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Unruptured intracranial aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations are frequently discovered incidentally on neuroimaging, presenting complex decisions around monitoring, referral, and treatment. This episode highlights key risk factors for rupture, the role of imaging in evaluation, and practical approaches to triage and management, including when specialist intervention is warranted. In this episode, Gordon Smith, MD, FAAN, speaks with Edgar Samaniego, MD, FAAN, authors of the article "Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms and Arteriovenous Malformations" in the Continuum® June 2026 Cerebrovascular Disease issue. Dr. Smith is a Continuum® Audio interviewer and a professor and chair of neurology at Kenneth and Dianne Wright Distinguished Chair in Clinical and Translational Research at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Samaniego is a professor of neurology, neurosurgery, and radiology and the director of the vascular neurology fellowship at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. Additional Resources Read the article: Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms and Arteriovenous Malformations Subscribe to Continuum®: shop.lww.com/Continuum Earn CME (available only to AAN members): continpub.com/AudioCME Continuum® Aloud (verbatim audio-book style recordings of articles available only to Continuum® subscribers): continpub.com/Aloud More about the American Academy of Neurology: aan.com Social Media facebook.com/continuumcme @ContinuumAAN Host: @GordonSmithMD Guest: @esamaniego Full episode transcript available here Dr Smith: Have you ever ordered an MRI of the brain and found a coincidental unruptured aneurysm or perhaps an arteriovenous malformation? If so, are you up to speed on how to manage this common situation, how to monitor, when to refer, and how to counsel your patients? If your answers to these two questions are yes and or no, then please keep listening.  Dr Jones: This is Dr. Lyell Jones, Editor-in-Chief of Continuum. Thank you for listening to Continuum Audio. Be sure to visit the links in the episode notes for information about earning CME, subscribing to the journal, and exclusive access to interviews not featured on the podcast.  Dr Smith: This is Dr. Gordon Smith. Today, I'm interviewing Dr. Edgar Samaniego about his article on unruptured intracranial aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations. This article appears in the June two thousand twenty-six Continuum issue on cerebrovascular disease. Edgar, welcome to the podcast, and maybe you can briefly introduce yourself to our listeners.  Dr Samaniego: Yeah. Thank you, Gordon. So, I'm an interventional neurologist. I'm practicing at the University of Iowa. I've been in Iowa for the last ten years. I'm originally from Ecuador. Did my residency in Wisconsin, and then I went to Stanford for neuro critical care and stroke. And then I did my neurointerventional fellowship at the Baptist Cardiac and Vascular Institute in Miami.  Dr Smith: You're a triple threat in the world of vascular and critical care, which I want to get to later. But your article's really great. I'll admit one of the first things I do when I read an article for Continuum Audio is I see how long it is. I saw yours was as long as the rest, and I was a little surprised because this sounded like a simple topic. But having read it, it's anything but simple. This is really important and complex stuff. I wonder if maybe you can orient our listeners to the importance of this. We frequently find unruptured aneurysms or vascular malformations on brain imaging that we order for something else. I mean, how common is that, and why do you think our listeners need to be particularly attentive to our conversation today?  Dr Samaniego: It's pretty frequent that we see patients with unruptured brain aneurysms. A lot of times, you know, we do imaging like CT angiograms, or magnetic, resonance angiography. Patients come to the ER with headaches, and we find an unruptured aneurysm. And you know, the question always comes, "What should we do with this aneurysm that we found?" We know that a lot of these aneurysms will not rupture, but the caveat is that when they rupture, like fifty percent of these patients may die or have bad outcomes. So, it's always a puzzling question, you know. What should we do with the aneurysm?  Dr Smith: Well, thanks, Edgar. I mean, this is certainly something that I come across. I'm glad to hear that other people struggle with this as well. What actually is the prevalence of aneurysms in the general population? How common is this?  Dr Samaniego: It's more common than what we think, you know. The, the estimates talk about like one in every fifty people have a brain aneurysm, and about every eighteen minutes an aneurysm will rupture. In the United States, there's approximately thirty thousand ruptures per year. So, there's a significant number of, of patients affected by brain aneurysms. And, and the key thing is that affects usually younger patients who are in the most productive years of their lives. So that's why it shouldn't be ignored, and once we find an aneurysm, we have to have all the information for triaging and deciding on treatment of these aneurysms.  Dr Smith: Well, it's a great way to begin our conversation. I mean, this is not a rare problem. It's a common problem, and there's actually a really great section of the article I'll refer people to about medical malpractice and the importance of recognizing and dealing with this thoughtfully. It's an empowering section, not a scary one, but this is important for our listeners to know about. Pretty high-stakes stuff. Maybe you can orient listeners like me or maybe simple neuromuscular people. What different types of aneurysms are there?  Dr Samaniego: That's the interesting question because there's multiple types of aneurysms, and there is a whole spectrum of aneurysm. When we say aneurysm, you can be talking about a fusiform versus a saccular aneurysm. We tend to classify them based on shape, also location. But the two main classifications for brain aneurysms will be saccular, which, you know, has a sac kind of morphology shape, and then you have the fusiform aneurysms. Those are the main morphological classifications. Then on top of that, you have two other subtypes that you see quite often. The one that we see is mycotic aneurysms that is like a misnomer because it's not a fungal aneurysm. It's just an infectious aneurysm that most of the time we see on the setting of endocarditis. These behave a little bit different than the typical saccular or fusiform aneurysms. And then also you have other more rare types of aneurysms like blister aneurysms that are sometimes located in the anterior wall of the carotid artery. So, you know, within this spectrum, we have those main aneurysms. The typical aneurysms, which can be fusiform or saccular, and also the more atypical, which can be mycotic and also blister-like aneurysms.  