Fight Back

Today on FightBack! we discuss the latest information about the COVID 19 vaccine, and the new delivery systems that are being developed. We talk about this development and how the lessons learned with the COVID-19 pandemic are helping scientists gain ground on other vaccines. Joining us to shed light on these issues is Dr. Mike Ybarra, Emergency Room Physician and Chief Medical Officer at Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America who shares his knowledge regarding vaccine developments, not only regarding COVID, but other vaccines as well.

In this Fight Back Minicast, we talk about chiropractic care. Chiropractic is a healthcare discipline emphasizing the body's inherent recuperative power to heal without using drugs or surgery. The chiropractic practice focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. We welcome our special guest, Dr. Steven Barham. After suffering a severe back injury playing college football, Steven faced major surgery but chose to try chiropractic care. The treatment he received provided quick and lasting results, and he decided to enter the chiropractic profession. For the last 30 years, he has been helping patients of all ages seek relief and healing from their health problems.

In this Fight Back Library release, Dr. Ted Mazer joins us to discuss how you can fit your medical expenses into your budget. We discuss the importance of shopping for medical procedures, ways to avoid surprise billing, understanding how in and out-of-network physicians and procedures affect your final bill, how to negotiate hospital bills, and more. Dr. Mazer is a former President of the California Medical Association. In 2015, San Diego County Medical Society named him one of the county's “Top Doctors” in their annual “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” survey published by San Diego Magazine. Please see the companion episode, “Negotiating Medical Bills,” one of our most popular.

In early April 2023, President Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to end the federal government's emergency response to the COVID pandemic. What does that mean for America? How does that affect access to healthcare? Will new vaccines still be produced? Our COVID expert, Dr. Brad Pollock, joins us to answer these and other questions, including the new medical diagnosis of long COVID.

Listen in to this minicast as “Fight Back” covers the critically important topic of advanced healthcare directives, a legal document that addresses such end-of-life issues as “do not resuscitate” orders, treatment options, healthcare proxies, and more. Our guest is Ashton Ellis, an expert on advanced directives and an attorney who creates advanced directives for families. Ashton is currently working to develop a curriculum that trains doctors and lawyers on how to apply the appropriate standard of care when complying with end-of-life care laws. Our conversation will briefly examine why a healthcare directive is so important for yourself and your loved ones.

On today's new Fight Back episode, our hosts discuss the illegal Fentanyl drug crisis with California Assemblyman Joe Patterson and community advocate Laura Didier, who lost her son to illicit Fentanyl. With fentanyl deaths surging by 279% since 2016, public health and community leaders are looking for solutions.Assemblyman Joe Patterson was elected in November 2022 and represents California Assembly District 5. Before his election to the Legislature, Joe ran his own business and served on the Rocklin City Council as Mayor. Laura Didier, after the loss of her son, began advocating and educating youth and parents about the danger of illicit Fentanyl. She travels nationwide to raise awareness of this crisis. Join us as we learn about the crisis, what leaders are doing to try to solve the problem in California, and what resources could be available in your community.

In this Library Release of Fight Back, we talk extensively about chiropractic care. Chiropractic is a healthcare discipline that emphasizes the body's inherent recuperative power to heal itself without using drugs or surgery. The chiropractic practice focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health.We welcome our special guest, Dr. Steven Barham. After suffering a severe back injury playing college football, Steven faced major surgery but chose to try chiropractic care. The treatment he received provided quick and lasting results, and he decided to enter the chiropractic profession. For the last 30 years, he has been helping patients of all ages seek relief and healing from their health problems.Dr. Barham will discuss the origins and evolution of chiropractic care, what patients should do to find the right chiropractor for their needs, what patients can expect at their first visit, and much more.

In this Fight Back Minicast, Dr. Ted Mazer discusses various ear, nose, and throat conditions and disorders. We get to hear about general care for your ears, learn some basic information about sleep apnea, and the questions you need to ask your specialist.Dr. Mazer specializes in treating ear, nose, head, throat, and neck disorders. He was named one of the “Top Doctors” in the 2015 San Diego Magazine “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” and is a former President of the California Medical Association.

