, and in Ellicott City, Maryland.

For interviews with Dr. Shah, or for more information about this podcast, contact Regional Media Relations Director, [email protected].