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Blood cancers are the fifth most common group of cancers in the UK. But for a small number of people, the condition may have an inherited genetic cause.  In this episode of Behind the Genes, we explore the role of genetics in blood cancer, and what an inherited risk means for patients and their families. Our guests explain what blood cancer is, how inherited factors can increase risk, and why multidisciplinary teamwork is key to supporting families. They also look ahead to future advances, from whole genome sequencing to prevention trials.  Our host Amanda Pichini, Clinical Director at Genomics England, is joined by:  Dr Katie Snape, Principal Clinician at Genomics England and Consultant Cancer Geneticist  Bev Speight, Principal Genetic Counsellor Dr Sarah Westbury, Consultant Haematologist “By doing whole genome sequencing we get all of the information about all of the changes that might have happened, we know whether any are inherited, but importantly, we're certain of the ones that have just occurred in the cancer cells and can help guide us with their treatment.”  You can download the transcript or read it below. Amanda: Hello, and welcome to Behind the Genes.  Sarah: When we think about blood cancers, it's a whole range of different conditions and when you talk to patients who are affected with blood cancers or are living with them, their experiences are often really different from one another, depending in part on what kind of blood cancer they have.  We also know that blood cancers affect not just the cell numbers but also the way that those cells function, and so the range of symptoms that people can get is really variable.  Amanda: I am your host, Amanda Pichini, clinical director at Genomics England and genetic counsellor.  Today I'll be joined by Dr Katie Snape, principal clinician at Genomics England and a consultant cancer geneticist in London, Bev Speight, a principal genetic counsellor in Cambridge, and Dr Sarah Westbury, and haematologist from Bristol.  They'll be talking about blood cancers and the inherited factors that increase blood cancer risk.  If you enjoy this episode, we'd love your support, so please subscribe, rate and share on your favourite podcast app.  Let's get started.  Thanks to everyone for joining us today on this podcast, we're delighted to have so many experts in the room to talk to us about blood cancer.  I'd love to start with each of you introducing yourself and telling us and the listeners a little bit about your role, so, Sarah, could we start with you?  Sarah: Sure.  It's great to be here.  My name's Sarah Westbury, and I'm a consultant haematologist who works down in Bristol.  And my interest in this area is I'm a diagnostic haematologist so I work in the laboratories here in the hospitals, helping to make a diagnosis of blood cancer for people who are affected with these conditions.  And I also look after patients in clinic who have different forms of blood cancer, but particularly looking after families who have an inherited predisposition to developing blood cancer.  And in the other half of my job, I work as a researcher at the University of Bristol.  And in that part of my job, I'm interested in understanding the genetic basis of how blood counts are controlled and some of the factors that lead to loss of control of those normal blood counts and how the bone marrow functions and works.  Amanda: Thank you.  That's really interesting, we'll be looking forward to hearing more about your experience.  Bev, we'll come to you next.  Bev: Thank you.  Hello everyone, I'm Bev Speight, I'm a genetic counsellor, and I work at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.  I work with families with hereditary cancers in the clinical genetic service, and for the last six years or so have been focused on hereditary blood cancers.  So we've been helping our haematologists across the region to do genetic tests and interpret the results, and then in my clinic seeing some of the onward referrals that come to clinical genetics after a hereditary cause for blood cancer is found.  I'm also part of the Council for the UK Cancer Genetics Group.  Amanda: Thank you, Bev.  And Katie, over to you.  Katie: Hello, I'm Katie Snape.  I'm a genetics doctor and I am a specialist in inherited cancer.  So we look after anyone who might have an increased chance of developing cancer in their lifetime due to genetic factors.  I am the chair of the UK Cancer Genetics Group, so that's a national organisation to try and improve the quality of care and care pathways for people with inherited cancer risk in the UK.  And I have a special interest in inherited blood cancers through my work at King's College Hospital, I work in the haematology medicine service there seeing individuals who might have or have been diagnosed as having an inherited component to their blood cancers.  So it's great to be here.  Amanda: Excellent, thank you for those introductions.  I'd like to then dive right in and understand a little bit more about blood cancers.  So, Sarah, could you tell us a little bit more about what blood cancer is?  Sarah: Yes, sure.  The term blood cancer is used to describe a whole range of different kinds of cancer, all of which affect some part of the blood or sometimes parts of the immune system that kind of gets represented as part of the blood.  So it's really describing a big group of conditions rather than one single kind of condition or entity itself.  But like any form of cancer, we understand blood cancers as being conditions where because cells as part of the blood system are rapidly dividing and normally doing so under really well controlled circumstances to produce just the right balance of blood cells and just the right number of those cells.  In a cancer affecting those cells, we see that that loss of control results in either too many of one type of blood cell being produced or too few, or that balance being lost.  And like any form of cancer, this is because of genetic changes that happen in individual cells that then go on to grow in a way that is not controlled and well regulated.    And because when we talk about blood cancer we're talking about such a wide range of different kinds of cancer affecting different cells within that blood system, there's a really wide range of different conditions.  From conditions that we might think of as being like a form of acute leukaemia, so something that produces often symptoms and signs in patients very quickly and they can often feel quite unwell quite soon and then get picked up with having this condition because they present feeling unwell.  All the way to chronic and slow growing cancers that can be found completely by chance and serendipity when blood tests are done for other reasons.  So when we think about blood cancers, it's a whole range of different conditions.  And when you talk to patients who are affected with blood cancers or are living with them, their experiences are often really different from one another, depending in part on what kind of blood cancer they have.  We also know that blood cancers affect not just the cell numbers, but also the way that those cells function.  And so the range of symptoms that people can get is really variable, again depending on which of the blood cells are really affected by that.  And it may be that during the course of some of the conversations we have today in this podcast, we'll perhaps focus on particular kinds of blood cancer.  But like any cancer, it's that disruption of the normal growth and development of cells that means that the number and function of those blood cells has been disrupted in some way.  Amanda: Thank you so much for explaining that, Sarah, that's really helpful.  In terms of across the range of blood cancers, is that something that people can get at any age, and how common is it?  Sarah: It does depend, as we were sort of talking about that really wide range of different disorders that make up that group of blood cancers.  And individually each of those blood cancers is reasonably uncommon compared to cancers that we might typically think of, like breast cancer or colon cancer.  But actually, if you group blood cancers together, they make up quite a sizeable proportion, and they're actually as a group the fifth most common form of cancer that's diagnosed in people in the UK.  In adults in particular we think that perhaps people diagnosed with leukaemia would make up about 3% of the new diagnosis of cancer made in any year.  Amanda: So coming to you, Bev, when we talk about inherited blood cancers, what are the differences between those and blood cancers more generally?    Bev: So at point of diagnosis, it may not be obvious that somebody with a new blood cancer diagnosis is one of the minority of people in that big group as Sarah has described, who has an inherited cause.  So it may not be immediately obvious.  However, in the last few years certainly, it's become more and more routine to do quite broad genetic testing.  Often on a bone marrow sample or blood, because that is done looking for genetic changes, which are part of all cancer and we find within cancer cells, that can help with treatment planning.  It can also find that there is an inherited cause to that new blood cancer diagnosis.  Sometimes that might not be clear cut, sometimes that might be inferred from the genetic tests that are done on the blood or the bone marrow. And the proportion of blood cancers in that huge group which do have an inherited cause is fairly small, the actual proportion will depend a bit on the age of the patient and the specific subtype of blood cancer.  Amanda: Okay, and could you talk us through how some of those inherited genetic factors can increase the chance of a person developing blood cancer, how does that work?  Bev: Yes, so if we know that there is an inherited cause for blood cancer, then what we mean by that most of the time is that a change in a single gene has been found.  And that there is enough research evidence and enough known about that specific change in that gene to say to the person who's been diagnosed, there is at least in part or perhaps a full explanation for why that blood cancer has developed and this could be shared in the family.  So at that point it's information that not only has implications for the person in treatment, but also their relatives.  Depending on what sort of gene alteration it is and which gene it's found in, there are different inheritance patterns, and that changes the sorts of information that we give about risks for relatives.  So for lots of the genetic tests that detect an inherited cause in adults when they're diagnosed, that's most often what we would call an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.  Essentially that means you only need to have one gene alteration which is in that person's normal non-cancerous DNA inherited from a parent and can be passed onto a child.  And for people in the family who have inherited this one genetic change, then they are likely to be at increased risk of developing blood cancer.  Sometimes with particularly the children's blood cancers, if an inherited cause is found, it can be a different pattern, which we call autosomal recessive.  And that's where two gene changes are found and one has been inherited from each parent.  So parents might be what we call carriers and have one each just by chance, both have been passed onto a child who has developed blood cancer either in childhood or possibly later on, and that's the pattern we call autosomal recessive.  There are other inheritance patterns too.  The third one that we come across being X-linked, and so that has a gender component.  That's where there's a change on the X chromosome, women have two X's, and men have one X and one Y.  So sometimes with the X-linked conditions we're more likely to see the clinical signs of a condition in boys and men because they've only got that one X chromosome.  But those are less common in the context of talking about hereditary blood cancers.  Amanda: Thank you.  That's really helpful to understand.  So it sounds like you're saying that these forms of blood cancers that are caused by a single gene are relatively rare.  And also by having one of these changes, it's not a given that that person will develop a blood cancer, but it makes them more likely, and how likely that is might depend on the inheritance pattern or the type of condition.  Bev: That's right.  So what we're saying is it can give either part of full explanation for the blood cancer diagnosis, and it could confer a risk to family members, but that doesn't mean they definitely will develop it.  We're talking about an increased risk compared to the population risk.  Amanda: Right.  I can imagine for those families to some extent it might be helpful to know the underlying reason why they had that blood cancer, but again, that's just a small proportion.  So, Katie, could I come to you next?  What about the rest of all the blood cancers, how do they occur?  Katie: Yes, thanks, Amanda.  So most blood cancers will occur just by chance.  We also know that there are some environmental factors that can increase the risk of blood cancers, so, for example, serious radiation exposure, something like that.  What Bev has described is where there is this sort of quite rare condition where there is a kind of single gene that's really important for the blood cells in terms of keeping those control mechanisms that Sarah described.  And that's not working properly, which has increased the risk of a blood cancer.  But we also sometimes see some families where there is more blood cancer, or the same type of blood cancer in that family than we might expect by chance.  We think that's probably not due to a single high risk genetic factor, but might be due to kind of multiple lower risk genetic factors that are sort of shared by close family members and can add up together to increase the risk a little bit.  And we call that familial risk or polygenic risk.  We don't have a test for that at the moment.  We wouldn't offer usually any extra screening or testing to those families, but we would just suggest obviously family members are aware of any signs of symptoms of blood cancers and seek any advice if they're concerned.  But, you know, the majority of blood cancers are not due to genetic factors, and it's sort of environmental or chance or bad luck. Amanda: Okay, so it's clear that obviously blood cancer is almost an oversimplification, within that category there's so many different types, so many ways that it could happen in a person.  So, Bev, if we're dealing with that type of blood cancer that is inherited or has some heritability, can you tell us more about what that means for the family?  What kind of impacts do you see that having for them?  Bev: Yes, of course.  So clearly this is another layer of information that's often coming at a family during a time where somebody is often recently diagnosed with blood cancer of one sort or another and is having to take in a lot of information about treatment and all of the uncertainty and anxiety that goes with that.  So for this minority of patients and families where there is new information about an inherited cause, that needs conveying in a timely but sensitive way, bearing in mind what else is happening.  And for some people it can come as a major shock and really an additional burden at that time.  I think the reaction to that will of course depend on lots of factors.  And what we also see is that this question about a new cancer diagnosis of any sort, including blood cancers, can generate the question in people's mind, particularly if they've got children, about does this change the risk for relatives?  So sometimes this new information that, actually, there is an inherited cause is an answer to a question that families have already got.  And that might be because of what Katie's described as familial clustering, there might already have been this known history in the family. So sometimes this information can feed into that and actually be quite a helpful answer.  But it's quite normal for families to feel quite mixed about this and for different family members to have a different approach to it.  When there's the offer of what we would call predictive testing, if we found a change in a single gene in somebody with blood cancer which we're saying is a hereditary cause for that, that might open the door for relatives to access predictive testing.  I.e., the opportunity to discuss and possibly take up a genetic test for themselves when they haven't had cancer themselves, but there's an opportunity to try and quantify whether or not they're at increased risk.  We know in families the uptake of those kinds of tests is different, and a lot of it is to do with timing and the way people respond to this in families might depend on their response to the cancer diagnosis in their relative, and of course what else is going on in their life at the time.  This aspect for the family is where clinical genetic services come in, because these initial tests in the person with blood cancer are done in their haematology/oncology setting, and normally the results about an inherited cause has been found are conveyed through that service.  That's when a referral to clinical genetics happens.  And in our specialist service we're addressing those additional concerns for the family which arise because of this diagnosis. Amanda: Thanks, Bev, for explaining that.  Sarah, coming back to you.  Could you tell me then if someone has an inherited blood cancer does it also change the way that the patient is treated? Sarah: Well, it certainly can do, and again, it does depend a little bit on the specific circumstances of that particular person and the form of inherited blood cancer predisposition that they have.  But certainly if we think about treatment as a whole, then for a lot of people it does affect the way that we might recommend treatments or look after them and their families.  So, for example, for some patients who have a diagnosis of an inherited form of blood cancer, we know that some treatments might be more or less effective for their particular set of circumstances.  And so that can sometimes influence the specific treatment recommendations that we would make, particularly thinking about, for example, the risks that the cancer might come back again after it's been treated.  Or thinking about whether or not some of the typical drug regimes that might be used might be perhaps more likely to cause them side effects or problems with tolerating that treatment.  So it can certainly make some changes in that respect. For some people, to be fair a minority of people with blood cancers, they may need a stem cell transplant as part of their treatment to hopefully cure them of their blood cancer.  And this as I say is a treatment that's required for a minority of patients as a whole who have a diagnosis of a blood cancer.  But for those people who have got an inherited predisposition and who might be recommended a stem cell transplant as part of their treatment, then knowing about a familial risk for this condition can also be really important.  For making sure that if a family member is being considered as a donor for example that we're being really careful to make sure that we're not choosing a donor that might also be affected by the same underlying blood cancer predisposition.  Because this can obviously cause problems for the person that's receiving the stem cells if it turns out that the person they're receiving them from actually has the same inherited condition as them.  So in that respect knowing about the underlying predisposition and genetic cause for their cancer can be helpful.  But in a more sort of general sense, yes, the other thing that it can have a big difference for is that some of these inherited cancer predispositions and syndromes also have other health conditions associated with them.  So it might be that that genetic diagnosis predisposes somebody not only to a form of blood cancer but to other health conditions as well.  And so actually knowing about that diagnosis can help their haematologist then make sure that they're linked in with the right other medical teams to make sure that those other health conditions are identified if they're present and taken care of.  And then I think really coming back to what Bev has already touched on, there's the sort of bigger picture of just how people are looked after in their own right but also as part of their family unit.  And making sure that they're given the right information and advice about their health, but also thinking about other family members.  And particularly for younger patients who perhaps either are just starting their own families or for whom that's not yet a consideration, making sure that they've got the information to understand what might be relevant for future family members, if that makes sense.  So it's not necessarily true to say that for every individual patient knowing that there's an inherited blood cancer present will necessarily directly affect the way that the treatment is offered.  But you can see that as a part of a bigger picture for a lot of patients, it will make a difference to their care as a whole.  Amanda: And you can really see how the impact is very sort of multigenerational and is going to affect people at all ages and stages of their life, so that's really interesting.  Katie, Bev spoke a little earlier about the fact that there are genetic tests that can help tell us if blood cancer is inherited.  Could you tell us more about what the tests involve, and some of your experience taking families through this?  Katie: There's sort of two main different ways that we might identify somebody has an inherited cause for their blood cancer through testing.  So traditionally what has happened, as Bev and Sarah sort of discussed before, is that when a person is diagnosed with a blood cancer, we either take a sample of their blood or bone marrow.  To try and look at what are the changes within those cells that have driven that cell to become a cancer cell and have driven this blood cancer to develop.  And a lot of the time, as we've said, it's not inherited, it's not genetic, so they're what we call acquired changes, they're changes that have just happened in the bone marrow or to the blood cells that have caused that kind of particular cell to become a cancer cell.  And it's really important that we look at those because that can help both diagnose the blood cancer, it can give us information about how serious that blood cancer might be, and it can also help us guide our treatments and therapies.  And so if we do those testings, they're primarily done within haematology for those sort of diagnostic or prognostic or treatment purposes.  We do sometimes see then a change that looks a bit suspicious that it might be inherited for various reason.  And if we see something that is in the cancer and it looks like there's a potential it could be inherited, we would go on and do a second test.  So usually because we can't do a blood test because the cancer's in the blood, we would take a skin biopsy.  And then we would look and see, well, is this change also present in the skin?  And if it is, then that indicates that that change is in all of the cells of the body, because it's in both the blood cancer and it's in the skin, and therefore it's likely to be inherited.  So that's one thing that we do.  And I think that that can be quite challenging for patients.  Because they go in to have a test for their blood cancer and then suddenly were being told, “Well, actually, we've also found something that might be inherited,” and it is something then that other members of the family might have.  And as Sarah said, potentially that means that even if your relative was offering to be a bone marrow donor for you, they might not be able to if they also carry the same thing.  And so that can be quite tricky just in terms of making sure that we're guiding the patient and their family members through that process.  And then thinking about the work that Genomics England does, particularly with whole genome sequencing, and this is particularly offered for children and young adults in the paediatric setting.  But I think we're also increasingly, as we progress we'll perhaps talk about this a bit, moving towards whole genome sequencing for adult blood cancers more routinely as well, that that is offered as a sort of standard of care.  And what whole genome sequencing is, is it is looking at the entire genetic instruction manual in both the blood cancer cells and in the cells that we're born with, to look at the inherited or germline genome as well.  And the reason that we look at both the cancer cells and the inherited or germline genome is because what we're trying to understand is firstly, are there any inherited changes that have led to the blood cancer developing?  But also, what are the changes that have just occurred in the cancer cells that are going to help us to diagnose and treat that blood cancer?  So by doing whole genome sequencing we get all of the information about all of the changes that might have happened, we know whether any are inherited, but importantly, we're certain of the ones that have just occurred in the cancer cells and can help guide us with their treatment.  And so, again, when we're talking to patients, we have to explain to them that we're going to be looking at their entire genetic information.  And what's interesting about that is it might find things that are not only relevant to blood cancer, but very rarely other findings, incidental findings as well, or we might find things that we don't know about.  But I think certainly that's something that patients often feel very comfortable with having because it gives them the maximum amount of information.  Amanda: Thanks, Katie.  So it really sounds like there's a lot of advancements that are being made in genetic technology which potentially brings a lot of new things for you and Bev as genetic specialists, but also for you, Sarah, as a haematology specialist.  What does that kind of change for you, and I assume it's really important then for you all to be working together as a multidisciplinary team?  Katie: Yes, I mean, I think for clinical genetics, we were not involved in sort of haematology pathways for a really long time, and the haematologists are absolute experts in the genomic factors that drive blood cancers.  And certainly in my practice, it's really only been as the technology advanced that we really started finding more and more of these inherited factors, particularly in the adult setting.  Because I think in the paediatric and childhood setting, the haematologists again have been managing those conditions very well for years.  And I think there's places that we really interface and we really need to work together as a multidisciplinary team, understanding the genetic information, really understanding when something that we've seen in the blood cancer or the bone marrow could be inherited.  Do we need to check that?  What should that pathway look like?  But I think as you've said, a lot of these are actually really quite new conditions, particularly in the adult setting.  And we don't yet 100% know why do some people get blood cancer and some people don't when they have the same inherited factor.  What's the actual risk?  Are there any other factors modifying it?  What makes some people progress to develop a blood cancer and some people not?  And for that we really need to work together to try and gather the data and sort of capture people that have these inherited changes.  And hopefully develop a system and an infrastructure that we can follow it long-term and get a lot of information about long-term outcomes, both for individuals with cancer but also their families.  And also from looking at doing population studies.  Because I think we know that lots of people in the general population might carry some of these inherited changes and never develop a blood cancer as a result of this, certainly ones that seem a bit lower risk.  So we really need to work together to understand all of that.  But I'd be really interested in Sarah's views on that as well.  Sarah: Yes, sure.  So I think, as you say, Katie, haematologists have got a long history of understanding and interpreting genetic findings in the sort of acquired or somatic changes that we know are what occurs in some blood cells to drive the cancer forming in the first place. But this kind of newer integration of that with the germline testing is something that is becoming much more mainstream in haematology now, and I think something that people have had to sort of acquire new skills in this area to interpret that alongside.  I think as you say, that multidisciplinary working, where we're able to benefit from both sides of our expertise and knowledge and put that together is so valuable, particularly in those circumstances where there is some uncertainty.  And I think as a haematologist, one of the things that I really find a benefit both personally and professionally to help me navigate these tricky questions but that I also think patients benefit from is your expertise and ability to have those really quite tricky conversations with people who are not haematology patients, if that makes sense.  So they may be the relatives of patients who have a haematological diagnosis for example.  Who at the moment are entirely well and were just going about their daily business, and they're now told that they may or may not potentially have this inherited predisposition.  And I think that as haematologists, we're very used to dealing with potentially quite poorly patients, potentially quite scared patients who find themselves, you know, the recipient of all this quite difficult information.  But we're not necessarily so skilled and experienced at holding conversations with people who don't yet have that diagnosis.  And I think that that's a really rich area of mutual aid to one another as haematologists and genetic doctors, if that makes sense.  And I think your points about understanding actually the real risks and the nature history, as we would call it, of what happens to people who carry these variants that predispose them to blood cancers is something that we can probably only work out by working together.  And of course, working with the patients and families that are affected by these conditions so that hopefully for both sides in the future we'll be able to give much better advice to patients and their families.  Amanda: So, Bev, from your experience and as a genetic counsellor, what do you feel are the important things that patients and their families should know as they're going through this testing and diagnosis process?  Bev: The things I think families where there is a hereditary cause found should know is that with this new information comes a whole new referral to a dedicated service.  Who want to help patients and their family members at risk to navigate this, to adjust the information, and to make decisions that fit with them, about whether to have testing and the timing of that.  As we already said, where there is a hereditary blood cancer risk, that risk in family members is rarely 100%.  Depending on what the hereditary predisposition is in the family, we may be able to quantify that risk, sometimes we can't always.  And the other thing to know which links to that is that there is growing interest in research in this area.  That will really help us to improve care in terms of, for example, being able to quantify the risk of developing a blood cancer in relatives who are perfectly well that may have inherited these predisposition gene changes.  Or, for example, the other obvious place where we want to make improvements in terms of some sort of evidence-based surveillance for those people who want to find out that they have inherited the genetic change and are at increased risk.  Amanda: Thank you.  And overall there's been a lot I think we've been covering today that's probably going to be very new to many people.  Why do you think it's important to raise public awareness of inherited blood cancers?  Bev: There have been lots of public awareness campaigns about other cancers, as listeners probably can think about, in terms of for women checking their breasts and breast cancer awareness.  And perhaps there's been a bit less of that in general for blood cancers.  As we've already talked about, clinical genetics were not so involved in all of the genetic testing happening in blood cancers.  Because it wasn't so long ago in the history of how we think about inherited cancers in general that our suspicion of inherited causes in leukaemia was much lower than it is now.  So I think that awareness in the public probably will take a bit more effort to bring up.  But clearly public awareness about blood cancers in general, symptom awareness, and the fact that occasionally it can be something that is running in the family, clearly better public awareness of that means that people are empowered to ask the right questions.  And the questions that might already be in some way going through their minds of their haematology doctors or perhaps of their GP, if they've got a family history but are not affected themselves.  Amanda: Wonderful.  So, looking now to the future, Katie, what genomic advancements are we seeing or are we likely to see that could impact on the care of people with an increased genetic risk of blood cancer?  Katie: We touched a little bit, I think that whole genome sequencing is expanding.  And as we can turn that test around and get it back more quickly that might become more commonplace.  And I know Genomics England and the UK Haemato-oncology Network of Excellence have been doing a lot of work in that area.  We are very lucky now we have a national inherited cancer predisposition register that NHS England have set up with the National Disease Registration Service.  So that will enable us to capture individuals that have these sort of rarer but single gene disorders or conditions that increase the chance of developing blood cancers.  And that will enable us to do that sort of longer-term follow-up and get really more information.  We've touched on this already but I think there's really amazing research happening, why do some people develop blood cancers and some people don't, even though everyone carries the same underlying change that increases the risk?  And then I think really importantly, we're seeing now in some conditions, clinical trials of certain medications to see if that can actually prevent people who carry these inherited changes from progressing to developing blood cancers.  So I think all of those things are really exciting and will give us lots more information that we can then help patients and their families, particularly the sort of treatment and trials aspects.  Amanda: And, Sarah, on treatment and trials, how do think genomics might improve the treatment, but also the diagnosis of people with inherited blood cancers in the future?  Sarah: I think, you know, hopefully when we are able to accrue more information about these underlying genetic predispositions and how they actually then affect people's likelihood of developing blood cancer, we'll be able to build on what we have so far to make that just feel much more robust and evidence based.  And it feels like at the moment there are many of us struggling to bring together small threads of evidence that have been accrued in the UK but in other centres around the world that are also interested in understanding this inherited blood cancer risk.  In such a way that we can actually give patients and their families more clear information and advice about what that means to them.  And I think that in terms of the diagnosis of blood cancer, I think this is something that Bev alluded to.  If we could better understand who might benefit for example from having regular screening or monitoring blood tests performed to see whether we can detect an emerging blood cancer.  Versus identifying those people who actually, the chances of them developing a blood cancer are so small that doing those tests is likely to do them more harm than good.  Perhaps by just causing them to be anxious or have other sort of unintended consequences of that kind of testing.  So understanding something more about that natural history, as we've already alluded to, will hopefully improve our ability to go from the diagnosis of the predisposition condition to working out how to then diagnose the blood cancer on the back of that.  And with time, I think as Katie has alluded to, thinking about more specific treatments and more tailored treatments to the individual predisposition condition and the blood cancer.  So whether it's that you're intervening before the blood cancer has developed to try and reduce that happening, or whether it's that you're then treating the blood cancer after it's developed.  Understanding the genetic basis and what it is that causes that transition would be really helpful and I think that is something that will come but will take time.  And I think on a sort of national level what I would really hope to see over time is that we're able to use that improvement in evidence base to then be able to bring together perhaps more defined patient pathways.  So that if you're diagnosed with a particular condition, one of these leukaemia predisposition syndromes or another form of blood cancer predisposition, there's a recognised strategy and set of steps that should be taken for all of those patients.  To make sure that they're getting equity of care and make sure that everything is being done in a way that feels safe, sensible and appropriate across the country.  While still then enabling us to give really personalised treatment to that individual person and what that diagnosis means for them.  But I think until we've gathered more information and more evidence we are just in the process of trying to do that to then bring about those changes.   Amanda: If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love your support.  So please subscribe, share and rate us on wherever you listen to your podcasts.  I've been your host, Amanda Pichini.  This podcast was produced by Deanna Barac and edited by Bill Griffin at Ventoux Digital.  Thank you for listening. 

