UConn Health Pulse

Vaccines are considered by more than a few scientific experts to be among the most significant developments in modern medicine. Now, it's hard to know what to believe about vaccinations. The resurgence of measles, effectively eradicated in the U.S. 25 years ago, is one indication that in some pockets of our country, is one indication of doubt in vaccines' effectiveness. Meanwhile, the federal government is pulling back on its recommendations about who should take the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Melissa Held, professor of pediatric infectious diseases and senior associate dean of medical student education at the UConn School of Medicine, and Dr. David Banach, associate professor of medicine, infectious diseases physician and UConn Health's hospital epidemiologist, join us to help separate facts from myths. (Dr. Melissa Held, Dr. David Banach, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, May 2025, studio and production support by Ethan Giorgetti and Ryan Bernat) Dr. Melissa Held https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Held-Tobin-Melissa Dr. David Banach https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Banach-David UConn Health's Infectious Diseases Division https://health.uconn.edu/infectious-diseases/ American Academy of Pediatrics https://www.aap.org/  Infectious Diseases Society of America https://www.idsociety.org/ Connecticut Department of Public Health https://portal.ct.gov/dph 

When severe depression becomes treatment-resistant depression, an unconventional medication is proving to be effective. It's a specific form of ketamine that is administered by nasal spray in a supervised clinical setting, approved by the FDA for this purpose. Dr. Caleb Battersby, director of interventional psychiatry at UConn Health, explains how esketamine works and why this treatment approach has been providing hope for those who otherwise may be out of answers. (Dr. Caleb Battersby, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, April 2025, studio and technical support by Ethan Giorgetti and Ryan Bernat) Dr. Caleb Battersby https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Battersby-Caleb UConn Health Department of Psychiatry https://health.uconn.edu/psychiatry/ Find a treatment center https://www.spravato.com/find-treatment-center/ UConn Health Minute: Treating Severe Depression (December 2024) https://today.uconn.edu/2024/12/uconn-health-minute-treating-severe-depression/  

Treatable but not curable, endometriosis affects one in 10 women and girls of reproductive age. But it's not all that well understood and recognized, and can go undetected, leading to years of avoidable suffering and causing time away from school, work, and other activities. UConn Health is part of a collaboration with The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine and the state of Connecticut called EndoRISE, which seeks to raise awareness and advance research of endometriosis. Dr. Danielle Luciano, director of minimally invasive gynecological surgery at UConn Health, and Jasmina Kuljancic, EndoRISE program manager from JAX, help lead this effort.  (Dr. Danielle Luciano, Jasmina Kuljancic, Chris DeFrancesco, March 2025, studio and technical support by Ethan Giorgetti and Ryan Bernat) EndoRISE https://www.ctendorise.org/ Dr. Danielle Luciano https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Luciano-Danielle Endometriosis care at UConn Health https://health.uconn.edu/women/gynecology/endometriosis/ UConn Today: 'EndoRISE Launch Marks New Era in Endometriosis Research and Support' https://today.uconn.edu/2024/06/endorise-launch-marks-new-era-in-endometriosis-research-and-support/  

Many of us have been told for most of our lives that fluoride is greatly beneficial to our health. So how did we get from fluoride in the public water supply being one of history's great public health achievements to it standing trial in the court of public opinion? We invite Drs. Bina Katechia and Aadarsh Gopalakrishna from the UConn School of Dental Medicine to deliberate and render a verdict. (Dr. Bina Katechia, Dr. Aadarsh Gopalakrishna, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, February 2025, studio and technical support by Ethan Giorgetti) Dr. Bina Katechia, interim chair, UConn School of Medicine Department of Pediatric Dentistry https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Katechia-Bina Dr. Aadarsh Gopalakrishna, chair, UConn School of Medicine Division of General Dentistry https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Gopalakrishna-Aadarsh Pediatric dentistry at UConn Health https://health.uconn.edu/dental/patient-services/pediatric-dentistry/ General dentistry at UConn Health https://health.uconn.edu/dental/ UConn School of Dental Medicine https://dentalmedicine.uconn.edu/

The deadliest form of skin cancer is even deadlier when it spreads beyond the skin. When simply cutting out the cancerous skin is not enough, melanoma goes from a dermatology matter to an oncology matter. Dr. Margaret Callahan is a medical oncologist and Dr. Giao Phan is a surgical oncologist. Together they lead UConn Health's advanced melanoma program, which offers specialized care for when this cancer has spread. (Dr. Margaret Callahan, Dr. Giao Phan, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, December 2024) Dr. Margaret Callahan https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Callahan-Margaret Dr. Giao Phan https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/PHAN-GIAO "Advancing Specialty Care for Metastatic Melanoma at UConn Health," UConn Today, Sept. 23, 2024 https://today.uconn.edu/?p=219219 Drs. Phan and Callahan on Channel 3's "Great Day Connecticut," Dec. 18, 2024 https://youtu.be/OXqT8x79SZo Skin Cancer care at UConn Health's Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center https://health.uconn.edu/cancer/patient-services/clinical-services/skin-cancer/ 860-679-4600 Melanoma navigator 860-692-8455

