Gordon Medical Forum

Gordon Medical Associates
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  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

Drs Gordon and Parpia have a unique and proven approach to healing chronic conditions with over 50 years of clinical experience combined; they created the Gordon Medical Forum Podcast to introduce some of the most overlooked and important factors for overcoming chronic illness. Eric Gordon, MD, is the Medical Director of Gordon Medical Associates, and Nafysa Parpia, ND, is the Director of Naturopathic Medicine. Gordon Medical Associates is the premier tick-borne illness, Lyme disease, and environmentally acquired illness clinic on the West Coast. To learn more about the team at Gordon Medical Associates, go to gordonmedical.com.

  1. 2d ago

    Plasmapheresis (TPE): What It Is, Who It Helps, and What's Being Missed

    Plasmapheresis is having a moment, from hospital neurology wards to biohacker clinics to celebrity wellness trends. But what is it actually doing, and who does it really help?  Dr. Eric Gordon joins Dr. Nafysa Parpia for a deep dive into one of the most talked-about therapies in complex chronic illness and longevity medicine. They discuss how TPE differs from EBOO, IVIG, and inuspheresis and make clear that it is not a standalone cure. In the right person, at the right time, with the right preparation, it can help shift a system that's been stuck in chronic inflammation for years. The discussion covers everything from PANS and PANDAS in children to Long COVID, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, and even healthy adults looking to protect cognitive function as they age.  Dr. Gordon draws on years of clinical experience to explain why preparation matters, why most clinics aren't testing deeply enough, and what happens when you skip the foundational work. Episode Highlights: What plasmapheresis actually removes, autoantibodies, environmental toxins, senescent proteins, and why that matters for chronic illnessHow it differs from EBOO, IVIG, and the double-filtration inuspheresis therapies coming from EuropeWhy preparation is non-negotiable: the labs, nutrients, and cofactors that determine whether someone thrives or crashes after treatmentThe PANS and PANDAS cases that first put plasmapheresis on the map for complex chronic illnessWhy healthy people in their forties and fifties are seeing meaningful results, and what most clinics are missing when they skip deeper testingListen in to learn more : 0:00:00 – Plasmapheresis Spotlight: Cutting Through the Hype 0:00:39 – How Plasmapheresis Actually Works in the Body 0:02:29 – Hospital Roots: Autoimmunity and Neurologic Crises 0:02:44 – From ICUs to Influencers: Why Celebrities Want It 0:02:59 – Parabiosis Experiments: Young Blood, Old Bodies, New Clues Plasmapheresis at Gordon Medical: A New Chapter in Health Plasmapheresis, also known as Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE), is reshaping modern medicine by providing the body with a cellular reset, removing harmful proteins and toxins that drive inflammation and accelerating repair at the most fundamental level. At Gordon Medical, we bring decades of proven hospital-based use into integrative care for chronic illness recovery and proactive wellness, combining medical expertise with therapeutic innovation. As environmental exposures such as heavy metals and microplastics rise to unprecedented levels, plasmapheresis offers a powerful tool for restoring balance and renewing vitality. Learn more https://plasmapheresiswest.com/  - - - - -  References Mentioned in This Episode • Stanford parabiosis and plasma exchange aging research https://www.nature.com/articles/nature03260  • Neutral blood exchange and plasma dilution research https://www.aging-us.com/article/103418/text  • Therapeutic plasma exchange in autoimmune neurologic disease https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181da3b48  • PANDAS/PANS plasma exchange research https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10513708/  • Review of plasmapheresis in Long COVID https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1189091/full  💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to info@gordonmedical.com) Interested in Becoming A Patient? Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com. ** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