Dr Smith: I wonder if you might comment a little bit on the relevance of the type of aneurysm, fusiform, saccular, blister, and then location on rupture risk or prognosis.You have a really great figure about anatomic classification in the article actually that I encourage everyone to check out when they hopefully read it. But what do these characteristics imply for risk?  Dr Samaniego: Yeah. This is very complex question because, you know, entails different characteristics of aneurysms such as shape, the location, morphology. So, we know that some locations, for example, the anterior communicating artery has a high risk of rupturing as opposed to patients such as the part of ophthalmic aneurysm, which are usually located at the origin of the ophthalmic artery in the internal carotid artery. So, by risk of rupturing, the highest risk is usually the anterior communicating. Then you have posterior communicating artery aneurysms, which are usually located in the internal carotid artery, but because of their proximity to the origin of the posterior communicating artery, they're called posterior communicating artery aneurysms. Then you have the posterior circulation aneurysms on top of risk of rupturing is the top of the basilar artery location. Those three are the highest risk for rupturing: ACOM, PCOM, and top of the basilar. In terms of morphology, I always tell my patients, you know, if it's like a nice-looking aneurysm that has this rounded shape is a benign morphology. If you have the aneurysm that's having these Mickey Mouse ears that has these blebs or daughter sacs, those are aneurysms that usually scare us because those are the ones that usually rupture. So that's another criteria, morphology. And then the other criteria would be size. There is this magnificent study called ISUIA, which was published several years ago, and basically what it demonstrated was that aneurysms that are seven millimeters or larger are more likely to rupture versus smaller aneurysms. So those are the three criteria that I'm looking into when talking to patients about morphology, location, size, and the, the shape or morphology of the aneurysm.  Dr Smith: So, let's say a general neurologist or comprehensive neurologist practicing in a community setting in a rural area orders a, let's just say a CT or CTA for a patient with a TIA and finds what looks like an aneurysm. What's the next step in terms of imaging? What's the best next step? I mean, there are a bunch of different imaging modalities. Do you get an MRA? Is it time-of-flight, contrasted? You know, when do you get a DSA and so forth?  Dr Samaniego: Yeah. The first thing to do is to better characterize the aneurysm. Order of more accurate imaging that we can obtain without being invasive with a diagnostic cerebral angiogram. The rest will be a magnetic resonance angiography with contrast that, you know, gives you really good detailed information about the aneurysm. Similar in terms of quality and precision will be a CT angiography. The caveat there is with CT angiography is that, you know, you use radiation, and the patient has to get iodine. And then under those two, you will have a time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography, which doesn't use any contrast, but then you lose a little bit of quality in terms of the imaging and some morphological features you might miss. So usually what we do in my practice, I don't wanna do a diagnostic cerebral angiogram, and somebody has to refer an unruptured aneurysm. I try to do CT angiogram as a baseline, see how the aneurysm looks, and then for follow-up, I usually do magnetic resonance an- angiograms with with contrast. If there is a concern that the aneurysm has some dangerous features like it's irregular in shape, it's, it's larger, it's in one of these high-risk locations, might be better just to refer the, the patient to a specialist for a diagnostic cerebral angiography.  Dr Smith: So, you know, there are these scales that you talk about in the article. There's phases in the UIATS that are used to predict rupture risk and guide decision-making. Are these scales that general neurologists or non-vascular neurologists can use to guide care? I'm thinking of like Chad-Baskin, ASBAD, which, you know, all our residents know about. Should we all be familiar with these scores?  Dr Samaniego: I think they're very helpful in the sense that it will give us some guidance. Some of the characteristics of the scale might be up- outdated. For example, like ancestry. Although it's been described more in Japanese and Finnish populations, and North American, not as much as these two other populations. We do see a lot of aneurysms in people from North America and other backgrounds. For example, one of the biggest critiques for the phases is that doesn't take into account smoking history. Smoking that we know is a risk factor. And the other critiques for phases is that, for example, if you are older than seventy years old, you will score one point, which will increase your risk of aneurysm rupturing. Having said that, we do see like tons of aneurysms on younger patients, actually the most productive years of their lives that they rupture. So, it gives you some parameters like the presence of hypertension, the size, as I said, seven or larger, previous history of subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the location of the aneurysm. But it doesn't take into account other factors like smoking or morphological features of the aneurysm. Dr Smith: Now, you mentioned size. I'd like to maybe go back and talk about a case from your article, which I found really impactful. For our listeners, this is a sixty-four-year-old woman who had a five-millimeter ACOM aneurysm. She was imaged serially, didn't change over the time period, and then two years later ruptured with devastating consequence, right? And so that's a small aneurysm. Most aneurysms, I guess, are small aneurysms. I just wonder, when you see a patient like that, how do you handle the discussion regarding risk? And how do you decide when to refer them for an intervention?  Dr Samaniego: Yeah. It's always puzzling when we see these smaller aneurysms. And this example is a typical example of a patient that doesn't follow the rule of seven or larger aneurysm size for rupturing. We see that quite often on aneurysms located in the anterior communicating artery. Just this last week, I treated two patients with similar characteristics, with smaller aneurysms, like average size between four and five, that rupture, and both were located in the anterior communicating artery. So, we know that there is definitely a linear relationship between size and risk and rupture, but we do see a lot of patients that have smaller aneurysms, like three, four, five millimeters that rupture, and we don't really understand very well the, biology of these aneurysms. So, when we see these aneurysms, we try to maximize the characterization of the aneurysm with better imaging, try to see the morphology. And usually when an aneurysm is discovered, what we do for follow-up is a six-month follow-up with some type of imaging, CTA, MRA with contrast, and see if there's has been any change in, on the aneurysm.  