An emerging approach to stroke recovery involves an outpatient neurosurgical procedure that implants a device capable of stimulating a nerve found to be central to the brain's ability to learn. Dr. Christopher Conner in UConn Health's Brain and Spine Institute is the first neurosurgeon in Connecticut to implant this device, which can make the brain more receptive to intensive occupational therapy. Dr. Conner explains vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and describes its early success. (November 2024, Dr. Christopher Conner, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco) Dr. Christopher Conner https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Conner-Christopher Connecticut's 1st VNS device implant (UConn Today, May 2024) https://today.uconn.edu/2024/05/first-in-connecticut-ischemic-stroke-survivors-have-renewed-hope-with-the-vagus-nurve-stimulation-device-now-available-at-uconn-health/ Treating movement disorders with deep brain stimulation (UConn Today, May 2024) https://today.uconn.edu/2024/05/deep-brain-stimulation-changing-the-quality-of-life-for-those-with-parkinsons-disease/ UConn Health Brain and Spine Institute https://health.uconn.edu/brain-and-spine-institute/ UConn Health Stroke Center https://health.uconn.edu/stroke-center/ UConn Health Neurology Deep Brain Stimulation Program https://health.uconn.edu/neurology/clinical-services/movement-disorders/parkinsons-disease/ UConn Health Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center https://health.uconn.edu/parkinsons/  

It takes expertise across many specialties to earn a designation as a Center of Excellence from the Huntington's Disease Society of America. UConn Health has earned that designation. From UConn Health's Huntington's Disease Program, Dr. Shakaib Khan, medical director, and nurse practitioner Robin Zingales-Browne describe what goes into providing care and support for those with Huntington's Disease and their families. Plus, learn about Huntington's Disease Education Day, taking place at UConn Health Oct. 26. (Robin Zingales-Browne, Dr. Shakaib Khan, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, October 2024). 2024 Huntington's Disease Education Day, Oct. 26, 2024 https://connecticut.hdsa.org/events/2024-huntington-s-disease-education-day-farmington-ct Huntington's Disease Center of Excellence in Connecticut Designated at UConn Health https://today.uconn.edu/2024/03/huntingtons-disease-center-of-excellence-in-connecticut-designated-at-uconn-health/ Enroll-HD Study https://health.uconn.edu/psychiatry/research/research-studies/#fl-accordion-606dfb3f99d42-tab-4 Huntington's Disease Program at UConn Health https://health.uconn.edu/psychiatry/areas-of-care/adult/huntingtons-disease-program/ Dr. Shakaib Khan http://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Khan-Shakaib Robin Zingales-Browne http://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Browne-Robin

Whether it's cold or flu, COVID or RSV, get ready for what seems like a growing number of respiratory illnesses this fall and winter. How do we recognize them, how do we react to symptoms, how do we treat them, and how can we reduce their likelihood in the first place? We ask UConn Health infectious diseases experts Nancy Dupont and Dr. David Banach that and more. (September 2024, Nancy Dupont, Dr. David Banach, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco) UConn Health Infectious Diseases Division https://health.uconn.edu/infectious-diseases/ Proper hand-washing demonstration by Nancy Dupont, UConn Health nursing director of epidemiology and infection control https://youtu.be/UaPSP8rhmCw Dr. David Banach, UConn Health hospital epidemiologist https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Banach-David CDC information for the 2024-2025 flu season https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2024-2025.htm CDC information for COVID-19 https://www.cdc.gov/covid CDC information for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/ 

A fractured larynx? That's what's done in Steven Tyler and forced Aerosmith to retire from touring. This month we talk to two experts from UConn Health's Voice and Speech Clinic to explain this and other voice problems they see, and to offer some tips on how to treat and prevent them: Dr. Denis Lafreniere, chief of the UConn Health Division of Otolaryngology, and speech and language pathologist Ann Clifford. (August 2024, Ann Clifford, Dr. Denis Lafreniere, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco) UConn Health Voice and Speech Clinic https://health.uconn.edu/otolaryngology/areas-of-care/voice-and-speech-clinic/   860-679-2804 Request an Appointment Online UConn Health Division of Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat) https://health.uconn.edu/otolaryngology/  Dr. Denis Lafreniere https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Lafreniere-Denis  Ann Clifford https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Clifford-Ann

Dr. Justin D'Addario, vascular and endovascular surgeon at UConn Health, explains the potential health hazards of poor blood flow, and how to recognize problems like peripheral arterial disease, deep vein thrombosis, and aneurysms, and address them before they require drastic measures. (June 2024, Dr. Justin D'Addario, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco) Dr. Justin D'Addario