On this Library Release of Fight Back, we talk with special guest Dr. Alan Sanders, a specialist in infectious diseases. Dr. Sanders previously served as Chief of Medicine at St Peter's Hospital in Albany, NY, and currently is the Chief Medical Officer of St Peter's Health Partners. He will soon be assuming the role of Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Albany Medical Center Hospital. Among many other responsibilities, he will spearhead establishing a telemedicine program to deliver clinical care—including diagnosing and treating infectious diseases—to underserved areas.Dr. Sanders gives us a behind-the-scenes look at telemedicine, from the implementation and use of the technology to what consumers should do to educate themselves on how telemedicine can work for them. Listen in now!

In this Fight Back minicast, we jump into the complex world of long-term care insurance and what that really means. Our special guest is Bonnie Burns, who has more than 40 years of experience in long-term care insurance and works to improve consumer protections in state and federal legislation and regulations. She has served as a consumer representative to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners since 1992. She is a consultant to California Health Advocates providing training, educational materials, and technical assistance on long-term care insurance. Let's find out if consumers really need long-term care insurance.

In this Fight Back library release, we meet Linda Garvin, a Health Advocate. Linda graduated from the University of Massachusetts, earning her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Adult Nurse Practitioner training with honors. She has a Public Health Certificate in California. She has spent the last 20 years as a health advocate in California and nationwide.Health Advocates support and advocate on behalf of patients and their families when a third party's expertise and knowledge can improve treatments and navigate a complicated health situation. Could a health advocate help you or your loved one? What specific kind of services do health advocates provide? Join us as Linda answers these and other questions.

In this Fight Back minicast, we welcomes our special guest, Dr. Jeff Poizner. Dr. Poizner is a Staff Psychologist at VA San Diego Healthcare System and specializes in providing evidence-based treatments via Telemental Health platforms to veterans with PTSD and other conditions. Dr. Poizner joins us to discuss a very complicated and challenging issue: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, more commonly known as PTSD. While most are familiar with PTSD as it relates to Armed Forces Services members, Dr. Poizner reminds us that there are many forms of PTSD, and anyone who has suffered a traumatic event can suffer from PTSD. Join us today as we learn more about this very complicated diagnosis.

In this Fight Back Library Release, our special guest, Dr. Ted Mazer discusses various ear, nose, and throat conditions and disorders. From ringing in the ears, the causes and treatment for hearing loss, to the loss of smell, we will cover it and get real-world answers for you.Dr. Mazer specializes in treating ear, nose, head, throat, and neck disorders. He was named one of the “Top Doctors” in the 2015 San Diego Magazine “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” and is a former President of the California Medical Association.

In this FightBack! minicast, we discuss alternative health systems: different ways to deliver healthcare to patients, and how states, nonprofit organizations, and even companies—like Whole Foods—have implemented unique concepts to enable better and cheaper healthcare options for consumers.Our guest is Sean Flynn, Assistant Professor of Economics at Scripps College. He is the author of Economics for Dummies, which has now been translated into seven foreign languages, as well as the coauthor of the world's best-selling college textbook, Economics: Principles, Problems, and Policies. Sean's in-depth knowledge of our healthcare system makes for a great discussion.

In this FightBack Library Release, Adriana Contreras joins us to discuss the health and safety of student-athletes in high school and collegiate sports. Adriana is a voluntary Assistant Coach on the swim team at the University of Nevada, Reno, a former Assistant Coach at UC Davis, a former Senior Group Coach for the DART swimming team, a former Assistant Swimming Coach at the University of the Pacific, Head Swimming Coach at St. Francis High School, and a certified professional and collegiate Division I soccer referee.Adriana talks about how parents should communicate with their children's coaches and doctors to create a healthy sporting experience, the mental health challenges brought on by high-pressure athletics—including the lessons learned from Simone Biles' Olympic experiences—what student-athletes should know about the rules and regulations around performance-enhancing drugs, and much more.

In today's Fight Back! minicast we get a quick Pharmacy 101 with special guest Debby Johnson, a third-generation pharmacist and former President of the California Pharmacist Association. We'll take a quick look into several topics related to the world of pharmacy, including the importance of having your prescriptions at one pharmacy, the differences between brand name and generic medicines, and some advice for consumers interacting with pharmacists. 

Healthcare consumers often do not know the actual cost of health services. Whether it is a bed in a hospital, a prescription drug, or a procedure like an MRI, the price is usually buried beneath government regulations, insurance forms, and confusing terminology. In this FightBack Library release, we first hear from John about how a brief hospital visit to deal with kidney stones turned into a $20,000 surprise. Fortunately, his insurance paid most of the bill, but he might have made different decisions if he had known the true cost. David Balat, a former hospital CEO and now a policy healthcare advocate focusing on healthcare costs, explains that consumers have the right to proper billing, how to understand the actual cost of healthcare, and what resources are available for shopping for healthcare.

