Podcasts about georgia health sciences university

I have a special guest with me, Dr. Mitzi Joy Williams. She is a board certified neurologist and fellowship trained multiple sclerosis specialist who serves as the founder and CEO of the Joy Life Wellness Group Multiple Sclerosis Center. On today's episode, we're diving into the ins and outs of fatigue. You'll finish this episode feeling prepared with actionable steps to help improve your energy and therefore do more in your daily life. Mitzi Joi Williams is a Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellowship trained Multiple Sclerosis Specialist who serves as the Founder & CEO of the Joi Life Wellness Group Multiple Sclerosis Center in Smyrna, GA. She is considered a subject matter expert in Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis, and Health Disparities. Dr. Williams has over 15 years of experience in the field of Multiple Sclerosis. She received her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and received her Doctor of Medicine Degree from Morehouse School of Medicine also in Atlanta, Georgia. She completed her Internal Medicine Internship, Neurology Residency, and Multiple Sclerosis Fellowship at Georgia Health Sciences University (formerly MCG) in Augusta, GA, where she received numerous accolades and served as Chief Resident of the Neurology Residency Program. Dr. Williams has spearheaded and participated in multiple steering committees and work groups to further research in underserved populations with MS with a focus on the African American population. She has recently joined efforts to increase diversity in clinical trials and educate the community about the importance of research participation. Through collaborations with national and international committees, she advocates for people living with MS to share in the decision-making process with their healthcare teams to combat this disease. Most recently, her collaborative efforts as one of the founders of the National African American Multiple Sclerosis Registry (NAAMSR) was published in the Journal of Neurology. Dr. Williams is the author of “MS Made Simple: The Essential Guide to Understanding Your Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis.” She continues to live out her mission to provide personalized Multiple Sclerosis Care delivered with expertise, compassion and joy. Connect with Dr. Williams: The Nerdy Neurologist - https://www.instagram.com/thenerdyneurologist/ The Nerdy Neurologist – Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheNerdyNeurologist The Nerdy Neurologist – Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdyNeurologist/ Dr. Mitzi's book – You Can Live Well With Multiple Sclerosis https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSJ6DKTM?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_VTRK36E98CJ3TT25A60M Additional Resources: https://www.doctorgretchenhawley.com/insider Reach out to Me: hello@doctorgretchenhawley.com Website: www.MSingLink.com Social: ★ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mswellness ★ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor.gretchen ★ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/doctorgretchenhawley?sub_confirmation=1 → Game Changers Course: https://www.doctorgretchenhawley.com/GameChangersCourse → Total Core Program: https://www.doctorgretchenhawley.com/TotalCoreProgram → The MSing Link: https://www.doctorgretchenhawley.com/TheMSingLink

On today's episode, we're diving into the ins and outs of spasticity. You'll finish this episode feeling prepared with actionable steps to improve your mobility and muscle tightness to improve your energy and therefore, do more in your daily life. Dr. Mitzi Joi Williams is a Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellowship trained Multiple Sclerosis Specialist who serves as the Founder & CEO of the Joi Life Wellness Group Multiple Sclerosis Center in Smyrna, GA. She is considered a subject matter expert in Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis, and Health Disparities. Dr. Williams has over 15 years of experience in the field of Multiple Sclerosis. She received her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and received her Doctor of Medicine Degree from Morehouse School of Medicine also in Atlanta, Georgia. She completed her Internal Medicine Internship, Neurology Residency, and Multiple Sclerosis Fellowship at Georgia Health Sciences University (formerly MCG) in Augusta, GA, where she received numerous accolades and served as Chief Resident of the Neurology Residency Program. Connect with Dr. Mitzi: IG: @thenerdyneurologist FaceBook: @thenerdyneurologist LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmitzijoimd/ Website: https://joilifewellness.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/You-Live-Well-Multiple-Sclerosis/dp/B0BSJ6DKTM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=30GV487RN869W&keywords=you+can+live+well+with+multiple+sclerosis&qid=1677878626&sprefix=You+Can+Live+Well+%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1 Additional Resources: https://www.doctorgretchenhawley.com/insider Reach out to Me: hello@doctorgretchenhawley.com Website: www.MSingLink.com Social: ★ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mswellness ★ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor.gretchen ★ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/doctorgretchenhawley?sub_confirmation=1 → Game Changers Course: https://www.doctorgretchenhawley.com/GameChangersCourse → Total Core Program: https://www.doctorgretchenhawley.com/TotalCoreProgram → The MSing Link: https://www.doctorgretchenhawley.com/TheMSingLink

Bio:   Mitzi Joi Williams is a Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellowship trained Multiple Sclerosis Specialist who serves as the Founder & CEO of the Joi Life Wellness Group Multiple Sclerosis Center in Newnan, GA.   Dr. Williams is considered a subject matter expert in Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis and Health Disparities. She has over 15 years of experience in the field of Multiple Sclerosis. She received her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and received her Doctor of Medicine Degree from Morehouse School of Medicine also in Atlanta, Georgia. She completed her Internal Medicine Internship, Neurology Residency, and Multiple Sclerosis Fellowship at Georgia Health Sciences University (formerly MCG) in Augusta, GA, where she received numerous accolades and served as Chief Resident of the Neurology Residency Program.   Dr. Williams has spearheaded and participated in multiple steering committees and work groups to further research in underserved populations with MS with a focus on the African American population. She has recently joined efforts to increase diversity in clinical trials and educate the community about the importance of research participation. Through collaborations with national and international committees, she advocates for people living with MS to share in the decision-making process with their healthcare teams to combat this disease. Dr. Williams is the author of “MS Made Simple: The Essential Guide to Understanding Your Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis.” She continues to live out her mission to provide personalized Multiple Sclerosis Care delivered with expertise, compassion, and joy.    