RUMC Connections

The feet are complex mechanical structures of the human body, each consisting of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They serve as the foundation for the entire body, offering support, balance, as well as impacting overall well-being. Ongoing conditions stemming from the feet can lead to patients experiencing pain in their knees, hips, and lower back. Richmond Univer...

Tobacco use is still the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the country and leads to 480,000 deaths in the U.S. each year from cigarette smoking alone. While cigarettes cause the most deaths from cancer, respiratory, and vascular disease, they are not the only tobacco product linked to adverse health outcomes. Using smokeless tobacco is also a known cause of cancer, and the rise of...

Throughout the month of June we celebrate the resilient spirit of cancer survivorship. Music therapy has proven to be a powerful tool for promoting healing and enhancing well-being among cancer survivors. It utilizes the transformative properties of music to address physical, emotional, and psychological needs. Through the intentional use of music, therapy sessions can provide a safe and supportin...

The month of June is often cause for celebration, bringing warm weather, longer days, and summer vacations. June is also a special celebration for national cancer survivors month. This month we celebrate the resilient spirit of the more than 18 million cancer survivors in the United States and honor the tireless efforts of the doctors, clinicians, researchers and scientists who have made survivors...

The Ambulatory Center & G.I./Endoscopy Suites at Richmond University Medical Center provide full-service ambulatory services for children and adults. Each year, thousands of procedures are performed by our experienced physicians, nurses and technicians. Our six state-of-the-art procedure rooms contain the most up-to-date diagnostic and treatment equipment available, including sophisticated mon...

The Ambulatory Center & G.I./Endoscopy Suites at Richmond University Medical Center provide full-service ambulatory services for children and adults. Each year, thousands of procedures are performed by our experienced physicians, nurses and technicians. Our six state-of-the-art procedure rooms contain the most up-to-date diagnostic and treatment equipment available, including sophisticated mon...

Women experience unique medical concerns throughout their lifetime, such as pregnancy, gynecologic conditions, pelvic floor disorders and menopause that may require specialized imaging and diagnostic testing. Host, Meredith Gaskins, is joined once again by Dr. Sujoy Menon, Chair of the Department of Radiology at RUMC to discuss how interventional radiology has impacted women’s health issues and th...

At RUMC, the Vascular Interventional Radiology Department performs approximately 2,000 procedures a year. Our board-certified and board-qualified radiologists offer various imaging modalities with advanced subspecialty fellowship training in their areas of expertise. As the recipient of the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for quality and patient safety, we utilize only state-of-the-art eq...

In this episode, host Meredith Gaskins, is joined again by Dr. Richard Maggio and Dr. Michael Wilson, Urology Chair, from Richmond University Medical Center to discuss minimally invasive urological procedures, UroLift System and Aquablation therapy. The UroLift System is a minimally invasive procedure to treat an enlarged prostate. It is a proven option for patients looking for an alternative to m...

Located in the heart of Staten Island, the Urology Services center, located at 1200 South Ave., provides advanced treatments and procedures for adult male and female patients. From kidney stones to urologic cancers, including prostate cancer, RUMC’s team of experienced specialists offers comprehensive surgical and nonsurgical care. The Urological Services Center treats a wide range of urological c...

It’s a man’s disease.” “But I’m too young.” “Breast cancer is the real threat.” If you’ve heard or said any of this before, you’re not alone. The real fact is, relying on these false assumptions can cost you your life. It’s time to set the record straight and start thinking of heart disease as a disease that doesn’t spare women and children. Your health is non-negotiable; we need to separate fact...

When you or a loved one are suffering from a cardiac condition, you want to know you can trust your physicians. That’s why Richmond University Medical Center employs highly skilled, board-certified, knowledgeable cardiology specialists. They provide every aspect of patient care from prevention to treatment to monitoring with a personalized touch to address each patient’s unique needs and concerns....