In this Minicast release, Fight Back revisits a conversation we had during the early days of the COVID-19 vaccine. We talked about how the vaccine was developed, how the clinical trial process works, and how herd immunity and vaccines work together. We were joined by vaccine expert Dr. Mike Ybarra, an Emergency Room physician and Vice President of Medical Affairs and Strategic Alliances at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association. Dr. Ybarra has over ten years of advocacy, health policy, and direct patient care experience. His background and knowledge help us take a closer look into the development of the COVID vaccine, its technology, and its implications for the public.

Health insurance is critical for individuals and families. In this Library Release of FightBack, we talk about when you suddenly lose your health insurance: how it can feel overwhelming and difficult to determine where to start and what to do. Fortunately, there are many options available. Jenn Moore, Health Net's chief commercial officer, joins us to talk about how to navigate this complicated and challenging process. For nearly 20 years, Jenn has overseen Health Net's insurance plans for corporations, small businesses, families, and individuals. She also led the insurer's planning for complying with and implementing the Affordable Care Act.

In part two of our Minicast on Autism, we talk with special guest Kristin Jacobson. Kristin is the Founder and Executive Director of the Autism Deserves Equal Coverage Foundation, which advocates for health policy and legal enforcement for autism and other mental health conditions. Kristin will help our listeners understand the laws and regulations that provide ASD patients with the rights to treatments, requirements for health insurance companies to cover such treatments, what you can do to fight back when facing coverage denials, and much more.

In this special Fight Back Library release, we welcome our special guest, Erica Costa, to discuss how to quit smoking. Erica is the Director of Advocacy for tobacco control in California for the American Lung Association. In her work, she advocates for support programs and methods to help people quit tobacco use and kick their nicotine addiction.Erica gives our listeners a wealth of information on the best ways to tackle smoking and nicotine addictions. From providing us with the dangers of smoking cigarettes and vaping to the immediate health benefits of quitting, Erica discusses how best to create a plan to stop that encompasses counseling, nicotine replacement therapy, medication, friend and family support networks, and more.

In this FightBack! Minicast, we discuss autism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates autism's prevalence as 1 in 59 children in the United States—1 in 37 boys and 1 in 151 girls. A lifelong condition, autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, impacts those with this disorder and their families in many ways.  Our special guest is former Assemblywoman Suzette Martinez Valladares. Suzette is a Latina businesswoman and educator specializing in early childhood education and advocacy. As the former Executive Director of Southern California Autism Speaks, she served special needs children.  Suzette will help us understand ASD, the critical importance of parent advocacy, and available resources to patients and families.

In this Fight Back Library Release, we discuss the important topic of health equity. Health equity means that everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Many factors impact a person's health, including poverty, access to good jobs, education, and housing, to name a few. Race should not be one of them. Health equity advocates have emerged in response to challenges that people of color face while seeking medical care.What does health equity look like? How do communities and health organizations collaborate to promote health equity? How does addressing health equity impact everyone's health and safety? We'll dig into these issues and more with our special guest Jahmal Miller, System Vice President of CommonSpirit Health, serving in the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Jahmal is recognized as a national thought leader and a leading spokesperson on public policy, health equity, mental health, social justice, and innovation.

In this Minincast Release of Fight Back, we welcome our special guest, Dr. Cari Spencer. Dr. Cari is a California-licensed naturopathic doctor and physical therapist. Dr. Cari believes in getting to the cause of the problem, personalizing treatments, and using the least force necessary to heal and treat the whole person.Dr. Cari joins us to discuss the medical practice of naturopathy, an area of medical treatment of which most consumers are unaware. She talks about what naturopathy really is, what types of treatment are available, and how a Doctor of Naturopathy could help you improve your health. Join us today as we discuss Naturopathy 101!

In this Fight Back Library Release, we talk about bringing healthcare into the digital age. Digital health is applying digital technologies to healthcare to improve wellness programs and make medicine more accessible, personalized, and precise. It aims to improve the quality of care and lower costs.We welcome our special guest, Gary Cohen, Vice President of Government Affairs at Blue Shield of California.Gary joins us to discuss what bringing healthcare into the digital age means. How are your healthcare records kept safe, secure, and yet accessible to your healthcare providers? How can the new technologies that help you monitor your health at home be integrated into your health records? Why are you still filling out a form with pen and paper when you visit a new doctor or specialist, or in the worst case, the emergency room? We dive into these questions and more.