Whether it's the acute care during the medical emergency or the recovery and rehabilitation that follows, UConn Health continues to earn recognition for its stroke care. Dr. Priya Narwal, interim medical director of UConn Health's Stroke Center, Brooke Medel, stroke nurse navigator, and nurse Kristen Bryant, interim stroke coordinator, share their expertise, and remind us that BEFAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time) is still the mantra when it comes to recognizing and reacting to stroke. (Dr. Priya Narwal, Brooke Medel, Kristen Bryant, Chris DeFrancesco, May 2024) UConn Health Stroke Center https://health.uconn.edu/stroke-center/ Dr. Priya Narwal https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Narwal-Priya News on UConn Health stroke care Miracle Outcome for Patient's Life-Threatening Stroke https://today.uconn.edu/?p=214021 First in Connecticut: Ischemic Stroke Survivors Have Renewed Hope With the Vagus Nerve Stimulation Device Now Available at UConn Health https://today.uconn.edu/?p=214132

Un gran reto en la atención de la esclerosis múltiple es reconocerla lo suficientemente pronto como para iniciar la intervención y cambiar la trayectoria de la enfermedad. Los determinantes sociales de la salud, incluyendo las barreras culturales, pueden hacer que esto sea especialmente difícil. El Dr. Jaime Imitola, jefe de la División de Esclerosis Múltiple y Neuroinmunología Traslacional de UConn Health, dirigió un grupo que ideó un nuevo recurso bilingüe para ayudar a los pacientes, estudiantes de medicina y proveedores a reconocer los signos de la enfermedad y evitar los retrasos en la atención medica. (Dr. Jaime Imitola, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, marzo de 2024) Enlaces de referencia: http://www.imitolab.org/visiblms.html http://www.imitolab.org/ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585241228739 https://health.uconn.edu/multiple-sclerosis/ https://today.uconn.edu/2024/03/making-early-signs-of-multiple-sclerosis-visibl/

You don't have to be an elite athlete to take advantage of a new care model that offers access to full range of expertise: the Women's Center for Motion and Performance at UConn Health is for women of all ages, ability levels, and medical needs. Dr. Katherine Coyner, director, and Dr. Allison Schafer, medical director, explain how patients will benefit from this collective of specialties designed to optimize the coordination of care and get or keep women active and healthy. (April 2024, Dr. Katherine Coyner, Dr. Allison Schafer, Chris DeFrancesco) Women's Center for Motion and Performance at UConn Health (starting 4/23/24) https://health.uconn.edu/womens-center-for-motion-and-performance/  Women's Center for Motion and Performance nurse navigator: https://health.uconn.edu/orthopedics-sports-medicine/  Dr. Allison Schafer https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Schafer-Allison  Dr. Katherine Coyner https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Coyner-Katherine  Dr. Coyner's Inspiring Women in Engineering and Medicine (IWEM) program https://www.drcoyner.com/iwem.html UConn Health Half Marathon, June 1, 2024 https://www.hartfordmarathon.com/uconn-health-half-marathon-10k-5k/ UConn Institute for Sports Medicine https://sports.institute.uconn.edu/  UConn Health Simsbury https://health.uconn.edu/plan-your-visit/locations-and-directions/simsbury  UConn Health Southington https://health.uconn.edu/plan-your-visit/locations-and-directions/southington 

A great challenge in multiple sclerosis care is recognizing it soon enough to start intervention and change the disease trajectory. Social determinants of health, including cultural barriers, can make this especially difficult. Dr. Jaime Imitola, chief of UConn Health's Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Translational Neuroimmunology, led a group that came up with a new, bilingual resource to help patients, medical students, and providers recognize the signs and avoid delays in care. (Dr. Jaime Imitola, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, March 2024) Note: A Spanish version of this episode is in production. It will be released separately to subscribers' feeds and be available on Podbean and at https://health.uconn.edu/archives/uconn-health-podcast. "Making Early Signs of Multiple Sclerosis 'VISIBLE'" (UConn Today) https://today.uconn.edu/2024/03/making-early-signs-of-multiple-sclerosis-visibl/ "VISIBL-MS: A bilingual educational framework to increase awareness of early multiple sclerosis" (Multiple Sclerosis Journal) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585241228739 VISIBL-MS tool (open access) http://www.imitolab.org/visiblms.html Imitola Lab http://www.imitolab.org/ UConn Health's Multiple Sclerosis Center https://health.uconn.edu/multiple-sclerosis/

UConn Health is now part of the Dispensary of Hope Network, which means it can connect qualifying patients with no-cost prescriptions for certain medications that the pharmaceutical companies make available. Emmett Sullivan and Dr. Hetal Patel from the UConn Health Pharmacy explain the program, which is only the third of its kind in Connecticut. (Dr. Hetal Patel, Emmett Sullivan, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, December 2023) UConn Health Specialty Pharmacy https://health.uconn.edu/specialty-pharmacy Dispensary of Hope: https://www.dispensaryofhope.org/

Temptation surrounds us during the holiday season. How do we navigate those holiday parties, potlucks and happy hours so we can be reasonably healthy and still be festive? Linda York, registered dietitian at UConn Health, has some tips on how to "brave the buffet" and still share in the merriment. (Linda York, Chris DeFrancesco, November 2023)  