Questions:   Welcome to the program Dr. Williams, and thanks so much for joining us on Living Well with MS. Let's dive right in. Your background is stellar. You have established quite a prestigious career as a neurologist and MS specialist. Can you share a little about your background as a medical professional? What inspired you to focus on MS in your training and practice? Let's chat about Joi Life Wellness Group. That's the MS center you founded and lead in Georgia. What are your core principles in this practice? Given that you see a steady stream of people with MS, you must encounter certain common obstacles people have in dealing with their diagnosis all the way to sound MS management and treatment. What are these in your view, and what's your take on overcoming them? As you may know, the organization behind this podcast – Overcoming MS – promotes evidence-based lifestyle modification for better health and MS management. What's your take on how lifestyle factors fit into treating MS? Our content theme for April is ‘advocacy', so in that spirit, and in your experience as a neurologist specializing in MS, what are some key strategies people with MS can use to discuss lifestyle factors and effective lifestyle modification with their healthcare professionals? What if someone encounters resistance from a doctor or other healthcare professional – how should a patient approach that, or handle that? Do you have any essential tips for people who are newly diagnosed and just entering the complex world of treating their MS in the medical arena? On another note, you're also quite involved in researching MS's impact on the African American community. There is much to learn about the prevalence and penetration of MS in different communities. Do you have any insights to share about your work to date? Finally, what is your vision for how you'd like your practice and work in the MS field to evolve and grow? Thanks so much for being our guest on Living Well with MS, Dr. Williams. We are excited about and grateful for the amazing work you're doing in the MS community.   Links:   Learn more about Dr. Williams' practice, Joi Life Wellness Group Check out Dr. Williams' Facebook alter ego, The Nerdy Neurologist Follow Dr. Williams on Twitter Learn more about Dr. Williams' professional background on LinkedIn Watch some of Dr. Williams' informative videos on her YouTube channel   Coming up next:   On April 18, unpack your curiosity about our diverse global OMS community for the premiere of Living Well with MS Coffee Break #30, where we travel to Devon, England to meet Tessa Jane Miles, an artist who raises awareness of MS through her creative oeuvre. You'll also learn about Tessa's involvement in the Delamore Arts exhibition, for which OMS is a charity partner.   Don't miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. For your convenience, a full episode transcript is also available on all platforms within about 72 hours of each episode's premiere. If you like our program, don't be shy and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show. And feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.   S4E50 Transcript Introducing Lifestyle Change to Your Healthcare Practitioner   Geoff Allix (00:01): Welcome to Living Well With MS, the podcast from Overcoming MS, the world's leading multiple sclerosis healthy lifestyle charity celebrating its 10th year of serving the MS community. I'm your host, Geoff Allix. The goal of our organization and this podcast is to inform, support, and empower people with MS to lead full and happy lives. We're excited you could join us for this new episode. Make sure to check out this episode's show notes for more information and useful links. You can find these on our website at www.overcomingMS.org/podcast or in whichever podcast platform you use to tune into our program.   Geoff Allix (00:39): If you enjoy the show, please spread the about us on your social media channels or leave a review wherever you tune into our podcast. Have questions or ideas to share? Email us at podcast@overcomingMS.org, or you can reach out to me directly on Twitter @Geoff Allix. We'd love to hear from you. Finally, don't forget to subscribe to Living Well with MS on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.   Geoff Allix (01:05): Now let's meet our guest for this episode. Joining me this week on the Living Well with MS podcast is Dr. Mitzi Joi Williams. Dr. Williams is a board-certified neurologist and fellowship-trained multiple sclerosis specialist who serves as the founder and CEO of the Joi Life Wellness Group Multiple Sclerosis Center in Union, Georgia, USA.   Geoff Allix (01:30): Through collaborations with national and international committees, she advocates for people living with MS to share in the decision-making process with our healthcare teams to combat this disease. Dr. Williams is the author of MS Made Simple, The Essential Guide to Understanding Your Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis. She continues to live out her mission to provide personalized multiple sclerosis care delivered with expertise, compassion, and joy. Welcome to the program Dr. Williams, and thank you so much for joining us on Living Well with MS.   Dr. Williams (02:01): It is my absolute pleasure to be here with you.   Geoff Allix (02:05): To dive right in, you've got a very impressive background and listeners can get more detail of that in the show notes. You've established a prestigious career as a neurologist and MS specialist. Could you share a bit about your background as a medical professional?   Dr. Williams (02:22): Absolutely. I've been an MS specialist for upwards of 15 years, really because I have a passion for helping people to kind of navigate this journey. I like the fact that I have close contact with my patients, so that I grow to know them and their family, so almost like I'm a part of their family. I like that and that was one of the reasons that I chose MS as a subspecialty within neurology.   Dr. Williams (02:48): As my career has evolved, I've really found that there needs to be a focus on education. I began to focus on teaching people about the disease process, because I found that many people would come to see me and they still wouldn't know what MS was, even after they had it for like 10 years. They couldn't really articulate what they thought it was and what it was doing to their body and why they were on the medications they were on. That really started my passion for educating about the disease process, and also in empowering people to do the things that they can, to help their brain health and help their overall health as well.   Geoff Allix (03:26): Why MS as a specialization? What got you to particularly pick MS?   Dr. Williams (03:32): I get that question a lot. I think for me, it's the challenge that I like. It's the challenge as well as my fascination with the neurologic process. In many other aspects of neurology, people would have damage to the brain or to the spine, and there was really nothing that we could do to modify that disease.   Dr. Williams (03:54): The thing that I loved about MS is that every person was different, which made it a bit challenging, but that there also were things that I could do to potentially modify the disease or affect change. Since I started my career, those options have grown exponentially. It's a whole different ballgame now than it was when I started practicing. The other thing that I like is that I really felt like this was a full focus of medicine that was really on the frontier of the scientific exchange.   Dr. Williams (04:26): Meaning, it wasn't something where everybody had it figured out down to the receptor, like diabetes or high blood pressure, that there was still a lot more to discover. That's also what attracted me to the field of neuroscience, but specifically to MS. I love the patients. I love spending time with them and getting to know them.   Geoff Allix (04:43): I think it is quite an exciting time now. My father had MS and there wasn't very much treatment, but now it's just every month, there's another treatment. There's some more research being done. There's something found out about causes. It is a highly active area, isn't it, of research and change?   Dr. Williams (05:05): Absolutely. Our meetings, when I first started practicing, our big neurology meetings would have maybe two or three classes about MS. You start on a Saturday with one class and stay until the next Thursday for one more class, but now, much of the conference has MS classes every day. That just really goes to show how much the science has advanced and how much we're trying to improve our understanding to help treat people with MS.   Geoff Allix (05:34): To get a bit of an understanding about the Joi Wellness Group. You founded this MS center in Georgia in the USA. What are the core principles of your practice?   Dr. Williams (05:47): Yeah, so really, my core principles are, I love to engage, educate, and empower my patients to make them active participants in their treatment process. By doing that and starting my own center, I'm really able to spend the time with my patients, educating them about their disease process, helping them understand, and also empowering them with tools to adjust lifestyle or to make lifestyle changes, to improve their overall health.   