Podcasts about md host mark nolan hill

Guest: William Parker, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD For many years, bilateral oopherectomy has been a routine part of hysterectomy. After a certain age, we reasoned that the role of the ovaries in helping women achieve hormonal balance was outweighed by the risks for ovarian cancer, thus offering women their best odds of long-term survival. Yet new evidence on the risks of routine bilateral oopherectomy challenges this conventional wisdom. Is it time we change our practice? Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill examines the findings with Dr. William Parker, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, and a faculty member of the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. The lead author of a study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Parker also explores the mechanisms behind the potential risks investigated by his team, ranging from specific cancers to heart disease and all-cause mortality.

Guest: Joel Saper, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Many physicians today feel overburdened by the task of pain management. The current state of pain management stands in sharp contrast to years past, when our options were once relatively limited in the treatment of pain associated with headaches and other ailments. When is it appropriate to prescribe narcotics, if at all, for these conditions? Dr. Joel Saper, director of the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor, Michigan, recounts how physicians' sensitivities have changed over the years. Are we now too sensitive to pain control? Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Joel Saper, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Though many therapies exist for the treatment of headaches, some chronic headache cases do not respond to prescribed therapies. In a portion of these cases, opioid medications are offered to help patients find relief. But prescription of opioids can present additional problems, including increasingly recurrent headaches. This leads us to the question: which of our patients should receive opioid therapy for their headaches? Dr. Joel Saper, director of the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor, Michigan, examines this critical question and much more with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill. Which patient populations are most vulnerable to the potential problems associated with narcotic therapy? Are we properly advising our patients on the risks of narcotic misuse and overuse, as well as the importance of dose limitations--and if not, how can we improve …

Guest: Marc Bessler, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD As the field of bariatric and minimally invasive surgery continues to grow, the gastric bypass procedure has grabbed many of the headlines, with solid interest in gastric banding as well. Looking ahead, how might the landscape change? Will a new bariatric procedure emerge as the safest and most effective choice? Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill welcomes Dr. Marc Bessler, assistant professor of surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and director of the Columbia University Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery, to detail one procedure that could represent the next step in reducing the invasiveness of bariatric surgery: the transoral gastroplasty.

Guest: Paul Holman, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD At first glance, minimally invasive spine surgery sounds like a contradiction in terms: how could an operation on an area of the body so complex, be navigated successfully through only a few simple incisions? Dr. Paul Holman, a neurosurgeon for the Methodist Neurological Institute at the Methodist Hospital in Houston, joins host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill to explore the intricacies of these procedures, as well as the outcomes: how do the results of minimally invasive spine surgery compare with the more traditional open procedure? Dr. Holman also takes a look ahead, envisioning the technologies and techniques of future minimally invasive spine procedures.

Guest: Howard Heit, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD A drug that first gained prominence as a treatment for heroin addiction, methadone is now more commonly prescribed by medical practitioners for a range of severe pains. Why are we seeing this rise in methadone use? Are we, as prescribers, doing everything we can to understand the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of methadone, and to ensure that our patients are also cognizant of the dangers? Dr. Howard Heit, a nationally recognized chronic pain and addiction medicine specialist practicing in northern Virginia, and an assistant clinical professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, shares his clinical expertise on the perils of the drug that is now the fastest growing cause of narcotic death in the United States. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: James Crowe, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Preparing for the future by studying the past: With researchers now able to resurrect antibodies to the 1918 influenza pandemic from elderly survivors, how does the technology used to do this potentially lead us to antibodies for other viruses? Can we be sure this immunity is not generated by recent exposure to similar strains? Dr. James Crowe, Jr., professor of microbiology and immunology, and director of the Vanderbilt Program for Vaccine Sciences at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and one of the researchers leading this expansive project, explains how we are beginning to learn more about where viruses, including HIV, are most susceptible to being controlled and destroyed. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: James Crowe, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD First published in 2005, the story of how we've come to understand the complete sequence of the 1918 pandemic influenza virus begins years ago, in a remote Alaskan village, and continues today in research across the country. What are we learning about a virus that has taken many decades to comprehend? Dr. James Crowe, Jr., professor of microbiology and immunology, and director of the Vanderbilt Program for Vaccine Sciences at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and one of the researchers leading this expansive project, tells host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill that antibody recognition may actually bear a strong resemblance to cognitive memory. What does Dr. Crowe mean by this? Do we know how the immune system would respond if survivors were infected with this influenza virus?