In this episode, host Helen Angus, CEO of AMS Healthcare, speaks with Dr. Cynthia Whitehead. Cynthia Whitehead is an education scientist, educator, and family physician. Her research examines the effects of power relations on various structures, systems, processes, and practices in health professions education, paying attention to who and what is advantaged or disadvantaged as a result. She aims to use her research findings to promote health and education practices that are compassionate, equitable, and effective. Working at the intersection of health and higher education, she sees exciting opportunities to harness the transformative potential of education in service of a healthier world.  Cynthia's program of research is anchored in critical historical analyses of health professions education. Knowing our history is vital for understanding our current contexts, avoiding past mistakes, preserving what works well, and appropriately adapting that which needs change. Aware of the need to deliberately collect multiple perspectives and voices in the history of health professions education—and at times dismayed by the absence and loss of documents—Cynthia is engaged in efforts to preserve relevant archival materials. She is also committed to helping to grow the community of scholars interested in studying the history of the field. Theoretically, Cynthia engages with the work of Michel Foucault, as well as post-colonialism, anticolonialism, and decoloniality. Some of her specific content areas of interest are globalized medical education, primary care education, accreditation, outcomes-based education, and education for collaboration.  Underpinning Cynthia's historical research is the knowledge that the creation of Euro-American models of higher education, health professions education, and healthcare institutions globally were intrinsically intertwined with European colonization of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. She understands that colonization has shaped and continues to perpetuate inequities in health professions education and research practices locally, nationally, and globally. Cynthia's involvement in the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC) is one key partnership within which she collaboratively interrogates these processes. As a high income country researcher and white settler Canadian, she strives to listen, learn, and collaborate with humility, taking care that her work not inadvertently reproduce colonial academic practices.  Cynthia has provided education consultations and worked with educators, scholars, and learners in many countries, as well as with the World Health Organization. She has held many education leadership positions, and is involved in teaching, curricular design, program evaluation, and education administration locally, nationally, and internationally.  Cynthia is a Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine; Director and Scientist at the Wilson Centre, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and University Health Network; and an academic family doctor based clinically at Women's College Hospital. She holds the BMO Financial Group Chair in Health Professions Education Research at University Health Network. https://amshealthcare.ca/  