The Healthcare Consumer Rights Foundation extends a happy and HEALTHY New Year to all and a hearty thank you to our listeners who helped make our Fight Back podcast one of the most listened to healthcare podcasts in America in 2022! Our Fight Back 2022 year-in-review episode looks back at some of our most interesting and informative episodes. From discussing the importance of canine companions to analyzing long COVID, we will continue to interview expert guests about the important healthcare topics that matter most to you. Listen to our Fight Back Year in Review episode today, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast so you won't miss out on what we have in store for you in 2023!

In this Fight Back Library Release, we discuss the little-known yet potentially impactful Independent Medical Review system that gives healthcare consumers in every state of the country a powerful tool to fight back when insurance companies deny doctor-prescribed medical treatments.Our special guest is Mary Watanabe, Director of the California Department of Managed Health Care, which oversees health plans that provide healthcare services to more than 27.7 million Californians. As Director, Mary is responsible for protecting consumers' healthcare rights and ensuring a stable healthcare delivery system in accordance with federal and state rules.We discuss the independent medical review process in California and the free resources and tools offered to consumers to help them make an appeal. Join us as we learn how to appeal a medical insurance coverage issue.

Everyone loves to go to the dentist, right? After listening to this surprisingly fascinating Fight Back minicast, you might not exactly love your dentist, but you will be more informed and even inclined to visit your dentist more often.Our special guest, Dr. Joel Strom, discusses how oral hygiene impacts overall health and how preventive care almost always spares you from losing teeth and other problems. He also addresses a number of issues: Is flossing your teeth more important than brushing? How can oral health care impact your heart health, and how do you find the right dentist? Let's listen in and see if it's time to schedule your next dental exam.

Today's Library release, Lifestyle Medicine, focuses on educating and motivating patients to change personal habits and behaviors by using a whole food, plant-predominant diet, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connection.We discuss this topic with lifestyle medicine expert Dr. Cate Collings, Director of Lifestyle Medicine at El Camino Hospital and President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Join us as we explore Lifestyle Medicine and how this approach can change things for patients and doctors alike. 

In this minicast release from Fight Back, we learn about physical therapy. Physical therapists are highly educated, licensed healthcare professionals who examine, evaluate, and treat patients whose conditions limit their ability to move and function in daily life. From augmenting recovery after surgery or illness or proactively using physical therapy to improve general wellness to providing an alternative to pain-killing drugs, physical therapists play a critical role in a patient's overall health and recovery from injuries and illnesses.Our special guest is Dr. Rick Katz, who worked as a physical therapist in hospital and outpatient settings. He developed programs for cardiac, pulmonary, and stroke patients, a sports injury clinic, and a coaches clinic. Dr. Katz will give our listeners a quick look at when you might need a physical therapist, how to access care, and if your insurance plays a role in access to care. 

In this Library episode of Fight Back, we talk about the holiday blues. Feeling a bit "blue" or downcast during the holidays is common. This year, many people will continue to feel added stress and anxiety of dealing with the effects of COVID, RSV, and a more severe flu season on family gatherings.Our special guest is Dr. Richard Sherman, a licensed psychologist in private practice. He has been active in organizations that serve both the profession of psychology and the consumer. Dr. Sherman served as President of the CA Psychological Association and the Los Angeles County Psychological Association. He was also a gubernatorial appointee to the CA Board of Psychology, where he served for five years. He earned his doctorate in psychology from the University of Georgia. Dr. Sherman explains the holiday blues and offers tips regarding coping with COVID challenges, staying mentally healthy through it all, and much more.

In this Fight Back minicast, join us as we welcome back Ken Barnes to explore the opportunities that persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities have in the workforce. Mr. Barnes is President and Chief Executive Officer of Options for All, an organization that serves, supports, and educates adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ken also discusses some of the impacts that COVID had on employment for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In this Library Release of Fight Back!, we talk with Peter Lee, Executive Director for California's health insurance marketplace, Covered California. Here in California, the open enrollment period ends at the end of the year. Join us as we talk about the key things you need to know about enrolling in healthcare. In our conversation, Peter provides valuable insight into the many facets of the Covered California program, including what options consumers have for obtaining affordable health insurance even if they lose their employment, how middle and low-income families can access subsidies for premiums and co-pays, how the open and special enrollment windows operate, the value of shopping around for the best possible plan, the status of the COVID-19 vaccination program, and much more.