Guest: Roy Steigbigel, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD We are getting our first in-depth look at some of the research behind raltegravir, a powerful therapy for multi-drug resistant HIV infection already approved by the FDA. How is this raltegravir data impacting current clinical strategies for attacking the virus in multi-drug resistant patients? Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill probes this question and much more with Dr. Roy Steigbigel, professor of medicine and pathology, molecular genetics and microbiology, and pharmacological sciences, and founding director of the Comprehensive AIDS Center at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Guest: Roy Steigbigel, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD In the quest to find therapies for multi-drug resistant HIV, researchers have zeroed in on raltegravir. The latest data indicates this potent agent provides the highest reported virologic suppression rate among multi-drug resistant patients. Is raltegravir proving more effective than antiretrovirals? Does it carry any prominent side effects? Dr. Roy Steigbigel, professor of medicine and pathology, molecular genetics and microbiology, and pharmacological sciences, and founding director of the Comprehensive AIDS Center at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, details his New England Journal of Medicine research on raltegravir therapy for multi-drug resistant HIV with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Guest: Jamie Hutchison, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Traumatic brain injuries can present a lifetime of consequences. Previous studies indicate that hypothermia may be a viable treatment option, but little data has demonstrated efficacy for our youngest patients. Is hypothermia effective in treating pediatric brain trauma patients in a more rigorous research setting? What are the key mechanisms behind this query? Dr. Jamie Hutchison, associate professor of critical care medicine and pediatrics at the University of Toronto, and research director of critical care medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, evaluates the utility of hypothermia treatment for pediatric traumatic brain injuries with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Guest: Jamie Hutchison, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD A young patient is brought into the emergency department having suffered a traumatic brain injury. Hypothermia may be considered as part of the treatment regimen. If so, how soon after the injury should treatment begin, and how long should treatment last? Dr. Jamie Hutchison, associate professor of critical care medicine and pediatrics at the University of Toronto, and research director of critical care medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, explains the mechanism used for cooling and examines potential links between data on hypothermia treatment for adults and similar therapy for children. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Dana Christian Lynge, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Dropping reimbursement for general surgical procedures and increased everyday expenses are two issues, in addition to many others, that make the future viability of a general surgery practice a more difficult proposition. What if this disturbing trend continues? Could medicine withstand the loss of general surgery altogether? Dr. Dana Christian Lynge, associate professor of surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and practicing general surgeon, peers into a theoretical future without general surgeons. What does he see? Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Dana Christian Lynge, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Training, recruiting and retaining general surgeons are key workforce issues for many hospitals across the United States. In a broad sense, these concerns impact the entire field of surgery, from students interested in surgery, to the most established surgeons in practice. What can our profession do to reconcile these issues? Dr. Dana Christian Lynge, associate professor of surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and practicing general surgeon, details his research, published in the Archives of Surgery, that has served to highlight much of the unease surrounding this issue. It used to be that many surgeons with subspecialty certifications also trained in general surgery, but now, their time in general surgery has decreased significantly: how is this trend affecting the matters at hand?

Guest: Dana Christian Lynge, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD A nationwide survey reveals that the number of general surgeons has dropped 25 percent in the past 25 years. A continuation of this decline could have profound implications on patient populations that depend on general surgeons. What are the key demographic concerns surrounding a potential national shortage of general surgeons? Dr. Dana Christian Lynge, associate professor of surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and practicing general surgeon, details his research, published in the Archives of Surgery, on a nationwide shortfall of general surgeons. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Dana Christian Lynge, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Thirty to forty years ago, the field of general surgery was truly flourishing. General surgeons treated patients for an array of surgical conditions, as the concept of present day sub-specialties had yet to take hold. What has led to this significant shift in the focus of general surgery? Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill welcomes Dr. Dana Christian Lynge, associate professor of surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and practicing general surgeon, to discuss the evolution of general surgery in the context of Dr. Lynge's research in the Archives of Surgery on the national shortage of general surgeons.