Dr. David Croitoru is a Toronto-based dermatologist and clinician-investigator at University Health Network and Women's College Hospital. He leads Canada's largest Pyoderma Gangrenosum clinic and supports national dermatology research and training through SKiN Canada.

In this episode of Akuttjournalen, we meet Eleanor Overgaard-Brown, a senior nurse in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Patient Liaison for London's Air Ambulance at King's College Hospital. She works at the intersection of advanced critical care and structured patient and family follow-up.The episode highlights a critical yet often overlooked component of emergency medicine: continuity beyond the acute phase. Based on her clinical and operational experience, Brown discusses how structured follow-up, communication, and dignity directly influence patient safety, rehabilitation, and overall quality of care. The conversation challenges the notion that prehospital medicine ends at discharge, arguing instead that follow-up should be regarded as a core element of modern critical care.

The BETTER Women research team gathered to review their findings, hoping to see clear evidence that peer health coaching improved women's preventative health behaviours. But the results told suggested a more complex story. While the quantitative data showed no statistically significant benefit from adding peer health coaches to the program, the qualitative interviews revealed a different picture: participants and coaches described meaningful relationships, increased confidence, and genuine support that simply weren't captured in the measured outcomes. In this episode, we sit in on the research team's candid debrief as they work through disappointing numbers, examine what might have gone wrong, and discover valuable insights about the gap between what researchers measure and what participants actually value. From volunteer bias to pandemic pivots to goals that don't fit neatly into outcome frameworks, this is an honest look at what happens when research doesn't go as planned—and why mixed or disappointing results are just as important as clear successes. [download transcript] More episodes in this series: Trailer Episode 1: Going “Upstream” to Prevent Chronic Disease Episode 2: The Science behind Peer Health Support Episode 3: Voices from the Heart of the Project: Peer Health Coaches Related research: Assessing the effectiveness of “BETTER Women”, a community-based, primary care-linked peer health coaching programme for chronic disease prevention: protocol for a pragmatic, wait-list controlled, type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial Improving chronic disease prevention and screening in primary care: results of the BETTER pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial. Results from the BETTER WISE trial: a pragmatic cluster two arm parallel randomized controlled trial for primary prevention and screening in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic Links: The BETTER Women project Canadian Cancer Society Women's College Hospital

In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, we sit down with Anne Forsyth, Hospital leader in clinical applications from Women's College Hospital in Canada, to explore how AI — especially generative AI — is reshaping daily clinical practice. Over the past two years, enthusiasm for AI has skyrocketed inside hospitals, with clinicians themselves requesting new tools rather than resisting them. We discuss the cautious but deliberate rollout of AI scribes, the still-emerging trust in decision-support AI, and the safety and change-management considerations that mirror (and sometimes exceed) traditional IT implementations. Anne offers an honest look at the financial challenges of sustaining AI tools in publicly funded health systems and shares practical advice for hospitals navigating funding models, clinical buy-in, and responsible innovation. Show notes: 01:50 – Current AI Implementations 03:21 – Safety and Risk Considerations 04:00 – Comparing AI Rollouts to Traditional IT Tools 05:10 – The Business Equation: Funding AI in Public Healthcare 06:20 – Advice for Hospitals on Sustainable AI Adoption 06:40 – Looking Ahead: The Future of AI in Clinical Applications www.facesofdigitalhealth.com https://fodh.substack.com/

Your stories with Dr. David Urbach, head of surgery at Women's College Hospital, and recently appointed to implement a central intake for a number of surgeries and diagnostic testing. We also hear from Dr. Mark Baerlocher, president of the Ontario Association of Radiologists.