Dr Smith: So, is it fair to say that a knowledgeable non-vascular neurologist can safely manage these patients, follow them over time using what they learned from reviewing your article, identify patients who have higher risk aneurysms based on the characteristics you summarize, and refer them to a tertiary center? When I get these, it's easy for me to have our vascular neurosurgeon see them or a vascular neurologist, right? But in a community where you may not have ready access to that subspecialist, is it still important to get all of these patients to a tertiary center? Are there select instances where a community-based general neurologist can follow them and then refer if there's change in size, for instance?  Dr Samaniego: Yeah. I think that everything else that we do in neurology, it's important to do some type of triage in referring some of these patients for further studying and  expert opinion. I think age and size of the aneurysm, age of the patient and size of the aneurysm are huge factors. For example, if we have an older patient in their nineties and has incidentally found two-millimeter aneurysm in a low-risk location like the parathalmic, that patient probably needs to be seen locally. I don't think merits a full workup. As opposed to a younger patient with a three-millimeter aneurysm located in the ACOM. I think that type of patient probably needs to be referred to a tertiary s-stroke center for workup. I mean, most of the time what's gonna happen is that if it's a small aneurysm with benign characteristics, you know, it's gonna be seen by the specialist and they're gonna determine some type of follow-up, which can be done locally.  Dr Smith: So maybe we can pivot a little bit and talk about AVMs, if that's okay. What's your approach to a coincidentally discovered AVM, right? I mean, presumably, we need to think about symptomatic AVMs a little differently, I would think. So maybe we can start with the same scenario we've been talking about. You get an imaging study for something else, and, well, we find an AVM. What's the approach to that situation?  Dr Samaniego: Yeah. AVMs are fascinating vascular lesions because they're very complex, they're very heterogeneous. If we're talking about the morphological features with aneurysms, this, in the case of AVMs, is way more complex in terms of location size. The complexity added to AVMs is that you have a feeding artery, you have a nidus, and then you have draining veins. So, all of these can be very heterogeneous. In case of AVMs, I think those definitely need to be referred to a tertiary center because the management of AVMs is multidisciplinary, even in the tertiary centers. You know, we don't have a magic wand that will say, you know, all these AVMs need to be treated this way. Sometimes they don't even need to be treated because we know from some studies that just watching them will be good enough.  Dr Smith: You raised management of AVMs. Maybe we can go back and talk a little bit about what's the latest in management of aneurysms. You manage aneurysms from soup to nuts and as an endovascular interventional neurologist. What's the latest in management of aneurysms?  Dr Samaniego: The latest is that, which falls within management, is that we have tools that they have not really been validated a hundred percent because we're still understanding the biology of some of these aneurysms. But high-resolution MRI will help us to define if there is some enhancement of the aneurysm. There is the thought that if there is enhancement after the administration of contrast, might be more of an inflammatory process. So that can be used for management, triage, and follow-up of some of these aneurysms. In terms of endovascular treatment, it has been really a revolution of how we treat these lesions. You know, we have a lot of new devices, better catheters to access the aneurysms.There is devices that you can place inside the aneurysm sac and it'll completely shut down flow into the aneurysm. There is other special stents called flow diverters that can take the flow away from the aneurysm and bypassing the aneurysm. So, all of these things have really revolutionized how we treat them. Having said that, you know, there's always a risk with any of these procedures, and that's why we gotta be mindful when we decide to treat these patients with unruptured incidentally found aneurysm.  Dr Smith: I've got just one more question, Edgar, which I kind of led with. You've got training as a vascular neurologist, a neurointensivist, and an interventional neurologist. And you know, Ralph Sacco, as you probably know, used to like to talk about the neurologist, and part of the neurologist was interventional. I wonder what wisdom you have to trainees that are listening to us right now who might be interested in pursuing a career as a neuroendovascular neurologist. What wisdom do you have for them about how to go about doing that?  Dr Samaniego: It has been really rewarding to be part of this process and evolution of treating a stroke and aneurysms and AVMs because I remember when I was a resident at the University of Wisconsin, we only had, like, thrombolysis and only one device for, retrieving some of these clots. But now we have, like, 10 different devices. We have two different indications or two, two different thrombolytics. So, my best advice for trainees that want to pursue neuroendovascular is to get engaged early on, understand very well the biology and the thought process because it's not only a technical field. You have to have really good judgment on when to do and when not to do the procedure, and try to find mentorship. You know, there is a lot of neurointerventional neurologists out there right now. Having a good mentor will really facilitate your career choices and getting into training.  Dr Smith: Well, Edgar, thanks so much. What an exciting conversation. It's just another great example of how exciting neurology is these days. Many exciting advances and innovations, and we just scratched the surface. I encourage all of our listeners to read the article. It's actually really, really informative. So, thank you very much.  Dr Samaniego: Thank you so much, Gordon.  Dr Smith: Again, today I've been interviewing Dr. Edgar Samaniego about his article on unruptured intracranial aneurysms and AVMs. This article appears in the June 2026 issue of Continuum on Cerebrovascular Disease. Be sure to check out other Continuum Audio episodes from this and other issues, and thanks to you, our listeners, for joining us today.  Dr Monteith: This is Dr. Teshamae Monteith, Associate Editor of Continuum Audio. If you've enjoyed this episode, you'll love the journal, which is full of in-depth and clinically relevant information important for neurology practitioners. Use the link in the episode notes to learn more and subscribe. AAN members, you can get CME for listening to this interview by completing the evaluation at continpub.com/audioCME. Thank you for listening to Continuum Audio.