Guest: Alan Hemming, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD As we extend the bounds of surgical resection for hepatic malignancies, we overcome previously held limitations of our efforts against liver disease. How do our techniques and theories on hepatic resection also relate back to hepatic transplantation? Are we developing more effective strategies to protect the liver during surgery? Dr. Alan Hemming, professor of surgery and chief of transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine, also peers into the future to examine the potential role of laparoscopy or endoscopy in hepatic surgery. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Alan Hemming, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD In recent years, extensive debate has centered around the possibility of further extending the scope of hepatic resection. With research now demonstrating the potential value of extended resection, will more patients be offered this as a treatment option? Are there common complications to consider when evaluating a candidate for this surgery? Dr. Alan Hemming, professor of surgery and chief of transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine, explains the next steps toward entrenching extended resection in our arsenal of treatment for hepatic disease. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Alan Hemming, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD For patients with severe hepatic malignancy, attempts to cure their illness are rarely, if ever, successful. We're learning, however, that a more aggressive surgical approach may extend survival rates well beyond those of our previous techniques. Dr. Alan Hemming, professor of surgery and chief of transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine, details his pursuit of novel measures to surgically address severe hepatic malignancies with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Guest: Richard Lipton, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD For decades, researchers and medical professionals have pursued a more concrete understanding of migraine headaches. We're still not sure of the origin of migraines, but we may have found a device that minimizes their impact. Dr. Richard Lipton, professor and vice chair of neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and director of the Montefiore Headache Center in New York City, shares details on this device with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Guest: Joel Saper, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD The sources of migraine headaches have long been a mystery in medicine. Over the years, many theories have come and gone, with few enduring leads on this debilitating problem that affects many of our patients. Could finding a new therapy for migraines bring us back to the root cause of this condition? Dr. Joel Saper, director of the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor, discusses his clinical research on occipital nerve stimulation as treatment for migraine headaches with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Guest: Michael Marin, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Research data indicates an increasingly significant percentage of all elective aortic aneurysm repairs are endovascular procedures. How are new tools for endovascular repair improving our ability to provide minimally invasive options to our patients? How common are subsequent re-interventions following endovascular repair, and what is the key to finding success in this secondary procedure? Dr. Michael Marin, professor and chair of surgery at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, tells host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill how we are addressing the biggest challenges in endovascular aortic repair.

Guest: Michael Marin, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Techniques for open repair of aortic aneurysms have remained remarkably steady over the past several decades. But with the trend toward minimally-invasive procedures sweeping across medicine, how are advancing techniques in endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms enhancing the standard of care? How do the current success rates for emergent and elective endovascular procedures compare with open repair? Dr. Michael Marin, professor and chair of surgery at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, examines these questions and more with Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Guest: Bert Mandelbaum, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD We're making great progress in the diagnosis and treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries suffered by young athletes. It's no longer the injury that ends a sports career, but an ACL tear can still quickly end a season. Taking our work a step further, how can we equip our athletes with strategies to prevent ACL injuries before they happen? Dr. Bert Mandelbaum, president of the Santa Monica Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Research Foundation in Santa Monica, California, is the principal investigator of the ACL Prevention Project, with results published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. He shares details of this potentially groundbreaking program with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Guest: Bert Mandelbaum, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Intense competition and year-round scheduling demands are now common trademarks of adolescent sports. As a result, we see more and more sports-related injuries, including the all-too-frequent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Dr. Bert Mandelbaum, president of the Santa Monica Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Research Foundation in Santa Monica, Calif., and principal investigator of the ACL Prevention Project, shares details of his potentially groundbreaking program, with results published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. When should young athletes begin this prevention regimen? Taking the mechanisms of prevention a step further, can we teach athletes to run, jump and land in ways that will lessen their risk of injury? Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Bert Mandelbaum, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD It's an array of sporting events, many occurring simultaneously, in sites and cities across a nation. The 2008 Summer Olympic Games in China presents an extraordinary challenge, in terms of providing health care to injured athletes and suddenly-ill spectators alike. Dr. Bert Mandelbaum, a practicing orthopedic surgeon and president of the Santa Monica Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Research Foundation in Santa Monica, Calif., served as chief medical officer (CMO) for the 1999 and 2003 Women's World Cup of Soccer. He joins host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill to discuss the challenges of providing care in this setting. For instance, how does the CMO coordinate with the various team physicians, many of whom will not possess the necessary license to practice medicine in the country where their team is playing?

