Chair's Corner with Dr. Ron Falk

Join Dr. Ron Falk as he speaks with Dr. Ross Boyce, an expert in tick-borne illnesses, and Dr. Katherine Huffman-Falk, a retired nephrologist who was recently bitten by a tick.

Dr. Ron Falk, chair of the UNC Department of Medicine, invites Andrea Coviello, MD, FACE, MMCi, MSc an expert in endocrinology and metabolism, to discuss the latest developments in weight loss drugs. Their conversation explores how these medications work, their impact on metabolism and appetite regulation, and their role in the broader landscape of obesity treatment and patient care.

Apple Watches, Fitbits, OuraRings— we all wear them but how do they actually measure our health and activity level? In some cases these devices measure our skins pulsations. Dr. Ron Falk sits down with Dr. Anil Gehi, cardiac electrophysiologist to talk about how wearable technology can give us indications of our heart health. 

Dr. Ron Falk invites Dr. Brad Drummond, a UNC pulmonologist (lung doctor), to discuss chronic inflammatory lung disease commonly known as COPD. 16 million people have been diagnosed with the condition. However, it is believed another 16 million are living with COPD without being diagnosed. Dr. Drummond discusses how cigarettes and working certain jobs increases your risk for COPD. He also explains...

Dr. Ron Falk invites Dr. Emily Chang, a kidney doctor (nephrologist) with the University of North Carolina who cares for patients with PKD, to be a guest on the Chair's Corner. They discuss symptoms, diagnosis, impact on welling, autosomal recessive vs autosomal dominant, and more. Resources: UNC Nephrology Website PKD Foundation Website Segments of This Podcast: 00:00-Meet Dr. Emily Chang 01:...

Dr. Ron Falk invites Dr. Evan Dellon, internationally recognized expert of EoE, to talk about the signs you or your child may have the condition, recent FDA approved treatments including budesonide and dupilumab, and on-going research in the field. 00:00-Meet Dr. Evan Dellon 01:21-What is EoE? How common is it? When was it 1st recognized? 03:05-Signs and Symptoms 05:41-Impacts of EoE of Patient&#3...

Dr. Hans Herfarth discusses biosimilars, the differences of biosimilars and biologics and safety issues with switching from an original drug to a biosimilar.

Dr. Jonathan Serody discusses immunotherapy as a way to treat cancer, specifically adoptive cell therapy, checkpoint inhibitor therapy and stem cell transplants. He explains how they work, what kinds of cancers they help treat and what the process is like for someone who has these treatments.

Dr. John Buse shares what is new in the treatment of diabetes, and highlights the benefits that SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists can offer to patients, among other topics related to diabetes treatment.

Galafold (migalastat) was approved in August 2018 for the treatment of Fabry disease. Jerry Walter, a patient who has Fabry, and his nephrologist, Dr. Gerald Hladik, discuss how the drug works, and common concerns and questions patients have about the treatment.

What is Fabry disease? Jerry Walter and Dr. Gerald Hladik discuss this disease, the symptoms, and concerns patients often have.

What is hemophilia? Dr. Nigel Key discusses this genetic disease with Dr. Ron Falk. They talk about how the disease is inherited, the effectiveness of the treatment, and what's on the horizon for gene therapy.

Dr. Manish Saha talks with Dr. Ron Falk about thrombotic microangiopathy, or TMA. They discuss two types of TMA, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic syndrome, and the symptoms associated with each. They also talk about the testing and treatment for TMA.

What is hereditary hemochromatosis? Dr. Sid Barritt discusses this disease with Dr. Ron Falk. This genetic condition causes excess iron to deposit in different parts of the body. They talk about the symptoms and how one can be tested, and the treatment for hereditary hemochromatosis.

What is Long QT syndrome? Dr. Anil Gehi describes this genetic condition, the different types of Long QT, and the treatments.

Dr. Raj Kasthuri talks about hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, also known as HHT, with Dr. Ron Falk. Dr. Kasthuri describes the symptoms, how it can affect internal organs, and treatment for HHT. They also discuss some of the reasons that many people who have HHT are not aware of what they have.

What is polycystic kidney disease, or PKD, and how is it diagnosed and treated? Dr. Amy Mottl talks about this genetic disorder with Dr. Ron Falk, and the complications it can cause. She also discusses new treatments available for patients.

Dr. Scott Donaldson talks with Dr. Ron Falk about cystic fibrosis, the testing and treatment for CF, and how people are living longer with the disease today.

What is new in genetics as it relates to your health? This episode features Dr. Jim Evans and is the first of a series of episodes focused on genetic diseases. Dr. Evans talks with Dr. Ron Falk about what is new in genetic testing and when it is most helpful for patients. They also discuss concerns and risks of direct-to-consumer genetic tests and CRISPR technology.

What are some reasons to participate in HIV cure research? A UNC research study participant, Rob, shares his personal reasons, and describes his involvement in recent studies. Dr. David Margolis, who leads HIV cure research at UNC, joins the conversation and describes where cure research is today, including specifics on Vorinostat trials, and where their work is headed.

Women and minorities often face extra challenges related to preventing and treating HIV, especially for those in a high-risk environment or who have difficulty accessing medical care. Dr. Adaora Adimora describes specific ways to help these individuals have better outcomes.

How effective is HIV treatment today? What sorts of side effects do they cause? Dr. Joe Eron addresses concerns and questions related to HIV medications in this HIV Matters episode. He explains how they work in the body, and describes the latest research being done to improve treatment.

When someone is diagnosed with HIV, what kind of care do they need? Claire Farel answers these questions and many more in this podcast about getting medical care for HIV.

Dr. Christopher Hurt talks preventing HIV with PrEP- pre-exposure prophylaxis. He describes what it is, how to get it, and who might want to consider using PrEP.

Dr. David Wohl talks about the importance of not only controlling the virus, but taking good care of your overall health and well-being. He suggests ways people can improve their chances of living a long and healthy life.