PodcastDX PodcastDX

This week we will discuss Red Blood Cell Exchange (RBCX) and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).  Our guest is Carly Newton.  
​Carly is a Registered Nurse at Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies with over 15years helping Health Care Professionals treating SCD patients with Red Blood Cell Exchange all over the globe. Specializing in apheresis treatments, Carly uses that experience to educate Health Care Professionals on the most effective ways to prescribe Red Blood Cell Exchange. 
​By focusing on differentiating the different types of transfusion therapies available to SCD patients, Carly has been able to put the Registered Nurse degree they earned at The University of South Australia to good use. Carly may spend their days at the Terumo Lakewood campus, but it’s the patients and helping them live their best lives that gets them up in the morning.
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When they’re not at Terumo, Carly loves spending time in the great outdoors and enjoying everything the Colorado Rockies have to offer.

As you may recall Myisha spoke with us in season 7 about Crohn's Disease and season 10 about Asthma.   We are running this week's episode as a re-run of her asthma interview.  Myisha is a passionate dedicated advocate she’s received proclamations from states for recognition of her advocacy and IBD awareness.  Besides her challenges with Crohn's, Myisha has a daughter with severe asthma and is here today to discuss her daughters' journey.
 
​Patients with severe asthma use the highest dose of inhaled corticosteroids plus a second controller and/or oral corticosteroids. However, despite using high dose medicines, reducing risks, and following their treatment plan, many times their asthma remains uncontrolled. Severe asthma is categorized into three types: allergic asthma, eosinophilic asthma and non-eosinophilic asthma.

On this week's episode we are talking with Dr. Cornish about Neuro complications in Chronically Ill Patients.  Dr. Cornish, a highly regarded physician, provides integrative medicine services to a diverse global patient community. Currently serving as the Functional Medicine Director of the Amen Clinic East Coast Division, she specializes in autoimmune diseases, hormone imbalances Lyme disease, autism, environmental toxicity, gut imbalances, neurology and various other chronic conditions. Employing a holistic approach, Dr. Cornish identifies the root causes of health issues within the body's biological systems, offering comprehensive treatment to both adults and children. Her treatment philosophy is integrative and evidence-based.
 
Within Amen Clinics, Dr. Cornish has been instrumental in developing the Neuroinflammatory Intensive program—a two-week inpatient initiative addressing neurological complications arising from chronic infectious diseases, mold illness, and other chronic inflammatory conditions including brain imaging. 
Dr. Cornish's educational journey includes earning honors at Brown University for her undergraduate studies and obtaining her medical degree (M.D.) from Brown University Medical School. She further refined her skills through a family medicine residency at Georgetown University.
 As a Howard Hughes Medical Fellow, Dr. Cornish conducted translational research at the National Human Genome Research Institute NIH, working under the guidance of Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D. She currently serves as the treasurer of the board for the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society,
 
Acknowledged as an authority in her field, Dr. Cornish was honored as Northern Virginia’s Top Doctor for family practice in 2021 and 2022. She has also been recognized by Continental Who’s Who as an Exceptional Woman in Healthcare, highlighting her professional excellence at Amen Clinics.
 
Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Cornish is passionate about education, regularly conducting webinars to inspire medical professionals and patients to better understand functional medicine. Her aspirations include contributing to research on Alzheimer’s, Lyme Disease, and pediatric autoimmune diseases, with plans to write a book detailing her experiences. She is also a proud mom of triplets.
For more information, please visit www.amenclinics.com.

 Hormonal imbalance is this week's topic, and our guest is Dr. Dan Murauski.

As humans we are all made of the same set of biological systems but how those systems interact with one another is unique to each individual.  Dr Murauski believes that the goal of a patient physician relationship is to develop an understanding of the unique variables within each system and how they interact with one another in order to optimize health and create longevity.
Dr. Daniel Murauski’s path to functional medicine began with his roots in his undergraduate education in biomedical engineering.  Inspired by understanding the body as dynamic systems, he completed medical school at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete his residency in family medicine at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL.  Throughout his journey he developed a fondness for yoga and became intrigued by philosophies that promote wellness.  Dr. Murauski successfully earned his certification from the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine.  During his studies with ABIHM he discovered a systems based approach to wellness in the practice of functional medicine, and ultimately found his true passion in a practice that combined his engineering background with his experience in integrative medicine. He is a member of IFM and A4M and believes strongly in the continued advancement his knowledge base.
Using a goal oriented approach, Dr. Murauski works in collaboration with his patients to find and treat the root causes of disease and reestablish wellness. His interests include GI diseases, Immune dysregulation, and hormone dysfunction.  He further provides integrative approaches to health optimization and cardiometablic disorders including diabetes, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and heart disease.  By establishing a relationship based in trust and education he strives to make his patients active partners in their journey towards wellness. Ultimately working to optimize each individuals’ unique interplay of their biological, mental and spiritual make up and to create an environment where one can heal and take control of their well-being.

This week we discuss the differences between conventional western medicine, functional medicine and complementary medicine.  We also will touch on the 42 different subsets of conventional medicine.
Western medicine refers to the traditional healthcare practices commonly used in the United States and much of the world. It relies on evidence-based methods to diagnose and treat symptoms and conditions. Healthcare providers in Western medicine use scientifically proven techniques to improve overall health. Examples of Western medicine include blood tests, X-rays, dietary changes, prescription medications, and surgical procedures.
Complementary medicine, on the other hand, involves treatments that supplement traditional Western medicine. These additional therapies are used alongside conventional treatments. You might also hear terms like “alternative medicine” or “holistic medicine” when referring to complementary approaches. Essentially, complementary medicine aims to enhance the effectiveness of Western medicine by incorporating other healing modalities.
In summary:
Western medicine: Evidence-based, scientifically proven methods. Complementary medicine: Used alongside Western medicine to supplement treatment options

This week we will discuss childhood trauma with author, speaker, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Shari Botwin.  Shari has been practicing since 1996 and is a certified trauma expert treating those with eating disorders, anxiety, depression and trauma. She’s here today to talk about her work helping individuals recover from childhood trauma.
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Few of us will escape our lives without some sort of trauma—some more or less severe than our peers. Whereas previous discussions around trauma were conducted only on therapists’ couches or in private diaries, they are now being more normalized. With this decrease in stigma, we are paving the way for more possible healing.
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Family-of-origin trauma is a form of trauma that comes from our home—from the place where we are programmed to want to feel safe. If this environment feels unsafe during our developmental years, it affects everything from our personality and how we feel about ourselves, to our future relationships, and even our relationship with food and substance use (Mandavia, 2016). (Credits: Mandavia A, Robinson GG, Bradley B, Ressler KJ, Powers A. Exposure to Childhood Abuse and Later Substance Use: Indirect Effects of Emotion Dysregulation and Exposure to Trauma. J Trauma Stress. 2016 Oct;29(5):422-429. doi: 10.1002/jts.22131. Epub 2016 Sep 13. PMID: 27622844; PMCID: PMC5064859.