Clinician's Roundtable

Host: Lisa Mazzullo, MD Guest: Jane Salmon, MD Twenty years ago, women who suffered from lupus were discouraged from having children; today women with lupus are successfully having healthy babies. Doctors have found that counseling lupus patients prior to conception significantly increases the chances of a healthy pregnancy. Dr. Jane Salmon, professor of medicine at Weill Medical College in New York, joins host Dr. Lisa Mazzullo to talk about her groundbreaking research for pregnant women dealing with this autoimmune disease.

Guest: Joshua J. Freemire, JD In 2009, doctors who prescribe medication through electronic means became entitled to a year-end bonus payment from Medicare. What are Medicare's reasons for the incentive, and what are the program's parameters? Joshua J. Freemire, an associate in the health practice law firm Ober|Kaler in Baltimore, Maryland, explains. Dr. Larry Kaskel hosts.

Guest: Joshua J. Freemire, JD What is medical identity theft? What is the physician's responsibility as far as protecting patients from this threat? Attorney Joshua J. Freemire, with the firm Ober|Kaler, discusses identity security issues and your practice, with host Dr. Larry Kaskel.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD Guest: John Carey, MB, BCh, BAO What are the mechanisms that are suspect for increasing incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw in those taking bisphosphonates? Is this a significant risk? Dr. John Carey, consultant physician in internal medicine and rheumatology at Galway University Hospitals, reviews the evidence potentially modifying or increasing the risk of patients developing osteonecrosis of the jaw if they take bisphosphonates. Do patients need an oral exam before they begin taking bisphosphonates? Dr. Lee Freedman hosts.

Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD Guest: Dan Roden, MD What are the tools that will finally make personalized medicine a reality? Dr. Dan Roden, the William Stokes Professor of Experimental Therapeutics, vice-chancellor for personalized medicine and the director of the John Oates Institute for Experimental Therapeutics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, joins host Dr. Bruce Bloom, DNA banks, electronic medical records and more.

Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD Guest: Dan Roden, MD The greatest side effect of medications is that they often don't do what we expect them to do. Dr. Dan Roden, professor in the departments of medicine and pharmacology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, talks with Dr. Bruce Bloom about variability in response to drugs. Genetic components are just one of many reasons patients respond differently. Dr. Roden also discusses his specific work with customizing treatment for patients with arrhythmias based upon the disease mechanism.

Host: Larry Kaskel, MD Guest: Mike Katke What are medical foods? Are they good for patients, and what exactly are the benefits? Host Dr. Larry Kaskel investigates these products with Mike Katke, co-founder of Metagenics, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of medical foods.

Host: Larry Kaskel, MD Guest: Mike Katke Scientific evidence shows that therapeutic lifestyle programs are the most cost effective programs to prevent, improve, or cure chronic diseases such as diabetes. Host Dr. Larry Kaskel discusses with Mike Katke, co-founder of Metagenics, Inc., the elements of a therapeutic lifestyle program and the practical requirements for implementing a program. Tune in to hear how primary care physicians can easily establish a therapeutic lifestyle program that will benefit their patients' health and be financially rewarding.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Selene Parekh, MD, MBA Ankle injuries extend from the common sprain, to the complex arthritis case that could warrant total joint replacement surgery. With respect to the basic sprain, why do we see so many of these injuries in our practices: are our ankles not strong enough, are we wearing the wrong shoes or are we simply more active than we used to be? What are the keys to a good clinical evaluation for these ankle injuries and what can you counsel your patients to anticipate following a more serious ankle injury? Dr. Selene Parekh, head of the foot and ankle division of the department of orthopaedic surgery at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, assesses a range of ankle injuries in this conversation with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Marc Bessler, 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.