Can Infections Drive Alzheimer's? Nikki Schultek, founder of Intracel Research Group and co-founder of the Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative, details evidence that pathogens may contribute to Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative and neuroimmune disorders beyond the amyloid hypothesis. Schultek recounts her own misdiagnosed systemic illness with neurodegenerative symptoms, later found to involve Lyme disease, Babesia, and chronic infection with the intracellular respiratory bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae, treated with combination antibiotics. The discussion covers PANS/PANDAS as an infection-associated pediatric neuropsychiatric condition, parallels with neuroinflammation and blood–brain barrier changes, and a 2023 Alzheimer's & Dementia “research roadmap” documenting 86 infection-associated dementia cases and calling for actionable testing and collaboration. They review links involving herpes viruses, COVID-related cognitive decline, gum pathogen P. gingivalis therapies, and controversies around chronic infection diagnosis and long-term antibiotics, and share resources including alzpi.org, ILADS, MAPS, and Schultek's Pathobiome Research Center at PCOM.

Dan talks more about PCOM's distinctives and "the Great Tradition"

Pastor Courtney describes our church's distinctive stance on faith and science and why these two important ways of knowing and understanding the world aren't enemies, but friends.

Dan talks about one of PCOM's new distinctives

Dan digs into what a "Presbyterian" is, and who we are at PCOM.

Dr. Dean Given has spent his career as a behavior health psychologist and as a faithful participant and volunteer leader in the church. He graciously agreed to sit down with his son to discuss the Sea of Galilee, Bob Newhart, and a whole host of other things, including an encouragement to you, PCOM, for the ways you've been making the hope of Jesus present through friendship, beauty, and emotional wholeness.

Struggling with social silence, freezing in conversations, or feeling like an 'observer' as an autistic/AuDHD/ADHD adult?

Overview This special episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast was recorded live at the 2nd Annual Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI) and PCOM Symposium in collaboration with Pathobiome Perspectives. Hosted by Ali Moresco in partnership with Nikki Schultek, Executive Director of AlzPI, the conversation brings the Tick Boot Camp mission of exploring infection-associated chronic illness (IACI), like Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, to the global Alzheimer's and neuroimmunology research community. Tick Boot Camp co-founders Matt Sabatello and Rich Johannesen partnered with Ali and Nikki to highlight scientists whose work connects tick-borne illness, microbes, and cognitive decline. This episode features Dr. Brian J. Balin, an internationally recognized neuroscientist whose research has redefined the role of infection in contributing to Alzheimer's disease. Guest Brian J. Balin, PhD Professor of Neuroscience and Neuropathology Director, Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) Dr. Balin directs the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging and the Adolph and Rose Levis Foundation Laboratory for Alzheimer's Disease Research at PCOM. With a PhD from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania, he has devoted nearly three decades to understanding how chronic infection and inflammation trigger neurodegeneration. His pioneering discovery that the respiratory bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae infects brain tissue helped establish the Pathogen Hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease. His continuing work explores how tick-borne microbes — including Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Bartonella, and Babesia — interact with other pathogens to drive neuroinflammation and cognitive decline. Key Discussion Points How infections such as Chlamydia pneumoniae, Borrelia burgdorferi, Bartonella, and Babesia were detected in Alzheimer's brain tissue. Evidence that microbes can enter the brain via the olfactory pathway or blood-brain barrier, initiating chronic inflammation, amyloid plaque formation, and tau tangle pathology. Findings from Dr. Balin's collaboration with Galaxy Diagnostics and advocate Nicole Bell, revealing polymicrobial infection and even Babesia otocoli — a strain previously believed to infect only deer — in human brain tissue. The use of animal models and 3D human brain organoids to study infection-driven neurodegeneration. Why identifying infection as part of the exposome (environmental insults over a lifetime) is key to developing precision diagnostics and treatments. Future directions: immune-modulating drugs, antimicrobials, and emerging phage therapy. “Infection is part of the exposome — an environmental insult that shapes our health over a lifetime. Recognizing that is key to truly understanding and preventing Alzheimer's disease.” — Dr. Brian J. Balin Why It Matters Dr. Balin's research bridges the worlds of neurology and infectious disease, offering a framework that could revolutionize how Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative conditions are diagnosed and treated. By recognizing that microbes — including those transmitted by ticks — can initiate neuroinflammation and cognitive decline, his work provides hope for millions living with infection-associated chronic illness. About the Event The interview took place at the 2nd Annual Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI) and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) Symposium, October 3, 2025, Ohio University in Dublin, Ohio. The Symposium brought together more than 20 experts exploring how microbes, the microbiome, and the host immune response contribute to neurological and psychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's, dementia, and PANS/PANDAS. Tick Boot Camp partnered with Ali Moresco and Nikki Schultek to document and share the voices of scientists advancing research on infection-associated chronic illness (IACI). This episode is part of a special series showcasing how pathobiome and microbiome science is changing our understanding of chronic Lyme and neurodegenerative disease. Learn More Learn about the Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI) at AlzPI.org. For Dr. Balin's publications and ongoing research, visit the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) website. Learn more about the Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI) Listen to Tick Boot Camp Podcast episodes, including Episode 406: Pathobiome – An Interview with Nikki Schultek and Episode 101: The Young Gun – An Interview with Alex (Ali) Moresco discussed in this interview.