A nationwide child and adolescent behavioral health project that originated at UConn Health takes a creative, modern approach to helping young people cope with mental health challenges. At the same time, it creates educational resources for therapists throughout the country. A component of this includes the "Trauma Avengers" sharing their "Digital Diaries." Clinical psychologists Julian Ford and Rocio Chang, co-directors of the Center for the Treatment of Developmental Trauma Disorders, join Carolyn and Chris to explain. (Dr. Rocio Chang, Dr. Julian Ford, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, August 2023) Julian Ford, professor of psychiatry, UConn Health  https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Ford-Julian Rocio Chang, assistant professor of psychiatry, UConn Health https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Chang-Roc%C3%ADo Center for Treatment of Developmental Trauma Disorders https://developmental-trauma.org/ Trauma Avengers (Digital Diaries: Rx) https://traumaavengers.com/ Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UConn Health https://health.uconn.edu/psychiatry/areas-of-care/child-and-adolescent/ 860-523-3745

When is the best time to start moving up bed time? Hint: it's not the night before the first day of school! Dr. Jennifer Kanaan from UConn Health's Sleep Disorders Center works with adults, adolescents, and children. She joins the podcast to explain what's happening in our bodies when we sleep and why it's so beneficial to our performance, particularly in school. Listen to her advice and start the school year off right! (Dr. Jennifer Kanaan, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, July 2023) Dr. Jennifer Kanaan https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Kanaan-Jennifer UConn Health Sleep Disorders Center https://health.uconn.edu/pulmonary/sleep-disorders-center/ 860-679-4090  

Identifying Parkinson's disease early and starting a treatment plan can go a long way in delaying the onset of disability or loss of function. Once that diagnosis is made, supportive care and planning become crucial parts of managing the disease. Dr. Bernardo Rodrigues, director of UConn Health's Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, explains. (May 2023, Dr. Bernardo Rodrigues, Chris DeFrancesco) Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center at UConn Health https://health.uconn.edu/parkinsons/ Call for appointment: 860-679-4888 Dr. Bernardo Rodrigues https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Rodrigues-Bernardo Parkinson's disease patient support group at UConn Health https://health.uconn.edu/parkinsons/patient-resources/ Parkinson's disease caregiver support group at UConn Health parkinsons@uchc.edu, 860-679-3224

Two UConn Health endocrinologists, Drs. Pooja Luthra and Parvathy Madhavan, and the coordinator of UConn Health's Diabetes Self-Management Education Program, nurse practitioner Luriza Glynn, discuss the importance of recognizing early signs of diabetes and managing it once diagnosed with the benefit of education. (Luriza Glynn, Dr. Parvathy Madhavan, Dr. Pooja Luthra, Chris DeFrancesco, April 2023) Diabetes care at UConn Health: https://health.uconn.edu/diabetes/ UConn Health Diabetes Self-Management Education Program: https://health.uconn.edu/diabetes/diabetes-self-management-education-program/ Prediabetes risk test: https://diabetes.org/diabetes/risk-test UConn Health endocrinology: https://health.uconn.edu/endocrinology/ 860-679-3245

When it comes to pain management, particularly back and neck pain, narcotics are not the only option. We ask two UConn Health physiatrists — Dr. Joseph Walker and Dr. Durgadas Sakalkale — about the approaches they take in the UConn Musculoskeletal Institute. (March 2023, Dr. Joseph Walker, Dr. Durgadas Sakalkale, Chris DeFrancesco) UConn Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine https://health.uconn.edu/orthopedics-sports-medicine/ 860-676-6600 UConn Health Comprehensive Spine Center https://health.uconn.edu/spine/ 860-679-6662

Dr. Katherine Fleming from the UConn School of Dental Medicine's Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Dr. Michaela Matos, a UConn pediatric dental resident, join for Children's Oral Health Month. They explain what is (and isn't) a dental emergency, discuss the importance of establishing a dental home for your child, and offer tips for parents to cultivate health habits. (Dr. Katherine Fleming, Dr. Michaela Matos, Courtney Chandler, Chris DeFrancesco, February 2023) UConn Health Pediatric Dentistry Clinic https://health.uconn.edu/dental/patient-services/pediatric-dentistry/ 65 Kane St., West Hartford 860-523-3770 UConn Pediatric Dental Residency Program https://dentalmedicine.uconn.edu/divisions/pediatric-dentistry/ Dr. Matos also would like to acknowledge her co-residents: Dr. Shailly Shah Dr. Marissa Ruggiero Dr. Dan Nyguen   

One of the founding fathers of the Alcohol Research Center at UConn Health — the longest-running NIH-funded center of its kind — is part of an international collaboration of addiction researchers out with updated findings on the social, cultural and environmental factors that influence alcoholism and harmful drinking. UConn School of Medicine Professor Emeritus Thomas Babor is a lead author of the third edition of Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity, which explains those factors and makes policy recommendations on how to address them. The book is scheduled to be available for hard copy purchase in the U.S. in late January. An open-access PDF is available for free download now. (Thomas Babor, Chris DeFrancesco, January 2023) Thomas Babor, professor emeritus, public health sciences, UConn School of Medicine https://health.uconn.edu/public-health-sciences/faculty-profile-tom-babor/ Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity (open-access PDF) https://global.oup.com/academic/product/alcohol-no-ordinary-commodity-9780192844484 UConn Health Alcohol Research Center https://health.uconn.edu/psychiatry/research/alcohol-research-center/ UConn Today feature on Alcohol Research Center, June 2019 https://today.uconn.edu/2019/06/uconns-alcohol-research-center-continues-unprecedented-run/

