Clinician's Roundtable

Host: Susan Dolan, RN, JD Guest: Andrea Kronman, MD, MSc Dr. Andrea Kronman is an attending physician at Boston University Medical Center and the lead author of the Journal of General Internal Medicine article titled, "Can Primary Care Visits Reduce Hospital Utilization Among Medicare Beneficiaries at the End of Life?" Hear Dr. Kronman as she discusses her research involving the effect of primary care visits on the end-of-life care.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD Guest: Brian Lawenda, MD For our patients undergoing cancer treatment, what role do antioxidant substances play? Further, should we encourage or actively discourage these patients from taking them? Dr. Brian Lawenda, assistant professor of radiation oncology at the Indiana University School of Medicine, discusses the rationale for and against the use of antioxidants in patients receiving both chemotherapy and radiation therapy with your host, Dr. Lee Freedman.

Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD Guest: Jane Newburger, MD MPH It's the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. But pediatricians often face an arduous challenge when trying to confirm a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. Dr. Jane Newburger, professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and a nationally recognized expert in Kawasaki disease, discusses current clinical criteria for the disease and the protocol for diagnosing borderline cases with host Dr. Bill Rutenberg. Dr. Newburger also outlines the most effective treatment options for Kawasaki disease.

Host: Susan Dolan, RN, JD Guest: Suzanne Steinbaum, DO Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum is an attending cardiologist and the Heart and Vascular Institute's director of Women and Heart Disease at Lenox Hospital in New York. Listen in as Dr. Steinbaum discusses a recent study regarding coffee and heart disease. Susan Dolan hosts.

Host: Susan Dolan, RN, JD Guest: James Underberg How do the findings from the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trail help resolve concerns raised by the ACCORD and ADVANCE studies? Hear Dr. James A. Underberg of New York University School of Medicine as he discusses findings from all three research studies.

Host: Matthew J. Sorrentino, MD, FACC, FASH Guest: Eric Prystowsky, MD How do we decide which patients to convert atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm and which antiarrhythmic medications should we use? Dr. Eric Prystowsky, director of electrophysiology at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, talks with host, Dr. Matthew Sorrentino about a treatment approach to patients with atrial fibrillation.

Host: Matthew J. Sorrentino, MD, FACC, FASH Guest: Eric Prystowsky, MD Can we reduce cardiovascular deaths by preventing a recurrence of atrial fibrillation? Dr. Eric Prystowsky, Director of Electrophysiology at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, will discuss the results of the ATHENA trial; a study using dronedarone, an amiodarone-like medication, that was shown to significantly reduce cardiovascular deaths and hospitalizations due to atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndromes. Join host Dr. Matthew Sorrentino.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD Guest: Gwen Huitt, MD Dr. Huitt discusses the range of atypical mycobacterial infections encountered in practice. She emphasizes the settings in which these infections present, how a diagnosis can be made and how they should be treated and followed.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD Guest: Gwen Huitt, MD First and foremost, what is hot tub lung? Not surprisingly, it typically affects patients who spend time in and around pools, hot tubs and other aquatic environments. But several additional issues of this condition require answers, including diagnosis and treatment patterns. Further, how do we gauge the prognosis for patients who suffer hot tub lung? Dr. Gwenn Huitt, a mycobacterial infection specialist from the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, probes these questions and more with host Dr. Lee Freedman.

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: James Cawley, MPH, PA-C With the increase use of physician assistants, understanding the certification requirements is becoming of greater importance to physicians and practitioners alike. Host Lisa D'Andrea talks with Jim Cawley about the potential changes and certification requirements for physician assistants. Mr. Cawley explains the greater need for physician assistants to demonstrate competency in their field of practice by a certification process. Mr. Cawley views this as a positive change that will benefit physician assistants even though it will limit the physician assistant's freedom to change specialties.