Dan talks about the history of the Bible and offers ways to dig into the Scriptures at PCOM

Dan talks about opportunities this Fall at PCOM and tells one of his favorite Bible stories

What's coming up this summer? Join Pastor Courtney for an overview of what's in store at PCOM.

Happy Easter from all of us at PCOM.

Pastor Courtney shares an episode of her birds-and-hope podcast, The Thing with Feathers, as she celebrates the launch of her audiobook for Looking Up.

Dan talks about Spiritual Formation at PCOM and in our own lives

What we're doing to love and serve our neighbors just to the north.

Prayers for a happy, holy, restful holiday.

A call for education and formation amongst all ages!

Join us as we wish Carol Marleau well on her retirement, say goodbye to Ellie Youngblood, and hear what's next for Care Ministries here at PCOM.

Roots to Fruits classes, the Parent Well Community, Creative Roots Arts and Music, GriefShare, our Spiritual Formation Saturday and MORE! Get in the know with all that autumn holds for the people of PCOM.

Jeff dives into miracles and wonders, the joy of VBS at PCOM, and chats with his son about liquids and solids.

Two things you should never discuss in polite company: faith and politics. We talk about faith all the time at PCOM, but today on the podcast, Pastor Courtney is tackling the second. Is she brave? Foolish? Wise? Let's find out.

Dan talks about his class at PCOM and how to think through tricky situations

Pastor Courtney walks us through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and joining Jesus in his suffering. Plus: an Easter invitation and what's coming up at PCOM in the days beyond.

Three invitations for new (and ancient!) offerings at PCOM to bring a spring to your step and depth to your discipleship in the new year.

GDP Script/ Top Stories for Jan 9th   Publish Date:  Jan 8th      HENSSLER 15 From the Henssler Financial Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Tuesday, January 9th and Happy Birthday to Led Zepplin's guitarist Jimmy Page. ***01.09.24 – BIRTHDAY – JIMMY PAGE I'm Bruce Jenkins and here are your top stories presented by Kia Mall of Georgia. PCOM Georgia and Gwinnett County Public Schools work together to help STEM students Gwinnett Woman Forms Nonprofit To Support Cancer Patients Georgia General Assembly Kicks Off 2024 Session: $16 Billion Surplus Sparks Debate on Tax Cuts, Education, and Healthcare   All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: MOG   STORY 1: PCOM Georgia and Gwinnett County Public Schools work together to help STEM students Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) and PCOM Georgia collaborate on STEM opportunities for Gwinnett students. The partnership began in 2004 when GCPS purchased a facility near PCOM Georgia. The college sponsors the Gwinnett Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair, with faculty and staff serving on the advisory board. PCOM Georgia participates in events like Principal for a Day and the STAR Student luncheon, enhancing community engagement. The college offers career fairs and programs like Opportunities Academy, Summer STEM Saturdays, and Future Healthcare Scholars to introduce high school students to healthcare professions. The collaboration extends to faculty involvement, capstone projects, and admissions outreach.   STORY 2: Helping Hand: Gwinnett Woman Forms Nonprofit To Support Cancer Patients Bobbie Menneg, a breast cancer survivor of 12 years, founded Beyond the Ribbon to provide support, encouragement, and hope to cancer patients. The Lawrenceville-based nonprofit offers assistance through various programs, including Jane's Closet (a food pantry), Pat's Pillows & Pouches (providing pillows, drain pouches, and seat belt cushions), and Chloe & Friends (supporting family pets). During Christmas, Beyond the Ribbon adopts families, fulfilling wish lists and distributing grocery store gift cards. Menneg organizes creative fundraising events, including golf tournaments, 5K races, car shows, and recent events like "Rainbows, Reindeers & Wishes" and "Bingo & Beyond." The nonprofit aims to bring joy to cancer families during challenging times.   STORY 3: Good problem for General Assembly: What to do with surplus? The 2024 session of the Georgia General Assembly, starting with a $16 billion budget surplus, is expected to address various long-debated issues. The state's surplus and $11 billion undesignated funds will be a focal point of discussions, determining spending priorities. Governor Brian Kemp proposed accelerating the state income tax cut and additional spending, including one-time pay supplements for state employees and teachers. Legislative Republicans are likely to push for private school vouchers, while tort reform and legalized gambling, particularly sports betting, are also on the agenda. Transportation funding and potential Medicaid expansion discussions are expected during the session.   We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We'll be right back. Break 2: GCPS – TOM WAGES –INGLES 5   STORY 4: UGA retention, completion rates remain strong The University of Georgia (UGA) achieved a nearly 95% first-year retention rate for first-time freshmen, showcasing the success of efforts to enhance the academic environment and support students. The university's six-year completion rate maintained a record high of 88%, and the four-year completion rate indicated that almost three-quarters of UGA students graduate within four years. UGA's retention and completion rates continue to surpass those of its peer institutions, reflecting a decade-long commitment to initiatives such as the Active Learning Initiative, faculty hiring programs, academic advisor expansion, tutoring, mentorship, and peer-learning programs. The university's focus on data-driven student success strategies contributes to its ongoing improvement.   STORY 5: Georgia lawmakers to again consider Okefenokee mining ban Georgia lawmakers are preparing to address the contentious issue of a proposed mine near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge as the legislative session begins. Twin Pines, an Alabama-based company, aims to mine minerals, including titanium dioxide, near the Okefenokee, raising concerns about potential environmental harm. House Bill 71, currently before the legislature, seeks to protect the Okefenokee by prohibiting new mining permits within the area. Although the bill did not progress last year, supporters are optimistic about its chances this time. Opponents are also exploring other avenues, including pressuring companies not to purchase products from a mine near the refuge.   We'll be back in a moment.   Break 3:  ESOG – DTL   STORY 6: New robotic device improves walking for Parkinson's patients Scientists from Harvard and Boston University have developed a wearable robotic device to help people with Parkinson's disease walk without "freezing" or stumbling. The device is a robotic garment worn around the hips and thighs, providing a gentle push to the hips as the legs swing, allowing wearers to achieve a longer stride and walk faster and further. In trials, the garment eliminated freezing episodes in participants with Parkinson's. The technology offers a potential solution to one of the major contributors to falls in people with Parkinson's, as existing treatments are not highly effective.   STORY 7: Psychedelic plant successfully treats war vets' traumatic brain injuries: study A study by researchers at Stanford University explored the potential of ibogaine, a naturally occurring compound found in the roots of the African shrub iboga, to alleviate symptoms of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in war veterans. Ibogaine, a psychedelic plant, was found to significantly improve functioning, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety in veterans with TBIs. The research team worked with 30 special-ops veterans with a history of TBIs, and the results indicated immediate and lasting improvements in various areas. However, the use of ibogaine is restricted in the United States due to its classification as a Schedule I-controlled substance.   We'll have final thoughts after this.   Break 4: Henssler 60   Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today's Gwinnett Daily Post podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast. Read more about all our stories, and get other great content at Gwinnettdailypost.com. Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 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Pastor Courtney unpacks our spiritual formation plan for early 2024, from small groups to Roots to Fruits to study guides and sermon notes.

