The Scope

As parents, we always want to make sure we give our children the attention they need, but too much attention could have a negative affect. Are you too involved in your child’s life in a way that is overcontrolling, overprotecting, and overperfecting? Do you select your children’s friends and activities for them? You might be a Helicopter Parent. Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about why helicopter parenti...

Nearly every woman experiences pain during sex at least once. While the first time is usually painful, some women continue to experience a little bit of pain every now and then. Is it just because sex hurts? If the pain is new, you might start to worry about sexually transmitted infections or ovarian cysts. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones talks about the different types of pain during intercourse and what...

Need to see your doctor but don’t feel like an office visit? Many physicians are jumping on the trend of video chatting with patients to diagnose and write prescriptions for health concerns. Which kinds of problems do virtual visits work for and when do you still need to come to the office? Dr. Nathan Bexfield answers your questions in this podcast. 


If you have a painful but minor injury such as a sprain or fracture, it might be faster to go to an urgent care office instead of the emergency room. Dr. Tom Miller talks to emergency room surgeon Dr. Robert Stephen about how to decide where to go when you have a minor emergency injury.

With all the technology around, bullying is no longer limited to schoolyards. Kids are using cell phones and social media to torment and spread rumors about others in a very public way. If you are the victim of cyberbullying, you can feel embarrassed, but it’s important to remember it’s not your fault. You need to tell someone, whether it’s a parent, teacher or other trusted adult. Dr. Cindy Gelln...

Being pregnant and giving birth make a woman’s hormones go haywire. All those hormones and life changes can make a new mom feel very emotional, vulnerable and sad. Up to 85 percent of women experience the baby blues for a week or two, but if your anxiety and sadness don’t go away, it might be post-partum depression. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones talks about how to help yourself feel better and bond with...

Think about it—on Halloween, kids are running around with billowing sleeves and capes on their costumes, porches are strewn with hay and dried pumpkins and spooky candles are lit all night long. It’s a recipe for disaster on a night that’s supposed to be fun for the whole family. Annette Matherly with the Utah Burn Center shares what the most dangerous thing is on Halloween night and how you can k...

They’re supposed to help you feel better, but sometimes taking several medications together can create even more problems in your body. If you’re taking a lot of pills but still not feeling great, it may be time to reevaluate those medications—but how do you know if it’s the meds or your medical conditions? Dr. Mark Supiano talks about what medication combinations could be making you sick and some...

Much like type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease can be managed in several ways. With this condition, it is especially true that if you take care of your body, it will take care of you. Tom Miller, MD, and cardiologist James Fang, MD, discuss some simple things you can do to effectively manage your coronary disease, and prevention from getting the disease in the first place.

We’re all familiar with the power of smell: a Thanksgiving turkey roasting in the oven may lure you into the kitchen, while the stench of rotting trash can cause you to run the other way. However little is known about how odors can trigger very different neurological responses and behaviors. Matt Wachowiak , USTAR professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the University of Utah is collaborating wit...

Many women with breast cancer want to have a bilateral mastectomy even if they only have one breast affected by cancer. No matter what you choose, there are support groups, doctors and even tattoo artists at Huntsman Cancer Institute who will give you the best treatment and recovery possible. In this podcast, reconstructive surgeon Dr. Jay Agarwal and Dr. Kirtly Jones talk about breast cancer trea...

Breast cancer patients and their loved ones might have a lot of questions about the possibility of reconstructive breast surgery. Dr. Jay Agarwal is a breast reconstructive surgeon at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and he’s here to answer those questions. Dr. Kirtly Jones and Dr. Agarwal discuss the surgery and the many options breast cancer patients have when it comes to mastectomy and breast reco...

Preparing for surgery does not just happen in the operating room—it begins weeks before. Prehabilitation is about the steps patients can take to improve their recovery, from quitting smoking and controlling blood sugar to exercising, adjusting medications, and ensuring proper nutrition. Tom Miller, MD , talks to Dan Vargo, MD , about how these proactive measures can lower complication risks, speed...

Imagine being thrown together with a group of strangers and coming up with a fundable scientific proposal in less than a week. That’s the basic nuts and bolts of the National Science Foundation Ideas Lab, a relatively new mechanism for encouraging big thinking in science and out-of-the box interdisciplinary collaborations. Interesting idea, but does it work? Matt Wachowiak, Ph. D., USTAR professor...

Research shows that regular exercise is probably the most helpful thing you can do to absorb insulin and control your diabetes. It can also help prevent your pre-diabetes from worsening. Dr. Tim Graham is an endocrinologist and medical director of the Diabetes and Metabolism clinic at the University of Utah. In this podcast he talks about how stepping outside for just a few minutes per day can mak...

Negative test results can bring a sigh of relief, but positive results can also give you peace of mind in knowing what’s wrong. If you think you’re coming down with the flu, is it worth it to ask your doctor to test you for the flu virus? In this podcast, Dr. Tom Miller has the answer as well as some tips for knowing whether your sniffles are due to the flu or just a common cold.

Giving birth is a lot of hard work, but since most women are anesthetized during the process, eating and drinking anything besides ice has generally been discouraged. But many women feel like they need extra nutrients and energy, especially if their labor ends up lasting hours. Certified midwife Debra Penney talks safety and hydration while giving birth.

Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed substances in the world, found in everything from coffee and tea to sodas, energy drinks, and even chocolate. But is it good for you, bad for you, or somewhere in between? Kirtly Jones, MD , talks about caffeine consumption, potential health benefits, recommendations, and concerns. Learn how much caffeine is considered safe, why pregnancy requires extra...

Children who receive chemotherapy for cancer treatment can be prone to negative effects of those chemicals later in life. The Pediatric Late Effects Clinic at Huntsman Cancer works to monitor adults who had cancer as children. Dr. Jennifer Wright is director of the clinic. She talks about how childhood cancer survivors can take charge of their own health and stay healthy by visiting clinics such a...

Do you have cysts or cancer in your pancreas? Your doctor might have mentioned a Whipple procedure to you. In this podcast, Dr. Courtney Scaife and Dr. Tom Miller discuss the ins and outs of the Whipple surgery and what it means for your pancreas, the cancer and your ability to recover and live a full life afterward.

You might be embarrassed to talk about your leaking bowels with anyone, even a doctor. But there are ways to improve the function of the rectal muscles. In this podcast, Dr. Tom Miller and colorectal surgeon Dr. Bartley Pickron discuss what can cause fecal incontinence and a few of the treatment options.

Suicide is the third most common cause of death from kids aged 10-19. Children and teens suffering from depression, whether it is being treated or not, are much more likely to think about taking their own life. If you worry that your child is having suicidal thoughts, there is help. Dr. Cindy Gellner has advice for parents seeking to have this worrisome conversation with their kids. The National S...

Many scientists would argue that some public policy does not reflect the current state of scientific knowledge. Arguably, some of this misrepresentation can be attributed to a disconnect between scientists and policy makers. Christy Porucznik, MD, associate professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine, gives real examples of misunderstandings that have t...

Every time you spend some time outside you end up covered in mosquito bites. Why do they bite you more than anyone else? It turns out about one in five people seem to have this problem. In this podcast Dr. Kirtly Jones talks about what attracts mosquitos, from your blood type to what you wear.

A study led by the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah could explain why elephants rarely get cancer. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) , the results may lead to new strategies for treating cancer in people. Pediatric oncologist Joshua Schiffman describes the research and tells the story of exploring how elephants evade the deadly disease.