Health Professional Radio - Podcast

Edmundo Gonzalez, CEO of Marpai Health discusses bringing AI and deep learning to the self-insurance market. What makes Marpai different is how they are leveraging data, stats, recent claims, and overall health to get ahead of potential health issues by analyzing data and providing predictions. For example if a patient is pre-diabetic, Marpai has TopCare, a group of experts in healthcare who are looking at the patient's data and will recommend the top 10 experts to possibly see to address the health issue. Edmundo Gonzalez co-founded Marpai Health and has been its CEO since its inception. He is an established technology entrepreneur and investor in private and publicly traded companies with several decades of experience. He is recognized for his ability to analyze potential investments, structure deals, and for building management teams. He has been involved with the success of several companies, most recently as Operating Partner of US VC Partners Management, LLC, an investment management company running CNT

Returning guest, Dr. Kendra Grubb, surgical director of the Structural Heart and Valve Center at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta discusses Medtronic's announcement of early results from the OPTIMIZE PRO clinical study at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) 2021 Scientific Sessions.  The study evaluated procedure-related techniques and care pathways when using the self-expanding, supra-annular Evolut™ PRO and PRO+ TAVR systems in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Dr. Kendra Grubb is the surgical director of the Emory Structural Heart and Valve Center. Prior to joining Emory, Dr. Grubb was the director of minimally invasive cardiac surgery and the surgical director of the heart valve program at the University of Louisville. Dr. Grubb is a champion for women's heart disease, and is dedicated to improving the lives of all patients, both male and female, through innovation and by building collaborative teams to promote a patient-centered approach to the treatment

37-year old Mical Roy discusses his stage II prostate cancer diagnosis in 2018 and his participation in the "Your Cancer Story" program which aims to help those living with cancer address the challenges at every stage of the journey via videos which Mical is featured in.  Now cancer free he has taken on the role of an advocate by mentoring, participating in local and national programs and bringing awareness to diversity in cancer care through research. Mical Roy is an educational leadership enthusiast, husband, father, prostate cancer-survivor, along with a passionate lobbyist. In 2018, after searching for a new primary doctor following a move from Houston to Austin, Texas, Mical attended his routine yearly visit where his doctor decided on a whim to screen him for prostate cancer, which surprisingly resulted in a stage II cancer diagnosis. While it came as a shock at the time, he later found out prostate cancer actually ran in his family. Now cancer-free with a new perspective on life, he is raising awa

Dr. Andrew Makin, MD. Global Vice President of Medical Affairs at Oxford Immunotec, makers of The T-SPOT.COVID test discusses T-cell testing and how it can provide vital medical insights as we continue our journey through this pandemic. Dr Makin first qualified as a mechanical engineer in 1990 but had a change of career and medicine qualified in Birmingham in the United Kingdom in 1996. After a brief period as a surgeon in the NHS, joined the pharmaceutical industry. Dr Makin has worked across wide range of therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular, mental health and inherited renal disease before settling on his current are of infectious disease. His areas of functional expertise within the industry including medical affairs, drug safety, regulatory affairs and clinical development and has been involved in bringing medicines to patients such as the first treatment for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, and inherited kidney disease. Dr Makin joined the Oxford Immunotec Ltd team in 2020 just as th

Dr. Noam Emanuel, Co-Founder and CSO of PolyPid, a late-stage biopharma company aiming to improve surgical outcomes, discusses the second most prevalent type of Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI), Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) which are responsible for 20 percent of all HAIs in US hospitals and often result in readmission and extended hospital stays. Current SSI prevention lies in IV antibiotic administration, but its systemic administration has limited efficacy and can result in resistance and toxicity. PolyPid is working to tackle this issue with its proprietary PLEX (Polymer-Lipid Encapsulation matriX) technology that pairs with medications, to enable precise delivery of drugs at effective release rates over durations ranging from several days to months. Dr. Emanuel has vast experience in biotechnology projects, including development of drug delivery systems and immunology. His extensive expertise includes immunotherapy, vaccines, immunodiagnostics, systemic and local drug-delivery, and medical device