Dr. Williams (06:17): We talk a lot about things like mindfulness, diet, exercise, yoga. I'm a huge yoga advocate. It really affords me that ability to treat people how I see fit to really spend and invest that time so that people understand what's going on and know what they can do to improve their health.   Geoff Allix (06:36): With all these people that you see with MS, you must see certain common obstacles that people have in dealing with MS, all the way from their diagnosis through to the management and treatment of MS. What obstacles do you think that you see most commonly and how would they overcome those?   Dr. Williams (06:57): Yeah, so some of the most common obstacles are number one, just kind of wrapping your mind around the diagnosis and looking at, kind of thinking about what the future will look like. That part is difficult because I can't predict how someone will do in five years or 10 years.   Dr. Williams (07:15): But I think that oftentimes through education, and for many, through things like mental health services, counseling, et cetera. As they begin to kind of adapt to that diagnosis and maybe what that new normal is, then we can move forward with looking at treatment options and trying to make the best of the time that we have, and the function that we have.   Dr. Williams (07:40): For some people it's difficult because they don't have any symptoms. They're like, well, why should I do treatment because I'm fine? Then for some people, it's just kind of the devastation of maybe having some type of impairment where they didn't recover from that first symptom, and now they're having to adjust their lifestyle or career, et cetera. Lots of psychological issues are difficult in the beginning, and at transition periods during the journey with MS.   Dr. Williams (08:07): I focus a lot on mental health, stress reduction, and psychological services for those that need them. If some need medication, then we talk about that as well. I think the other obstacle, especially in a global pandemic or endemic or whatever we are calling it at the moment is isolation. That part is very difficult. For some of my patients who maybe have mobility problems or mobility impairment, and maybe different types of meetings and functions in the MS community, where it was their way of interacting with the world and now we're not able to do that.   Dr. Williams (08:44): The isolation has been difficult. We deal, again, a lot with mental health services, looking at ways people can get involved virtually. Trying to troubleshoot to find ways to bring people back into the community, even though they can't physically be there.   Geoff Allix (09:02): Okay. Overcoming MS, as you might know, is an evidence-based lifestyle modification charity. The tagline is whatever it takes, but with an evidence basis. It's looking at what evidence is out there scientifically, founded by a professor. Yeah, it's very much looking at that evidence base and bringing lifestyle into that. Trying to have better health and MS management through every available method. What's your take on how lifestyle factors fit into MS treatment?   Dr. Williams (09:41): It's huge. Lifestyle factors play a huge part in an MS treatment plan. When we talk about, or when I talk with my patients about things like medications, I don't talk about those on an island without talking about the other things that they need to do. My motto is that medication plays a part, but you play a part. There's no medication that gets rid of the part you play in improving your overall health.   Dr. Williams (10:11): There are studies that suggest, for instance, exercise can do things like boost mood, also can help with multiple MS symptoms like spasticity, like depression, like constipation. We talk about the evidence, and we talk about all the different ways that these things like exercise and diet can help aside from just helping your cardiovascular health.   Dr. Williams (10:38): I think the other thing that there's a lot of attention being brought to is really the effects of stress. There's not a lot of research that we have that directly links stress to MS exacerbations like brain lesions, but certainly we know intuitively that stress can worsen a person's function overall, whether it's with MS or any other chronic disease.   Dr. Williams (11:00): We spend a lot of time also focused on stress reduction, mindfulness, meditation, things that increase their overall health practices that will help people to live a less stressed life overall. I think there is more evidence emerging, but we still have a lot of work to do where lifestyle modification is concerned in terms of having hard scientific evidence that supports it.   Geoff Allix (11:28): I think if you ask anyone with MS about stress, then we all know that stress is a factor because some things are really slow to make changes. I remember early on George Jelinek, who's behind Overcoming MS, said, it's like turning around an oil tanker. Making some of these changes is very slow to have an effect. You may not notice say anything for six months, but it's slow. But stress is the one I think anyone with MS will tell you, if you get stressed, then those symptoms come back really fast, but they go away fast if you can calm yourself down, and you feel better.   Geoff Allix (12:12): There is a definite ... All these things, it's like, oh, have we done double blind placebo trials and all these things? But actually people with MS say, yeah, they know that stress is-   Dr. Williams (12:23): Absolutely.   Geoff Allix (12:23): ... Is one of those factors. Really quickly ... If I get really stressed out, then suddenly I'm limping all over the place. I know. I can tell I'm stressed because my body doesn't work fully.   Dr. Williams (12:37): Yeah. I have a lot of patients that report that as well. Again, that's why it's so important for us to continue to discuss lifestyle modification, to talk to people about it. But also for those of us in the scientific community to really kind of put our money where our mouth is and look at some of this research so we can better understand it on a biologic basis as well.   Geoff Allix (12:56): Yeah, because that's the thing. I'm saying it affects me instantly, but I can solve it instantly by calming down, but equally, is it causing long-term damage or is it literally instant and it's gone? There is obviously ...   Dr. Williams (13:10): There's a lot we need to understand.   Geoff Allix (13:12): Yeah. The content theme for the month is advocacy. A lot about patient advocacy and so on. In that spirit, in your experience as an MS specialist, what strategies could people with MS use to discuss lifestyle factors specifically, and lifestyle modification with their healthcare professionals, because it's a very different thing depending on who your MS specialist is, and it depends where you are geographically.   Geoff Allix (13:45): I think certainly in the UK, you probably have less choice about who the person is, but having said that, then it's based on how much you could afford. Different healthcare regimes are going to be different in different places. I'd say actually in the UK as well, we have less specialists. It's unusual to have an MS specialist. You would normally have a general neurologist. Maybe only if you're in a really big city. I know in London they have a few, but it's rare in the UK to have that specialist.   Geoff Allix (14:20): Some of them are very old-fashioned. I know that there are some people, and they literally are told, take the pill, have the injection, whatever it might be. Nothing else you can do. Then there are more forward-thinking people who are saying, actually no, a healthy diet and lifestyle will benefit you. How would you suggest people discuss introducing lifestyle factors, whether that be diet, exercise, or mindfulness with their healthcare professional?   Dr. Williams (14:53): I think the first thing is to recognize that it is okay to have an agenda of things that you'd like to discuss when you see your neurologist, whether it's an MS specialist or general neurologist, because oftentimes you get in that visit, the doctor has things they want to cover. I very much encourage people to write down the things that are very important to you to discuss at that visit. Maybe write down like your top two, because if you have 20, you're probably not going to get through 20.   