    45 min

  2. May 20

    What We’ve Missed About the Vagus Nerve

    The vagus nerve may be one of the most talked-about topics in integrative health, but most of what's being said barely scratches the surface.  In this episode, Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Dr. Navaz Habib to discuss what’s happening inside this nerve and why getting it right matters deeply for anyone navigating chronic illness.  The conversation moves well beyond "rest and digest," revealing the vagus nerve as the body's primary communication highway between the brain and the immune system, and what happens when that signal starts to break down. Dr. Habib explains that 80% of vagal signals travel upward, from organs to the brain, meaning the nerve is less about sending commands and more about relaying critical status updates. When chronic stress frays that signaling capacity, the brain can't make good decisions, inflammation goes unchecked, and the body gets stuck in a cycle that's very hard to break.  Fortunately, there are practical tools, many of them free, that can begin to restore that connection. Episode Highlights: The four categories of stress that degrade vagal toneHow tissue resident macrophages in every organ depend on vagal signaling to keep inflammation in checkThe three keys to vagus-activating breathworkWhen and how to layer in advanced tools  Listen in to learn more : [0:01:30] Vagus Nerve: The Body’s Central Information Highway [0:03:13] 80% Afferent: Organs Reporting Up to the Brain [0:07:02] Four Stressors that Fray Vagal Signaling [0:16:19] Tissue Resident Macrophages and the Inflammatory Reflex [0:28:54] Breath Mechanics as the Master Vagal Lever [0:36:40] From Basics to Devices: Building Vagal Tone Strategically LINKS :  Gordon Medical Associates  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gordonmedical.com/ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/gordonmedical/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GordonMedicalAssociates Gordon Medical Forum Website: https://gordonmedicalforum.com/ Insgram: https://www.instagram.com/gordonmedicalforum/ Plasmapheresis at Gordon Medical Website: https://plasmapheresiswest.com/ About Navaz Habib, DC Dr. Navaz Habib, known as the Vagus Nerve Doc, is a functional medicine expert and bestselling author of "Activate Your Vagus Nerve" and "Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve," dedicated to empowering health through vagus nerve activation. He is the founder of Health Upgraded, an online health program that guides clients to enhanced well-being using his VAGUS protocol. 💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to info@gordonmedical.com) Interested in Becoming A Patient? Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com. ** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

    45 min

  3. May 6

    The Septet Model for ME/CFS and Long COVID

    ME/CFS and Long COVID don't fit the medical model of one problem, one organ, one treatment and that's exactly why so many patients stay sick. Dr. David Kaufman joins Dr. Eric Gordon to make the case that these illnesses are better understood as seven overlapping, constantly interacting pathologies: connective tissue disorders (hEDS), POTS/dysautonomia, gut dysmotility and SIBO, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), autoimmunity, chronic and reactivated infections, and cranial cervical instability. Knowing how to identify them, and in what order to treat them, changes everything. Episode Highlights: Why ME/CFS and Long COVID are virtually the same illness and what that means for treatmentWhy mast cell activation, POTS, and SIBO should be treated before tackling chronic infectionsThe role of tick-borne infections and EBV reactivation as hidden drivers of chronic illnessPost-exertional malaise (PEM) and mitochondrial dysfunction, the hardest piece of the puzzleEarly rapamycin trial findings showing autophagy upregulation may improve fatigue and cognitionEmerging therapies on the horizon: GLP-1 drugs, plasmapheresis, and exosomesListen in to learn more :  [0:02:55] Long COVID may be the breakthrough that finally unlocks answers for chronic fatigue illness [0:07:20] Up to 80%+ of patients may have mast cell activation causing widespread, confusing symptoms [0:19:22] Feeling worse on treatment doesn’t mean it’s wrong—it may just be the wrong order [0:41:00] New therapies like rapamycin may help “reset” the body by turning cellular cleanup back onGordon Medical Associates  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gordonmedical.com/ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/gordonmedical/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GordonMedicalAssociates Gordon Medical Forum Website: https://gordonmedicalforum.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gordonmedicalforum/ Plasmapheresis at Gordon Medical Website: https://plasmapheresiswest.com/ About David Kaufman, MD Dr. David Kaufman is an Internal Medicine physician whose career has been defined by taking on the illnesses medicine hasn't figured out yet. He spent decades at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New York City, caring for patients and contributing to research at St. Vincent's Hospital when it was at the epicenter of the outbreak.  In 2017, he turned his focus to another underserved population, opening the Center for Complex Diseases to treat patients with ME/CFS, dysautonomia, MCAS, tick-borne infections, and related conditions. He is a member of the ME/CFS Collaborative Research Center at Stanford University and an active participant in several national clinician networks focused on complex chronic illness. Learn more https://www.centerforcomplexdiseases.com/ 💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to info@gordonmedical.com) Interested in Becoming A Patient? Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com. ** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