The Urban Service Track incorporates prevention and primary care in underserved communities into the training of future prepares health professionals. It's a program of the Connecticut Area Health Education Center, housed at UConn Health. This summer, Urban Service Track students worked with the Hartford Department of Health and Human Services to go door-to-door in city neighborhoods to have conversations about preventive medicine and offer COVID-19 vaccinations on the spot. Three students who took part in this effort, Brian Liang (fourth-year UConn medical student and master of public health candidate), Eddyson Altidor (second-year UConn dental student), and Julia Levin (first-year UConn medical student), share their experience and how it's shaping them as future clinicians. (Julia Levin, Brian Liang, Eddyson Altidor, Chris DeFrancesco, December 2023) Connecticut Area Health Education Center (CT AHEC) https://health.uconn.edu/connecticut-area-health-education-center-network/ Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program https://health.uconn.edu/connecticut-area-health-education-center-network/urban-services-track-and-ahec-scholars/

Post-traumatic stress disorder is often associated with military combat and experiencing a traumatic situation, such as the Sandy Hook school shooting. A few weeks ahead of the 10-year anniversary of that tragedy, we discuss PTSD with UConn Health clinical psychologists Julian Ford and Rocio Chang. They explain what PTSD is and isn't, differentiate between PTSD and the somewhat newly diagnosed form known as "complex PTSD," what we've learned in the 10 years since Sandy Hook, and how to help those affected by PTSD — including a treatment approach known as TARGET, which our guests helped develop. (Dr. Julian Ford, Dr. Rocio Chang, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, November 2022) UConn Health Department of Pyschiatry https://health.uconn.edu/psychiatry/  

The American health care system is facing a shortage of primary care physicians. Preparing the next generation of providers is one of the missions of UConn Health, where the training includes hands-on experience delivering care to historically underserved populations. Dr. Bruce Gould, UConn School of Medicine professor emeritus, founding associate dean for primary care, and founding director of the Connecticut Area Health Education Center, discusses how students serve the needs of today while training to become the providers who serve the needs of tomorrow. (Dr. Bruce Gould, Chris DeFrancesco, September 2022) Connecticut Area Health Education Center (CT AHEC) https://health.uconn.edu/connecticut-area-health-education-center-network/ Urban Service Track https://health.uconn.edu/connecticut-area-health-education-center-network/urban-services-track-and-ahec-scholars/ 'Knock, Knock: UConn Students Making Hartford House Calls with COVID Vaccines' https://today.uconn.edu/?p=189476 Community-based experiential learning https://health.uconn.edu/connecticut-area-health-education-center-network/community-based-experiential-training/ Migrant farm worker clinics https://health.uconn.edu/connecticut-area-health-education-center-network/migrant-farm-worker-clinics/

It's likely the closest we've come to a "normal" back-to-school since 2019. So we checked back in with Dr. Erica Waddington, this time at her office in the UConn Health family medicine practice in Canton, to find out what she's telling families -- both the students and the parents who worry about them -- to help them get a healthy start to the 2022 school year. (Dr. Erica Waddington, Chris DeFrancesco, August 2022) UConn Health Family Medicine https://health.uconn.edu/family-medicine/ 866-328-8086 Dr. Erica Waddington https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Waddington-Erica  

Spine surgeons at UConn Health are using augmented reality technology that provides a 3D rendering of the anatomy, essentially enabling "see-through" surgery. UConn Health is the first in central Connecticut with this suite of tools, which as of July 2022 is the world's largest. Dr. Isaac Moss, UConn Health's orthopedic surgery chair and co-director of its Comprehensive Spine Center, describes how augmented reality spine surgery works and what its advantages are. (Dr. Isaac Moss, Chris DeFrancesco, July 2022) UConn Health Comprehensive Spine Center https://health.uconn.edu/spine/ 860-679-6662 Augmented reality spine surgery at UConn Health https://health.uconn.edu/spine/services/minimally-invasive-spine-surgery/augmented-reality-spine-surgery/ UConn Today, May 13, 2022 https://today.uconn.edu/2022/05/tech-assisted-spine-surgery-likened-to-x-ray-vision/  