Guest: Maria Simbra, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Have you ever encountered a medical professional working as a medical reporter and thought, "I could do that?" Many of you probably have, but it's not as easy as it looks. Dr. Maria Simbra, medical reporter for KDKA-TV, the CBS network station in Pittsburgh, and a board-certified neurologist, talks about the challenges of becoming a medical journalist: What lifestyle changes come with medical reporting? How do Dr. Simbra's medical colleagues view her work in journalism? Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Maria Simbra, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Our patients often approach us with health-related articles from the Web, or advice from medical stories they saw on the evening news. Many of these stories are reported by certified medical professionals. Dr. Maria Simbra, medical reporter for KDKA-TV, the CBS network station in Pittsburgh, and a board-certified neurologist, talks about the process of developing a dual career in medicine and journalism with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill. How has Dr. Simbra achieved her success in medical journalism?

Guest: Craig Nichols, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Testicular cancer has received significant media attention in recent years, thanks in part to the very public cancer battle of cyclist Lance Armstrong during the late 1990s. The treatment aspect of Armstrong’s spirited and ultimately successful drive to beat cancer was led by Dr. Craig Nichols who, at the time, was a professor of medicine in the division of hematology/oncology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Armstrong, now a seven-time Tour de France champion, has used his immense success as a springboard for the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF). We’ll learn more about the work of the LAF from Dr. Nichols. He serves as secretary and a member of the board of directors for the LAF, in addition to his duties as medical director of lymphoma and testicular cancer research at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Nichols also shares his perspective on his patient’s success—both as a champion of cycling’s most prestigious event and a champion for the many millions of people battling cancer. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Michael Sayre, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD In cases of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest, bystanders are now formally encouraged to bypass full cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), in favor of continuous chest compressions. This instruction comes following a March 2008 scientific advisory published in the journal Circulation. Given that many bystanders are hesitant to intervene in these situations, citing fear that they will do more harm than good, wariness of infection risk, or other personal considerations, how can medical professionals motivate bystander participation? Dr. Michael Sayre, associate professor of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and lead author of this advisory, considers our best strategies for increasing bystander participation, in accordance with the newest CPR guidelines. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Michael Sayre, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Following a March 2008 scientific advisory published in the journal Circulation, bystanders are now formally encouraged to immediately perform continuous chest compressions as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in some cases of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. Dr. Michael Sayre, associate professor of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and lead author of this advisory, shares his insight on the newest CPR guidelines. What are the current survival rates after an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest, and how might they improve with this advisory? With the next review of the CPR guidelines scheduled for 2010, what can we expect from the CPR discussion until then?

Guest: Michael Sayre, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Following a March 2008 scientific advisory published in the journal Circulation, bystanders are formally encouraged to immediately perform continuous chest compressions as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in some cases of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. Some medical professionals have been making this recommendation for years; Dr. Michael Sayre, associate professor of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and lead author of this advisory, updates us on the CPR discussion. For what cases of cardiac arrest should we instruct the general public to avoid assisted ventilation? Find out more with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Guest: Nathaniel Soper, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Innovations in minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy platforms are contributing to a promising procedural field called Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). Dr. Nathaniel Soper, professor and chair of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and one of the first surgeons in the United States to perform NOTES procedures, joins host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill. Does early research on NOTES methods give us a perspective on long-term outcomes following the procedure? Do NOTES procedures beget any changes in role for nurses and other key contributors in the operating room?