Dr. Williams (15:23): But if lifestyle modification is at the top of that list and they say, hello, Mr. so-and-so, how are you doing? You can tell them how you're doing in terms of your MS, but today I really am interested in hearing about what things I can do lifestyle-wise that would help me. Opening the conversation with that often can get that provider thinking about how to answer that question.   Dr. Williams (15:48): Also, in this day of technology, if you don't have a specialist, there are resources that you can find that talk about lifestyle management. Of course, you have your podcast, you have your educational resources. There are other specialists in different parts of the world who are kind of talking on these topics. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to educate yourself.   Dr. Williams (16:12): In a perfect world, your neurologist would be knowledgeable about everything, but very much like your experience in the UK and the US, many people with MS are cared for by general neurologists. Some of those general neurologists have a special interest in MS and learn about it. Some of them not so much. You may not always have that specialist who has a lot of knowledge of the latest research on these types of things, but it's okay to have an agenda. It's okay to have a list of questions that you want to ask. If that's at the top of your list, just saying, I want to know what I can do to improve my health, and that's a great way to lead in talking to your specialist about lifestyle modification.   Geoff Allix (16:58): Are there any tips to anyone getting resistance to managing things themselves?   Dr. Williams (17:06): Yeah. Again, in some cases you have choices about who you can see. We certainly do have a little bit more leeway or some leeway in terms of choices in the US. I have not necessarily encouraged my patients to fire their doctors, but I've had some where I said, well, it's kind of like with any relationship. If it's not working or you don't feel like you're being heard, explore if there are other options.   Dr. Williams (17:37): For some people, it may be a matter of maybe seeing a specialist once a year. What if you could see a specialist once a year, and then go to your general doctor the other times? Or see a specialist and have this list of questions and say, okay, I'm going to try to get as many of these questions answered that my general person can't, and make a special visit to see a specialist just for that purpose.   Dr. Williams (18:02): There are some ways to work around it. Some are not quite as ideal, but I think that it is okay to have an agenda. If your questions are not answered, it's okay to circle back and say, okay, well can we get back to this question that I had to better understand how I can help myself?   Dr. Williams (18:22): The other thing is that bringing it up from a topic of brain health. Lifestyle modification for MS is something that is becoming more frequently talked about, but brain health is also something that's globally talked about by neurologists. It may be a question of bringing up, well, what can I do to help my brain health? That may elicit the same type of information, but maybe not specifically what lifestyle modification can I do to help MS. Helping MS and improving brain health kind of go hand in hand.   Geoff Allix (18:55): I think there's another thing that's come to me is litigation can be an issue. Certainly in this country, neurologists or any doctors are very reluctant to say things which are not proven because they are then potentially at risk of saying something that's not, in our case, the NHS line. They will only tell you the absolute ... And that tends to be quite a long way behind the evidence. It takes a long ... They are now ... I mean, I've already seen this in the sort of five or six years I've had MS, that they're sort of catching up with you should increase your vitamin D levels. You should do more exercise. It's sort of like catching up with things that I thought, well, there's loads of evidence for that five years ago.   Geoff Allix (19:45): They're like, well, yeah ... But they're sort of very slow to change. One of the questions I found that was really useful for my neurologist is what would you do? Because then I've sort of turned it around to another question. It's like, well, I'm not saying what's the official advice, but if you were in my situation, what would you do? That really changed the conversation. He said, well, in that situation, then I'd eat whole foods diet and I'd exercise. I was like, all right.   Geoff Allix (20:15): He said the official advice ... He said, that's not proven, and the official advice is to take your medication, do these official NHS guidelines. But yet if I was in your situation, I can't see there's a risk in having a healthy lifestyle, at least as much as anything, it would probably lower your chance of having heart disease and other comorbidities that aren't a good idea if you've got MS anyway.   Dr. Williams (20:44): Absolutely. I do often get that question. I usually get it from a family member. If this were your family member, how would you approach this? That's a way often people will say, well, what would you do if you were me? Or their family member will say, well, what would you do if this was your family member?   Dr. Williams (21:04): Again, that'll get you a different perspective. I think everyone's going to say, well, we don't have a lot of scientific evidence to back this up, but this is the general thought, or there's some research that suggests this. But the goal ultimately is to try to help people. We definitely don't want to give anybody bad advice, but we do have to be clear about what's not necessarily supported by a lot of research and what areas still have some work that needs to be done.   Geoff Allix (21:35): This is a bit of a can of worms question, but it's, do you have any essential tips for people who are newly diagnosed for treating their MS in the medical arena? That could be something that goes on for weeks, that question. Tips for the newly diagnosed though.   Dr. Williams (21:57): The first thing is to work with your healthcare provider to establish a plan that works for you, because everybody with MS is different. Everybody's plan will look a little bit different. The treatment that may work for you may not work for somebody else. I think also it's important to think about what your goals are. There are multiple studies that have been done looking at what healthcare providers' top goals are with treatment and patients' top goals of treatment, and sometimes they don't match up.   Dr. Williams (22:30): Thinking about what you want to accomplish if the way that the medication is given is important to you, if how frequent it's done is important to you. Just kind of writing down those priorities. It may not be where we're able to meet every one of those, but certainly that gives your healthcare team an idea of kind of what the top things are that are important to you.   Dr. Williams (22:54): I think the other piece is connecting with the community because support is extremely important. As much as I try to empathize with my patients, I don't understand what it feels like to have MS. I think it's very important to connect with others in the MS community who know exactly what you're going through. Maybe not exactly, but who maybe has overcome some of the challenges that you have, and kind of help you walk through that process. Connection to the community is extremely important, setting those goals, what you would like to accomplish, and then as much as feasible, communicating with your healthcare team to come up with that plan that works best for you.   Geoff Allix (23:38): Just to change tack a little bit, on another note, you are involved in researching MS's impact on the black and African American community. There's a huge amount to learn about prevalence and penetration of MS in different communities. Going back to, I think a lot of people with MS will have seen maps of where the prevalence of MS is and saying, well, there's obviously a connection with vitamin D and sunlight.   