Ashleigh Burdette, MSN, RN, Sr. Director, Clinical Innovation at Biologics By McKesson explains that though personalized care is typically essential for cancer patients, it's even more so in a COVID-19 and post-COVID landscape. Cancer patients are among some of the most at risk for contracting COVID-19 and with diminished immune systems, can experience worse symptoms.  She talks about how personalized care plans for oncology patients allow for easier connection to therapies via McKesson’s network of payers, providers, and pharmacies. Ashleigh has been a Registered Nurse for over 13 years and holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in leadership and administration. She began her nursing career as an oncology nurse working in both bone marrow transplant and an outpatient clinic. In 2015, she joined Optum/United Health Group to focus on oncology patient support, utilization review, and clinical case management. In 2017, she joined Cardinal Health’s hub business and had the opportunity to

Comedian and actor, Billy Gardell, (star of CBS sitcom, "Bob Hearts Abishola") shares his journey managing type 2 diabetes during the pandemic. He was diagnosed in the fall of 2018 and has participated in "My Type 2 Transformation", a 5-episode online series that chronicled his journey to managing his diabetes and he credits this program for teaching him how to make lifestyle changes. Actor and comedian Billy Gardell has embarked on a journey to transform how he manages his type 2 diabetes through diet, exercise, and medication as prescribed by his doctor. With help from a team of experts, Billy has learned how to make important lifestyle changes and how to navigate the ups and downs of managing type 2 diabetes. #Type2Diabetes #COVID19

Returning guest, Dr. Jeffrey Stark, MD, Head of Medical Immunology at UCB discusses the results from the BE RADIANT and BE SURE studies, comparing the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab to secukinumab and adalimumab, respectively, in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults. Both studies met all primary and ranked secondary endpoints.These data were published in the "New England Journal of Medicine" (April 2021). Jeffrey Stark, MD, is the Head of Medical Immunology at UCB and is board-certified in both rheumatology and internal medicine. After completing training at Vanderbilt University and Emory University, he spent several years in full-time rheumatology practice in both private and academic clinical settings. In subsequent industry medical affairs roles, Dr. Stark has focused on medical education, advocacy, data generation, and highlighting the unmet needs of patients with immunologic diseases. In addition to his role at UCB, Dr. Stark serves as a board member of the American College

Dr. Mark Grijnsztein, MD, allergy and immunology specialist discusses peanut allergies in young children and talks about a new treatment option, the first ever FDA approved oral immunotherapy (OIT) for peanut allergy, PALFORZIA® (Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Allergen Powder-dnfp). He is joined by Robyn Lao whose daughter has a peanut allergy and is being treated with PALFORZIA. Dr. Mark Grijnsztein, MD is an allergy & immunology specialist and currently practices at Sutter Medical Foundation in Elk Grove, CA. He is affiliated with Sutter Medical Center - Ose Adams Medical Pavilion and graduated from the Sackler School of Medicine. #PeanutAllergies

May is Mental Health Month and Dr. Michael Jablonski, Ph.D., M.S., Vice President of Medical Affairs for the GeneSight test at Myriad Genetics, discusses the results of a new GeneSight Mental Health Monitor national poll that found that 83 percent of those diagnosed with depression say life would be easier if others could understand what they’re going through. He shares other findings from the poll and talks about treatment options. Michael Jablonski, Ph.D., M.S, is the vice president of medical affairs for the GeneSight test at Myriad Genetics. Dr. Jabolnski leads clinician education for Myriad Neuroscience by providing strategic direction for the field medical and medical information teams. Dr. Jabolnski has an extensive background in neuroscience, genetics, personalized medicine, biotechnology, and academic research with multiple publications in the fields of psychiatry, pharmacogenomics, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, and sleep medicine. He holds multiple patents for novel treatments of neurodegenerative disea

