Texas Tech Health Check Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

We’re highlighting women’s health this month and would like to encourage women and girls to prioritize their health. One of the ways to do that is by becoming physically active. Toby Brooks, Ph.D., is program director for the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Master of Athletic Training. Brooks also has worked as an athletic trainer and/or strength and conditioning coach with numerous professional, collegiate, and high school athletics programs. He shares with us what women can do to ease into or step up their exercise routines, and why we should think of it as a long term investment and gift to ourselves and our families. 

There are more than 5 million cases diagnosed in the U.S. every year, making skin cancer America’s most common cancer. It’s also one of the most preventable ones. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Meredith Pham, M.D., with the department of dermatology at Texas Tech Physicians shares with us facts about early detection and sun protection. Also make a note that the Texas Tech Physicians department of dermatology will be hosting a free skin cancer screening Saturday, May 18 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the UMC Cancer Center at 602 Indiana. No appointment is necessary.

It’s been 70 years since the first bariatric surgery, and weight loss continues to dominate headlines. As you’ve heard our experts stress before, effective weight loss strategies emphasize changes in habits for long-term weight loss and overall health. Sima Shahbandar, M.D., an internal medicine doctor with Texas Tech Physicians at the TTP Multispecialty Clinic in the UMC Health and Wellness Hospital, talks to us about bariatric surgery and how small, consistent changes can lead to significant weight loss and improved overall health.

You may have heard about encephalitis being a possible threat in certain areas of the world, but if you’re like me, you might not know much else. Although we hear about it happening somewhere else in the world, it doesn’t mean we’re immune to it here in the U.S. Our guest for this episode is Walter Duarte, M.D., a neurologist with the TTUHSC School of Medicine. Dr. Duarte explains what encephalitis is, how you get it, who is at risk, what are the symptoms and why early detection is key to effective treatment.

Hearing loss in rural adolescents is almost double that of the general population of children. We might think of rural areas as peaceful and quiet, but sometimes it gets loud enough to cause harm. Our expert for this episode is Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing Research in the Doctor of Audiology Program of the TTUHSC School of Health Professions. Reel talks about hearing loss risks, diagnosis and treatment of noise-induced hearing loss in adolescents. 

This is the final installment of our three-part series on artificial intelligence in health care for patients, in education and for providers. Part three focuses on the impact of AI on health care providers. Our guests for this series are: Dr. Steph Hoelscher, DNP and associate professor, and Dr. Grace Sun, DNP and associate professor, both from the School of Nursing