    47 min

  4. Apr 22

    Understanding Bioregulators: Epigenetic Switches for Healing and Recovery

    Bioregulators are short-chain peptides preserved across all life forms that restore proper genetic expression and cellular rejuvenation.  Dr. Nafysa Parpia sits down with Nathalie Niddam to discuss bioregulators, which were developed in the Soviet Union to preserve physiological function and resilience in aging populations and high-stress occupations. This includes military personnel, submariners, Arctic workers, and astronauts, by supporting organ-specific repair and adaptive capacity under extreme conditions. Natural bioregulators from animal tissues provide holistic effects, and synthetic versions offer a cleaner application for sensitive patientsBioregulators seal the gut and calm immune dysregulation, creating space to address infections and toxinsPeptides require proper sequencing based on hormonal balance and terrain to avoid adverse reactionsListen in to learn more :  [0:00:36] Nathalie’s journey from food-as-medicine to epigenetic peptides[0:05:00] Russian military roots and Kavinson’s discovery of bioregulators[0:07:44] Cross-species short-chain peptides as nature’s conserved signals[0:07:44] Natural food- and organ-derived bioregulators vs synthetics[0:10:00] Ethical use of animal tissues and reframing sacrifice as reverence[0:10:00] Supporting depleted vegans/vegetarians with bioregulators[0:11:30] Nervous system state, mindset, and receptivity shaping outcomes[0:15:00] Mechanism: gut transport to DNA and precision gene modulation[0:17:00] Bioregulators for both hypo- and hyperthyroid, even with autoimmunity - - - - -  Gordon Medical Associates  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gordonmedical.com/  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/gordonmedical/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GordonMedicalAssociates Gordon Medical Forum Website: https://gordonmedicalforum.com/ Insgram: https://www.instagram.com/gordonmedicalforum/ Plasmapheresis at Gordon Medical Website: https://plasmapheresiswest.com/ - - - - -  About Nathalie Niddam, CNP, BPC Nathalie Niddam, holistic nutritionist and longevity educator, is dedicated to helping us all live joyful and vibrant lives well into our 50s, 60s, and beyond. She shares strategies, from health tech to ancestral health to peptides and more, on her podcast, Longevity Podcast with Nathalie Niddam.  She speaks internationally, sharing her deep expertise on bioregulators, leading-edge compounds with the power to awaken the body's innate rejuvenation systems. Learn more: https://natniddam.com 💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to info@gordonmedical.com) Interested in Becoming A Patient? Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com. ** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

    53 min

  5. Apr 8

    How Trauma Sets the Stage for Chronic Illness

    The central nervous system plays a crucial role in controlling the body and setting the stage for chronic illness development, with trauma being a key factor in illness persistence. Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Dr. Aimie Apigian to discuss how trauma is not just the event itself but the five physiological steps that create lasting changes in the nervous system and cellular biology.  Dr. Apigian explains how the body transitions from startle response through stress physiology into trauma shutdown when capacity is overwhelmed, why sensitive children with biochemical imbalances like zinc deficiency or undermethylation are more susceptible to trauma responses, and how unresolved trauma keeps the nervous system stuck looping between sympathetic activation and shutdown states that block healing and detoxification, preventing recovery from chronic illness. Episode Highlights: Trauma response has five steps from startle to shutdown, creating lasting cellular changesAdrenaline release matches perceived danger size; shutdown occurs when capacity is overwhelmedZinc deficiency and undermethylation increase nervous system sensitivity to trauma responsesHealing requires simultaneous somatic work, inner child therapy, and biological nutrient support Listen in to learn more :  [0:03:52] Five-Step Trauma Cascade: From Startle to Shutdown [0:08:54] Adrenaline Scale and the Capacity Cutoff [0:31:20] Zinc, Undermethylation, and Super-Sensitive Nervous Systems [0:25:00] Three-Pronged Healing: Somatic, Inner Child, Biology - - - - -  Resources Gordon Medical Associates  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gordonmedical.com/ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/gordonmedical/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GordonMedicalAssociates Gordon Medical Forum Website: https://gordonmedicalforum.com/ Insgram: https://www.instagram.com/gordonmedicalforum/ Plasmapheresis at Gordon Medical Website: https://plasmapheresiswest.com/ - - - - -  About Aimie Apigian, MD, MS, MPH Dr. Aimie Apigian is a double Board-Certified Physician in Preventive and Addiction Medicine, with Master's degrees in Biochemistry, Public Health, and specialized training in Functional Medicine. She is the founder of The Mind-Body-Biology Institute and trains practitioners in The Biology of Trauma®, a lens that addresses how the body holds fear, pain, and overwhelm, which make one sick and stuck.  Learn more about Biology of Trauma https://www.biologyoftrauma.com/ 💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to info@gordonmedical.com) Interested in Becoming A Patient? Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com. ** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