PCOM's own 5-year-old bundle of energy joins Pastor Courtney in the podcast studio to give her opinions on animals, colors, songs, and why following Jesus is where it's at.

Dan looks at idolatry then and now (with a personal story and a word about Vision Casting)

It's vision cast time! Where is God calling PCOM over the next few years? Join Pastors Daryl and Courtney as they talk about this exciting journey and how the faithfulness of so many here for so many years has primed us to plant some new seeds.

Pastor Courtney takes us back to 2014 and the journey that brought her and Pastor Daryl to PCOM. From the wisdom of PCOM's Associate Pastor Nominating Committee to the patience of God to a hilarious moment with Pastor Jackson, this is a great story of adventure in the faithfulness of Jesus.

For this episode, I sat down with Peter Bidey, DO, MSEd, the newly-appointed dean of the Osteopathic Medicine program. Succeeding the College's longest-tenured dean, Dr. Bidey and I discuss the history and responsibility of his new role; his vision for the program and what he hopes to achieve as dean; and how we can continue to keep important issues like diversity and mental health at the forefront of our students' educational experience. And, of course, from one Philly native to another, we discuss our favorite Philadelphia traditions. Dr. Bidey assumes his new leadership role at an exciting, but challenging precipice for the College. As we approach our 125th Anniversary, Dr. Bidey's leadership and vision for the program will guide us into the next 125 years, and I look forward to working closely with him to develop the next generation of osteopathic physicians.

For this episode, I was joined by Brian DeHaven, PhD, inaugural chief program director for the College's Biomedical Sciences program. Dr. DeHaven joined PCOM earlier this year and has an ambitious agenda for the BioMed program. He and I discuss his vision for the program and what sets PCOM apart from its peers; changes to education as a result of the pandemic and the effort to meet students where they are; and the future of graduate medical education.

Pastor Courtney, with special guests Felicity, Wilson, and Lincoln Ellis, talk about PCOM's history of Vacation Bible School. Plus: how you can be praying for the kids, parents, volunteers, and staff during this awesome week.

For this episode, I was joined by Art Sesso, DO ‘81, interim dean of the doctor of osteopathic medicine program at PCOM and senior associate dean of osteopathic curricula innovation and accountability. Dr. Sesso and I discuss how, under his leadership, PCOM is responding to a rapidly evolving health landscape through the development of the first-in-the-nation Medical Education Center of Excellence (MECOE). This innovative approach to medical education strengthens our ability to train the next generation of osteopathic physicians and ensures our students are prepared to enter the next phase of their careers after graduation. Through the work of Dr. Sesso and others, PCOM is set up to compete well into the future. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