In this powerful episode, Gina Livy is joined by Dr. Sean Wharton to unpack what compassionate, evidence-based obesity care really looks like. Together, they explore the complex intersection of bias and biology, challenge traditional weight labels, and discuss why kindness, curiosity, and personalized treatment matter more than ever. From doctor-patient relationships to the role of medication and structure, this conversation offers a deeply human lens on health and healing. Whether you're navigating your own journey or supporting someone else's, this is a must-listen for anyone ready to change the conversation around weight and wellness.Dr. Wharton has a doctorate in Pharmacy and Medicine from the University of Toronto. He is the medical director of the Wharton Medical Clinic, a community-based internal medicine weight management and diabetes clinic. He is an adjunct professor at McMaster University and York University, and is academic staff at Women's College Hospital and clinical staff at Hamilton Health Sciences.To learn more about the Wharton Medical Clinic, visit whartonmedicalclinic.comor find Dr. Sean on Instagram: @drseanwhartonYou can find the full video hosted at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/livymethodfall2025To learn more about The Livy Method, visit livymethod.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor, Professor James Rudd, is joined by Dr Mehdi Eskandari from King's College Hospital, London. They discuss his paper that attempts to use machine learning to identify patients in whom a TAVI procedure is likely to be unsuccessful, using simple, readily available variables. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us to reach more people - thanks! Link to published paper: https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2025/07/25/heartjnl-2025-325928

Meet the peer health coaches - the volunteers at the heart of the BETTER Women project. Through candid conversations, we hear from women who underwent extensive training in motivational interviewing and health coaching to support others on their wellness journeys. From international physicians to cancer survivors to newcomers seeking community connection, these coaches share what drew them to the program, how the training changed their own relationships, and the profound impact of walking alongside someone through health behaviour change. This is healthcare powered by human connection. [download transcript] More episodes in this series: Trailer Episode 1: Going “Upstream” to Prevent Chronic Disease Episode 2: The Science behind Peer Health Support Related research: Assessing the effectiveness of “BETTER Women”, a community-based, primary care-linked peer health coaching programme for chronic disease prevention: protocol for a pragmatic, wait-list controlled, type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial Improving chronic disease prevention and screening in primary care: results of the BETTER pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial. Results from the BETTER WISE trial: a pragmatic cluster two arm parallel randomized controlled trial for primary prevention and screening in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic Links: The BETTER Women project Canadian Cancer Society Women's College Hospital

How do you design a study to test whether peer support actually works? In this episode, we dive into the nuts and bolts of the BETTER Women research project - a randomized controlled trial examining whether trained volunteer peer health coaches can help people stick with their health goals long-term. We explore the three study sites, learn about recruiting and training participants across different communities, and discover the complexity behind implementing prevention programs in real-world primary care settings. From data collection to community engagement, this is research designed to change how we think about healthcare. [download transcript] More episodes in this series: Trailer Episode 1: Going “Upstream” to Prevent Chronic Disease Related research: Assessing the effectiveness of “BETTER Women”, a community-based, primary care-linked peer health coaching programme for chronic disease prevention: protocol for a pragmatic, wait-list controlled, type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial Improving chronic disease prevention and screening in primary care: results of the BETTER pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial. Results from the BETTER WISE trial: a pragmatic cluster two arm parallel randomized controlled trial for primary prevention and screening in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic Links: The BETTER Women project Canadian Cancer Society Women's College Hospital

We know our Canadian healthcare system is overloaded, and that preventative care may help address the increasing pressures on chronic and emergency care services. But how best to support people to actually do what they need to do to improve or manage their own health?  In this series opener, we explore "upstream" healthcare through the BETTER Women research project - a collaboration between Women's College Hospital and the Canadian Cancer Society. Discover how prevention practitioners, peer health coaches, and their patients are all working together to support lifestyle behaviour change that could prevent chronic diseases before they start. In this episode, we hear from family physicians, cancer prevention specialists, and researchers about why moving upstream is essential - and why it's so hard to achieve. [download transcript] Links: The BETTER Women project Canadian Cancer Society Women's College Hospital  

Discover how peer support could revolutionize Canadian healthcare in this groundbreaking 5-part series from Matters of Engagement, in collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Society and the BETTER Women research team at Women's College Hospital. Follow the BETTER Women research project, where trained volunteers become peer health coaches, supporting women through six-month journeys toward better health outcomes. From the scientists reimagining primary care to the prevention practitioners on the front lines, and the peer coaches whose lived experiences are transforming lives - this series explores how community connection and upstream prevention could be integral to addressing Canada's healthcare crisis. Join hosts Jennifer Johannesen and Emily Nicholas Angl as they examine whether adding peer health coaching to traditional healthcare leads to better chronic disease prevention through sustained behaviour change. Could this paradigm shift be part of building a healthier future for all Canadians? Episodes exploring prevention, peer support, and the power of community - coming soon.

The mum of a hit-and-run victim says he was stunned to discover he had been discharged from hospital and someone else was in his bed.Azar Harnden spent months being treated at King's College Hospital in London before being transferred to the QEQM in Margate after sustaining serious injuries in a horror crash in Westbrook in April.Also in today's podcast, we've been hearing from a war veteran from Canterbury who says the "Raise the Colours" campaign is just a passing phase. The controversial movement has seen St George's Flags put up across the county and red crosses spray painted on signs and roundabouts. The eviction deadline for a Kent boat club fighting for survival has been extended by a month.The campaign to save Broadness Cruising Club  has now received the backing of Thamesbank, a group of stakeholders and campaigners for the Thames, which champions its users and the environment.A Larkfield man has described his surprise at finding around three tonnes of fly-tipped waste inside his garage.Martyn de Young has had his lock-up for the past 30 years without any problems, but on Bank Holiday Monday, he found it full of rubbish.And in football it was a dramatic comeback that saved Gillingham during their match at Bromley over the weekend. You can hear from manager Gareth Ainsworth and from penalty taker Max Clarke. 

Watch this episode on YouTube hereThe episode many of you have been waiting for: an overview of interventional radiology and why this subspecialty is a great career choice. Our guest is Dr. Arash Jaberi, the Division Head of Interventional Radiology at the Joint Department of Medical Imaging (JDMI), covering University Health Network (UHN), Sinai Health and Women's College Hospital in Toronto.The content provided in this episode is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.Produced by The Levchuk Agency Inc.Thanks for listening! Watch Radiologists on YouTube hereFollow us on: XInstagramLinkedInVisit our website: imagingtoronto.com

What if the sudden mood changes, crushing fatigue, or unexpected anxiety you're experiencing aren't just stress or part of getting older, but signs of depression linked to perimenopause? In this episode, ADAA member expert and psychiatrist Dr. Crystal Clark joins host Gabe Howard to shine a light on one of the most overlooked mental health issues affecting women: the biological storm of perimenopause and its deep connection to depression and anxiety. They break down why up to 40% of women experience depression during this hormonal transition — and why so many are told to just “tough it out.”You'll learn the early warning signs to watch for, the science behind hormonal shifts and mental health, and why dismissing symptoms as “normal aging” could be harmful. Plus, they explore how therapy, medication, lifestyle shifts, and even hormone therapy can play a role in recovery. Whether you're in perimenopause, supporting someone who is, or just want to understand this life stage, this episode delivers clarity, compassion, and concrete takeaways. This episode has been sponsored by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Our guest, Dr. Crystal Clark, is an internationally recognized psychiatrist in women's mental health. She holds a Canada Research Chair in Reproductive Mental Health. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and the Associate Head of Research at Women's College Hospital. Dr. Clark specializes in mood and anxiety disorders specifically across the reproductive life span (from menstruation to peri and post menopause). Dr. Clark's research has focused on psychopharmacology for the treatment of perinatal mood disorders.  Her research aims to prevent the recurrence of illness during pregnancy and postpartum through safe dose optimization and personalized dosing strategies. Her research also aims to develop identification and prevention strategies for all persons with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders including those who are disproportionately impacted by these disorders. Dr. Clark's research has been funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research and the National Institutes of Health.  Among Dr. Clark's many leadership roles, she is a past president of the Marcé of North America, an organization dedicated to advancing perinatal mental health care, and she serves on the board of directors of Marcé International. She has been a contributor to large initiatives in Canada and the US to improve perinatal mental health in North America. As a thought leader, Dr. Clark is a thought leader and has been a contributor by several media outlets including CBS, NPR, NY Times, and Chicago Tonight regarding issues related to perinatal mental health. Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington. Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can't imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this guest expert episode, we are introduced to Dr. Sean Wharton. Dr. Sean Wharton has a doctorate in Pharmacy and Medicine from the University of Toronto. He is the medical director of the Wharton Medical Clinic, a community-based internal medicine weight management and diabetes clinic. He is an adjunct professor at McMaster University and York University, and is academic staff at Women's College Hospital and clinical staff at Hamilton Health Sciences.Dr. Sean unpacks why the old-school “calories in, calories out” approach just doesn't reflect how the body actually works. Weight loss isn't about math—it's about metabolism, genetics, biology, and how the body's systems respond to change. He also shares why compassion in medicine matters just as much as clinical expertise, emphasizing that everyone deserves quality care at every size. The conversation touches on autonomy in health care—how important it is to support people in their choices, not shame them for them. Dr. Sean also challenges the stigma around obesity, framing it as a chronic condition that deserves proper medical support, not judgment. He breaks down the role of medication, explaining how it's one of many tools—not a failure—and how weight-loss meds like GLP-1s can be empowering when used with the right guidance. He also compares surgery to medication, stressing that it's about offering options so people can decide what's best for their unique situation. Throughout, the message is clear: science will evolve, but at the heart of it all, you deserve compassion, agency, and the right to choose your own path.To learn more about the Wharton Medical Clinic, visit whartonmedicalclinic.comor find Dr. Sean on Instagram: @drseanwhartonYou can find the full video hosted at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/livymethodspring2025To learn more about The Livy Method, visit livymethod.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textThis week Fertility in Focus is thrilled to welcome Jullin Fjeldstad from Future Fertility and Dr. Sony Sierra from Evolve Egg Freezing Clinic, who sat down with us to discuss how they're bringing their unique expertise to the forefront of reproductive technology. These esteemed guests illuminate how AI is reshaping fertility preservation, specifically through the lens of egg freezing. Dr. Sierra provides a compelling overview of how egg freezing empowers individuals to align their reproductive plans with personal and professional aspirations, amidst a growing trend on social media. As more people turn to fertility preservation, understanding its benefits and implications becomes paramount. With insights from both of our guests this week, we explore how AI not only improves clinical outcomes but also offers patients unprecedented control and understanding over their fertility journeys.More about our guest speakers: Jullin Fjeldstad is the Head of Clinical Embryology and Scientific Operations at Future Fertility. Throughout her career, she has always held a passion for innovative ART technologies aimed at improving the fertility journey and IVF outcomes. In her current multi-faceted role, Jullin draws upon her experience as a seasoned embryologist and former lab director to navigate partnering clinics through seamless adoption of Future Fertility's AI-powered oocyte quality assessment tools, as well as overseeing Future Fertility's scientific project collaborations. With her extensive IVF experience and comprehensive understanding of the laboratory operations, she also provides invaluable input to the company's product development processes. Jullin holds a BSc. in Biology from the University of Victoria, Canada and a MSc. in Clinical Embryology from the University of Leeds, UK, where she achieved distinction in both areas.  Dr. Sony Sierra, MD, FRCSC, REI (She/Her), serves as a distinguished Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Specialist (REI) and Deputy Medical Director and Partner at TRIO. With nearly two decades of experience, she specializes in reproductive health, recurrent pregnancy loss, and early Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) programs. As the Medical Director at EVOLVE Egg Freezing Clinic and an Associate Physician at Women's College Hospital, she contributes significantly to advancing reproductive medicine. Dr. Sierra's research interests include infertility, implantation failure, and PCOS, reflected in her publications and conference presentations. Passionate about patient care, she approaches her practice with compassion and dedication, guided by her belief in excellence and empathy. Dr. Sierra's commitment to ongoing education and involvement in esteemed societies ensures her patients receive the most up-to-date care and expertise. She finds immense fulfillment in helping individuals and couples achieve their dreams of starting a family, making her a valued asset in the field of fertility medicine.For more info about Dr. Sierra, you can check out the TRIO Fertility Website: https://triofertility.com/team-member/sony-sierra/ or you can follow her on Instagram @drsonysierra. https://futurefertility.com/https://instagram.com/futurefertilityaihttps://www.youtube.com/@futurefertilityIf you or your organization would like to sponsor educational episodes just like this, please contact us at podcast@fertilitymatters.ca. Follow Fertility Matters Canada at @fertility_canada on Instagram and TikTok.