Geoff Allix (24:03): But then equally, that could be an aspect of the ethnicity of the people. It could be that the diets are different. It could be that it tends to be the more developed world is further away from the equator in most areas of the world, so that could be a factor. There are so many variables, I think. However, having said this, almost impossible to work out, do you have any insights to share about your work on MS in the black and African American communities?   Dr. Williams (24:41): Absolutely. MS is traditionally ... Globally, MS is still a disease that's considered most prevalent in people of Northern European descent. However, I live in the southern part of the United States where a large portion of the black and African American community lives. When I would go out in my waiting room at my various practices, I was in academic practice and I was in a large eight partner multiple sclerosis center, now to my own practice. A majority of the people that I see were black. It didn't match up with what I had learned in my training.   Dr. Williams (25:14): Then also we began to see that maybe some of the outcomes were a little bit different. People had a little bit more walking disability. Some people had more aggressive disease, not across the board. That really led me to begin to look at the literature and the research to see what I could find out. Unsurprisingly, there wasn't very much to look at. I was able to participate in a review article when we looked at the black and Hispanic Latino populations here in the US.   Dr. Williams (25:44): When you looked at the amount of literature back in 2014 at least, out of 50,000 articles written in English, there were only about a hundred about black people with MS. There were 20, less than 20 for people who were Hispanic Latino. That really was what spurred me on to try to do more research focused on this population, to better learn and understand.   Dr. Williams (26:10): Also, if there were some people who were doing worse, what could that teach us about the whole MS population? How could we take this knowledge and apply it to the broader population? We've learned so far that there are some people who tend to do a little bit worse, but we don't know what parts of that are related to things like social determinants of health, ability to access a doctor, ability to access better food choices, things like that, and what part of that may or may not be biologic.   Dr. Williams (26:41): We still have a long way to go, but there are many of us that are working on trying to better understand, and also increase the diversity in our clinical trials so that people have access to cutting edge medicine, which is often the case with our trials, but also so that we better understand MS so we can treat everyone better and help to make treatments more specific for everyone.   Geoff Allix (27:03): Just to put it out there then, if you have someone who is born in, let's say Nigeria and lives their whole life in Nigeria, would you think that they would have a different outcome to someone who is born in the United States with Nigerian parents? They are genetically the same, but one person lives their life in the United States and one person lives their life in Nigeria.   Dr. Williams (27:35): That's the very question we're trying to answer. If you look at older studies that suggest that if you move from a low-risk area to a high-risk area before the age of 15, that you take on the risk of the high-risk area. But we haven't really identified what environmental factors may be related to that. Is it things like Epstein-Barr virus, which is a really hot topic with MS right now? Is it some other environmental factor? Is this some dietary factor? Everyone's talking about the gut microbiome. These are very complex associations.   Dr. Williams (28:10): The other issue when you look at the continent of Africa, there's been very little research about MS that has come out of that area. We see more NMOSD or neuromyelitis optical spectrum disorder in people who are considered African. However, some of that could be potentially because of access to care. I'm fortunate to be involved in a very large clinical trial that's looking at black and Hispanic Latino populations here in the US. We also have a cohort in Africa of 10 patients, which is the largest cohort that's ever been reported.   Dr. Williams (28:50): Again, we may be finding out more and more as we are getting access to different resources and learning more about MS in different parts of the world. The honest answer is, I don't know. That was a long way to say, I don't know. But certainly, we are trying to figure out some of the answers to these questions as we get more data on a variety of populations.   Geoff Allix (29:15): Okay. It is fascinating the amount of research that's going on, I think. Finally, what's your vision on how you'd like your practice and work in the MS field to evolve and grow? What do you see as a positive future?   Dr. Williams (29:29): What I would really love to see is the holistic management of multiple sclerosis. I think that as a scientific community, we've been so focused on treatments because our treatments in the past have been very limited. When I first began practicing, we had the platform therapies and we had maybe one or two IV therapies, one of which we don't really use anymore. I think that now that we have over 20 different options, it's not that we give up on trying to find new ways to treat MS medically, but now I think it's time to kind of take a step back and say, how do we look at this holistically?   Dr. Williams (30:10): We know that there's a part that medications can play in modifying the disease, but what are the other pieces that lead to someone living well with MS? Because I think all of us have seen people who are on medication, but still not doing well. How do we begin to look at these things that really affect the people that we get to serve on a day-to-day basis? Like their diet, like their ability to exercise, like stress, which can potentially exacerbate or make symptoms worse. How do we begin to work on these things so that we're not just looking at one piece of the puzzle, and instead looking at the whole person and how we can really treat them and make their everyday life better with MS?   Geoff Allix (30:50): With that, thank you so much for joining us and being our guest on Living Well With MS, Dr. Williams, and we're excited and grateful for the amazing work that you are doing with the MS community.   Dr. Williams (31:02): Absolutely. Thank you so much. It's been my pleasure.   Geoff Allix (31:11): Thank you for listening to this episode of Living Well with MS. Please check out this episode's show notes at www.overcomingMS.org/podcast. You'll find all sorts of useful links and bonus information there. Do you have questions about this episode or ideas about future ones? Email us at podcast@overcomingMS.org. We'd love to hear from you. You can also subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform, so you never miss an episode.   Geoff Allix (31:40): Living Well with MS is kindly supported by a grant from the Happy Charitable Trust. If you'd like to support the Overcoming MS charity and help keep our podcast advertising free, you can donate online at www.overcomingMS.org/donate. To learn more about Overcoming MS and its array of free content and programs, including webinars, recipes, exercise guides, OMS Circles, our global network of community support groups, and more, please visit our website at www.overcomingMS.org.   Geoff Allix (32:11): While you're there, don't forget to register for our monthly e-newsletter so you can stay informed about the podcast and other news and updates from Overcoming MS. Thanks again for tuning in and see you next time.   Geoff Allix (32:28): The Living Well with MS family of podcasts is for private non-commercial use and exists to educate and inspire our community of listeners. We do not offer medical advice. For medical advice, please contact your doctor or other licensed healthcare professional. Our guests are carefully selected, but all opinions they express are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Overcoming MS charity, its affiliates, or staff.  