The Gamblers Treatment Program, located at 1130 South Ave. in Staten Island, NY has been providing outpatient treatment to New Yorkers struggling with problem gambling since 1982. RUMC has the longest standing outpatient gambling treatment program in New York State. The program offers clients comprehensive therapeutic services to gamblers 16-years of age and older (in-person and via Telehealth) in...

Drug addiction is a complex disease; it takes more than willpower to overcome the problem. However, with the right treatment and support, positive change is always possible regardless of the circumstance. In this episode, Meredith is joined by Ileana Acosta, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC), who is the Program Manager of the A...

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck. It produces hormones that play a key role in regulating blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, metabolism, and the reaction of the body to other hormones. In this episode, Meredith and Alex continue their conversation with Dr. Otterbeck, RUMC's Chair of Medicine and Chief of the Endocrinology Department, to discus...

Your endocrine system involves glands within your body and the hormones they produce. A disorder or imbalance anywhere in this system can impact your entire body. On today's episode, Meredith and Alex are joined by Dr. Philip Otterbeck, Richmond University Medical Center's Chair of Medicine and Chief of Endocrinology, to focus on one of, if not, the most common condition affecting this sys...

In this episode, Meredith, Alex and Dan continue their discussion with Kristine Delgado, Administrative Director of Rehabilitation at Richmond University Medical Center. The department of rehabilitation medicine features a team of dedicated practitioners who specialize in improving the abilities and livelihoods of patients. The array of various adult rehabilitation services offered at RUMC are hig...

As a parent, you want to see your child grow, learn, become independent and thrive. When it comes to Pediatric Rehabilitation, ideally parents want a program that treats their child's physical, emotional, academic, and social challenges. On this episode, Meredith, Alex & Dan are joined by Kristine Delgado, RUMC's Administrative Director of Rehabilitation, to discuss the comprehensive p...

In this episode, Meredith, Alex, and Dan are joined by Dr. Sayed Mahdi Ayat to discuss all things Nephrology. Kidney issues are on the rise around the world, with millions of people each year undergoing treatments for kidney injury or chronic kidney disease. About 1 in 2 people with very low kidney function don't know they have kidney disease and approximately 1 in 3 adults with diabetes and 1...

In this episode, Meredith, Alex & Dan are joined by RUMC's new Rheumatologist, Dr. DeMizio, to discuss all things rheumatology. This podcast covers everything from patient diagnosis, various rheumatic issues, treatment methods, pain management, the changing landscape of the rheumatology field and much more. 

Meredith, Alex and Dan continue their conversation with RUMC's pediatric surgeon, Dr. Brian Gilchrist to discuss what life is like as a pediatric surgeon, along with various surgeries that he's performed.

When a family is faced with emergency or elective surgery for their child, they may be confronted with mixed emotions, fear and apprehension. In this episode, Meredith, Alex & Dan are joined by RUMC's pediatric surgeon, Dr. Brian Gilchrist. Pediatric surgery is performed on all age groups from newborns to adolescents and there are less than 500 pediatric surgeons across the United States....

In this episode, we continue our conversation with RUMC’s Optometrist, Dr. Joseph Muscente. Last episode we discussed traumas and emergencies that can affect our eyes. In this episode, we’ll discuss glaucoma and the importance of having your eyes checked regularly to detect any issues early on. Glaucoma is a very common eye disease affecting more than 70 million people worldwide and it’s the leadi...

In this episode, Meredith, Alex & Dan are joined by Optometrist Dr. Joseph Muscente to discuss ocular emergencies. Eye emergencies include cuts, scratches, objects in the eye, burns, chemical exposure and blunt injuries to the eye or eyelid. These injuries may cause visual change, pain or discomfort, and changes to the appearance of the eye itself. Dr. Muscente will share some of the more comm...

In this episode, Meredith, Alex & Dan continue their conversation with lead Paramedic, Angela Ciocia, and lead EMT, James Donnelly to discuss personal encounters and what it takes to work in the EMS field.