Baptist HealthTalk

Baptist Health South Florida

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

    Infusion Care for Neurology: What Patients Should Know

    Why would a neurologist recommend an infusion instead of a pill, and what should patients expect when they arrive for treatment? Neuro infusion therapy can be used for conditions including multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis and Alzheimer’s disease, but the process can feel unfamiliar or intimidating at first. In this episode of Baptist Health Talk, host Dr. Anthony Gonzalez speaks with Janisse Marin and Leah Marcelin about how neurological infusion therapy works, why it may be recommended, and how care teams help patients through treatment.  What neuro infusion therapy is and how it differs from chemotherapy  Why an infusion may be chosen instead of an oral medication  What happens before, during and after an infusion appointment  Common side effects and how patients are monitored for reactions  How infusion therapy is used for multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis and Alzheimer’s disease  Why some treatments are designed to slow disease progression rather than immediately relieve symptoms  How education and a coordinated care team can make treatment less overwhelmingHost: Anthony Gonzalez, M.D. Chief of Surgery, Baptist Health Baptist Hospital Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery, Baptist Health Guests: Janisse P. Marin RN, MSN Chief Nursing Officer/Assistant Vice President  Baptist Outpatient Services Halena Leah Marcelin, PharmD Assistant Vice President, Pharmacy Business Affairs & Development Baptist Health If you found this episode helpful, we recommend the following for additional information: Infusion Care for Osteoporosis: What Patients Should Know The Power of Infusion Therapy: What You Need to Know

  2. Aug 17

    Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Who Do You See First and What Comes Next?

    After a breast cancer diagnosis, what happens first—seeing an oncologist, having surgery or starting chemotherapy? And how do doctors decide between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy? In this episode of Baptist Health Talk, host Johanna Gomez sits down with Dr. Mehran Habibi, Deputy Chief of Breast Surgery with Baptist Health Cancer Care, to answer common questions patients search online about breast cancer surgery and treatment. They discuss:  The difference between a medical oncologist and a surgical oncologist  Who patients typically see first after a breast cancer diagnosis  How doctors decide whether chemotherapy or surgery comes first  Why chemo first does not automatically mean the cancer is more aggressive  Whether chemotherapy can be shortened when a tumor responds well  Why second opinions and breast cancer specialists can matter  The truth about the myth that surgery or biopsy can make breast cancer spread  Why treatment may still be needed after a tumor is removed  How doctors and patients choose between lumpectomy and mastectomy  Why feeling fine is not a reason to delay recommended treatment  How lymph node involvement affects staging and treatment  Options for immediate or delayed breast reconstruction  How AI is beginning to support breast imaging, surgical planning and treatment decisions Subscribe to Baptist Health for more expert conversations on health, wellness, prevention and treatment. Host: Johanna Gomez Award-Winning Host & Journalist Guest: Mehran Habibi, M.D. Deputy Chief of Breast Surgery  Baptist Health Cancer Care If you found this episode helpful, we recommend these links for additional information: Diagnosed With Breast Cancer: What's Next? Breast Cancer in Young Women: Signs, Screenings, and When to Speak Life After Breast Cancer: Fear, Healing, and Hope

  3. Aug 10

    Could You Have Sleep Apnea? Symptoms, Risks and CPAP Alternatives

    Sleep apnea can cause you to stop breathing repeatedly during the night — sometimes dozens or even hundreds of times — without you realizing it. And while loud snoring is a common warning sign, it is not the only one. In this episode of Baptist HealthTalk, host Dr. Anthony Gonzalez talks with sleep specialist Dr. Edward Mezerhane about how sleep apnea affects the body, the symptoms people often miss, and what can happen when the condition goes untreated. They also break down how sleep apnea is diagnosed, why weight and airway anatomy matter, what to do if CPAP is difficult to tolerate, and the other treatment options available.  What sleep apnea is and how common it may be  Why people can stop breathing without realizing it  Common and overlooked symptoms of sleep apnea  The connection between sleep apnea, weight gain and heart health  Whether losing weight can improve sleep apnea  How sleep studies confirm a diagnosis  Ways to make CPAP easier to tolerate  Alternatives to CPAP, including oral appliances and surgical options Sleep apnea is highly treatable. If you regularly wake up exhausted, snore loudly, or a bed partner notices pauses in your breathing, getting evaluated may help improve both your sleep and your long-term health. For more health and wellness information, visit BaptistHealth.net/News. Host: Anthony Gonzalez, M.D. Chief of Surgery, Baptist Health Baptist Hospital Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery, Baptist Health Guest: Edward Mezerhane, M.D. Sleep Medicine Physician If you found this episode helpful, you may also enjoy: 7 Ways Summer Can Wreck Your Sleep This is What Lack of Sleep Does to your Brain and Heart Pillow Talk: Uncovering the Sleep-Heart Link