Rebecca Tobi, Senior Business and Investor Engagement Manager at the Food Foundation hosts a panel discussion to discuss meat consumption in the UK to coincide with the launch of a new Food Foundation briefing Meat Facts, published this week,which really delves into who in the UK is eating what meat, what type of meat are we all eating, and where are we eating it.The panel comprises: Sarah Wakefield, Executive Director at the Eating Better Alliance, Sophie Bauer, Head of Food System Transformation at WWF, Mark Breen, Senior Creative Partner at the environmental charity, Hubbub, and Dr Shireen Kasam, Consultant Haematologist and honorary Senior Lecturer at King's College Hospital, London, and founder of Plant Based Health Professionals UK. Click on the links below for more information on meat consumption and why we need to care, and here for the Food Foundation report, Meat Factshttps://foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/how-uks-supermarkets-stack-climate-change-commitmentshttps://foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/low-hanging-fruit-policy-pathway-boosting-uptake-plant-rich-dietsClick here for the Food Foundation Manifesto and here to sign up for the newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How far can a California private psychiatric hospital go in violating the rights and safety of people with disabilities—without being held accountable? A new report from Disability Rights California (DRC) shines a harsh light on College Hospital in Cerritos (CHC), revealing a disturbing pattern of inappropriate restraint and seclusion, as well as questionable use of involuntary emergency medications. These are not isolated incidents—they point to systemic problems affecting some of the state's most vulnerable residents. On this program of Pushing Limits, we'll speak with Richard Diaz, the lead attorney on the investigation, to unpack the key findings and what they mean for psychiatric care across California. We'll also examine how a lack of oversight, transparency, and disability rights enforcement contributes to ongoing harm in institutions that are supposed to help people heal. What can be done to stop it? What recourse do disabled residents have? And what role should we all be playing in demanding better? Tune in to find out. This program is hosted and produced by Eddie Ytuarte. The post Locked In and Let Down in Cerritos – Pushing Limits – May 30, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests that long wait times for hip and knee replacement surgeries in Canada — affecting about one in three patients — could be significantly reduced by implementing a centralized, team-based referral system instead of turning to private clinics. Guest: Dr. David Urbich - Study Author and Head of the Department of Surgery at Women's College Hospital in Toronto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world grappling with constant change and unprecedented challenges, the need for effective leadership has never been more critical. Whether it's navigating turbulent times in the workplace, steering through personal storms, or fostering resilience in our communities, strong leadership is the compass that guides us forward. Join us for a vital conversation on "We Need Another Leader," where we delve into the essential qualities and actionable strategies for leading with impact during difficult times. This week, we're honoured to welcome Dr. Laura Desveaux, a seasoned leadership expert, to share her invaluable insights. Laura brings a wealth of experience in empowering individuals and organizations to thrive amidst complexity. We'll explore how to cultivate crucial leadership skills such as clear communication, decisive action, empathetic support, and the ability to inspire hope when the path ahead seems uncertain. Discover practical tools and perspectives to help you step into your leadership potential, no matter your role, and make a positive difference in your workplace, your life, and your community. Are you ready to become the leader we need? Guest Bio: Dr. Laura Desveaux is a highly respected leadership coach, consultant, and facilitator with over 20 years of experience helping individuals and organizations unlock their leadership potential. Holding a PhD and the prestigious CPCC (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach) and ACC (Associate Certified Coach) credentials from the International Coaching Federation, Laura brings a deep understanding of human behavior and effective leadership principles. Her work focuses on fostering authentic leadership, building high-performing teams, and navigating change with resilience and clarity. Laura is passionate about empowering others to lead with courage, empathy, and a commitment to creating positive impact in the world. Laura is a senior leader in the healthcare sector. Her career focuses on closing the gap between current performance and what science and experience tell us is possible. She realizes this passion through her current role at Trillium Health Partners, where she helps scientists, clinicians, and professionals identify and unlock their potential. As a Scientist, her work tackles healthcare's most persistent problems. Her team works to understand what makes initiatives successful and how to scale them. This includes examining the drivers behind what people do, how and why things work, and the conditions that lead to success (and failure). This approach provides insights into what works best, for whom, and in what circumstances and helps inform how to effect change at both individual and system levels. She holds cross-appointments at the University of Toronto and Women's College Hospital. In 2018 Laura founded Women Who Lead- a non-profit network that provides programming to support career advancement and leadership development for emerging and established women leaders. It equips women with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed. Most importantly, it is a platform for partnership and inspiration that elevates and amplifies the contributions of women and the broader community. Visit the Women Who Lead website here. Laura is an award-winning Scientist with focused post-graduate training in behavioural science. She obtained both her PhD and her Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of Toronto.  https://lauradesveaux.com Order our Book, The Wisdom Of Nurses! Leave us a review on Amazon! https://www.harpercollins.ca/9781443468718/the-wisdom-of-nurses/ https://www.grittynurse.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grittynursepodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grittynurse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gritty.nurse.podcast/ X: https://x.com/GrittyNurse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grittynurse  

Premier Doug Ford cited President Donald Trump's tariff threats as the reason for the early election call. But according to a recent Nanos survey for CTV News, the top concern for Ontarians is health care: 28.1 per cent said that's the issue that will influence how they'll vote. So what kinds of health-care challenges are we facing in the province, and what do the parties propose to do about them? To discuss, we'll be joined by: Dr. Sarah Newbery, a family physician in Marathon and the assistant dean of the Physician Workforce Strategy for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine Erin Ariss, provincial president of the Ontario Nurses'Association Dr. Dominik Nowak, president of the Ontario Medical Association and a family doctor at Women's College Hospital and Dr. Jobin Varughese, president of the Ontario College of Family Physicians and interim assistant dean of primary-care education for the School of Medicine at Toronto Metropolitan University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this World Shared Practice Forum podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Burns converses with experts Drs. Akash Deep, James Squires, and Barbara Wildhaber about pediatric acute liver failure and the intricacies of deciding when a child is unsuitable for liver transplantation. Discussing insights from their 2024 Lancet Child Health and Adolescent Health paper, they emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in evaluating clinical, biochemical, psychosocial, and ethical factors. The conversation highlights challenges with exclusion criteria, risks associated with severe multi-organ failure, and the necessity of balancing technical feasibility with overall patient prognosis, while also addressing the ethical implications of organ allocation. LEARNING OBJECTIVES - Identify key clinical and biochemical factors in evaluating pediatric liver transplant suitability - Discuss the ethical and logistical considerations impacting transplant decisions in critically ill children with liver failure - Summarize multidisciplinary approaches for determining when a child may be unsuitable for a liver transplant AUTHORS Akash Deep, MD, FRCPCH Director - Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and Staff Governor King's College Hospital, London Professor in Paediatric Critical Care King's College London James Squires, MD, MS Associate Professor, Pediatrician UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Barbara Wildhaber, MD Professor University Hospitals of Geneva Chief Physician Child and Adolescent Surgery Swiss Pediatric Liver Center Jeffery Burns, MD, MPH Emeritus Chief Division of Critical Care Medicine Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine Boston Children's Hospital Professor of Anesthesia Harvard Medical School DATE Initial publication date: February 25, 2025. ARTICLE REFERENCED Deep A, Alexander EC, Brierley J, Damian M, Gupta A, McLin V, Sarma MS, Squires JE, Wildhaber BE. Paediatric acute liver failure: a multidisciplinary perspective on when a critically ill child is unsuitable for liver transplantation. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2024 Dec;8(12):921-932. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(24)00255-4. TRANSCRIPT https://cdn.bfldr.com/D6LGWP8S/at/kn5r4s2wrnh3pm24gb9hkpvk/022025_WSP_Deep_Transplant_Challenges_in_Pediatric_Liver_Failure_Transcript.pdf Please visit: http://www.openpediatrics.org OPENPediatrics™ is an interactive digital learning platform for healthcare clinicians sponsored by Boston Children's Hospital and in collaboration with the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies. It is designed to promote the exchange of knowledge between healthcare providers around the world caring for critically ill children in all resource settings. The content includes internationally recognized experts teaching the full range of topics on the care of critically ill children. All content is peer-reviewed and open-access thus at no expense to the user. For further information on how to enroll, please email: openpediatrics@childrens.harvard.edu CITATION Deep A, Squires J, Wildhaber BE, Burns JP. Transplant Challenges in Pediatric Liver Failure. 02/2025. OPENPediatrics. Online Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/openpediatrics/transplant-challenges-in-pediatric-liver-failure-by-a-deep-et-al-openpediatrics.

Dr Ajaz is a Specialist Hepatologist and a Lifestyle Medicine Physician, and her work intersects clinical medicine and research within the Institute of Liver Studies at King's College Hospital. She is also an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences.She established the LIVFIT group, the UK's first patient support group for metabolic dysfunction- associated steatotic liver disease ( MASLD), where lifestyle medicine is a key part of improving cardio-metabolic health, through nutrition, exercise and social connection.In this fascinating discussion you will learn all about MASLD, previously named non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We talk about why the name changed, how prevalent the condition is, how it is diagnosed and what treatment options are available.So whether you are a clinician, or a patient with a metabolic health condition, or just curious about improving your health and preventing common conditions related to metabolic dysfunction then this episode is for you.To connect with Dr Ajaz and LIVFIT follow these links:https://www.kch.nhs.uk/about/get-involved/groups-and-events/livfit/https://www.linkedin.com/in/saima-ajaz/?originalSubdomain=ukFurther information:https://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/article/S0168-8278(24)00329-5/fulltextTo send us an email :inanutshellpodcastuk@gmail.com

In this episode, Dr. Tom Hurst, Medical Director of London HEMS and consultant in critical care at King's College Hospital, joins Adam to discuss the unique challenges and operations of London HEMS—a leading helicopter EMS service known for its rapid, high-acuity trauma response in London, England. Their conversation highlights the real-world application of medical education principles in a high-pressure clinical environment, exploring how lessons from this setting can inform more traditional medical education contexts.  Tom emphasizes the pivotal role of teamwork, particularly the integration of paramedics and physicians in delivering emergency interventions right at the scene. They also delve into the complexities of continuous training for a diverse group of practitioners, including paramedics, fellows, and senior physicians, all working together to enhance the speed and quality of trauma care at one of the world's busiest air ambulance services.  Length of Episode: 35:10 minutes  Resources to check out:  https://www.londonsairambulance.org.uk/  Contact us: keylime@royalcollege.ca      Follow: Dr. Adam Szulewski https://x.com/Adam_Szulewski      