Millions of people suffer from autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities. In this minicast, Ken Barnes talks about growing up with his developmentally disabled twin brother, and the issues that he and his family went through caring for him. Former Options for All CEO Ken Barns shares about how to work through these issues and the resources that are available. He then provides some helpful tips about what people and families facing similar problems can do.

In this Library Release of Fight Back, we get an insider's look at Intensive Care Units. Dr. Wes Ely, author of Every Deep-Drawn Breath: A Critical Care Doctor on Healing, Recovery, and Transforming Medicine in the ICU joins us to shed light on what patients and their loved one(s) experience when entering an ICU, how mental health plays such a significant role for an ICU patient's mind and body, the potential long-term effects from a stay in an ICU (known as Post Intensive Care Syndrome), the ways that COVID has led to changes in how ICU medical teams treat their patients, and so much more.Dr. Ely is an internist, pulmonologist, and critical care physician and serves as the Grant W. Liddle endowed chair in medicine and is a physician-scientist and tenured professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is also the associate director of aging research for the Tennessee Valley Veteran's Affairs Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center (GRECC). He is the founder and co-director of the Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction, and Survivorship (CIBS) Center, an organization devoted to research and ongoing care for people affected by critical illness. 

Dr. Richard Sherman, a licensed psychologist in private practice, joins us to talk about the holiday blues. Feeling a bit “blue” or downcast during the holidays is common. Dr. Sherman explains the holiday blues and offers tips on how to meet the challenges of spending extra time with family and staying mentally healthy through it all, and much more.

In this Fight Back Minicast, we welcome Dr. Howard Zucker, former New York State Public Health Commissioner who led New York through the initial impact of COVID-19. Dr. Zucker shares New York's experience as the first hot spot for COVID-19, dealing with shutdowns, masks, vaccines, and overrun emergency rooms. Join us as we take a quick look back at the start of COVID-19 in New York. Listen to the full episode, The NY COVID Health Experience, here.

Join us on this Library Release of Fight Back, as we discuss medical marijuana. Many states in recent years have legalized the use of cannabis as a treatment for various medical conditions. We welcome our special guest, Sally Brammell, Senior Corporate Counsel at PAX Labs, a cannabis vaporizer company. She is also a parent of a young adult son who is developmentally disabled by a rare pediatric epilepsy syndrome. Although his seizures are resistant to most medications, they have been well-controlled for the past seven years with medical cannabis. We discuss with Ms. Brammell the science behind medical marijuana, insurance and legal issues, different cannabis delivery methods, and more.

America is living through a time of unprecedented demographic change. In the last twenty years, the segment of our population over 65 has increased from 6% to 9%. According to estimates, those over 65 will comprise 17% of the population by 2050. At 65, individuals can join the Medicare healthcare system. But Medicare is complicated, and many who are about to or have recently turned 65 face many choices and daunting questions.In this episode, we talk with Medicare Expert Karen Johnson of Wellcare to learn the details about how to enroll successfully in Medicare.

Join us on this Library Release of Fight Back, as we talk with special guest Dr. Alan Sanders, a specialist in infectious diseases. Dr. Sanders previously served as Chief of Medicine at St Peter's Hospital in Albany, NY, and currently is the Chief Medical Officer of St. Peter's Health Partners. He will soon be assuming the role of Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Albany Medical Center Hospital. Among many other responsibilities, he will spearhead establishing a telemedicine program to deliver clinical care—including the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases—to underserved areas.Dr. Sanders gives us a behind-the-scenes look at telemedicine, from the implementation and use of the technology to what consumers should do to educate themselves on how telemedicine can work for them, and more. We will also discuss the current state of the pandemic and the significant role the vaccines are playing in defeating the virus.

Peter Lee, Executive Director of Covered California, talks about the many facets of the Covered California program, including who qualifies, how the program works, what options consumers have if they lose their job, and how to navigate the open enrollment process.

In this Fight Back episode we welcome Linda Garvin, a Health Advocate. Linda graduated from the University of Massachusetts, earning her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Adult Nurse Practitioner training with honors. She has a Public Health Certificate in California. After an extensive medical career, Linda founded Patient Advocate Bay Area, where she serves as President. She has spent the last 20 years as a health advocate in California and nationwide.Health Advocates support and advocate on behalf of patients and their families when a third party's expertise and knowledge can improve treatments and navigate a complicated health situation. Could a health advocate help you or your loved one? What specific kind of services do health advocates provide? Join us as Linda answers these and other questions.

