Health Matters

This week on Health Matters , Courtney Allison is joined by infectious disease expert from NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, Dr. Marcus Pereira, to learn what we need to know about bird flu. Dr. Pereira explains that while the cases of bird flu in humans have been mostly mild, there is still a risk that the virus could mutate and spread more easily from human-to-human. He talks about ways to prot...

This week on Health Matters , Courtney Allison heads to NewYork-Presbyterian's Teddy Bear Clinic, where she asks kids what they want to know about their health. Then she sits down with Dr. Robert Hagerty , a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of New York, to get answers. Dr. Hagerty helps explains the risks and benefits of screen time, why it’s important to get a lot of sleep when you’re a kid, a...

This week on Health Matters , Courtney Allison is joined by Dr. Alessandro Fichera, chief of colon and rectal surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss the recent rise of colorectal cancer in people under 50, and explore what might be one reason behind it—the eating habits of the typical Western diet. Dr. Fichera offers health tips for lowering cancer risk. It turns...

In recognition of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, we’re revisiting an important episode focused on disordered eating. Angelique Serrano speaks with Dr. Evelyn Attia, Director of the Center for Eating Disorders at NewYork-Presbyterian. They discuss the differences between healthy and unhealthy eating, how to recognize the signs of eating disorders, and what treatment options are available...

This week on Health Matters, as we continue to observe Heart Month, we will explore the role that genetics play in heart health. Understanding your family history of cardiovascular health is essential. In fact, about 30% of heart disease can be linked to family history. We speak with Dr. Jessica Hennessy, a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist and cardiogenetics expert at NewYork-Presbyterian and...

This week on Health Matters , Courtney Allison is joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Steven Mazza of NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia to explore how to improve your listening skills and the powerful benefits of being a good listener. Dr. Mazza explains how focusing on our own thoughts can keep us from listening well and really connecting with the people we care about. He also describes the surpr...

February is Heart Month, so this week on Health Matters we talk about heart health with Dr. Emmanuel Moustakakis, a cardiologist with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. He reminds us: heart disease is the number one cause of death in the western world for both men and women. So: what can we do about it? We explored a number of the common misconceptions about heart health that keep pe...

This week on Health Matters we look back at health tips and takeaways from the month of January, and discuss what healthy habits are sticking. Courtney is joined by Health Matters editor Angelique Serrano to explore the top health takeaways from our episodes on cold plunges, workouts, the health risks of alcohol and ultraprocessed foods. In their conversations with Health Matters, Dr. Sonia Tolani...

This week on Health Matters, host Courtney Allison talks to Dr. Sonia Tolani, a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, about sustainable approaches to working out. They cover everything from understanding fitness metrics like VO2 Max and zone training to helpful tips for building exercise into your daily routine. Dr. Tolani also gives some great advice on how to reframe exercise when i...

This week on Health Matters, host Courtney Allison talks to  integrative health specialist. Dr. Michelle Loy, who breaks down the differences between whole, processed, and ultraprocessed foods. She discusses the health risks associated with ultraprocessed foods, such as increased risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental health issues. Dr. Loy provides practical tips for identi...

In this episode of Health Matters, host Courtney Allison discusses the latest studies on the health risks associated with alcohol use with Dr. Robert Brown, chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss how alcohol affects various organs, including your liver, heart, and brain, as well as its link to several cancers. Dr. Brown discusses t...

This week on Health Matters our host, Courtney Allison, talks to rehabilitation medicine specialist, Dr. Asad Siddiqi about what is happening in our bodies when we cold plunge, the health benefits hopping into frigid water and some potential risks to keep in mind.  __ Health Matters was created to share the remarkable stories of science, care, and wellness that are happening every day at NewYork-P...

It’s been an eventful year for Health Matters and we’ve learned a lot about health. Listen in as Faith and Courtney talk through some of their favorite moments and health tips from the past year and share clips from the interviews with meaningful takeaways that have helped them create healthier habits. __ Health Matters was created to share the remarkable stories of science, care, and wellness tha...

This week on Health Matters, our host, Faith Salie, talks to Dr. Nicholas Crimarco, a psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, about practical strategies for managing tough conversations. Dr. Crimarco shares tips on setting positive tones, expressing goals clearly, validating others' feelings, and using active listening skills to maintain meaningful relationships, especially during the h...

This week on Health Matters we revisit our conversation with clinical dietitian Gabrielle Gambino about ways to combat inflammation through food. Gabrielle explains how fermented foods and fiber provide the basis for a heart-healthy diet, what inflammation really means, and how superfoods and nutrient dense foods give our bodies what we need to fuel a healthy lifestyle. __ Health Matters was creat...

This week on Health Matters our host, Faith Salie, talks to Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, a pediatrician at NewYork-Presbyterian’s Ambulatory Care Network and Columbia, about ways parents and caregivers can talk to their children about puberty and the changes that come with this stage in life. Dr. Bracho-Sanchez also discusses why puberty may be happening earlier and earlier in children. __ Health Mat...

This week on Health Matters our host Faith Salie is joined by Dr. David Majure, Medical Director of the Heart Transplant Service with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, to discuss the use of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and WeGovy as a treatment to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in certain adults. They explore the complex connections among weight, cardi...

On this episode of Health Matters, Faith Salie talks about resilience with Dr. Anne Marie Albano, clinical site co-director of the Center for Youth Mental Health at NewYork-Presbyterian and a child psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. Dr. Albano offers mental health tips for how caregivers can foster confidence and independence in children and how to keep communication lines open whe...

In this special live episode of Health Matters for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Courtney Allison sits down with Kiley Durham, a mom, artist, and multi-cancer survivor. They discuss Kiley’s cancer journey, and invite two doctors from Kiley’s care team to join their conversation and reflect on her treatment. Dr. Tessa Cigler, a medical oncologist, and Dr. John Ng, a radiation oncologist, celebrate...

This week, Faith talks with Dr. Morgan Busko, a sports medicine doctor with NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia and five-time ironman finisher. They discuss the vast health benefits of running, the best way to avoid injuries, and what to focus on to become a more efficient runner.

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we revisit our conversation with NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia breast oncologist Dr. Meghna Trivedi. She talks with Angelique Serrano about the major risk factors behind breast cancer, the most common genetic factors in cancer risk, and the kinds of prevention strategies that can limit genetic risks. 

This week, Faith talks with Dr. Cynthia Pan, a specialist in geriatric medicine and palliative care with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss the Sandwich Generation—people who find themselves caring for elderly parents and young children at the same time. Dr. Pan describes how common it is to be a caregiver for two different generations, and offers strategies for finding...

Did you know there’s more serotonin in the gut than in the brain? The connection between our digestive health and our mental health are strong and surprising. To explore this link, Faith Salie talks with Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia and the Director of Clinical Research at Columbia’s Celiac Disease Center. He’s an expert on the connections between...

This week, Faith is joined by Dr. Andrew Chan, a neurosurgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, to discuss the rising issue of Tech Neck. Dr. Chan explains the causes and symptoms of this modern condition, which is linked to poor posture when using devices such as cell phones and computers. He also offers advice on prevention and treatment, including stretches and strengthening exercises.

This week, Faith is joined by urologist Dr. Alfred Winkler from NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss prostate health and why it’s so important for men to get screened for prostate cancer. Dr. Winkler also shares how it’s among the most treatable cancers, and why some men can be under “active surveillance” and live with the slow-growing cancer with minimal impact on their l...