20-Minute Health Talk

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine now has emergency use authorization (EUA) in kids ages 5-to-11, opening up eligibility to 28 million children in the US. Nora Gossett, 7, shares why she got the shot with her doctor dad, Jeffrey Gossett, M.D., F.A.A.P ., at Cohen Children's Medical Center (CCMC). He was one of four doctors to stand behind their children as they received their first dose Nov. 4 at CCMC in...

Only 33.8 percent of pregnant women between the ages of 18 and 49 in the US are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. And while many pregnant women are fearful of the effect that the COVID vaccines could have on them and their baby, more than 160K expectant moms have been vaccinated with no adverse pregnancy outcomes, explains Burton Rochelson, MD , chief of maternal fetal medicine, and Sarah Pachtma...

Thanks to improvements in breast cancer screening and treatment, more than 80 percent of patients will beat the disease. But, survivorship comes with its own health challenges — something  health professionals and patients need to start planning for at diagnosis, says Catherine Alfano, PhD, an international leader in cancer survivorship and rehabilitation. She joins medical oncologist Jennifer Lig...

The COVID-19 vaccines have put a spotlight on the importance of clinical trials. During the early days of the pandemic in New York, researchers like John Boockvar, MD , had to shut down ongoing trials to contribute to the fight against the novel virus. Since, he has resumed his work investigating novel approaches to treating brain cancers. He has been internationally recognized for his research in...

After receiving his COVID booster shot, Lorry Rubin, MD, director of pediatric infectious diseases at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, walks us through why it's important to get the additional dose, who is eligible and how effective it is. Currently the Pfizer mRNA vaccine is the only one approved for booster shots under emergency use authorization. However, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson both are...

What goes on in our home, neighborhoods and community all have a major impact on our health. Chronic issues like diabetes and heart disease are more prevalent in vulnerable communities, which also tend to face more environmental challenges. Northwell is hosting the 1st Annual Raise Health Forum on Oct. 5, 2021. This free virtual event will cast a light on issues including Health Equity, Women’s He...

COVID-19 has skyrocketed rates of substance use disorder. Sandeep Kapoor, MD, joins Shatterproof executive director Stephen D'Antonio to explain how people can find resources, educate themselves, diffuse stigma and save lives.  Meet the experts Dr. Sandeep Kapoor is Assistant Vice President of Addiction Services for Northwell’s Emergency Medicine Services, as well as Director of SBIRT, that’s Nort...

Approximately 93,000 drug overdoses took place in 2020, the highest number ever in a single year. Many life-saving resources are available, yet only one in 10 receive treatment. So many suffer in silence and stigma plays a major role. Stephen D'Antonio shares his experience becoming an advocate for his son, who overcame an alcohol use disorder, and partnering with other parents and health care org...

Seeking a second opinion can be the difference between a slow recovery or a positive outcome. Daniel Sciubba, MD, and Matthew Weiss, MD, explain their approach when a patient comes in asking for a second opinion. Meet the experts Daniel Sciubba, MD , is senior vice president of neurosurgery at Northwell Health; and chair of neurosurgery at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Med...

Four hundred physicians die each year by suicide, a statistic that is both tragic and personal for advocates like Corey Feist, JD, MBA. In April 2020, his sister-in-law, Dr. Lorna Breen, took her own life shortly after recovering from COVID-19. She worked in emergency medicine, which has one of the highest rates of suicide of all medical specialties. To recognize Physician Suicide Awareness Day, C...

Many schools across the United States have been forced to close just weeks after reopening - more than 1,000 across 31 states - as the delta variant continues to spread. But, schools can reopen safely, says David Fagan, MD, if they follow proper mitigation efforts. He joins Charles Schleien, MD, to discuss: universal masking in schools; the spike of COVID cases in children nationally; the delta va...

In Part II of this conversation, our panel of heroes explores the mental health concerns for 9/11 first responders 20 years later, and what Northwell is doing to help them cope. The Queens World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program integrates mental health into its program, which Jacqueline Moline, MD, MSc , details. Eddie Reyes, program director for Northwell Health Emergency Management, and Scott S...