In this episode, Dr. Sergio Zanotti discusses rational fluid therapy. He is joined by Dr. Adrian Wong, a practicing intensive care medicine and anesthesia physician. Dr. Wong is a consultant and clinical lead at King's College Hospital, London. He also serves as a committee member for the Intensive Care Society FUSIC, examiner for the European Diploma of Intensive Care Medicine, on the executive committee of the International Fluid Academy. Additional resources: Intravenous fluid therapy in the perioperative and critical care setting” Executive summary of the International Fluid Academy (IFA). Malbrain ML, et al. Ann. Intensive Care 2020: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32449147/ Multidisciplinary expert panel report on fluid stewardship: perspectives and practice. Malbrain ML, et al. Annals of Intensive Care 2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37747558/ The emerging concept of fluid tolerance: A position paper. Kattan E, et al. Journal of Critical Care 2022: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35660844/ Everything you need to know about derescuscitation. Malbrain ML, et al. Intensive Care Med 2022: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35932335/ Start with Why. TED Talk presented by Simon Sinek: https://simonsinek.com/videos/ted-talks/ Books mentioned in this episode: Thinking Fast and Slow. By Daniel Kahneman: https://amzn.to/4hicUoj Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everybody to Take Action. By Simon Sinek: https://bit.ly/42hzt8n

Khush Mark PhD is the principal of the New School of Nutritional Medicine. She is a homeopath, and nutritional therapist practising functional medicine.  Khush's curious questioning mind led her not only into homeopathy but nutritional medicine, so much so, that following her PhD at King's College Hospital in cancer, she went onto study a MS in Nutrition in the USA, against the wishes of most of her academic colleagues (that is quackery, think about your academic career she was advised) but there were other plans ahead.  Khush loves seeing clients achieve their health and well being goals, she loves learning and shares her knowledge and skills with others. She has a knack for teaching nutrition, biochem,  homeopathy in a more fun, practical and accessible way. She has been teaching since 2002 and has a FB page where she shares her inspirational and educational blogs.  Khush believes if we have more PRACTISING homeopaths,  nutritional medicine practitioners as well as coaches, we can tip that balance and see more people using medicine that works with the vital force than against it, for this reason she is is passionate about educating as well as seeing clients achieve wholesome health.  www.newschoolofnutrition.com https://www.facebook.com/KhushMark www.khushmark.com  If you would like to support the Homeopathy Hangout Podcast, please consider making a donation by visiting www.EugenieKruger.com and click the DONATE button at the top of the site. Every donation about $10 will receive a shout-out on a future episode.

Navigating the health care system after a perimenopause diagnosis can be uniquely difficult, especially without a clear script for what questions to ask.Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe is the Medical Director of Primary Care Outreach at Women's College Hospital; she is the Health Expert for CTV's The Social; and she is an advocate and author. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from her presentation at The Walrus Talks Menopause, supported by Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health.Wijayasinghe spoke at The Walrus Talks Menopause in Toronto on October 17, 2024.To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events.And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements, at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're diving into the critical topic of major trauma networks in the UK. These networks have revolutionised trauma care, significantly improving patient outcomes since their inception. We'll explore the positives and challenges faced by these networks, with insights into their impact on patient survival rates, and the integration of advanced technologies.   To do this I am joined by Dr Ash Vasireddy, Ash is a Trauma Surgeon at King's College Hospital. He is also works as a HEMS (Air Ambulance) Pre-hospital Care Doctor. As part of the trauma lead at Kings College Ash also ensures the MTCs function effectively from an Orthopaedic perspective and fosters relationships with network partners in facilitating orthopaedic trauma care.  Please find an informative review on Trauma Networks here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7732139/ This podcast is sponsored by PAX. Whatever kind of challenge you have to face - with PAX backpacks you are well-prepared. Whether on water, on land or in the air - PAX's versatile, flexible backpacks are perfectly suitable for your requirements and can be used in the most demanding of environments. Equally, PAX bags are built for comfort and rapid access to deliver the right gear at the right time to the right patient. To see more of their innovative designed product range please click here: ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

Losing a baby in the early stages of pregnancy can be an extremely painful experience. Having to explain to your employer why you can't come to work only adds to the difficulty. In the UK, there's currently no entitlement to time off for miscarriage within the first six months of pregnancy. The Women and Equalities Select Committee is hearing evidence on extending the right to bereavement leave to cover losses up to 24 weeks. Sarah Owen MP, Chair of the Committee and someone who has experienced baby loss, joined Nuala McGovern to discuss. When the Stammer Came to Stay is award-winning author Maggie O'Farrell's third children's book. Based on her experience of living with a stammer, it celebrates differences and explores children's resilience in facing new challenges. She talks to Anita Rani about the book and how her stammer has shaped her life. Why are more young women dying from alcohol-related liver disease than ever before? BBC journalist Hazel Martin, diagnosed with the condition in her early 30s, has been investigating how her social drinking habits put her life at risk. Hazel joined Nuala along with Professor Debbie Shawcross, Consultant Hepatologist at King's College Hospital, to explore the growing crisis and its causes. After writing her Spinal Column for The Times since 2010 —beginning just two weeks after breaking her neck and back in a riding accident—Melanie Reid has decided it's time to stop. She joined Nuala to discuss why she's stepping away, her reflections on the journey, and her plans for the future. Song-writing partnership Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear are making history by becoming the youngest and first female songwriting duo to compose for a Disney feature film in Moana 2. The Grammy Award-winning pair joined Nula to discuss their musical partnership. Kim Cypher, a saxophonist, composer, and vocalist, is a regular on the London and UK jazz circuit. She recently launched her third album, Catching Moments, and joined Anita in the Woman's Hour studio and performed live.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Pervasive myths and misconceptions have made the conversation around hormone replacement therapy a contentious and confusing one. But studies show that hormone therapy can be safe and highly effective, helping many women manage menopause symptoms and reclaim a sense of normalcy.Dr. Iliana Lega is a Scientist at Women's College Hospital Research and Innovation Institute, a Staff Endocrinologist at Women's College Hospital, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from her presentation at The Walrus Talks Menopause, supported by Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health.Lega spoke at The Walrus Talks Menopause in Toronto on October 17, 2024.To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events.And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements, at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's likely that even the most virtuous amongst us has experienced feelings of anger at some point in our lives. But is this simply a failing in our personal moral fabric or does it have more universal biological origins?   In this episode, we catch up with Guy Leschziner, a professor of neurology and sleep medicine at King's College Hospital in London to talk about his latest book Seven Deadly Sins: The Biology of Being Human.   He tells us how activity in the emotional regions of our brains affects our behaviour, talks about the influence of testosterone on our aggressive tendencies and tells us how mutations in specific genes can predispose us to commit violent acts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Uncover the shocking truth about human and sex trafficking in Canada with survivor Kaitlin Bick who courageously shares her journey from vulnerability to victimization and ultimately to becoming an advocate for others. Kaitlin's raw and honest account of her childhood insecurities, substance abuse, and exploitation provides a deeply personal perspective on the complex factors that can lead to the crimes that were inflicted on her humanity and how hard it is to return your life to some form of normality. Expert Insights Carly Kalish, Executive Director of Victim Services Toronto. Jennifer Price from Women's College Hospital Why Listen? Gain a rare survivors' perspective on human and sexual trafficking Understand how traffickers' prey  Learn to recognize warning signs in your community Be inspired by one woman's journey from victim to hero This isn't just Kaitlin's story – it's an important story for all.     Thanks to Kelly Grier and HART: Human Anti-Trafficking Response Team for sponsoring this episode.  To find out more about the work they are doing, https://harthelps.com To find out more about Victim's Services Toronto, https://www.victimservicestoronto.com To find out more about Women's College Hospital,  https://www.womenscollegehospital.ca

This week on Startup to Storefront, we're joined by Vadim Fedotov, whose journey from pro basketball to health tech entrepreneurship is all about resilience and innovation. After enduring four torn ACLs and finding limited proactive health guidance, Vadim set out to change the game with Bioniq—a health optimization company focused on personalized wellness.   On this episode, you'll learn: • Why traditional medicine often falls short in optimizing health. • How nutrition is the key to achieving better overall well-being. • Practical strategies to transform your health and elevate your performance. • The role of cutting-edge technology in personalizing health solutions. • Insights into building a successful health tech company from the ground up.   Founded in 2019, Bioniq combines Swiss pharmaceutical-grade quality with advanced AI for hyper-personalized nutritional solutions and is trusted by athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo. With the backing of institutions such as Lanserhof and King's College Hospital, Bioniq is setting a new standard in health and wellness. Tune in to hear Vadim's story of transforming personal challenges into a mission to elevate well-being for all!

This is the second in the four-part series on anatomical trauma with some of the world's leading experts in specialist pre-hospital care. In this episode, we are examining pelvic trauma. In this discussion, I speak with Ash Vasireddy, a fellowship-trained Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon at King's College Hospital, London, specialising in complex fractures. We explore the critical nature of pelvic trauma, covering topics such as pre-hospital prevalence, injury classification, and management strategies, including REBOA's potential in air ambulance services. In the conversation, Ash shares insights from his extensive experience, including training at major trauma centres in the UK and the US. We also discuss pre-hospital assessment, common issues in orthopaedic trauma, and lessons from practice, concluding with key take-home messages and a review of pelvic fracture classifications.  This podcast is sponsored by PAX. Whatever kind of challenge you have to face - with PAX backpacks you are well-prepared. Whether on water, on land or in the air - PAX's versatile, flexible backpacks are perfectly suitable for your requirements and can be used in the most demanding of environments. Equally, PAX bags are built for comfort and rapid access to deliver the right gear at the right time to the right patient. To see more of their innovative designed product range please click here: ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

In this episode Anne Forsyth, Director of Clinical Applications and Support at Women's College Hospital in Canada, discusses the challenges and opportunities in optimizing healthcare IT systems, particularly in data management and digital literacy. She shares her experiences transitioning from a policy role to a hospital setting and emphasizes the importance of data governance, workflow design, and continuous improvement in digital health projects. Key Takeaways: Community and Collaboration: Canada's digital health community is a significant asset in advancing healthcare IT. AI and Data Standards: The adoption of AI in healthcare is promising but requires robust data governance and standards. Importance of Fundamentals: Good governance, workflow optimization, and training are crucial in creating sustainable healthcare IT systems. Digital Health Literacy: Clinicians need focused training on using digital tools correctly rather than deep technical knowledge. Cybersecurity Preparedness: Hospitals must prioritize business continuity planning to prepare for potential cyber attacks. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: [00:04:00] Optimism in Canadian Digital Health [00:06:00] The Role of AI and Data Standards [00:08:00] Transition from Policy to Practice [00:10:00] The Fundamentals of IT in Healthcare [00:16:00] Tackling Unstructured Data [00:22:00] Continuous Improvement in Healthcare IT [00:26:00] Digital Health Literacy for Clinicians [00:34:00] Cybersecurity and Business Continuity [00:38:00] Closing Remarks and Advice The importance of strong relationships with vendors and clinicians in solving technical challenges in healthcare IT. Final thoughts on the continuous nature of digital health optimization and the need for sustainable, well-communicated strategies.