    49 min

  6. Mar 25

    Why Breathing Patterns Matter for Chronic Illness

    Breathing is the most fundamental thing we do, yet dysfunctional patterns like mouth breathing, shallow chest breathing, and breath holding can drive dysautonomia, POTS, and impaired tissue oxygenation in chronically ill patients.  In this episode, Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Michael Roesslein to discuss how the way we breathe constantly signals either safety or danger to the nervous system, why low CO2 tolerance keeps oxygen locked in the blood rather than delivered to tissues, and how chronic diaphragm constriction from held emotions blocks lymphatic drainage and organ function.  They discuss why simple nasal diaphragmatic breathing practices can shift the body from protective overdrive into a healing state, and how breath awareness serves as a free, accessible tool for restoring autonomic balance. Episode Highlights: Mouth breathing and shallow chest breathing activate sympathetic overdrive, signaling dangerHigher CO2 tolerance pushes oxygen from the blood into tissues for deliveryDiaphragm constriction from held emotions blocks lymphatic drainage and organ functionNasal belly breathing for 3-5 breaths retrains the nervous system toward safetyIntroduction to breathing: https://animasomaticself.com/Listen in to learn more : [0:00:34] Breath: The Most Overlooked Healing Tool [0:05:00] Functional vs “Breathwork”: How You Breathe All Day Matters [0:05:00] CO₂ Tolerance: The Hidden Key to Oxygen Delivery [0:18:07] Diaphragm as a Second Heart: Pumping Lymph, Emotion, and Safety [0:28:53] Adaptations, Not Failures: How the Body Protects with Dysfunctional Patterns About Michael Roesslein Michael Roesslein holds a Master's Degree in Exercise Science & Health Promotion and is a certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach, and Advanced Facilitator of Biodynamic Breathwork and Trauma Release System, with additional training at the Luminous Awareness Institute and Dr. Gabor Maté's Compassionate Inquiry program. He is the founder of Rebel Health Tribe and has recently transitioned to Anima Somatic Self-Discovery, where he facilitates trauma-focused healing work for individuals and groups and hosts transformational retreats in Italy and beyond. Learn more https://animasomaticself.com/ 💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to info@gordonmedical.com) Interested in Becoming A Patient? Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com. ** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