Mergers are a fact of life for some institutions in higher education. Ricardo Azziz, research professor in the school of public health at the University at Albany, says mergers are not always a bad thing. Ricardo Azziz is former founding President, Georgia Regents University; former President, Georgia Health Sciences University; and co-author of ‘Strategic Mergers […]

Christen Engel's Bio: Christen Engel is an award-winning communications and marketing executive with more than 10 years' experience in healthcare and higher education. In her role as interim vice president of communications and marketing for Augusta University and Augusta University Health, she works to drive strategic enrollment and health system revenue growth through brand and public positioning, issues and crisis management, earned and owned media. In addition, she oversees mass internal communications and executive communication for an institution with more than 10,000 employees; the university and health system websites; the employee intranet; and institutional photography, videography and graphic design. Fun fact, Christen and Allison actually went to college together! Aubrey Hinkson's Bio: Aubrey Hinkson prides herself on bringing the work efficiencies of an agency model to the health care and higher education marketing space. During her time at Augusta University, she has been challenged with multiple brand transitions and unique opportunities for process improvement and team transformation. As the AVP for Marketing, she is responsible for the development and implementation of marketing strategies, plans and initiatives for the university. Aubrey is an instructor in the Hull College of Business at Augusta University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Master of Science in Marketing from Clemson University. What you'll learn about in this episode: Christen shares why her collaboration with Aubrey has been powerful, especially during the process of navigating the institution's huge rebranding to Augusta University What challenges and opportunities arose from the consolidation between Georgia Health Sciences University and Augusta State University to become Georgia Regents University Why not including the community in the decision on the new name created lots of brand buy-in challenges, and why the institution renamed and rebranded again as Augusta University How, in spite of feeling disheartened by having two years of rebranding work abandoned, Aubrey and her team rose to the challenge of doing another rebrand so quickly How the right partnerships made a huge difference in the success of the second rebranding, and how intentionality and collaboration were crucial resources for getting buy-in Why pushing people to be brand advocates rather than serving as the “brand police” has been an important lesson and mindset shift Why Christen feels the rebrand was a monumental success, and how the rebrand created a unique opportunity to highlight Augusta University's unique offerings How Augusta University is navigating the challenge of tailoring messaging to different groups of students and alumni Why Augusta University isn't for everyone and doesn't try to speak to everyone but instead focuses on students who are looking to break the mold Why authenticity is absolutely critical for addressing today's students, and what advice Christen and Aubrey would share for anyone going through a major brand change   Resources: Christen's Facebook: www.facebook.com/christen.carter.engel Christen's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/christen-engel-25102a26/ Christen's Twitter:  @CARTERC5 Aubrey's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aubrey-hinkson-2a497316/  Additional resources: Website: www.theundeclaredpodcast.com Website: www.upandup.agency Email: contact@upandup.agency

Dr. Christopher “Chris” Bingham received his Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in 1998. He completed his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Illinois in 2005 followed by the completion of a General Practice Residency at the Rush University Medical Center in 2006. He then practiced as a general dentist for 2 years before entering Georgia Health Sciences University (formally Medical College of Georgia) in Augusta, where he earned a Certificate in Periodontics and a Master of Science in Oral Biology in 2011. With a strong focus on delivering minimally invasive, exemplary care, Dr. Bingham offers patients the latest in state-of-the-art periodontics and implant surgery techniques. Join the community on Dentaltown at https://www.dentaltown.com

People living with multiple sclerosis often experience chronic numbness, burning, tingling and pins-and-needles sensations. In a recent study, 70% of people with MS reported numbness and tingling, and 55% reported pain associated with relapses. MS neurologists explain typical symptoms for brain and spinal cord MS attacks compared to a pinched nerve in the back (like sciatica) or neuropathy. Lhermitte's sign (shocks down the spine when moving neck) and Uhthoff's phenomenon (numbness when overheated) are covered since frequently the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Options for relief from burning, tingling and pins-and-needles reviewed including medications such as Neurontin (gabapentin), Lyrica (pregabalin), Elavil (amitriptyline) and Cymbalta (duloxetine). Painful MS syndromes including trigeminal neuralgia, MS hug, and flexor and extensor spasms are reviewed with numerous treatment options. MS experts also share options to alleviate painful muscle cramps and spasms as well as musculoskeletal pain, such as low back pain. The podcast aims to provide awareness and options for relief so that people living with MS can better communicate with their doctors to improve their care. Barry Singer MD, Director of The MS Center for Innovations in Care, interviews: Mitzi Joi Williams MD, a MS neurologist and the founder and CEO of  Joi Life Wellness Group Multiple Sclerosis Center. Dr. Williams completed her neurology residency (including serving as chief resident) and multiple sclerosis fellowship at Georgia Health Sciences University (formerly MCG) in Augusta, GA. She is the author of MS Made Simple: The Essential Guide to Understanding Your Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis. Brandon Beaber MD, an MS neurologist at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles. He completed his neurology residency at Kaiser Permanente’s Los Angeles Medical Center (LAMC) and fellowship in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology at University of Southern California. He authored Resilience in the Face of Multiple Sclerosis and regularly posts educational videos for people living with MS on his YouTube channel. Visit mslivingwell.org for more information. Share your MS story on ICanWithMS.org

In the summer of 2011, conversations began with the Governor’s office about potential mergers. Toward the end of the year an announcement was made that four mergers would occur. This resulted in eight institutions being merged into four. The most complex merger involved Georgia Health Sciences University and Augusta State University, which created one larger and more comprehensive institution than either had been separately. The University System of Georgia has had waves of mergers. Therefore much of the planning for the merger that resulted in Augusta University was done by the board and the administrative level of the University System of Georgia. Dr. Ricardo Azziz was instrumental in implementing that merger. Azziz continues to analyze the process that was used to create this complex merger. He co-authored a 2017 report for the TIA Institute and a book, Strategic Mergers and Higher Education, published by John Hopkins Press. Higher Ed Mergers: A Leadership Challenge Higher education mergers tend to be tenuous for multiple reasons, the biggest reason being that most mergers are not planned in advance – few institutions take the time to proactively consider the aspects of mergers and appoint appropriately experienced leaders.  