Guest: Nathaniel Soper, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Innovations in minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy platforms are contributing to a promising procedural field called Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). Dr. Nathaniel Soper, professor and chair of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and one of the first surgeons in the United States to perform NOTES procedures, discusses some of the early findings on NOTES procedures. Dr. Soper also shares his perspective as a fundamental contributor to the early stages of this nascent surgical research. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Nathaniel Soper, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Innovations in minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy platforms are contributing to a promising procedural field called Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). Which patients are the most likely candidates for NOTES procedures? Dr. Nathaniel Soper, professor and chair of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and one of the first surgeons in the United States to perform NOTES procedures, joins host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Guest: Nathaniel Soper, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Innovations in minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy platforms are contributing to a promising procedural field called Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). Dr. Nathaniel Soper, professor and chair of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and one of the first surgeons in the United States to perform NOTES procedures, joins host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill. What are the most appealing benefits of NOTES? How do we anticipate patients will respond following a NOTES procedure?

Guest: Michael Oxman, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: William Schaffner, MD Decades of research have gone into the isolation and refinement of a vaccine for adult shingles, approved in 2006 by the FDA and in use today. Do we now fully understand the mechanism which activates the latent varicella-zoster virus, leading to adult shingles? How did initial isolation, going back more than 30 years, of the vaccine for chicken pox (triggered by the same varicella virus) contribute to the investigations on adult shingles? Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill discusses these questions and more with Dr. Michael Oxman, professor of medicine and pathology at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and Dr. William Schaffner, professor and chair of preventive medicine and professor of medicine in the department of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Guest: Michael Oxman, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: William Schaffner, MD A vaccine for adult Shingles was approved in 2006 by the FDA and is in use today. Yet delivery of this vaccination has not been as widespread as it could and should be. With this in mind, many hospitals and clinics are working to improve on their current approach to its distribution; at some health centers, this includes allowing pharmacists to administer the vaccine. Can this program be implemented nationwide, in accordance with local and state laws? Would this program necessitate any change in insurance coverage for providers? Learn more from Dr. Michael Oxman, professor of medicine and pathology at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and Dr. William Schaffner, professor and chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Will this program also lower overall immunization costs? Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Michael Oxman, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: William Schaffner, MD A vaccine for adult Shingles was officially licensed for use in 2006, but recent data shows that delivery of this vaccination has been a challenge. What are some of the issues which are limiting the distribution of the Shingles vaccine? How can we best address these difficulties? For expert insight on these questions and more, host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill welcomes Dr. Michael Oxman, professor of medicine and pathology at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and Dr. William Schaffner, professor and chair of preventive medicine and professor of medicine in the department of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Guest: Michael Oxman, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: William Schaffner, MD A vaccine for adult shingles was approved by the FDA in 2006 and is in use today. Perversely, recent data shows that delivery of the adult Shingles vaccine has been a challenge. This includes delivery to older populations, on whom the Shingles virus typically realizes its greatest impact. With Baby Boomers nearing the age of greatest risk, how can physicians and other medical professionals improve their dialogue with patients about this vaccine? Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill examines strategies to improve immunization rates for adult Shingles with Dr. Michael Oxman, professor of medicine and pathology at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and Dr. William Schaffner, professor and chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Guest: Karla Christian, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Despite the tremendous conflict in Iraq, there have been many medical miracles. One such story centers around Amenah Al-Bayati, a young Iraqi girl found ill by a United States Marine Corps battalion surgeon, who suspected the girl had a potentially life-threatening heart condition, fixable only by immediate surgery. Amenah was subsequently brought to the United States for this complex, life-saving surgery, performed by Dr. Karla Christian at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital in Nashville. After her exhaustive journey from Iraq, Amenah had developed a series of infections. Dr. Christian and her team discovered Amenah's heart condition to be more intricate than originally suspected, which forced minimal delays in the planning for the little girl's surgery. In the end, however, Dr. Christian says she “couldn't be more pleased with [Amenah's] entire pre-operative, operative and post-operative course.” Now, Dr. Christian shares a few personal anecdotes from her own experience as a rare breed of female pediatric cardiac surgeons, as she explains more about her experience working with Amenah and her family, and assesses the long-term prognosis for this little girl. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Guest: Karla Christian, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Despite the tremendous conflict in Iraq, there have been many medical miracles. One such story centers around Amenah Al-Bayati, a young Iraqi girl found ill by a United States Marine Corps battalion surgeon, who suspected the girl had a potentially life-threatening heart condition, fixable only by immediate surgery. Amenah was subsequently brought to the United States for this complex, life-saving surgery, performed by Dr. Karla Christian at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital in Nashville. Find out more, as host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill speaks with Dr. Christian about the complexities of little Amenah's surgery.