In this Fight Back minicast, we talk with Gary Cohen, Vice President of Government Affairs at Blue Shield of California, about bringing healthcare into the digital age. We discuss what needs to happen to make electronic records work, hurdles to overcome regarding privacy concerns, and what consumers can do during the “digital transition.”

In this Fight Back episode, our host, Steve Poizner, executive director of HCRF, welcomes our special guest, Dr. Jeff Poizner. Dr. Poizner is a Staff Psychologist at VA San Diego Healthcare System and specializes in providing evidence-based treatments via Telemental Health platforms to veterans with PTSD and other conditions. Dr. Poizner completed his pre-doctoral internship at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services and post-doctoral fellowship at UCSD Counseling and Psychological Services. His clinical and research interests include reducing barriers and improving access to evidence-based treatments for veterans with PTSD. Dr. Poizner joins us to discuss a very complicated and challenging issue: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, more commonly known as PTSD. While most are familiar with PTSD as it relates to Armed Forces Service members, Dr. Poizner reminds us that there are many forms of PTSD, and anyone who has suffered a traumatic event can suffer from PTSD. Our conversation today looks at the many types of PTSD, what symptoms look like, the types of treatment, and how to access treatment. 

Are your stomach and digestion connected to your overall health? The answer is obvious: yes. But exactly how profound that connection is and the level to which an anti-inflammatory diet can impact your overall health and wellness is the topic we explore this week on Fight Back. In this Minicast, host Steve Poizner talks with Dr. Melamed about how you can fight back against the inflammatory foods so pervasive in the American diet and improve your physical well-being with some easy-to-access, affordable anti-inflammatory food strategies. Listen in to this health-changing Minicast for more!

In this Fight Back episode we welcome our special guest, Dr. Cari Spencer. Dr. Cari is a California-licensed naturopathic doctor and physical therapist. She holds a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University, the leading naturopathic medical school in North America, as well as two Masters Degrees in physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh. She has a special interest in the treatment of neuroendocrine disorders as well as many health issues related to digestion. Dr. Cari believes in getting to the cause of the problem, personalizing treatments, and using the least force necessary to heal and treat the whole person. Dr. Cari joins us to discuss the medical practice of naturopathy, a lesser-known area of medical treatment. She talks about the type of doctors who practice naturopathy, what naturopathy really is, how you can find a practitioner, and how a Doctor of Naturopathy could help you diagnose your health problems or improve your health. Join us today as we discuss Naturopathy 101! 

In this Fight Back Minicast, we talk with Adriana Contreras about the health and safety of student athletes. As a collegiate swim coach and a certified and professional Division I collegiate soccer referee, Adriana talks about how pressure can be too much for an athlete, when parents need to speak with an athlete's coach, and adhering to the banned substances guidelines.

What's the latest on "Long-COVID"? What is the current predominant sub-variant in the United States? What do we know about the new vaccine coming out in the fall of 2022? Do we have any data on why some people never test positive for COVID? Recently, President Biden experienced a rebound effect from the antivirals. How common is this? What should we know about monkey pox? Dr. Brad Pollock from UC Davis joins us for our monthly COVIDcast to answer these questions and more!

In this minicast, we talk with Sean Flynn, an assistant professor of economics at Scripps College, about the economics of our healthcare system: why consumers don't pay much attention to healthcare costs, why health insurance companies spend so much, and why employers don't push for reform. He also profiles Whole Food's experiment.

In this Fight Back episode, we welcome Dr. Howard Zucker, former New York State Public Health Commissioner who led New York through the initial impact of COVID-19. He has held public health positions at the state, federal, and international levels and academic appointments at the Yale, Columbia, and Albert Einstein medical schools. He served as head of the Pediatric ICU at New York Presbyterian Hospital and was a research affiliate at MIT.Dr. Zucker shares New York's experience as the first hot spot for COVID-19, dealing with shutdowns, masks, vaccines, and overrun emergency rooms. Join us as we look back at the start of COVID-19 in New York and how local, state, and federal governments interfaced with the healthcare system.

Should we be worried about the Ba5 COVID subvariant? Is a “master” vaccine that targets all omicron variants possible? Should I vaccinate my child? Dr. Pollock joins us for our monthly COVIDcast to answer these questions. He also talks about the COVID global outlook and vaccine boosters.