In this Leveling Up Episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, Dr. John Semple discusses his unusual pathway into medicine, three dimensional thinking, prepectoral breast reconstruction, the use of allograft and synthetic meshes, fat grafting in radiated breasts, some tips to make fat harvest easier, how to be a good mentor and a good leader, and how he got involved in climate science. Read a recent classic PRS Global Open article by Dr. Semple and co-authors, “Patient Outcomes after Fat Grafting to the Radiated Chest Wall before Delayed Two-stage Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction”: https://bit.ly/SempleFatGrafting  Dr. John Semple is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto, and the head of the division of plastic surgery at Women's College Hospital. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the wilderness Medicine Program at Mass General Hospital in Boston, and an adjunct professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design, where was a former chair of the Board of Governors. He trained in art at OCAD and became a fully trained medical illustrator, then went into medicine, training in plastic surgery at the University of Toronto and then completing a microsurgery fellowship at the Toronto General Hospital. He is a past president of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, and received the Lavina Lickley Lifetime achievement award form the department of surgery at the University of Toronto. He also has a keen interest in mountaineering - and has been to Everest North Col 4 times, and has published numerous papers on the effects of climate change in the Himalayas.  Your host, Dr. Puru Nagarkar, is a board-certified plastic and hand surgeon, and Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #LevelingUp

Why is there a major discrepancy in the surgical wait times, for the same surgery? Guest host Molly Thomas speaks with Dr. David Urbach, head of surgery at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, and lead author of a study on this. Plus, a conversation with the man whose job is it to turn the former Downsview airport into a playground. And, a conversation with Canadian Olympic runners and gold medalists Aaron Brown and Brendon Rodney.

In this enlightening episode of Pharmacist Diaries, we dive into the world of Consultant Pharmacists with Sital Shah, Consultant Pharmacist in Hepatology at King's College Hospital. She shares her path to becoming a consultant pharmacist, from her early fascination with science to specialising in hepatology, highlighting the role of family connections and summer placements in shaping her career choice. Sital emphasizes the power of mentorship and diverse experiences, discussing how mentors influenced her career trajectory and the importance of exposure to different areas of pharmacy practice. The conversation explores Sital's specialisation in hepatology, what drew her to this particular field, and the challenges and rewards of working in liver disease. She illustrates the versatility required, discussing how skills transfer between specialties and the expanding role of consultant pharmacists in various healthcare settings. Sital candidly shares her experiences navigating career challenges, including managing the unprecedented demands of the COVID-19 pandemic and balancing clinical responsibilities with research and teaching duties. For junior pharmacists, Sital offers valuable advice on finding their niche, emphasising the importance of rotating through different areas and integrating into multidisciplinary teams. She discusses the future of consultant pharmacist roles, highlighting emerging opportunities and the growing importance of specialised knowledge. The episode also touches on the critical topic of work-life balance and stress management, previewing the next episode's focus on maintaining well-being in this demanding career. Key highlights: Sital's career path: From early interest in science to specialising in hepatology The importance of mentorship and diverse experiences in shaping a pharmacy career Transferable skills Adapting to challenges: Unexpected rotations and managing during the COVID-19 pandemic Expanding roles of consultant pharmacists in primary and intermediate care settings Advice for junior pharmacists on finding their niche and excelling in multidisciplinary teams The value of networking and professional development BEHIND THE MIC! Have you been thinking about starting your own podcast? We know that starting a podcast can feel daunting and overwhelming. But guess what? You're not alone.  We are on a mission to create a fantastic community of individuals just like you! Together, we'll break down the entire podcasting process—from ideation to recording, editing, technology, publishing, social media, marketing, branding, sponsorship and more. Sign up to our FREE community called Behind The Mic!  We are excited to engage with you and provide you with the support & guidance you need to get started.  Register here: https://behindthemic.circle.so/  SIGN UP to my NEWSLETTER below so you'll be the first to know when new episodes are being released. You'll also receive regular inspiration, tips, tools, and free content. https://pharmacistdiaries.ck.page/newsletter PARTNERSHIPS: The Naked Pharmacy is offering my podcast listeners a 20% discount on all their products. Use discount code PD20 at checkout to receive the offer. https://www.thenakedpharmacy.com/ CONNECT WITH SITAL: X: @Sitalgoneviral LinkedIn: Sital Shah Follow me on⁠⁠ My Website⁠⁠,⁠⁠ YouTube⁠⁠,⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠,⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠,⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠, and/or⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠. Feel free to subscribe to the podcast on your favourite podcast platform so you can be notified when a new episode is released or leave a review on apple podcasts. If you have any suggestions for guests you want me to talk to or if you'd like to come on yourself, please feel free to contact me via social media, or email at info@pharmacistdiaries.com.

Ο Θανάσης Δρίτσας συνομιλεί με τον χειρουργό κ. Σάββα Παπαγρηγοριάδη Consultant Colorectal Surgeon και τ. Διευθυντή & Senior Lecturer στο πανεπιστημιακό νοσοκομείο King's College Hospital του Λονδίνου. Το αντικείμενο της συζήτησης, μεταξύ άλλων, εντοπίζεται πάνω στην  διαφορετική εμπειρία-κριτική προσέγγιση του Δημοσίου και Ιδιωτικού Συστήματος παροχής υπηρεσιών Υγείας σε Μεγάλη Βρετανία και Ελλάδα, τη σχέση γιατρού-ασθενή όπως διαμορφώνεται σήμερα ιδιαίτερα μετά την περίοδο της πανδημίας Covid, την έννοια της πρόληψης με έμφαση στον καρκίνο του παχέος εντέρου και μέσα από μια ματιά αλληλεπίδρασης γενετικών και επιγενετικών δεδομένων.*Η μουσική που ακούγεται στο podcast είναι του Θανάση ΔρίτσαΣάββας Παπαγρηγοριάδης - βιογραφικόΟ Σάββας Παπαγρηγοριάδης είναι γενικός χειρουργός με ειδίκευση στις παθήσεις του εντέρου και ορθού. Σπούδασε στην Ιατρική Σχολή του ΕΚΠΑ και μετά την ολοκλήρωση της ειδικότητας της γενικής χειρουργικής  στην Αθήνα, μετεκπαιδεύθηκε και εργάστηκε στην Βρετανία από το 1993 έως και σήμερα. Διετέλεσε μεταξύ άλλων Consultant Colorectal Surgeon – Διευθυντής στο πανεπιστημιακό νοσοκομείο του Λονδίνου King's College Hospital και Senior Lecturer στο King's College London. Εκανε μεταπτυχιακές σπουδές στην ερευνητική μεθοδολογία των επιστημών υγείας και στο μανατζμεντ των υπηρεσιών υγείας. Το κλινικό του έργο επικεντρώθηκε σε ελάχιστα επεμβατικές και ενδοσκοπικές επεμβάσεις στον καρκίνο του ορθού, στην χειρουργική της εκκολπωματίτίδας και της φλεγμονώδους νόσου του εντέρου και στις παθήσεις του πυελικού εδάφους. Τιμήθηκε με πέντε βραβεία κλινικής αριστείας από το βρετανικό κράτος. Εκανε σημαντικό ερευνητικό και συγγραφικό έργο στην παθογένεση της εκκολπωματίτιδας , στην ενδοσκοπική χειρουργική του καρκίνου του ορθού και στις εφαρμογές της τεχνητής νοημοσύνης στην ιατρική διάγνωση και ήταν επιβλέπων σε πολλές διδακτορικές διατριβές  και κλινικές έρευνες σε σχετικά ερευνητικά προγράμματα.  Ιδρυσε τo πρώτο εξειδικευμένο ιατρείο εκκολπωματίτιδας στην Βρετανία. Μοιράζει τον χρόνο του ανάμεσα σε Βρετανία και Ελλάδα με επίκεντρο την έρευνα και την μεταπτυχιακή διδασκαλία.«Ιατρική και Ανθρώπινο Πρόσωπο» με τον καρδιολόγο Θανάση ΔρίτσαΜέσα από το podcast «Ιατρική και Ανθρώπινο Πρόσωπο» ο καρδιολόγος Θανάσης Δρίτσας, Αναπληρωτής Διευθυντής στο Ωνάσειο Καρδιοχειρουργικό Κέντρο, συνθέτης και συγγραφέας παρουσιάζει μια ολιστική προσέγγιση στην έννοια της πρόληψης, την αξία της αλλαγής τρόπου-φιλοσοφίας ζωής στην πρόληψη πολλών νοσημάτων και παραγόντων κινδύνου, την αξία της φυσικής άσκησης και της τροποποίησης ψυχοκοινωνικών παραμέτρων μέσα από την κατανόηση της σύνδεσης Νους-Σώμα, την αξία των δημιουργικών παρεμβάσεων μέσω τέχνης στη θεραπεία πολλών παθήσεων, τις αλληλεπιδράσεις γενετικών και περιβαλλοντικών παραμέτρων στα πλαίσια της ιατρικής ακριβείας και της εξατομικευμένης θεραπευτικής προσέγγισης στο μέλλον. Ο Θανάσης Δρίτσας μέσα από αυτό το podcast θα προσπαθήσει (κυρίως) να απαντήσει στο θεμελιώδες ερώτημα των ημερών μας: Παραμένει η άσκηση της ιατρικής ανθρωποκεντρική σήμερα;

Dr. Christine Matheson, ND has been practicing as a licensed naturopathic doctor since 2001 in Ontario, Canada. She's also an Arvigo® Therapist and a certified Kundalini yoga instructor who helps women experience wellness from the inside out by focusing on the vital step of achieving better belly health through thriving gut health, improved pelvic health and fertility health if trying to conceive. Her signature Belly Be Well™ Programs are offered either through one-on-one naturopathic consultations or online group classes and combine teaching natural lifestyle approaches with the unique benefits of the Arvigo® Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy which is an abdominal massage technique that can help align and decongest the abdominal and pelvic organs to optimize their key functions. Christine is honoured to have been one of the first naturopathic doctors in Canada who pioneered working as part of an integrative medical team in a hospital setting at the former Women's Pelvic Centre at Women's College Hospital. She aims to help as many women as possible unlock their ultimate vitality through better belly health and having a better relationship and connection to this important region of the body.  For questions or to book a free call with Christine contact christine@christinemathesonND.comhttps://www.christinemathesonnd.com/https://www.facebook.com/drchristinematheson/ https://www.instagram.com/drchristinematheson/Thank you so much for listening! I use fitness and movement to help women prevent and overcome pelvic floor challenges like incontinence and organ prolapse. There is help for women in all life stages! Every Woman Needs A Vagina Coach! Please make sure to LEAVE A REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE to the show for the best fitness and wellness advice south of your belly button. *******************I recommend checking out my comprehensive pelvic health education and fitness programs on my Buff Muff AppYou can also join my next 28 Day Buff Muff Challenge https://www.vaginacoach.com/buffmuffIf you are feeling social you can connect with me… On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VagCoachOn Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vaginacoach/On Twitter https://twitter.com/VaginaCoachOn The Web www.vaginacoach.comGet your Feel Amazing Vaginal Moisturizer Here