The UConn Health tradition of students spending their last free summer bicycling cross-country to raise money for a charitable cause continues for a 17th year. Rising second-year dental student Brian Legato and medical students Julia Neri and Dustin Moore make up the 2022 Coast to Coast for a Cause team. Hear what they had to say about their adventure the day before they started it. (June 2022, Julia Neri, Dustin Moore, Brian Legato, Chris DeFrancesco) Coast to Coast for a Cause 2022 blog https://uconncoast2coast2022.blogspot.com/ (may not work on UConn Health network) Coast to Coast for a Cause 2022 link tree https://linktr.ee/C2C2022 Coast to Coast for a Cause 2022 / Hole in the Wall Gang camp http://getinvolved.holeinthewallgang.org/site/TR/HWCGGlobal/General;jsessionid=00000000.app20114a?team_id=4042&pg=team&fr_id=1625&NONCE_TOKEN=F6AFFD4E833B5D2D193C17EB9F9EE1F6  

For some women, maintaining their own health can have its challenges, whether everyday things like putting family and career ahead of their own needs, or potential barriers to care related to socio-economic status. What kind of a multiplier effect has the pandemic had on those factors? Dr. Shontreal Cooper, a maternal-fetal medicine physician in UConn Health's Women's Center, shares her observations from the last two years, what she tells her patients, and a creative way she tries to break down barriers. (Dr. Shontreal Cooper, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, May 2022) Dr. Shontreal Cooper https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Cooper-Shontreal UConn Health Women's Center https://health.uconn.edu/women/  

The No. 1 source of physicians and dentists who practice in Connecticut is UConn Health, whose schools have been graduating physicians, dentists, biomedical researchers, and masters of public health for five decades. This month we hear from Dr. Bruce T. Liang, dean of the UConn School of Medicine (and UConn Health's interim CEO and executive vice president for health affairs) and Dr. Steven Lepowsky, dean of the UConn School of Dental Medicine. The deans explain the role of the medical, dental, and graduate schools in preparing and producing generations of professionals to maintain Connecticut's health care workforce. (Dr. Bruce T. Liang, Dr. Steven Lepowsky, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, April 2022) UConn and the Health Care Workforce https://medicine.uconn.edu/healthcare-workforce/ UConn School of Medicine https://medicine.uconn.edu/ UConn School of Dental Medicine https://dentalmedicine.uconn.edu/ UConn Health Graduate School https://health.uconn.edu/graduate-school/ Graduate Medical Education https://health.uconn.edu/graduate-medical-education/ CT Area Health Education Center (AHEC) https://health.uconn.edu/connecticut-area-health-education-center-network/  

Dr. Daniel Rosenberg, professor of medicine, Health Net Inc. Chair in Cancer Biology, and investigator in UConn Health's Center for Molecular Oncology, is on the trail of the connection between our digestive system's microbiome and colon cancer. His research has shown how walnut consumption can impact gut bacteria in a way that seems to fight off inflammation in some people. He's also investigating why colon cancers are turning up more in younger people, in their 40s and even 30s. (March 2022, Daniel Rosenberg, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco) Daniel W. Rosenberg, Ph.D., faculty profile https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Rosenberg-Daniel UConn Health Center for Molecular Oncology https://health.uconn.edu/molecular-oncology/ Walnut study https://starr.uchc.edu/Study/StudyDetails.aspx?ID=1796 gajewska@uchc.edu, pappleton@uchc.edu Peanut study https://starr.uchc.edu/Study/StudyDetails.aspx?ID=1704 nfan@uchc.edu Masako Nakanishi, Ph.D., Center for Molecular Oncology https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Nakanishi-Masako John Birk, MD, chief, UConn Health Division of Gastroenterology https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Birk-John Haleh Vaziri, MD, UConn Health gastrotenterologist https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Vaziri-Haleh George Weinstock, Ph.D., The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Weinstock-George

Our feet and ankles are among the most commonly injured parts of our body. There's a wide range of problems, and thankfully, with the right experts, a wide range of treatment options. Dr. Lauren Geaney, UConn Health foot and ankle surgeon and director of UConn's orthopedic surgery residency program, describes some of the advances in addressing both common and complex problems. She also discusses her role in educating tomorrow's orthopedic surgeons, including a narrowing gender gap in the specialty, and shares news of a recent development in UConn's orthopedic surgery training. (Dr. Lauren Geaney, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, January 2022) UConn Health Orhopedics and Sports Medicine https://health.uconn.edu/orthopedics-sports-medicine/

When it comes to treating stroke, initiating care ASAP, especially at a certified stroke center, can greatly improve the trajectory for survival and recovery. Regulatory bodies and other third parties have taken note of the stoke care at UConn Health, which has maintained the distinction of "primary stroke center" from The Joint Commission since first earning it in 2014. This month, two of the nurses behind the UConn Health Stroke Center's success, Jennifer Sposito (clinical coordinator) and Brooke Medel (patient navigator) describe what makes UConn Health so effective at stroke care and tell you what you need to watch for in order to BE FAST, act quickly, and recognize this medical emergency. (Jennifer Sposito, Brooke Medel, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, December 2021) UConn Health Stroke Center https://health.uconn.edu/stroke-center/ UConn Health Stroke Survivor Group https://health.uconn.edu/stroke-center/events-and-programs/ Video: Stroke Survivor Returns for Promised Dance With His Nurse https://youtu.be/V6tD8RO_0SE  

