Clinician's Roundtable

Host: Mary Leuchars, MD Guest: Scott Rodeo, MD What are the latest research and treatment modalities orthopedic surgeons use for meniscus-deficient patients? Dr. Scott Rodeo, professor of orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York and co-chief of the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery, discusses synthetic meniscal replacement in the knee joint with host Dr. Mary Leuchars.

Host: Maurice Pickard, MD Guest: Thomas Barr Graboys, MD Dr. Thomas Graboys, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and president emeritus of Lown Cardiovascular Research Foundation in Brookline, Massachusetts, discusses his new book Life in the Balance: a Physician's Memoir of Life, Love and Loss with Parkinson's Disease and Dementia. Dr. Graboys talks to host Dr. Maurice Pickard about his struggles to live with illness without letting illness control his life. He hopes others will find in his story comfort, inspiration, and validation of their own struggles.

Host: Larry Kaskel, MD Guest: Kathleen Franco, MD Imagine being told on the first day of medical school that your graduate education would be at no charge. You may think this is impossible unless you are a student at The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. Dr Kathleen Franco, associate dean for Admissions, explains to host Dr. Larry Kaskel the decision of Clinic's medical school to offer a tuition free medical education, the funding mechanisms instituted to support this decision indefinitely, and the impact on the students and medical community.

Dr. Larry Young, a leading expert in social attachment and behavior from Emory University, delves into the fascinating connections between oxytocin and autism. He discusses how oxytocin influences social bonding in both voles and humans, shedding light on genetic factors that may impact social interactions. The potential of intranasal oxytocin to enhance social cognition in individuals with autism is explored, alongside its ethical considerations. Young's insights pave the way for new therapeutic strategies to improve social engagement in those affected by autism.

Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD Guest: Stephen Ross, MD Ketamine is a schedule III drug with a long history as an anesthetic. It also is a well-known club drug in the party circuit. How can it be that it has anti-addictive properties and might it be useful to treat alcoholism? Dr. Stephen Ross, director of the Division of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse at Bellevue Hospital in New York, joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt to discuss the latest research into ketamine and addiction treatment.

Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD Guest: Joe Sam Robinson Jr., MD In 1999 the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) declared pain the fifth vital sign. Chronic pain affects more people than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. Has there been any real improvement in identifying and treating pain since the JCAHO edict? Join us to hear from neurosurgeon Dr. Joe Sam Robinson, clinical professor at the Medical College of Georgia, explore the treatment of pain with host Dr. Leslie Lundt.

Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD Guest: Marc Galanter, MD Medicine and spirituality have always been linked, we have struggled as a profession with how to introduce spirituality and religion into the general hospital setting. Host Dr. Leslie Lundt discusses such a program with Dr. Mark Galanter, professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, and author of Spirituality and the Healthy Mind: Science, Therapy and the Need for Personal Meaning.

Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD Guest: Alan Astrow, MD All the technology and advances in medical science hasn't changed the most difficult thing we do as physicians - relay emotionally charged diagnostic and prognostic information to our patients. How can we do a better job? Communication skills do not automatically improve with increasing physician experience. Dr. Alan Astrow, the director of the division of hematology and medical oncology at Maimonides Cancer Center in New York City explains how we can break bad news to patients in a more effective and supportive way.

Host: Michael Epstein, MD Guest: Peter Adamson, MD In all fields of medicine, we have all encountered patients who are ultra-challenging to manage. There can be those who can find dissatisfaction in any outcome that isn't ‘perfect,' according to their standards. There are others who have seen a series of healthcare providers who, despite their efforts, haven't been able to meet their needs and requests. Host Dr. Michael Epstein welcomes Dr. Peter Adamson, professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, and head of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Toronto, to talk through a range of these potentially sticky situations, and how they impact our practice and in some cases, our practice habits.

Host: Michael Epstein, MD Guest: Peter Adamson, MD Avoiding potential problem patients in cosmetic surgery: It's a concern that many practitioners face on a regular basis, reminding us of the importance of patient selection and informed consent. How can we minimize the number of problem patients in our practice, and how can we limit the influence of those who are already in our practice? On the flipside, who is an ideal candidate for surgery? Dr. Peter Adamson, professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, and head of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Toronto, shares advice for staying on the lookout for the various categories of patients. Dr. Michael Epstein hosts.