Are we still raising boys the 'traditional' way, like boys should always be tough and not allowed to cry? But at the same time they are also expected to be emotionally available? Is there a new right? BoyMom author Ruth Whippman joins us from CaliforniaIt's International Men's Health Week and Dr Martin Moody, Consultant Urological Surgeon at King's College Hospital answers the questions that men are mostly embarrassed to askReal estate and property focus today with Haus & Haus and on the Legal Clinic with lawyer Scott Hutton from BLK Partners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jane Clapp is a Jungian Psychoanalyst (IAAP), a Registered Psychotherapist and an expert in the inseparable relationship between the body and psyche. The purpose of analysis and embodiment is to open us up TO BEING MOVED by life again and to fall back in love with being alive. She live in wonder and awe of the strength of the human spirit and the unique ways we all long to express and manifest who we truly are in our relationships and in the world. Jane believes in the power of understanding the body and psyche together to recover who we were truly meant to be in our lives. For over twenty years, she was a movement and somatic coach and embodiment educator working with a diverse clientele worldwide, many of whom have suffered deeply from emotional or physical pain, longing to come back into meaning and vitality. Jane has a depth of expertise in the effects of chronic and traumatic stress and general emotional overwhelm and how they manifest in the body and psyche. Bringing together her many years of somatic study, over twenty years of clinical experience, extensive personal Jungian Analysis, and professional training as a Jungian Analyst, I have developed a body of work, Jungian Somatics™. Jane founded and created a groundbreaking professional training program, Movement for Trauma, that she offered to hundreds of psychotherapists and somatics practitioners from across the globe for many years. She is also a member of The Breathe Network, which connects sexual violence survivors with trauma-informed healing arts practitioners. She has been both a keynote speaker and seminar leader presenting on my work at the Jung Society of Utah, Calgary Jung Society, the London Arts-Based Research Centre and secondary/vicarious trauma prevention and compassion fatigue for several organizations, including the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, Fire Service Women of Ontario, sexual violence support workers for Ontario universities and front-line social services workers and counsellors and also twice presented at the Trauma Talks conference at Women's College Hospital. She is an internationally published author, a former wellness columnist, and a weekly radio health segment producer and has extensive media engagement experience.   janeclapp.com jungiansomatics.com https://www.jungiansomatics.com/jungiansomaticsmft Reverence for Impulse is an unscripted, unplanned and (hopefully) unedited podcast with me, Weena Pauly-Tarr. Together with my guests, we're asking what is alive in this moment?We start each episode with a few minutes of meeting each other head-to-toe, through the language of our bodies, before we press record and bring it to a conversation. We start where we are. This is not a hard hitting agenda or getting to the bottom of things, it's about being in the bottoms of things. Finding each other in the not-knowing. I'm here for the spaciousness, the awkwardness, the silliness, the silence — From the dark insides of our bodies to the brightness of our minds, I'm excited to welcome people who's impulses I'd like to get to know. Website: weenapauly.com Instagram: weenapaulytarr  

How many medications did you take today? Paula Rochon, professor in the department of medicine and Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, explains why it may be a few too many. Dr. Rochon is Founding Director of Women's Age Lab, a geriatrician and senior scientist at Women's College Hospital and […]

Is your plate making you and the planet sick? Dr. Shireen Kassam shares that a plant-based diet is the optimal way to improve your and the planetary health. She shares evidence that eating plant-based nutrition and avoiding animal products can significantly reduce the risk of chronic diseases. She also discusses how shifting to a more plant-heavy food system would help reduce the environmental harm caused by industrial animal agriculture. Tune in to learn the science behind plant-based nutrition and get tips for transitioning to a healthier and more sustainable way of eating!   In this episode, we talk about: How Dr. Shireen became interested in plant-based nutrition The health benefits of plant-based diets in preventing chronic diseases Evidence that plant-based diets are better for the environment  The NHS in the UK should provide more plant-based meals in hospitals to improve health Common myths around plant-based diets Is plant-based diets suitable for people of all ages Best ways to make the transition from a standard diet to a plant-based diet How can healthcare practitioners help provide information and support to clients interested in plant-based nutrition   Memorable Quotes “A diet centered around fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds, lots of herbs and spices for flavor, and mainly water for thirst is one that has been known for decades now to be associated with lower rates of all of our common chronic conditions.”   “Without a healthy planet, we have no healthy people. And it's absolutely clear that our food system is one of the key drivers of both the climate crisis and the ecological crisis.”   BIO:  Dr Shireen Kassam is a Consultant Haematologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer at King's College Hospital, London with a specialist interest in the treatment of lymphoma. She is also a Visiting-Professor at University of Winchester, Hampshire, where she has developed and facilitates the UK's first University-based course on plant-based nutrition. In 2023 she launched a course on lifestyle medicine for cancer. Shireen is passionate about promoting plant-based nutrition for the prevention and reversal of chronic disease and for maintaining optimal health after treatment for cancer. In 2019 she became certified as a Lifestyle Medicine Physician and is also a CHIP facilitator. Shireen founded Plant-Based Health Professionals UK in 2018, a non-profit, membership organisation whose mission is to provide evidence-based education on whole food plant-based nutrition. Shireen qualified as a doctor in 2000. During her training, she completed a PhD, which investigated the role of selenium in sensitising cancer cells to chemotherapy. Shireen has published a number of peer-reviewed papers in the field of lymphoma. Her first book, Eating Plant-Based, Scientific Answers to Your Nutrition Questions, co-authored with her sister Zahra, was published in January 2022. She has also co-edited the textbook Plant-Based Nutrition in Clinical Practice, published in September 2022. Mentioned In This Episode: Eating Plant-Based Book: https://www.hammersmithbooks.co.uk/product/eating-plant-based/ Plant-Based Nutrition in Clinical Practice Book: https://www.hammersmithbooks.co.uk/product/plant-based-nutrition-in-clinical-practice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wholefoodplantbasednutrition/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedhealthprofessionals/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/plantbasedhpuk Plant Based Health Professionals UK Website: https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/    Links to resources: Health Coach Group Website https://www.thehealthcoachgroup.com/ Use the code HCC50 to save $50 on our website Leave a Review of the Podcast

In today's episode, I talk with Dr. Shazia Malik, a leading consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist based in London with expertise in reproductive medicine and surgery. Dr. Malik's impressive credentials include graduating with honours, pursuing advanced training in Cambridge, and gaining accreditation in reproductive medicine and surgery at the Distinguished University College Hospital in London. She has further honed her skills at renowned institutions like King's College Hospital and has emerged as an IVF consultant with extensive experience in reproductive health and fertility.Our conversation delves into essential topics that often remain unaddressed, shedding light on gaps in our understanding of women's health.Over the past year, my exploration of fertility has been fuelled by personal experiences and challenges, prompting me to uncover the often overlooked aspects of women's health. I've been continuously amazed by the gaps in our collective knowledge and realized that I'm not alone in lacking awareness of fundamental biological facts. Sadly, women's health remains underfunded and neglected, leaving many individuals uninformed about crucial biological processes and potential disruptions. While today's episode may diverge from our typical content, the significance of this topic compelled me to share these insights with you, and I hope you find value in our conversation.Find Dr Shazia Malik:Website: http://shaziamalik.co.uk/Find Poppy:Instagram: @poppyjamieBook: https://amzn.eu/d/i3E7M0bProduced by Rutherford Productions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Xanax and other benzodiazepines (“benzos”) are often prescribed to treat symptoms like agitation, anxiety, and depression in people living with dementia. Yet, these drugs come with significant side effects and safety concerns, especially for older adults living with dementia. The Women's Age Lab's Dr. Paula Rochon and Dr. Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher join Being Patient Live Talks to discuss why these medications are prescribed and what treatment alternatives they recommend. Rochon is the founding director of Women's Age Lab, a geriatrician, and a senior scientist at Women's College Hospital and ICES. She chairs the Canadian Institutes for Health Research Institute of Aging Advisory Board to support research and promote healthy aging across Canada. Rochon is committed to the development of trainees and new investigators in aging research and making valuable contributions to our future understanding of aging. Her team has won prestigious research awards, and published in peer-reviewed academic journals, disseminating key learnings and important findings from their research projects. Reppas-Rindlisbacher is a trainee with the Women's Age Lab at the Women's College Research Institute. She currently works as a geriatrician whilst completing her PhD in Clinical Epidemiology & Health Care Research at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) at the University of Toronto. Her research aims to better understand how delirium care differs depending on sociodemographic factors such as gender, income, language, and recent immigrant status. Watch this live talk to learn more about benzodiazepines, why they are prescribed, and alternative treatments for people living with dementia. Read the Article: https://www.beingpatient.com/benzodiazepines-and-dementia/ ___ If you loved watching this Live Talk, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer's coverage and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beingpatient.com/

#108 Bioniq Gesundheits-Decoder mit Vadim FedotovDu stehst vor den individuellsten Nährstoffen, die es auf unserem Planeten gibt!Marktführer in seinem SegmentBioniq präsentiert dir weltweit maßgeschneiderte Nährstoffe, die auf Basis deiner Bluttestdaten kreiert werden. Dank unserer jahrelangen Forschungen und Tests in Nordamerika, Europa, dem Nahen Osten und Asien haben wir eine der umfangreichsten und genetisch diversifiziertesten biochemischen Datenbanken des Erdballs erschaffen. Diese ermöglicht es uns, deine Ernährung in einer Weise zu personalisieren, die ihresgleichen sucht.Einzigartige Kreationen für über 40.000 MitgliederMehr als 40.000 individualisierte Nährstoffmischungen sind aus unserer Schmiede hervorgegangen. Keine gleicht der anderen – denn jedes Individuum ist ein Unikat! Jede einzelne Mischung ist perfekt auf die spezifischen Nährstoffbedürfnisse des jeweiligen Kunden zugeschnitten, die anhand seiner Blutwerte sorgfältig ermittelt werden.Zuverlässigkeit par excellenceBioniq PRO ist das nonplusultra für alle, die ihre Gesundheit mit Präzision und Sorgfalt unterstützen möchten. Mit einem exklusiven Kundenkreis, der von Olympioniken, Weltcup-Siegern und Spitzenathleten bis hin zu Künstlern reicht, ist Bioniq dein verlässlicher Partner auf dem Weg zur Optimierung deiner Gesundheit und Leistungskraft.Ein Netzwerk von Partnern, die ihresgleichen suchtBioniq offeriert einen einzigartigen, quantifizierbaren Ansatz für Nahrungsergänzungsmittel. Die Bluttests ermöglichen eine transparente Darstellung von Vorher-Nachher-Ergebnissen. Die Daten lügen nicht! Daher zählt Bioniq zu den bevorzugten Partnern renommierter medizinischer Einrichtungen wie dem Lanserhof oder dem King's College Hospital sowie von Sportorganisationen wie der UFC, deutschen Nationalmannschaften und weltbekannten Athleten. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martha Mills died after failures in her treatment at King's College Hospital. Martha's mother, Merope, is calling for hospitals around the country to bring in "Martha's rule", which would give parents, carers and patients the right to call for an urgent second clinical opinion from other experts at the same hospital if they have concerns about their current care. The government has said it will explore the introduction of Martha's rule in UK hospitals. Today's Nick Robinson spoke to Dr Sanjiv Sharma, Medical Director at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Matthew Taylor, Chief executive of the NHS Confederation. Nick Robinson also spoke to Sir Robert Francis, chair of the Francis Report and chair of the Freedom to Speak Up Review, published in 2015. (Image, Merope and Martha Mills, Credit Merope Mills)