Retired NYPD officers Scott Strauss and Eddie Reyes spent nine months working on and in "the pile" after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Now 20 years later, both suffer from health issues related to those heroic efforts, which include a remarkable rescue famously portrayed in the Oliver Stone-directed film, "World Trade Center." Both also have found treatment --...

“ER on Demand” is a new telehealth program that makes it easy for patients to consult an emergency medicine doctor at home, even in the middle of the night. Jonathan Berkowitz, MD, medical director of emergency medical services at Northwell Health, and John D'Angelo, Northwell's chief of integrated operations, talk launching an overnight telehealth service and making it accessible from anywhere in...

As federal officials consider COVID booster shots for all Americans, certain immunocompromised individuals began receiving a third dose of the mRNA vaccines this week following approvals from the FDA and CDC late last week. Onisis Stefas, PharmD , chief pharmacy officer for Northwell Health, explains the need for booster shots, who is eligible now and what else immunocompromised individuals can do...

Approximately 1.4 million people in the U.S. identify as transgender or gender diverse. One of the biggest challenges to transgender individuals is acceptance in society. Facial feminization surgery (FFS) is a gender-affirming procedure that not only helps trans women become their authentic selves, it saves lives.  The goal of FFS – which employs multiple facial procedures of the brow, nose and ch...

New York legalized recreational cannabis in 2021, but researching its medical applications remains difficult. Diana Martins-Welch, MD , got involved with the state's medical cannabis program in 2016 and has certified more than 2,000 patients as a medical cannabis provider through her role as a palliative care expert.  On this episode, Dr. Martins-Welch discusses misinformation, the effect of canna...

The medical safety net ensuring vaccine safety is historic, says Henry Bernstein, DO, MHCM, FAAP , a voting member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a professor of pediatrics at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.  00:55 - Dr. Bernstein explains his role on the ACIP 03:02 - He e...

Pediatric orthopedic surgeons Allison Spitzer, MD , and Elaine Tran, MD , explain how kids can avoid injury, and COVID-19, as they return to their favorite sports. (Recorded June 8, 2021) More from the experts: 6 tips to avoid  pickleball injuries Northwell STARS Rehabilitation gets pickleball player back on the court.  Read more . 4 reasons for  rising ACL tears  and other knee injuries

New York Islanders legend Bobby Nystrom teams up with Certified Athletic Trainer Roger Gerland, MSPT/ATC , to talk sport injury prevention. As a director at Northwell Health's  STARS Rehabilitation , Roger treats athletes at all levels and offers tips on how to stay in the game, as well as what to look for in a doctor if you do get hurt. After his playing career, Bobby refocused his energy on bicy...

Shari Jardine spent the last week in Ecuador vaccinating locals as part of Northwell's Center for Global Health (CGH) and joins the podcast from one of its vaccination pods. In March 2020, COVID-19 grounded Northwell's growing Global Health program, which had developed core sites in Guyana, India, and Ecuador. Eric Cioe-Pena, MD , CGH director, explains how the team maintained their global relatio...

Designed to expose minority students to careers in medicine, the Medical Scholars Pipeline Program is now in its 12th year. Britney Nathan, MD , was among the first students to participate, and this week begins her residency as an OB/GYN at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital. She joins Gina Granger , assistant director of pipeline programs at the Donald and Barba...

After his 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, was killed in a school shooting in 2018, Fred Guttenberg devoted his life to gun violence prevention and firearm safety. Now, he is helping Northwell's Center for Gun Violence Prevention (CGVP) in its mission to mobilize the health care industry around this public health issue. He joins Chethan Sathya, MD , director of the CGVP and a pediatric trauma surgeon,...

As states like New York and California lift mandates on COVID-19 safety precautions and fully reopen, we will likely see other viruses like influenza and the common cold resurge. David Hirschwerk, MD, interim chair of the department of medicine at Northwell Health and an infectious disease attending, explains what to expect going into the summer and fall months.

The lingering effects of COVID-19 can be alarming for patients, some of whom are still dealing with shortness of breath, brain fog or other symptoms for weeks, months, or longer after recovering from the virus. Ankita Sagar, MD , is the director of Northwell's COVID Ambulatory Resource Support (CARES) program, which offers its patients, currently more than 4,000, everything they may need to safely...