The Scope

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...

There’s one thing out there that can act as a better medicine than many of the drugs we have. It contributes to a high level of overall health and can help speed recovery from illnesses. What is it? Dr. Amy Powell shares the answer with Dr. Kirty Jones—it’s so simple that it might surprise you.

If you’re hesitant to check the organ donor box on your driver’s license because you’re unsure of the process, we’re here to clear it up. Dr. Jill Sweney talks about what it means to be an organ donor and what actually happens to your body after you die. She answers questions such as where your organs go and whether you can have an open-casket funeral. If you have any questions related to organ do...

Utah has some of the best health outcomes in the nation, but some of the lowest costs. Dr. Robin Marcus, chief wellness officer of University of Utah Health Care, talks about some reasons for this. She also discusses what can be done to further improve the health of residents and the ability of physicians to treat their patients in the most effective way possible.

Can children suffer from heart attacks? What does severe chest pain in kids mean? Dr. Collin Cowley is a pediatrician and cardiologist. He talks with Dr. Tom Miller about what commonly causes chest pains in kids and teenagers and when you should think about taking your child to the doctor.

Even when you’re feeling your best, it can be difficult to get motivated to exercise, but it’s much more difficult when you feel fatigued and depressed because of cancer. But research has shown that physical activity is very important, especially with cancer. Pamela Hansen is the medical director of the wellness survivorship center at Huntsman Cancer Institute. She has some tips for finding the mo...

Complementary and alternative medicines are all over lately: herbal supplements, massage, essential oils, and more. You might love how some of these therapies make you feel, but are they safe for your child? You might be surprised to learn that there are some risks. Dr. Cindy Gellner is an expert on this subject and talks about the ways you can safely apply these practices with your child.

Simple conversations can become an exercise in frustration when a loved one begins to lose hearing with age. Sarah Hargus Ferguson, PhD, associate professor of communications science and disorders, explains why certain sounds are harder to hear than others, and gives tips for communicating clearly with the hearing impaired. She also describes her research investigating acoustical characteristics t...

Are you worried about getting into PA school? Two students from the University of Utah’s physician assistant program dish on why they picked PA school over medical school, how to make the most of PA school, and some advice for getting into the competitive programs. If you’re considering applying for a physician assistant program, this podcast is for you!

Dr. Sean Mulvihill is CEO of the University of Utah Medical Group. He discusses the personal and human care nurses provide for patients and how integral that is for doctors.

Patricia Morton is the Dean of the University of Utah College of Nursing and she talks about why she decided to pursue nursing. She talks about what makes the nursing students and faculty stand out at the University of Utah.

David Entwistle, CEO of University of Utah hospitals and clinics talks about the impact nurses have made on his life and career. He discusses how nurses are the backbone of the university health care system and why they make the U so great.

Many Americans describe their marriages as lacking in sex for a number of reasons: kids, busy lives, etc. Dr. Kirtly Jones talks about the recent dialogue regarding sex and marriage—and how it differs from the first anniversary to the 50th anniversary. She talks about how a sexless marriage doesn’t always mean a failed marriage.

Representing 8 million people connected to over 23 million records - including vital statistics, medical records, and genealogical information - the Utah Population Database is the largest database of its kind in the U.S. Dr. Ken Smith, director of UPDB, explains how the database accelerates discovery of causes of genetic diseases and epidemiological phenomena, what makes the database unique, and...

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with chlamydia or are worried you might have it, you probably have a lot of questions racing through your mind. Dr. Kyle Jones explains the basic signs and symptoms and why it’s imperative to get your chlamydia treated as soon as possible.