Dr. Jeffrey Nau, CEO of Oyster Point Pharma, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discusses the company's lead candidate, OC-01, a nasal spray being developed to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED).   Current treatment options are limited to eye drops, which can be difficult and uncomfortable to self-administer.  The FDA accepted their New Drug Application for OC-01, which was supported by safety and efficacy results from clinical trials in over 1,000 patients with mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of DED. The U.S. launch of OC-01 nasal spray is planned for the fourth quarter of 2021, if approved by the FDA. Jeffrey Nau, PhD, MMS, President and Chief Executive Officer. Jeff has built his career on developing novel, innovative therapies for diseases of the eye, with over 15 years of experience working with biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies. Most recently, he was VP, Clinical and Medical Affairs, at Ophthotech. Prior to that, Jeff was a Medical

Andrew Spiegel, Esquire, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Global Colon Cancer Alliance discusses the expanded "Clear Your View" campaign, a collaboration between Guardant Health and five leading patient advocacy groups that aims to raise awareness about the need for complete biomarker testing for patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC).  The campaign encourages physicians to “stop, test and wait” for the complete genomic profile of a patient’s cancer before starting first-line therapy. The growing number of targetable CRC biomarkers makes it imperative that all patients receive complete biomarker testing before starting treatment. Andrew Spiegel has a long and personal history of non-profit service. He is co-founder of the Global Colon Cancer Alliance, the leading US based national patient advocacy organization dedicated to colon cancer. Spiegel, an attorney, also served as a longtime board member of the Alliance before becoming CEO in January of 2009. and he ran the CCA for 4 years, befor

Grammy Award-Winning Artist and breast cancer survivor Sheryl Crow, and leading OB/GYN, Dr. DaCarla Albright are encouraging all women to prioritize their critical health exams, schedule their annual mammograms, especially if they were missed due to the pandemic, and also spread the word to the women they love to do the same.  #WomenHealthScreening A nine-time GRAMMY AWARD recipient, Sheryl Crow is an American music icon. Her ten studio albums have sold 35 million copies worldwide; seven of them charted in the Top 10 and five were certified for Multi-Platinum sales. In addition to such No. 1 hits as “All I Wanna Do,” “Soak Up the Sun” and “The First Cut Is the Deepest,” Crow has lofted 40 singles into the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Top 40, Adult Contemporary, Mainstream Top 40 and Hot Country Songs charts, with more No. 1 singles in the Triple A listings than any other female artist. Many artists have collaborated with her on special projects, including the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Smokey Robinson, Wi

Opioid use and dependency increased during the pandemic. At least 9 million Americans suffer from SI joint pain, which can have a dramatic impact on a person's quality of life and ability to conduct simple, everyday tasks due to reduced mobility. Dr. Azeem is a pain management specialist practicing in Tampa, Florida who strives to provide long-term pain solutions independent of opioids. For patients experiencing SI joint pain where appropriate nonsurgical interventions have failed, Dr. Azeem trusts LinQ by PainTEQ for its safe approach and fast recovery time. A clinical study confirmed that LinQ significantly reduces opioid use in patients following their procedure. Dr. Azeem wants to share with the medical community the results his patients have experienced with LinQ in addition to providing insight on the basics of how the procedure stabilizes the SI joint using a posterior approach. Dr. Azeem completed his undergraduate education at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and graduated from med

Dr. Steven Nathan, MD, Medical Director, Advanced Lung Disease and Lung Transplant Programs at Inova Fairfax Hospital discusses the recent FDA approval (April 2021) of Tyvaso Inhalation Solution for the treatment of patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) to improve exercise ability.  The approval is based on data from the INCREASE clinical trial, the largest and most comprehensive completed study of adult patients with PH-ILD.  He provides perspective on how physicians can treat patients in need with this first and only approved treatment in the PH-ILD space. Steven D. Nathan, MD, FCCP, is director of the Advanced Lung Disease Program and director of the Lung Transplant Program at Inova Fairfax Hospital. He also is professor of medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University Inova Campus. Dr. Nathan is board certified in pulmonary diseases, critical care medicine and internal medicine. The author of more than 380 publications, Dr. Nathan has written orig

