Clinician's Roundtable

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Maria Simbra, MD Our patients often approach us with health-related articles from the Web, or advice from medical stories they saw on the evening news. Many of these stories are reported by certified medical professionals. Dr. Maria Simbra, medical reporter for KDKA-TV, the CBS network station in Pittsburgh, and a board-certified neurologist, talks about the process of developing a dual career in medicine and journalism with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill. How has Dr. Simbra achieved her success in medical journalism?

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Ted Schettler, MD, MPH Guest: Gary Cohen Imagine a cancer center built without any of the toxic carcinogens commonly used in construction. It’s a concept that many experts in the health care industry believe could soon become a reality. In hospital architecture and building, what are other promising examples of environmental responsibility that might apply to your clinical setting? Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international campaign in support of environmentally responsible health care, evaluates the pros and cons of retrofitting old buildings versus new construction, and talks with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill about a range of cost-effective ‘green’ structural options, from recycled rubber flooring that would prevent injuries from falls and reduce hospital noise, to novel energy-efficient ventilation patterns that could curtail infection rates. Will we soon see a movement toward green initiatives factoring into accreditation for health care institutions?

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Ted Schettler, MD, MPH Guest: Gary Cohen As society progresses toward greater levels of environmental sustainability, the healthcare industry will play a leading role. From major public institutions to smaller private practices, every contribution matters. How can solo practitioners incorporate these projects into their practice, and what are the pervasive benefits, from a business standpoint and beyond? Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international campaign in support of environmentally responsible health care, and Dr. Ted Schettler, science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, and science advisor to Health Care Without Harm, suggest that as healthcare providers, we can even lend credibility to the 'green' movement simply by participating within our communities. They share their expertise and tips for your practice with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Ted Schettler, MD, MPH Guest: Gary Cohen Energy estimates project America to be among the leaders in energy consumption for years to come. Coupled with our dependence on modern chemicals, there is a lot of room for us to improve our approach to environmental responsibility. From waste disposal to indoor air pollution, how can we set ourselves on a path toward making this change? Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international campaign in support of environmentally responsible health care, and Dr. Ted Schettler, science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, and science advisor to Health Care Without Harm, guide us through a series of environmentally responsible initiatives with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Ted Schettler, MD, MPH Guest: Gary Cohen The modern hospital setting exposes our patients to a vast array of chemicals, some of which are therapeutic, others which can be particularly harmful. What are we doing to limit exposure to these harmful chemicals, for vulnerable patients and for those of us who work in hospitals every day? It may seem like an intrinsic goal for any healthcare venue, but it's a question that must be accounted for. Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill explores the answer with Mr. Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international campaign in support of environmentally responsible health care, and Dr. Ted Schettler, science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, and science advisor to Health Care Without Harm.

Host: Matthew J. Sorrentino, MD, FACC, FASH Guest: Dariush Mozaffarian, MD Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian from the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Harvard Medical School will discuss his research on the association of fish in the diet and fish oils as a cardio-protective therapy and as a possible anti-arrhythmic agent especially in patients following a myocardial infarction.

Host: Matthew J. Sorrentino, MD, FACC, FASH Guest: Dariush Mozaffarian, MD The Metabolic Syndrome has been associated with an increased risk for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian from the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Harvard Medical School will discuss his latest research on the Metabolic Syndrome in older adults highlighting the increase mortality found with hypertension and elevated fasting glucose.

Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD Guest: Ash Tewari, MD Does robotic surgery for radical prostatectomy provide better outcomes? Our guest Dr. Tewari Ash, director of robotic prostatectomy and prostate cancer-urologic oncology outcomes at Brady Urology Institute and associate professor of associate professor of public health and outcomes in the Department of Public Health and Outcomes at The Weill Medical College of Cornell University talks with host Dr. Bruce Bloom about the history, current practice and future of robotic surgery. The hope is that one day the real time information gathered by the computer during the surgery will provide the surgeon with feedback that can enable them to do an even better job at removing the cancer.

Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD Guest: Ash Tewari, MD Would experienced video gamers have a leg up in operating the DaVinci robot used in robotic surgery for prostate cancer? Dr. Ash Tewari, associate professor of urology, and director of Robotic Prostatectomy & Prostate Cancer-Urologic Oncology Outcomes at Brady Urology Institute, and associate professor of public health and outcomes at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, answers this question posed by your host, Dr. Bruce Bloom. Listen in as Dr. Tewari describes the arena of this valuable surgical asset and why he labels the use of the Davinci robot - a technology originally designed for military and astronaut use - as a "marriage made in heaven" for prostatectomy.

Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD Guest: Ash Tewari, MD Are your patients potential candidates for robotic prostatectomy? How precisely does robotic surgery treat prostate cancer while maintaining urinary and sexual function? Host Dr. Bruce Bloom addresses these questions with Dr. Ash Tewari, associate professor of urology, and director of Robotic Prostatectomy & Prostate Cancer-Urologic Oncology Outcomes at Brady Urology Institute at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Tewari discusses candidate selection, the benefits of the robotic technique, and the most important factor for a successful surgery. What is it? Tune in to find out!