The Scope

It’s hard to imagine anyone intentionally harming a child. When people think of child abuse, they often picture physical abuse, but as Dr. Cindy Gellner explains, child abuse includes much more than that. She talks about the forms of child abuse and what to do if you suspect a child you know is being abused in any manner.

How might your neighborhood pharmacy be different five or ten years from now? Dr. Mike Feehan, visiting professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Utah talks about how one day, you may be more likely to visit your local pharmacist for routine acute care than you would your doctor. He is conducting the largest survey of its kind to determine a new model for pharmacies that works best...

Perimenopause is the final stretch before you stop having periods altogether. For many women, it can be a frustrating time filled with hot flashes, heavy and unpredictable bleeding, and a lot of hormones. Even though perimenopause is different for every woman, Kirtly Jones, MD , talks about what you can expect before menstruation leaves your life forever.

When a parent suddenly can not remember your name—or seems lost in their own home—the emotional shock hits hard. Memory loss in older adults can stem from normal aging, reversible confusion, or more serious neurodegenerative conditions, and telling the difference is crucial. Kyle Bradford Jones, MD , breaks down early warning signs, what sudden confusion can mean, and how dementia changes a person...

Dr. Mariana Baserga is a neonatologist and takes care of some of the most vulnerable people on earth—premature babies. She talks with Dr. Tom Miller about just what her job entails and how she takes care of her tiny patients. There are many reasons premature babies end up in Dr. Baserga’s care. She discusses some of the ailments she commonly sees and how her team works together to make those babie...

Jaw popping is common, but not all popping is created equal. Some sounds are harmless, while others point to joint dysfunction that can worsen over time. Gary Lowder, DDS , breaks down what is happening inside the jaw, how to tell the difference between normal and concerning symptoms, and what simple steps you can take right away. Learn when to wait it out, when to modify your habits, and when it...

Geneticist Gabrielle Kardon, Ph. D., never thought that she would be explaining her research to patient advocacy groups, but that’s where her science led her and she has not shied away from it. Her work, published in Nature Genetics and highlighted in the New York Times , brought forth a new understanding behind the mechanisms of a common birth defect, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Since...

Babies get tested for many things right after they are born. The heel prick includes a test for phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare birth defect that causes a certain amino acid to build up in the body. Dr. Gellner talks about this disorder and what a PKU diagnosis means for you and your new baby.

Amyloidosis can affect so many different organs and affects everybody in a different way. Because of this, you really need to go to a clinic that specializes in amyloidosis and has all the physicians needed to treat the disease in order to get effective care. The University of Utah has one of these clinics. In this podcast, Dr. Jose Nativi, cardiovascular director of the amyloidosis clinic at the...

A young vibrant woman in the prime of her life, Amy Steinbrech suffered a stroke. Unable to walk, talk or even move her limbs, Amy’s remarkable recovery is testament to the possibilities inherent in the human spirit. Her emotionally uplifting interview that demonstrates the boundlessness of determination is worth a listen.

There is a lot of confusion about when to get a mammogram. Some groups say 40, some 50. Others say you should get a baseline at 40. Is it necessary? It sounds like a good idea, to have a picture of what things looked like so at 50 a doctor can determine if anything has changed. But is it really a good idea? What are the downsides or things you need to watch out for if your physician suggests a bas...

Your preschooler suddenly needs the bathroom every few minutes—but seems otherwise fine. While alarming for parents, this common phase is often harmless and linked to stress, routine changes, or bladder habits rather than disease. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , explains why frequent urination happens in young children, how long it usually lasts, and what parents can do to help. Learn the warning...

Amy Steinbrech and Dr. Steven Edgley have both survived strokes at a young age. In this podcast, they discuss the recovery process, including the incredible job the brain does of “fixing” itself and the timeline of improvements patients can expect. The also discuss the frustrations many patients face and the importance of a support network, setting goals and self-recognition.

Dr. Jose Nativi is a cardiologist and director of the amyloidosis program at University of Utah Health Care and Huntsman Cancer Institute. He explains what amyloidosis is and why it’s so tricky to diagnose and treat. He gives great information and explanations about this disease and its different types and effects. If you or someone you know has amyloidosis, this is the podcast for you.

The UCLA PEERS Clinic (The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is an innovative, evidence-based program to teach teens and young adults with autism spectrum disorders how to help make and keep friends. Learn more about the program and other social skills resources that are available from the founder of the PEERS clinic Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson.

If you get a call from your doctor’s office about an abnormal pap smear, you might start to freak out. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones says it’s a good idea to take a deep breath first. Many times, the doctor doesn’t scrape enough cells and you need another smear. Dr. Jones explains the many reasons you could be called back—including some comforting information and statistics about treatments.

By the time the 39th week of your pregnancy rolls around, you are probably getting pretty uncomfortable and ready to hold your baby. Is being induced a safe option? Dr. Tom Miller and Dr. Howard Sharp talk about the reasons many women are induced, including elective induction. They talk about the consequences of being induced too early—or too late.

The U.S. is a sleep-deprived nation; most people aren’t getting enough sleep every night. You may have heard that using your phone before bed affects the quality of sleep you get. There are several other things that can contribute to the amount and quality of sleep you get. Dr. Kyle Jones goes over five simple things you can do to get a good night’s rest.

Dr. Jacob Kean of Indiana University talks about the key parts of an intervention and its implementation. He discusses his work on fidelity measures and using practice-based evidence approaches in treatment. He talks about how fidelity measures came about through collaboration with doctors at the San Antonio Military Medical Center to help deliver quality treatment to veterans.

When should you start taking your child to the dentist? And when should you start brushing your baby’s teeth? When can they do it on their own? Some parents have a lot of questions about baby teeth, and that’s okay. Dr. James Bekker is here to help answer those questions and talk about why taking care of those baby teeth is so important.

Some of our health decisions are at least in part a product of where we live. For example, it might be more tempting to buy a fast food burger if there are few restaurants and grocery stores with healthy choices nearby. But historically it has been difficult for epidemiologists to get a handle on factors that influence the health within specific neighborhoods. In a project called Hashtag Health, Q...

Dr. Paul Thielking teaches an eight-week mind and body skills group for cancer patients. He walks us through a mindfulness and breathing exercise to help with relaxation. Although developed for cancer patients, this breathing exercise works for anyone.

It can be hard to watch your child have night terrors—when they scream and cry inconsolably at night. Pediatrician  Cindy Gellner, MD , explains why a small percentage of children experience these and how you can help when it happens. Although night terrors usually stop eventually, learn to recognize signs that it may be something more serious, and when you should take your child to the docto...

When scientists uncovered a genetic defect that was causing colon cancer in a large family, they were faced with the decision of what to do next. The researchers and family have developed a close, long-term relationship that has helped family members understand their condition and what they can do about it. Deb Neklason, Ph. D., program director of the Utah Genome Project tells the remarkable stor...

When Kimberly Myers, PhD, was diagnosed with breast cancer, one of her first thoughts was to see a photographer. In this podcast, she talks about her treatment, breast reconstruction and photos taken to document the journey. The exhibit, Edges of Light: Images of Breast Transformation, includes the photos and verbal reflections by Kimberly. It will be on display at the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sci...