Dr. Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, Dean, Helene Fuld Health Trust Professor of Evidence-based Practice and University Chief Wellness Officer at The Ohio State University College of Nursing discusses a new study by the college that found that critical care nurses nationwide reported high levels of stress, depressive symptoms and anxiety even before the COVID-19 pandemic began, and these factors correlated with an increase in self-reported medical errors.  She talks about other findings in the study and resources for healthcare workers.  The study was published in the "American Journal of Critical Care" (May 1, 2021). #COVID19 #Stress #Nurse

For many, the pandemic is a wake-up call to pay attention to our mental and physical health.  Obesity is a disease that's tied to serious health risks and can significantly increase the risk of severe COVID-19 complications.  Dr. John Olsofka, University of Louisville Health, Mary & Elizabeth Hospital Bariatric Program, Lap-Band of Louisville, discusses how people can lose weight and keep it off through various options including modifying their eating habits, lifestyle changes and surgical intervention. Dr. John Olsofka has been in practice for ten years with Louisville Surgical Associates. He completed undergraduate training at Western Kentucky University, attended the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and remained in Louisville for completion of his general surgery training. Dr. Olsofka is board certified in General Surgery and has a special interest in minimally invasive surgical techniques. He maintains a teaching affiliation with the University of Louisville and is known national

Stu Peltz, Ph.D., CEO and Founder of PTC Therapeutics, discusses the Talent Pipeline Program, a global internship program the company launched last year to help newly graduated students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the internship program, recent graduates received real-world work experience and training across all departments from research through commercialization. He provides a look over the past year, highlighting how successful the program has been and discussing how innovative internship programs can make a major difference for graduates. Dr. Peltz founded PTC Therapeutics in 1998 and has served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors since the company’s inception. Under his leadership, PTC has grown from a research organization to a publicly traded, global commercial organization with multiple approved products and a foundation of strong technology platforms that continues to drive a robust discovery pipeline for patients with rare disorders. Prior to founding PTC, Dr.

Dr. Yung Chyung, Chief Medical Officer at Scholar Rock, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discusses the positive 12-month top-line results from the TOPAZ Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating apitegromab (SRK-015) in patients with Type 2 and Type 3 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Dr. Yung H. Chyung has served as Chief Medical Officer since February 2016 and leads the clinical development of pipeline candidates and medical affairs. Prior to joining Scholar Rock, Yung served in roles of increasing responsibility at Dyax Corp. (acquired by Shire Plc in January 2016) from 2011 to February 2016, most recently serving as Vice President of Medical Research, where he was responsible for clinical research and medical affairs. From 2010 to 2011, he worked at Genzyme Corporation where he was responsible for medical affairs efforts globally for multiple rare disease programs. Yung earned his MD from Harvard Medical School and completed his internal medicine residency and allergy and immunology fellowship at Massachus

Dr. Jorge Gomez, Medical Director of the solid tumor oncology unit at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, and Andrea Ferris, President and CEO of the LUNGevity Foundation discuss "No One Missed", a new campaign to raise awareness about comprehensive biomarker testing which can reveal vital information that can help identify the appropriate individualized treatment plan for each NSCLC patient. Jorge Gomez, M.D., is a medical oncologist who specializes in the treatment of thoracic cancers. After six years at Memorial Sloan-Kettering and five years at the University of Miami Cancer Center, Dr. Gomez came to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to help build the Thoracic Oncology program. His main interests are in the field of new therapeutics in patients with activating mutations. #NoOneMissed #LUNGevityFoundation