    57 min

  7. Mar 11

    Therapeutic Potential of Ozone Therapy

    Ozone therapy has been used for 130 years but remains largely unknown in mainstream American medicine despite extensive safety data and published research. Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Dr. Frank Shallenberger, who has practiced ozone therapy for 40 years and leads the American Academy of Ozone Therapy, to discuss how ozone works by donating electrons to cells, regenerating NAD from NADH, and stimulating mitochondrial function and endothelial healing.  Dr. Shallenberger shares clinical observations of rapid improvement in acute viral infections with high-dose protocols, explains how lower doses support chronic conditions by improving circulation and reducing inflammation, and introduces ozonated glycerin as an emerging approach for treating tumors and joint pain with sustained therapeutic effects. Episode Highlights: Ozone donates electrons that regenerate NAD from NADH, restoring mitochondrial function and cellular energy productionHigh-dose ozone protocols show rapid resolution of acute viral infections, and lower doses address chronic conditions over timeOzone therapy supports endothelial health by increasing nitric oxide, reducing inflammation, and upregulating antioxidant enzymesOzonated glycerin shows promise for sustained therapeutic effects in tumors and joint pain with an extended half-lifeListen in to learn more : [0:02:14] Ozone: Old Therapy, New Respect [0:05:02] Crushing Acute Viruses with High-Dose Ozone [0:11:52] How Ozone Supercharges Blood, Vessels, and Cells [0:18:41] Zapping Pain by Fixing Mitochondria [0:29:22] Ozonated Glycerin: A Forgotten Cancer Game-Changer About Frank Shallenberger, MD, HMD, ABAAM Dr. Shallenberger has been a pioneer in alternative/integrative medicine since 1978, revolutionizing anti-aging and preventive medicine by developing a method to measure mitochondrial function and oxygen utilization. He has written two popular books, The Type 2 Diabetes Breakthrough and Bursting With Energy, and has authored numerous papers in international peer-reviewed literature on ozone therapy and oxygen utilization. He is also the editor of Second Opinion alternative medical newsletter. Learn more https://antiagingmedicine.com/ 💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to info@gordonmedical.com) Interested in Becoming A Patient? Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com. ** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

    47 min

  8. Feb 25

    How Unhealthy Family Dynamics Drive Complex Chronic Illness

    Family constellation therapy traces its roots to ancient African Zulu healing practices, yet it remains one of the most powerful and least understood approaches in healing, uncovering the hidden emotional and ancestral dynamics that can drive complex, chronic illness. From the scapegoat who carries the family's pain in their body to the empath whose thin psychic boundaries mirror their biological vulnerability to infections and toxins, the connections between unresolved family trauma and persistent illness run far deeper than most patients realize. Dr. Nafysa Parpia sits down with Zachary Feder, a practitioner who has guided hundreds of people through family constellation work, for a rich conversation about how this modality externalizes unconscious family dynamics so they can finally be seen and healed. Together, they explore how the body's receptor sites mirror our relational patterns, the archetypes of the overgiver and the scapegoat that repeatedly show up in chronically ill patients, and why true healing demands a holistic, soul-level transformation rather than a biological fix. Episode Highlights: How blind constellations reveal family dynamics without biasThe link between heavy metal detox and relationshipsWhy the unconscious must agree before healing beginsListen in to learn more: [0:01:24] Origins of Family Constellations and Zulu Ancestral Wisdom [0:03:10] Externalizing Intrapsychic Dynamics into the Room [0:06:29] Beyond Western Psychology: Energetics in the Field [0:11:32] Trauma Receptors, Minerals, and Toxic Bonding [0:13:22] Chronic Illness as a Full-System Reboot Invitation [0:25:31] Permeable Boundaries as Both Vulnerability and Superpower About Zachary Feder Zachary works with patients suffering from chronic and complex illnesses. He is a former in-house psycho-somatic specialist at Dr. Klinghardt's Sophia Health Institute. Over the course of his career, he has worked in every major psycho-emotional domain, from organizational and leadership development in Fortune 500 companies to advising best-selling authors, musicians, and single parents.  He also currently offers training for practitioners seeking to synthesize the various modalities of the mind-body field into a coherent whole, and is passionate about developing a Standard Model of Healthy Consciousness. Learn more at www.swordandthread.com  💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to info@gordonmedical.com) Interested in Becoming A Patient? Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com. ** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

    36 min
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5
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

Drs Gordon and Parpia have a unique and proven approach to healing chronic conditions with over 50 years of clinical experience combined; they created the Gordon Medical Forum Podcast to introduce some of the most overlooked and important factors for overcoming chronic illness. Eric Gordon, MD, is the Medical Director of Gordon Medical Associates, and Nafysa Parpia, ND, is the Director of Naturopathic Medicine. Gordon Medical Associates is the premier tick-borne illness, Lyme disease, and environmentally acquired illness clinic on the West Coast. To learn more about the team at Gordon Medical Associates, go to gordonmedical.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Gordon Medical Associates
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Gordon Medical Forum
  • Show Website
    Gordon Medical Forum

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