The UConn Health Brain and Spine Institute, an elite collaboration of experts in areas including neurology, neurosurgery, neuro-radiology, and comprehensive spine, continues to grow. Two of its members, Dr. John Greenfield, neurology chair, and Dr. Ian McNeill, neurosurgeon who specializes in spine abnormalities and disorders, describe how this high level of coordinated care ensures patients who've suffered from brain tumors, strokes, spine problems, and other disorders of brain and spine are seeing the optimal combination of providers for the best outcomes. (Dr. John Greenfield, Dr. Ian McNeill, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, November 2021) UConn Health Brain and Spine Institute https://health.uconn.edu/brain-and-spine-institute/ 860-679-6551

An elite national research collaborative to shape the future of geriatrics to help older adults maintain their independence now includes UConn Health. The UConn Center on Aging recently won a $7 million grant to become one of 15 "Pepper Centers" of excellence to advance the newer field of precision gerontology. Drs. George Kuchel and Richard Fortinsky from the UConn Center on Aging explain what's involved and why having a Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center at UConn Health is a win for the institution, the state, the public, and both today's and tomorrow's patients and family members. (Dr. George Kuchel, Dr. Richard Fortinsky, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, October 2021) UConn Center on Aging https://health.uconn.edu/aging/ 860-679-3956 Pepper Center grant announcement https://today.uconn.edu/?p=176121    

Perhaps the pandemic hasn't been as hard -- from a mental health perspective -- on older adults has we first feared it might? In fact, we have reason to believe older adults have coped as well as any other age group, or perhaps more so. Dr. David Steffens, UConn Health chair of psychiatry and geriatric psychiatrist, and second-year UConn medical student Tia Kozar have been studying this, and what they're seeing may surprise you. (Dr. David Steffens, Tia Kozar, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, September 2021) UConn Health Department of Psychiatry https://health.uconn.edu/psychiatry/ UConn School of Medicine https://medicine.uconn.edu/

Kids and parents alike are sure to have questions as they prepare for a new school year that figures to have the characteristics of pandemic learning at least to start. Dr. Erica Waddington at UConn Health's family medicine practice in Canton offers her perspective on back-to-school time as a physician who sees both parents and kids — sometimes from the same family.  (Dr. Erica Waddington, Chris DeFrancesco, August 2021) UConn Health Family Medicine: https://health.uconn.edu/family-medicine/  

This month we're on location at the Horsebarn Hill Sciences Complex in Storrs, talking with the co-directors of the UConn Institute for Sports Medicine. Laurie Devaney, UConn physical therapist and athletic trainer, and Dr. Matt Hall, UConn Health sports medicine physician, explain what they and their colleagues can do for athletes to prevent/reduce injury risk, treat injuries and help them recover, and even use innovative ways to analyze movement to enhance performance. (July 2021, Laurie Devaney, Dr. Matt Hall, Chris DeFrancesco) https://sports.institute.uconn.edu/

Within the Connecticut Area Health Education Center (CT AHEC), housed at UConn Health, students in the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program not only are learning an interprofessional method of delivering care. These Urban Health/AHEC Scholars also are spreading awareness of this evolving approach to health professions training and patient care. UConn dental student Basant Sallam, UConn nursing student Donice "Nicey" Brooks, and UConn graduate public health and social work program alum Michal Klau-Stevens discuss the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program's objectives and their role in promoting it with the student-run podcast series "Urban Service Talks," which just debuted. (Nicey Brooks, Michal Klau-Stevens, Basant Sallam, Chris DeFrancesco, June 2021) Listen and subscribe to "Urban Service Talks": https://health.uconn.edu/connecticut-area-health-education-center-network/urban-services-track-and-ahec-scholars/urban-service-talks/ Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program: https://health.uconn.edu/connecticut-area-health-education-center-network/urban-services-track-and-ahec-scholars/ CT Area Health Education Center: https://health.uconn.edu/connecticut-area-health-education-center-network/ Connect with "Urban Service Talks": Twitter @TalksService Instagram @urbanservicetalks Email ust.pod@gmail.com  

Smartphone use is a big part of our lives, and the pandemic has magnified that, particularly for teens and adolescents. What effect could all that screen time have on these younger, still developing brains? Dr. Jayesh Kamath from UConn Health's mood and anxiety disorders program joins Carolyn and Chris to discuss his research in the area, including how some preliminary findings could help inform the evolution of the approach treating anxiety and depression. (Dr. Jayesh Kamath, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, May 2021) https://health.uconn.edu/psychiatry/mood-and-anxiety-clinic/  