A survivor of a bombing that killed four children at the 16th Street Baptist church in Birmingham, Ala., nearly 60 years ago spoke at Poplar Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Buford this weekend. Sarah J. Collins-Rudolph was a young girl who was at 16th Street Baptist with her sister, Addie Mae Collins, on September15, 1963 when a bomb placed at the African-American church by the Ku Klux Klan exploded. Collins-Rudolph shared her story on Sunday as part of Black History Month observations at the church. The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing is one of the most notorious incidents in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's. Collins-Rudolph survived the blast although she lost her right eye as a result of her injuries. Her sister, however, was one of four girls who were killed by the explosion. The FBI considered the bombing to be “a most heinous offense” and gathered evidence with as many as 36 agents working on the case at one point. The first 100 customers at Japanese cream puff restaurant chain Beard Papa's newest location in Duluth will receive a free gift when the pastry shop opens later this week. Beard Papa's is set to open its new location at 3350 Steve Reynolds Blvd, Suite 103 in unincorporated Duluth at 10 a.m. on February 25 It will be the pastry chain's third location in Georgia, and its second in Gwinnett County. Its first location in the state opened in Peachtree Corners' Town Center district a few years ago. There is an additional location in Sandy Springs. The first 100 people who show up at Beards Papa's Duluth on the 25th will receive a special gift. Popular local foodie influencers and neighboring business owners are scheduled to make appearances on the opening day. There will also be grand opening day offers. Beard Papa's lets customers choose from one of eight different types of puff shells, and then chose a cream filling that is inserted in the shell in front of them. The chain also has cheesecake, chocolate fondant, other types of pastries, and exclusive blended drinks on its menu. This year's Georgia baseball team has a chance to be special, and you can sense that from each player who speaks confidently about the upcoming 2023 season.  North Gwinnett grad Corey Collins, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior catcher for the Bulldogs this season, knows it too.  In his first two seasons, Collins has blasted a combined 19 home runs with 20 doubles and 74 RBIs in 110 games. In 2022, he posted a .994 fielding percentage with 160 putouts and 17 assists in 57 games. A criminal justice major, Collins has made the SEC Academic Honor Roll, too. Now as an upperclassman, he's ready to take the field in a new role. Along with seeing time at catcher and designated hitter, Collins will play in the outfield this season for the first time in his Bulldog career. Collins is one of two Bulldogs on this year's team to be named among Baseball America's top 200 Major League Baseball Draft prospects in the country.  Stricklin, who had eight players sign professional contracts last year, is excited to see Collins and others possibly get that chance as well. Collins said he already gets the opportunity to live out a dream playing for the Bulldogs, who he grew up watching and loving. The life-affirming song “I Hope You Dance” accompanied the traditional academic procession and recession of the Class of 2024 during their White Coat Ceremony, dubbed “the most unique White Coat Ceremony in the history of PCOM” by class chair Andrew Wilson. Having started pharmacy school at the beginning of the pandemic when most of the world was shutting down, the 79 class members decided to delay a virtual ceremony in 2020 to an in-person ceremony two and a half years later on Feb. 10. This decision mirrors the decisions class members will make as pharmacists. Shawn Spencer, PhD, RPh, dean and chief academic officer of the PCOM School of Pharmacy, extolled the students. He said, “You are not only becoming a pharmacist, but also a leader, mentor and a role model.” He added, “As healthcare professionals, you will be called upon to make difficult and complex decisions, and you will be relied upon to act with compassion, integrity and dedication to your patients who need you.” He called the ceremony “a rite of passage that symbolizes our commitment to the advancement of human health and the betterment of our most vulnerable communities.” The students were called to the stage where they were coated by faculty members five at a time. Wearing their white coats and a new PCOM School of Pharmacy pin, the Class of 2024 recited their class  mission statement led by Dr. Spencer. The class concluded the ceremony, attended by a multitude of family and friends, by reciting a Pledge of Professionalism led by John Tovar, PharmD, associate professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice.  Georgia disability advocates are calling for the creation of a special commission devoted to the problems Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities face. State Senator Sally Harrell, a Democrat from Atlanta, introduced legislation this week that would create an “Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Innovation Commission” akin to the highly successful behavioral health commission formed in 2019. Harrell's proposal has drawn bipartisan support, including from Republican Senate co-sponsors John Albers of Roswell, Mike Dugan of Carrollton, Chuck Hufstetler of Rome, and Ben Watson of Savannah. The 22-member commission would include members appointed by the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the House of Representatives. Appointees would include, among others, people with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their family members and caregivers. The commission would be required to focus on proposed changes to state laws and regulations around providing services to people with disabilities. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will need to approve Harrell's bill before it can move to the Senate floor for a vote. Providence Christian's boys were represented well on the All-Region 8-AA Basketball Team, including Region Player of the Year honors to Samuel Thacker. Thacker and the Storm won the Region 8-AA Tournament over the weekend, earning a Number 1 seed for the state playoffs. Providence head coach Joey Thacker was the 8-AA Coach of the Year, while the all-region team featured four other Storm players — Thomas Malcolm, Devin Long, Kamron Carryl, Chandler Dunn. Providence will start off the playoffs tonight hosting Rockmart High School at the Storm Center. For more information be sure to visit www.bgpodcastnetwork.com   https://www.lawrencevillega.org/  https://www.foxtheatre.org/  https://guideinc.org/  https://www.psponline.com/  https://www.kiamallofga.com/  https://www.milb.com/gwinnett  https://www.fernbankmuseum.org/  www.atlantagladiators.com            See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan does a little history and talks about his experience with PCOM's youth this past weekend.

For this episode, I sat down with Scott Glassman, PsyD, director of PCOM's Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program, consultant for the Family Medicine department at PCOM, and author of the book A Happier You: A Seven-Week Program to Transform Negative Thinking into Positivity and Resilience. Dr. Glassman and I discussed the unique qualities of the MAPP program, the benefits of access to the Happier You program for patients in our Healthcare Centers, and the growing movement to help people understand and learn more about the power of focusing on personal strengths and the positive side of life. PCOM has made a concerted effort to expand mental health resources for students, faculty and staff, and Dr. Glassman and I spent part of our conversation discussing the importance of building on those efforts, particularly for students. We also examined the culture of PCOM and why it continues to be a place that fosters camaraderie, collegiality and collaboration, and the broader mood of the region and what makes Philadelphia such a dynamic place to live. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Dan talks about the past and future of church attendance and what it means for all of us at PCOM

The latest episode of PCOM Perspectives, our podcast exploring news and events on campus and news of the day through the PCOM lens, is now live. This episode features a discussion with Jim Matney, CEO of Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie. Mr. Matney has been an advocate and supporter of PCOM's expansion into South Georgia since it was merely a concept. And since PCOM South Georgia began its first academic year in 2019, Mr. Matney has encouraged local community organizations and government agencies to support the mission of PCOM South Georgia. Now, in our fourth academic year in South Georgia, many of our medical students are completing their clinical clerkships at Colquitt Regional, and a handful of PCOM Georgia graduates have completed or are completing their residencies at the hospital's Georgia South Family Medicine Residency Program. During this episode, we discuss the changes that we've seen in Southwest Georgia's healthcare landscape over the last five years, what we hope to see in the future and how our partnerships are benefiting the region.

