Baptist HealthTalk

Baptist Health South Florida
  • 4.9 (32)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Weekly

Expert advice, real stories, better health. The Baptist HealthTalk podcast connects you with top doctors and specialists from Baptist Health South Florida, delivering the latest medical insights and wellness tips straight to you. But we don’t stop at the facts—you’ll also hear heartfelt testimonials from patients who’ve experienced life-changing care. Get informed, be inspired, and take control of your health with Baptist HealthTalk!

  1. 6d ago

    Medical Screenings Explained: What to Expect and Why They Matter

    Nervous about a mammogram, MRI, colonoscopy or heart scan? Wondering which medical screenings matter, whether they'll hurt or what an abnormal result really means? In this episode of Baptist HealthTalk, host Johanna Gomez speaks with Dr. Ricardo Cury, chair of Diagnostic Radiology at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, to answer common questions about screening tests and explain why early detection matters. You'll learn about: What to expect during mammograms and ways to ease discomfortLung cancer screening, PSA tests and abnormal resultsThe differences between MRIs, CT scans and X-raysHeart calcium scores and how AI is improving medical imagingBone density scans, colonoscopies and their alternativesHow to understand imaging results and make informed decisions with your doctorScreening recommendations depend on your age, medical history and individual risk factors. Talk with your healthcare professional about which tests are appropriate for you. Learn more from Baptist Health: https://baptisthealth.net/news #MedicalScreenings #PreventiveHealth #EarlyDetection Host: Johanna Gomez Award-Winning Host & Journalist Guest: Ricardo Cury, M.D. Director of Cardiac Imaging Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute Chairman of Radiology, Radiology Associates of South Florida Chairman and Professor of Radiology, FIU

  2. Oct 19

    Flu, RSV or COVID? What Actually Helps and When to Worry

    Flu, RSV or COVID? When fever, coughing and body aches strike, how do you know what actually helps—and when it's time to see a doctor? In this episode of Baptist Health Talk, host Dr. Anthony Gonzalez speaks with emergency medicine physician Dr. Maria Escarcia about treating flu and RSV symptoms, choosing medications and recognizing warning signs. In this episode, you'll learn: Which over-the-counter cold and flu medications can helpWhy timing matters with Tamiflu and XofluzaWhy antibiotics don't treat viral infectionsWhat to keep in your sick-day kitWhen to visit urgent care or the emergency roomThe truth about flu shots, RSV, supplements and home remediesWhen it's safe to return to work or schoolGet practical advice to help you navigate flu season and protect your family. Host: Anthony Gonzalez, M.D. Chief of Surgery, Baptist Health Baptist Hospital Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery, Baptist Health Guest: Maria Escarcia, D.O. Emergency Medicine Physician Baptist Health If you found this episode helpful, we also recommend: Post-Pandemic Flu: What's Really Going on in 2025 La Gripe Hoy Se Siente Diferent: Qué Es Real y Qué Ha Cambiado

  3. Oct 12

    Breast Cancer and Heart Health: What Black Women Need to Know

    Breast cancer and heart disease are more connected than many women realize. For Black women, higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors and breast cancer mortality make understanding this connection especially important. But how can breast cancer treatment affect the heart, and what can women do to protect themselves? On this episode of Baptist HealthTalk, host Sandra Peebles speaks with Dr. Heather Johnson, cardiologist and director of preventive cardiology for women's services at Baptist Health, and Dr. Kerry-Ann McDonald, breast surgical oncologist at Baptist Health, about the relationship between breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and long-term women's health. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Black women face higher rates of death from breast cancer despite lower diagnosis rates.How chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy can affect heart health.What breast arterial calcifications on a mammogram may reveal about cardiovascular risk.Why blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar monitoring are so important.When women should begin breast cancer risk assessments and mammogram screenings.How cardiologists and oncologists work together to protect patients during cancer treatment.Why physical activity and long-term monitoring matter for breast cancer survivors.Understanding your risks and taking action early can make a meaningful difference. Learn how preventive care, early detection and coordinated treatment can help protect both your breast health and your heart. Baptist HealthTalk is powered by Baptist Health South Florida. Host: Sandra Peebles Award-Winning Journalist Guests: Heather Johnson, M.D. Cardiologist and Director of Preventive Cardiology for Women’s Services Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care Kerry-Ann McDonald, M.D. Breast Surgical Oncologist Baptist Health Cancer Care If you found this episode helpful, we also recommend: Black Community and Heart Health Heart Disease in Women: Symptoms, Menopause & What You Must Know Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Who Do You See First and What Comes Next?