World Voice Day carries on virtually this year, with Dr. Denis Lafreniere and Starr Cookman from the UConn Health Voice and Speech Clinic and a live performance from special guest Javier Colon! (Dr. Denis Lafreniere, Starr Cookman, Javier Colon, Chris DeFrancesco, April 16, 2021) 11 tips for safer choral singing: Maximize ventilation; sing outside when possible Wear masks when singing Maintain at least 6 ft of physical distancing Rehearse in small groups; perhaps in shifts Shorten rehearsal time Limit socializing and sharing food Wipe down all shared items (music stands, chairs, etc) Screen for symptoms Avoid physical contact Hand washing/disinfection before, during and after rehearsals Stay away if you are sick Links: Javier Colon: http://javiercolon.com/ ("Walking Blind," written and performed by Javier Colon) Artist Job Bank: https://we-ha.com/artist-job-bank-a-new-initiative-of-west-hartford-commission-on-the-arts/ UConn Health Voice and Speech Clinic: https://health.uconn.edu/otolaryngology/services/voice-and-speech-clinic/ World Voice Day: https://www.entnet.org/WorldVoiceDay (American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery) UConn Health Pulse podcast April 2021, featuring the Voice and Speech Clinic: https://uconnhealthpulse.podbean.com/e/a-clear-voice-on-vocal-health/ UConn Health Pulse podcast archive: https://health.uconn.edu/archives/uconn-health-podcast  

This month we talk about something we often take for granted -- talking (or singing). Dr. Denis Lafreniere and Starr Cookman from the UConn Health Voice and Speech Clinic discuss voice disorders and the importance of maintaining good vocal health as they prepare to celebrate World Voice Day April 16. (Dr. Denis Lafreniere, Starr Cookman, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, April 2021)

Multiple sclerosis can strike at a relatively young age and can lead to disability later in life. While not curable, it is treatable, and with the right combination of early diagnosis, expert intervention, and patient empowerment, people with MS can minimize their disease progression and delay the onset of disability. This month, MS Awareness Month, we hear from two members of the UConn Health Multiple Sclerosis Center, Dr. Jaime Imitola, director of the Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, and Karen Nelson, a nurse who serves as clinical patient navigator, describing how the MS Center at UConn Health coordinates elite care to change the trajectory of a patient's life. (Dr. Jaime Imitola, Karen Nelson, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, March 2021) UConn Health Multiple Sclerosis Center: 860-679-4888 https://health.uconn.edu/multiple-sclerosis/

Neurological disorders are wide-ranging and include many that are rare and therefore difficult to recognize and treat. Once diagnosed, the individual care plan often requires specialists from across several disciplines. It's why Dr. Ketan Bulsara, chief of UConn Health's Division of Neurosurgery, and Dr. Daniel Roberts, ear, nose and throat surgeon, started the Cranial Nerve and Brain Stem Disorder Program at UConn Health. They explain to Carolyn and Chris how the program harnesses UConn Health's elite combination of experts across multiple specialties, making it a leader in the treatment of these complicated conditions. (Dr. Ketan Bulsara, Dr. Daniel Roberts, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, February 2021)

As UConn Health administers the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to health care providers and other front-line staff, Dr. David Banach, UConn Health's hospital epidemiologist, and Dr. Kim Metcalf, UConn Health's primary vaccine coordinator, join Carolyn and Chris to discuss how UConn Health is serving as a leader in the fight against the pandemic and to explain the significance of the vaccine in that effort. (Dr. David Banach, Dr. Kim Metcalf, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, December 2020)

We're learning more about the growing field of orthobiologics, the use of treatments derived from individual patients' own cells and injected at the injury site to promote healing. Dr. Allison Schafer, a nonoperative sports medicine physician at the UConn Musculoskeletal Institute, offers bone marrow aspirate concentrate, or BMAC, for this purpose. She joins Carolyn and Chris to explain how it works and what makes it effective. (Dr. Allison Schafer, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, December 2020)

Some of the most advanced lasers and other devices used in cosmetic dermatology are available at UConn Health — with dermatologists who have the expertise to use them. Drs. Maritza Perez and Hao Feng join Carolyn and Chris to explain how they provide the latest available treatment options, not by fitting the device to the patient, but the patient to the device (or other method), safely and effectively resulting in healthier, younger-looking skin. (Dr. Maritza Perez, Dr. Hao Feng, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, November 2020)

Drs. Anthony Parrino and Joel Ferreira, UConn Health hand, wrist and elbow surgeons, offer an approach to hand surgery that is not widely available in American health care. They can repair problems like trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome using a local anesthetic, enabling the patient to remain awake and test the repair during the procedure. They join Carolyn and Chris to explain the advantages of this technique, known as "wide-awake hand surgery." (Dr. Anthony Parrino, Dr. Joel Ferreira, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, October 2020)

Dr. Jennifer Kanaan from UConn Health's Sleep Disorders Center joins Carolyn and Chris to talk about the impact of sleep has on how adolescents do in school and in their relationships. She explains the advantages of later school start times and offers some advice on how to build good sleep habits. (Dr. Jennifer Kanaan, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, September 2020)

The complex nature of tumors of the central nervous system (brain and spine) has given rise to a subspecialty known as neuro-oncology. It's a still relatively new and uncommon discipline, and was not in place at UConn Health until the arrival of Dr. Kevin Becker in the summer of 2019. Dr. Becker joins Carolyn and Chris to explain his role as a neuro-oncologist and the advantages a neuro-oncology program offers both to patients and to the advancement of medicine.   (Dr. Kevin Becker, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, August 2020)