Additionally, most institutions don’t have access to consultants with this expertise. Azziz believes that many higher education leaders who guide a merger are not anxious to be part of another merger. At the time of the Augusta merger, there was little information available about how to execute a merger between universities. Institutional leaders had no roadmap – only theoretical research about completing mergers had been published at the time, so leaders were in some ways flying by the seat of their pants.  One thing that helped was that the University of Georgia system hired a consultant to help with the accreditation of those mergers, as it took something off the already overflowing plates of the merger team. Higher education leaders who are leading mergers make every effort to network with those who have guided these types of organizational change and/or use an experienced consultant to guide the process. This will help leaders access the many tools needed to be successful. Seven Essential Elements There are seven essential elements that need to be in place for a successful merger: Supportive and understanding board The right kind of institutional leaders A vision that encompasses and drives the merger so the university community sees itself as part of the merger A sense of urgency so people understand why this needs to happen A communication plan A robust project management system Resources Most institutions wait too long to begin the merger process. These institutions may be facing a number of serious challenges, including budgetary issues and/or declining enrollment. The University of Georgia System leadership and state leadership took a proactive approach before the eight institutions were seriously in trouble and had reached a point of no return. However, the system officials had difficulty injecting a new vision or a sense of urgency because much of the data regarding the institutional selections was kept at the system level. Reasons for Mergers There can be many reasons for mergers; first and foremost should be to preserve a tradition or programs for students. Therefore, it is important to bring a focus of what’s best for students and how best to develop a higher quality education, experiences and training for students. This is the right focus that creates both a sense of urgency and focus. Emphasizing financial gain as the primary factor in creating a merger is the wrong approach to creating a sense of urgency because a merger is going to cost money. In fact, there will be additional costs in finances and personnel since the mergers need their own staffing and finances beyond what is available in the two institutions that are merging. Success vs. Failure Success is not an exact term when talking about mergers, but the bottom line should be about the students. If leaders keep the students and the quality of their education, experiences, and programs at the forefront of the vision of the merger, it becomes easier to see how the creation of a larger institution can offer more programs for students as well as more sustainable programs than what each smaller institution could provide. Failures of mergers can mean different things. These failures can include the institutions remaining apart because the administrations never fully combined. Even in cases such as these, whereas some institutions fail at merging, they use the experience to rejuvenate because they are forced to examine themselves carefully. Strategic Planning Mergers are usually discounted (or not even considered) as part of an institution’s strategic plan, but they should be.  The American Quality Foundation and Ernst and Young published a study several years ago that looked across a number of different organizations in the U.S., Canada and Japan. The researchers analyzed what would create positive growth from a market capital perspective. There were three common findings which align with Azziz’s experiences in mergers: Strategy with good implementation Business process improvement that is focused on the customer Depth and breadth of leadership management practices. When building their institution’s strategic plan, it is important leaders and governing boards consider all options, including mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances, in their planning process. This allows these concepts to be part of the lexicon and planning. Transformational Change Many mergers are coming as a result of revolutionary change in the higher education sector, such as some institutions offering free on-line courses or a life-long learning process that is cumulative. Higher education also is under significant pressure with societal changes, including technology, the need and ability of individuals to regularly expand their knowledge base as well as rapidly changing demographics.  Unfortunately, higher education as a whole tends to be more comfortable with incremental change, and its leaders must expand their understanding and in fact embrace transformational change in the form of a merger. Azziz believes that higher education leaders must now adopt a more proactive and transformational leadership approach to ensure that future students get the best quality of education (which may not – and probably will not -- be the same type of education as they receive today).  For example, the current generation of students are hesitant to seek higher degrees immediately – they want to go into the workforce and because they know they will be experiencing a number of jobs during their career, they know they need to take a continuous life-long learning approach to adapt and develop skills and knowledge that haven’t been developed yet. To successfully meet this challenge, higher education will have to adapt by creating different badging and certificate processes, using wider technology and embracing a more diverse range of learning materials. Higher education needs to respond more decisively and planfully in what is happening in the external environment, which is revolutionary. Meeting these challenges requires a visionary governing board and leaders. However, these boards often don’t embrace their strategic responsibilities in relation to the schools they lead – the experience of most boards and higher education institutions is one of times when change wasn’t as radical.  In addition, board members often come from different industries and may not understand what is happening in higher education and don’t take the time to educate themselves. Clear Communication One of the critical things in mergers is communications. It is important to have a comprehensive communications strategy with concise messages that allows all members of the leadership chain involved in the mergers to deliver the same messages consistently. You cannot over-communicate, but conflicting messages and wordings are extremely problematic, especially because in academics, words matter. Project Management Project management is essential for a successful merger. Like dominos, a merger needs to have the individual pieces fall in the right direction at the right time to be successful – there can be severe implications for the institution if something is not done in a timely manner. Azziz was fortunate to have an experienced internal project management team who understood the complexity of the transaction, including having the numerous groups from accreditors to financial institutions involved. This comprehensive approach helped smooth the merger process. He recommended that smaller institutions hire an external project management team if an institution does not have one in-house. Resources Mergers require additional resources, both financial and personnel, beyond the needs of operating the two separate institutions that will be merging. In the case of Augusta, they merged a health sciences institution with a liberal arts / masters institution. The health sciences center had resources that could be diverted to fund the merger, whereas the liberal arts institution had less resources to dedicate. Culture The culture of a university campus is special and recognized. It also can be very difficult to cultivate when doing a merger. It takes a long time for a new culture to develop. Leaders need to remember to preserve the original culture so that everyone feels engaged while also creating a new culture that reflects the merger. These two perspectives do not have to be contradictory. Additionally, leaders need to realize that academic cultures in larger institutions tend to be heterogeneous; the culture in the college of engineering differs from the business school, which differs from the college of liberal arts. Leaders should not try to force the creation of a homogeneous institutional culture that has artificial parameters. 