Guest: Karla Christian, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Despite the tremendous conflict in Iraq, there have been many medical miracles. One such story centers around Amenah Al-Bayati, a young Iraqi girl found ill by a United States Marine Corps battalion surgeon, who suspected the girl had a potentially life-threatening heart condition, fixable only by immediate surgery. Amenah was subsequently brought to the United States for this complex, life-saving surgery, performed by Dr. Karla Christian at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital in Nashville. After her exhaustive journey from Iraq, Amenah had developed a series of infections. Dr. Christian and her team discovered Amenah's heart condition to be more intricate than originally suspected. How did these developments affect planning for the little girl's surgery? Further, Amenah's case received significant national media attention for many reasons. How did Dr. Christian handle the additional media demands while preparing to perform an already complex procedure? Find out more, as host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill speaks with Dr. Christian about her preparations for little Amenah's surgery.

Guest: Karla Christian, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Despite the tremendous conflict in Iraq, there have been many medical miracles. One such story centers around a young Iraqi girl, found ill by a United States Marine Corps battalion surgeon, who suspected the girl had a potentially life-threatening heart condition, fixable only by immediate surgery. The girl was subsequently brought to the United States for this complex, life-saving surgery, performed by Dr. Karla Christian at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital in Nashville. Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill talks with Dr. Christian about the medical logistics involved in bringing this girl to the U.S. for surgery.

Guest: David Greer, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Dr. David Greer, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, directed a national survey of the leading neurology and neurosurgery programs to analyze policies for making brain death declarations. Though American medical institutions are not required to follow parameters for determining brain death, as published by the American Academy of Neurology, Dr. Greer's report shows significant variation in the guidelines at surveyed institutions. Dr. Greer shares his perspectives, in the context of his research, with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill. What are the two most common pitfalls in the determination of brain death? At a hospital where a proper determination cannot be made, what is the proper protocol?

Guest: David Greer, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Dr. David Greer, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, directed a national survey of the leading neurology and neurosurgery programs to analyze policies for making brain death declarations. Though American medical institutions are not required to follow parameters for determining brain death, as published by the American Academy of Neurology, Dr. Greer's report shows significant variation in the guidelines at surveyed institutions. Why is significant variability within brain death protocol permitted from hospital to hospital? Have there been any medical legal precedents attributed to the inconsistency of these guidelines? What would be the most appropriate approach to addressing these concerns? Dr. Greer shares his thoughts, in the context of his research, with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Guest: David Greer, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Dr. David Greer, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, directed a national survey of neurology and neurosurgery programs to analyze policies for making brain death declarations. Though American medical institutions are not required to follow parameters for determining brain death, as published by the American Academy of Neurology, more explicit recommendations may help guide brain death protocol at hospitals across the country. Dr. Greer details his research with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Guest: David Greer, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Practice guidelines for determining brain death have long been established by the American Academy of Neurology. Is there uniformity across the United States in adhering to these standard guidelines? How might the proper clinical exam for brain death declarations be adversely persuaded? Dr. David Greer, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, directed a national survey of neurology and neurosurgery programs to analyze policies for making brain death declarations. Dr. Greer details his research with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Guest: William Burke, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Scientists at many institutions are researching to find neuroprotective agents for ALS. While today's guests research focuses on other neurological diseases, he recently wrote a commentary to a published neurology article about ALS research suggesting that the properties of a drug, Taxol should also be considered in animal models researching ALS. In this segment, Dr. Mark Nolan Hill talks with Dr. William Burke about ALS and why Taxol may be a worthwhile drug to examine in animal models as a neuoroprotective agent for ALS.

Guest: William Burke, MD Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD In this discussion, Dr. Hill learns from Dr. William Burke about the latest research trying to link the dopamine theory to the alpha synuclean theory to better explain why Parkinson's Disease occurs. In this segment they also discuss current symptomatic treatment for Parkinson's Disease and the properties that would make up a more curative neuroprotective treatment.