  4. Aug 3

    Weight Loss Medications and Muscle Loss: What You Need to Know

    Weight loss medications can bring the number on the scale down quickly—but are you losing fat, muscle or both? And why do some people feel weaker or less healthy even while the pounds are coming off? In this episode of Baptist Health Talk, host Johanna Gomez speaks with clinical pharmacy specialist Erin Dorval and physician assistant Lisa Davis about what GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy are doing inside the body, why muscle preservation matters and how resistance training and nutrition support healthier, more sustainable results. They discuss:  Why rapid weight loss can include significant muscle loss  How GLP-1 medications reduce appetite and quiet “food noise”  Why resistance training should begin at the start of treatment  What “Ozempic face” really is—and what causes it  How protein, hydration and smaller portions may help manage side effects  Why medication dosage does not always need to keep increasing  The risks of rapid weight loss and unmonitored compounded medications  How pharmacists, cardiology teams and other providers can work together  Practical ways to build healthier habits without trying to change everything at once The goal is not simply to lose weight. It is to improve strength, function, metabolic health and long-term quality of life. Host: Johanna Gomez Award-Winning Host & Journalist Guests: Erin Dorval, PharmD, CPh Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Baptist Health Lisa K. Davis, DMSc, PA-C, CLS Physician Assistant Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care If you found this episode helpful, you may also enjoy: Weight Loss Medications Weighing the Options: Diet, Exercise and Medication Weight Loss Medication vs Surgery: What to Know

  5. Jul 29

    The PCOS Name Change: Why PMOS Better Reflects the Whole-Body Condition

    Polycystic ovary syndrome has long been associated mainly with irregular periods, ovarian cysts and fertility concerns. But the condition can also affect insulin resistance, weight, heart health, diabetes risk and other systems throughout the body—one reason the new name PMOS, or polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, is gaining attention. Host Sandra Peebles talks with Baptist Health endocrinologist Dr. Priscilla Escalona Villasmil and obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Ingrid Paredes about what the name change means, how PMOS is diagnosed and why symptoms can look very different from one woman to another. In this episode:  Why the condition is about much more than ovarian cysts  Common signs, including irregular periods, acne, excess hair growth and hair loss  How doctors diagnose PMOS and rule out other hormonal conditions  What PMOS means for ovulation, fertility and unplanned pregnancy  The connection to insulin resistance, diabetes and cardiovascular risk  Treatment options, including lifestyle changes, birth control pills, metformin, spironolactone and GLP-1 medications  Why early diagnosis and coordinated care can improve long-term health PMOS is manageable, and a diagnosis does not mean pregnancy is impossible. Early evaluation by an OB-GYN and an endocrinologist can help patients address both reproductive and metabolic health. Host: Sandra Peebles Award-Winning Journalist Guests: Ingrid Paredes, M.D.  Obstetrician/Gynecologist Priscilla Escalona Villasmil, M.D. Endocrinologist  Baptist Health

  6. Jul 15

    Breast Cancer in Young Women: Signs, Screening and When to Speak Up

    Breast cancer diagnoses are rising among younger women, including many who are not yet old enough for routine mammograms. What warning signs should women in their 20s, 30s and early 40s recognize, and what should they do when a concern is dismissed? Host Johanna Gomez, a breast cancer survivor, speaks with Dr. Starr Mautner, breast surgical oncologist, and Dr. Reshma Mahtani, chief of Breast Medical Oncology at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute. They explain why knowing what is normal for your body, understanding your personal risk and advocating for proper imaging or a biopsy can make a critical difference.  Why breast cancer rates are increasing in younger women  Lumps, skin changes, nipple changes and other symptoms that should not be ignored  How lifestyle, alcohol use, genetics and family history may affect risk  When screening should begin and why dense breast tissue matters  Why an ultrasound does not replace a mammogram  When to push for a biopsy or seek a second opinion  Fertility preservation and coordinated care for younger patients  Practical steps women can take to protect their breast health Early detection matters. Know your body, understand your risk and do not ignore a change that does not feel normal for you. Host: Johanna Gomez Award-Winning Host & Journalist Guests: Starr Mautner, M.D. Breast Surgical Oncologist Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute Reshma Mahtani, D.O. Chief of Breast Medical Oncology Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute If you found this episode helpful, you may also enjoy: Life After Breast Cancer: Fear, Healing, and Hope Young Women and Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Survivorship: 10-Years Later

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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!