3 Recommendations for Higher Education Leaders Azziz suggested three take-aways for university presidents: Consider mergers and acquisitions as part of the strategic planning process’s environmental scanning. This doesn’t mean that they have to merge or acquire. However, they will have taken the idea of the merger into consideration. Understand that the external environment is changing in a very rapid pace. Taking an approach that only focuses on incremental change will no longer work. Bullet Points Most institutional leaders do not have experience in leading mergers, nor are there a plethora of consultants who can assist in a merger. There are seven elements that are critical in leading a successful merger: Supportive and understanding board; the right kind of institutional leaders; a vision that encompasses and drives the merger so the university community sees itself as part of the merger; a sense of urgency so people understand why this needs to happen; a communications plan; a robust project management system; and resources. Mergers should be undertaken for improving student education, programs and experiences. The primary drivers should not be financial. The possibility of a merger should be considered in the environmental scanning portion of a strategic planning process. This enable institutional leaders to begin to think proactively about this process instead of reactively when it is forced onto them by top leaders or external factors. Institutional leaders need to adopt a transformational change mentality, which differs greatly from the incremental change that has traditionally been taken in higher education. Leaders also need to be aware of and take into account the revolutionary changes that are impacting the higher education sector. Clear, concise and consistent communication is key in the merger process. All leaders need to be on the same page and use the same wording. A project management team – whether internal or external – are invaluable since this team will consider the various complexities of a merger. Additional personnel and financial resources are needed in a merger. These are beyond what each merging institution brings to the table. Creating a vital common culture is critical in a merger. However, it’s important to maintain the previous institutional culture for a period of time as well as not attempt to create a homogenous institutional culture that doesn’t fit every college / department. Links to Articles, Apps, or websites mentioned during the interview: Ricardo Azziz Strategic Mergers in Higher Education Guests Social Media Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-azziz-0a8b0396/ The Change Leader’s Social Media Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email: podcast@changinghighered.com

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most ancient disorders (around 50-60,000 years old) and affects up to one in five women regardless of race, nationality or ethnicity. For many women, diagnosis involves a long, enigmatic process including numerous physician visits. Its symptoms are not always clear, the condition has many nuances, and the healthcare system as a whole has a long way to go to be able to provide optimal care for PCOS patients.In this episode, Ricardo Azziz, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., renowned physician, researcher, scientist, and Chief Officer of Academic Health and Hospital Affairs, State University of New York (SUNY), joins host Mark P. Trolice, M.D., to break down what PCOS is, why it can be so challenging to diagnose, and the different treatment options available to patients.Tune in to discover:The three main criteria for diagnosing PCOSThe link between PCOS and diabetesThe role of metformin and letrozole in the management of PCOSWhy ovarian drilling gets a bad rap and how it can be an effective treatment for many PCOS patientsAbout Ricardo Azziz, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.Ricardo Azziz is an internationally recognized physician, scientist and executive who currently serves as Chief Officer, Academic Health & Hospital Affairs, the State University of New York (SUNY), the largest university system in the nation. Dr. Azziz's biomedical research focuses on the study of reproductive endocrinology and androgen excess disorders. He has published over 500 original peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and reviews and is consistently ranked one of America's Top Doctors. He has received, among other recognitions, the 2000 President's Achievement Award of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, and was elected member of the Association of American Physicians.He previously served as deputy director of the Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute and assistant dean for Clinical and Translational Sciences at UCLA, and director of the Center for Androgen-Related Disorders at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles. He is the founder and serves as senior executive director of the Androgen Excess & PCOS Society.Among other advisory capacities, he served on multiple NIH committees, chaired the U.S. FDA Advisory Board on Reproductive Health Drugs and served on the oversight committee for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Azziz previously also served as president of Georgia Health Sciences University and then founding president of Georgia Regents University, one of Georgia's four comprehensive research-level universities. He also served as founding CEO of the Georgia Regents Health System, the state's only public academic health center.About Mark P. Trolice, M.D.Mark P. Trolice, M.D., FACOG, FACS, FACE is Director of Fertility CARE: The IVF Center in Winter Park, Florida and Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/GYN) at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando responsible for the medical education of OB/GYN residents and medical students as well as Medical Endocrinology fellows. He is past President of the Florida Society of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI) and past Division Director of REI at Winnie Palmer Hospital, part of Orlando Health. He is double Board-certified in REI and OB/GYN, maintains annual recertification, and has been awarded the American Medical Association’s “Physicians’ Recognition Award” annually. He holds the unique distinction of being a Fellow in all three American Colleges of OB/GYN, of Surgeons, and of Endocrinology. His colleagues select him as Top Doctor in America® annually, one among the top 5% of doctors in the U.S. In 2018, he was awarded the&

What do virtual reality and gaming have to do with Parkinson’s disease? In this show, Dr. Nathan B. Herz, a professor of occupational therapy at Georgia Health Sciences University, discusses gaming technologies that potentially can slow the progression of symptoms and increase function in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. For nearly a decade, Dr. Herz has conducted research using the Wii Gaming System with clients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the GHSU Movement Disorders Program, a National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence.  For further information about Wii platform as listed on Amazon, click on product listing.

The health care sector has been an important source of new jobs in this economy. Dr. Ricardo Azziz, president of Georgia Health Sciences University, discusses the importance of the sector to the economic well-being of communities and how its growth can help catalyze economic development.