  4. Oct 5

    Breast Cancer Survivorship: What Life After Treatment Really Looks Like

    Breast cancer treatment may end, but survivorship brings a new set of physical and emotional challenges. In this deeply personal conversation, host Johanna Gomez and fellow breast cancer survivor Andrea de Armas share what life after diagnosis and treatment has really looked like for them. They talk candidly about the parts of survivorship that are often harder to see from the outside, including: Building a strong support system and learning not to go through cancer aloneBeing diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age and confronting an unexpected futureSpeaking up, asking questions and advocating for yourself during treatmentAnxiety, panic attacks and the emotional impact that can continue after treatmentBody image, reconstruction and learning to feel comfortable in a changed bodyDating, relationships and family planning after breast cancerWhy the end of chemotherapy or radiation does not always feel like the end of the journeyFinding perspective, confidence and hope while moving forwardJohanna and Andrea offer an honest reminder to anyone facing breast cancer: survivorship is not one single moment. It is an ongoing process of healing, adapting and learning how to live fully again. Host: Johanna Gomez Breast Cancer Survivor Award-Winning Host & Journalist Guest: Andrea de Armas Breast Cancer Survivor If you found this episode helpful, we also recommend the following: Life After Breast Cancer: Fear, Healing and Hope Breast Cancer in Young Women: Signs, Screenings and When to Speak Up Breast Cancer Survivorship: 10-Years Later Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Who Do You See First and What Comes Next?

  5. Sep 28

    Vascular Disease Can Start Young: Know the Risks and Symptoms

    Leg pain, swelling, numbness or cold feet can be easy to dismiss — especially when you’re young and otherwise healthy. But when do those symptoms point to a circulation problem, and how early can vascular disease actually begin? In this episode, you’ll learn:  What vascular disease is and how it affects arteries, veins and lymphatics  Why vascular disease can develop silently for years before symptoms appear  Warning signs such as reproducible leg cramping, swelling, numbness and cold limbs  Risk factors including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and vaping  How to tell everyday leg soreness from circulation-related pain  What happens during a vascular evaluation and which tests may be used  How exercise, medications and minimally invasive treatments can help  Simple lifestyle steps that may reduce vascular risk over time Host Dr. Anthony Gonzalez talks with Dr. Young Lee, a vascular and endovascular surgeon at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, about how to recognize vascular disease earlier and what you can do to protect your circulation for the long term. Host: Anthony Gonzalez, M.D. Chief of Surgery, Baptist Health Baptist Hospital Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery, Baptist Health Guest: Young Christina Lee, M.D. Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon  Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute If you found this episode helpful, we also recommend the following: Heart Disease in Young Adults: Why It's Rising (And What to Watch For) Stroke Symptoms at Any Age: What You Need to Know Young People and Strokes: A Troubling Trend

  6. Sep 21

    Heart Disease in Women: Signs, Risks and Prevention

    Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women, yet the warning signs can be easy to miss or mistaken for stress, menopause or everyday fatigue. In this episode of Baptist HealthTalk, host Johanna Gomez speaks with cardiologist Dr. Andrea Vitello about the symptoms, risk factors and life stages that can affect a woman’s heart health. They discuss:  Subtle heart symptoms women should not ignore, including fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations, jaw pain and shoulder discomfort  How pregnancy complications, menopause and autoimmune conditions can influence cardiovascular risk  Why family history, cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar matter earlier in life than many people realize  The connection between chronic stress, poor sleep and heart health  What early heart disease prevention and personalized cardiovascular care can look like  Three everyday habits that can make a meaningful difference: healthy eating, quality sleep and regular exercise  Why women should trust their instincts, advocate for themselves and ask questions when something does not feel right Dr. Vitello also explains how Baptist Health’s women’s heart program takes a comprehensive, personalized approach to evaluating cardiovascular risk across every stage of life. Host: Johanna Gomez Award-Winning Host & Journalist Guest: Andrea Vitello, M.D.  Cardiologist  Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute If you found this episode helpful, we also recommend the following: Heart Disease in Women: Symptoms, Menopause & What You Must Know Women and Heart Disease Women & Heart Health

