Clinician's Roundtable

Host: Bruce Japsen Guest: John Crosby, JD What is a D.O.? What is osteopathic medicine? Although it has been around for decades, osteopaths and what they do are often not understood, but osteopathy is a growing field gaining more credibility backed by solid research from John Crosby, executive director of the American Osteopathic Association. He tells the Chicago Tribune's Bruce Japsen about current pursuits in osteopathic medicine that are supported by research.

Host: Bruce Japsen Guest: John Crosby, JD In primary care, the medical home is increasingly becoming a key initiative to transform health care. But how can the medical home become a reality for everyone? John Crosby, executive director of the American Osteopathic Association tells the Chicago Tribune's Bruce Japsen about the role of osteopathic physicians in the medical home model.

Host: Bruce Japsen Guest: John Crosby, JD When it comes to meeting the primary care needs of the U.S. population, it's not just medical doctors that are coming to the rescue in the nation's health care system. The number of osteophathic physicians figures to play a major role in providing primary care to Americans well into the future. John Crosby, executive director of the American Osteopathic Association tells host Bruce Japsen about the role of the osteopathic physician in primary care.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Craig Nichols, 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.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Craig Nichols, MD When patients think of testicular cancer, they immediately think of two ramifications: the impact on their fertility and on their sexuality. Are these concerns well-founded? How should we counsel our patients on these issues? Dr. Craig Nichols, medical director of lymphoma and testicular cancer research at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, and an internationally respected expert on testicular cancer, explores these issues with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill. How will the concerns of our patients change as we continue to improve our understanding and our treatment of testicular cancer?

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Craig Nichols, MD Diagnosed in thousands of American men each year, testicular cancer has proven highly sensitive to current treatment regimens. Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill evaluates the most common therapies for testicular cancer with Dr. Craig Nichols, medical director of lymphoma and testicular cancer research at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, Ore., and an internationally respected expert on testicular cancer. Are there significant side effects to the present therapies? Further, keeping in mind the possibility of a recurrent disease, and the accordant need for proper follow-up measures, Dr. Nichols evaluates strategies for coordinating care between medical oncologists and primary care physicians.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Craig Nichols, MD If detected in its early stages, we have great success in curing testicular cancer. What are our most effective screening measures? How should we instruct our patients to be vigilant with their own self-exams, or is this the best approach? Dr. Craig Nichols, medical director of lymphoma and testicular cancer research at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, Ore., and an internationally respected expert on testicular cancer, joins host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill to review our most effective defenses against this disease.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Jam Ghajar, MD, PhD Advances in diagnostics for traumatic brain injuries will soon allow us to evaluate these injuries immediately after they occur. With many of our troops suffering these injuries, the United States military is making a push to accelerate development of a new assessment device. Jamshid Ghajar, MD, PhD, president of the Brain Trauma Foundation, the organization working in partnership with the Defense Department, outlines this collaborative effort. Will this forthcoming diagnostic tool also be applicable in civilian circumstances? Are there certain sets of symptoms that would preclude its use?

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Jam Ghajar, MD, PhD Traumatic brain injuries are a major cause for concern for our troops returning home from military conflicts abroad. The development of a new eye-tracking device, initiated and funded, in part, by the United States Department of Defense, will soon provide an immediate assessment of traumatic brain injuries. How might this device change the entire evaluation process for these injuries? When will this device be ready for use? Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill gets the details from Jamshid Ghajar, MD, PhD, president of the Brain Trauma Foundation, the organization working in partnership with the Defense Department to develop this device.

Host: Larry Kaskel, MD Guest: Roberta Greenspan Roberta Greenspan, president of SpecialDocs, Inc., discusses the process of converting a traditional medical practice to a concierge medical practice. Ms. Greenspan explains the growth trend of concierge medicine, and the non-economic motivations of physicians converting their practices to a concierge model. Host Larry Kaskel investigates the different options for utilizing third party insurance companies within a concierge practice, including the option to exclude all third party payors.