Amy welcomes Dr. Marcine Pickron-Davis, Chief Diversity and Community Relations Officer at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, to the Including You podcast this week, and Dr. Pickron-Davis shares how PCOM employees are unlearning racism.  Connect with Marcine on LinkedIn. https://bit.ly/3jFcvnh Including You is brought to you by Lead at Any Level. Learn more about them on their website. http://bit.ly/2lPvOMM Learn more about Pfizer on their website. https://bit.ly/2TTtZiZ Listen to Pfizer's "The Antigen" podcast today. https://bit.ly/3EIIUQD

This month I sat down with Christy Finley, EdD, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at PCOM, to discuss updates on the College's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, including among others the launch of our student DEI certificate and the Student Diversity Diplomats program, a new initiative at PCOM Georgia to engage students in a range of diversity-related programs and events, both on campus and in the surrounding community. As laid out in our strategic plan, PCOM 2025: Path to Greater Excellence, DEI is a core component of who we are – and strive to be – as an institution. My discussion with Dr. Finley highlighted the ways in which we are working to embed DEI in our curriculum, policies, processes and practices, most notably the numerous DEI workshops available to faculty and staff throughout the year; Diversity/LGBTQIA Councils; informal colleague resource groups such as Supporting One Another as we Rise (SOAR); and the annual Opportunities Academies available on each campus location. Our College has made and continues to make great strides in our DEI efforts, but it's people that make diversity, equity and inclusion happen. This important work must be backed up by commitment and action, and through the work of Dr. Finley and so many others, we are doing just that.

Our new Associate Youth Director, Lizzie, sits down with Jeff Given to share a bit of her story including the remarkable circumstances that led her here to PCOM.

Stacy Jane is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Certified Practitioner of Healing Touch Energy Medicine, Practitioner of Craniosacral Therapy, Board-Certified Chinese Herbalist, and Licensed Massage Therapist. She has a private practice in Austin, Texas. She received her Master's of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from PCOM, Chicago in 2011.Prior to pursuing holistic healing arts, Stacy Jane received a Bachelors of Fine Arts inPhotography, as well as a Bachelors of Arts in Dance, from the University of Iowa in 2002.Stacy Jane's sessions are fresh and innovative. She assesses the energetics of each individual as they present in that moment, then creates a unique treatment to best serve their needs. She tests whether it is most effective to work out in the energy field, within the acupuncture meridians, within the craniosacral system, or any combination thereof. Most sessions incorporate a sophisticated blend of all three modalities. Stacy Jane takes a deeply spiritual approach to her work, and sees each interaction with every client as a sacred gift. Stacy Jane has a passion for service commitments. Throughout her career, she has established onsite clinics at homeless shelters, rehab centers, and non-profits serving low-income HIV/AIDS populations. She is currently part of a team that brings meditation instruction to the areawomen's prisons. Stacy Jane's creative endeavors include event/fine-art photography, dance/performance, improv comedy, creative writing, and painting. For eight years, she has been a dedicated student and practitioner of Shambhala meditation. She enjoys time with friends, being out in nature, and laughing as loud and as often as possible.Stacy Jane values working with diverse populations and personalities. All are welcome.Learn more about Stacy Jane here:http://www.stacykluck.com/Support the showCONNECT WITH VASAVI: Say It Out Loud Group Program begins January 5th!—enroll today! Say It Out Loud Book—get on the waitlist! Book a Chat—click here to book Follow Vasavi Kumar on IG

John Clark sits down with P.J. Tucker ahead of the Sixers' season opener against the Boston Celtics. Tuckers talks about his days training with Allen Iverson and the Sixers at PCOM out of college and his history with James Harden. #Sixers See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

PCOM's new Church Business Manager, Peter Sedlewicz, shares some wit and wisdom along with a few beautiful stories of God's faithfulness.

On this week's episode we get to know PCOM's "Newest" staff member Miranda, our Children's Ministry Director.

Dan dives into a local story near and dear to his own heart and with a connection to PCOM

Gwinnett County Public Schools begins the 2022-2023 school year today, but not all GCPS students will be sitting in their classrooms on Day One; PCOM held a commencement ceremony last week at the Gas South District in Duluth; Gwinnett County leaders are asking residents to weigh in on what the future of the county's transit system should look like. #GwinnettDailyPost #Georgia #LocalNews        --          -         -          The Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast is local news for Lawrenceville, Norcross, Duluth, and all of Gwinnett County. Register Here for your essential digital news.             This podcast was produced and published for the Gwinnett Daily Post and GwinnettDailyPost.com by BG Ad Group    For advertising inquiries, please email j.southerland@bgadgroup.com For more information be sure to visit www.bgpodcastnetwork.com   https://www.lawrencevillega.org/  https://www.foxtheatre.org/  https://guideinc.org/  https://www.psponline.com/  https://www.kiamallofga.com/  https://www.milb.com/gwinnett  https://www.fernbankmuseum.org/  https://www.gcpsk12.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.