  7. Sep 14

    Prostate Cancer Care Today: Earlier Detection, Better Treatment, Fewer Side Effects

    What does a prostate cancer diagnosis really mean — and how do you know when screening or treatment is needed? Prostate cancer is common, but not every case carries the same risk, and today’s diagnostic tools and treatment options can help men make more informed decisions while protecting quality of life. In this episode of Baptist Health Talk, host Willard Shepard speaks with urologist and surgical oncologist Dr. Manuel Ozambela of Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute about prostate cancer screening, diagnosis and the technology changing how the disease is treated.  Why prostate cancer often causes no symptoms in its early stages  How PSA testing works and what an elevated PSA may — and may not — mean  Who may be at higher risk based on family history, genetics and race  How MRI and targeted biopsy help diagnose prostate cancer  How robotic surgery, HIFU and IRE are expanding treatment options  How PSMA imaging helps doctors determine where cancer is located  How AI is beginning to improve prostate imaging and treatment planning  Why preserving urinary and sexual function is an important part of treatment The takeaway: knowing your personal risk, talking with your physician and staying current with screening can help detect prostate cancer earlier — when more treatment options may be available. Host: Willard Shepard Award-Winning Journalist Guest: Manuel Ozambela, M.D. Urologic Surgical Oncologist Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute If you found this episode helpful, we also recommend: Prostate Cancer Awareness: Screening & Treatment The Screening That Changed Everything for Alonzo Mourning

  8. Sep 7

    Cholesterol and Heart Disease: What You Need to Know Earlier

    High cholesterol can start damaging your arteries long before you feel anything — and your total cholesterol number does not tell the whole story. So when should you start checking it, what do LDL and other cholesterol particles really mean, and when are lifestyle changes no longer enough? In this episode of Baptist Health Talk, host Dr. Anthony Gonzalez speaks with Dr. Sanjeev Gulati about how cholesterol contributes to heart attacks and heart failure, why screening should begin earlier than many people think, and the treatment options available today.  Why high cholesterol is directly linked to heart attack risk  Common cholesterol myths, including the idea that diet is the only cause  How LDL and lipoprotein(a) contribute to plaque buildup and inflammation  How uncontrolled cholesterol can ultimately contribute to heart failure  Why cholesterol screening may need to begin in your 20s  How family history and familial hypercholesterolemia change cardiovascular risk  Lifestyle steps that can help lower cholesterol  When cholesterol-lowering medication may be needed  Why cholesterol control remains critical even after a heart attack  How advanced lipid testing can provide a clearer picture of individual riskHost: Anthony Gonzalez, M.D. Chief of Surgery, Baptist Health Baptist Hospital Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery, Baptist Health Guest: Sanjeev Kumar Gulati, M.D.,  Executive Deputy Director System Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care If you found this episode helpful, we also recommend: What Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Numbers Really Mean Calcium Scores Explained: What Your Heart Rick Really Looks Like Heart Disease in Young Adults: Why It's Rising (And What to Watch For)

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About

Expert advice, real stories, better health. The Baptist HealthTalk podcast connects you with top doctors and specialists from Baptist Health South Florida, delivering the latest medical insights and wellness tips straight to you. But we don’t stop at the facts—you’ll also hear heartfelt testimonials from patients who’ve experienced life-changing care. Get informed, be inspired, and take control of your health with Baptist HealthTalk!

Information

  • Creator
    Baptist Health South Florida
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    267
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Baptist HealthTalk
  • Show Website
    Baptist HealthTalk