Category Archives: HealthLink on Air

Meet the ‘magic man’: Surgeon’s demeanor, outlook help patient beat slim odds

Posted on May 14, 2018 by

BY AMBER SMITH Melanoma of the rectum is rare and aggressive, and its prognosis is poor. The majority of people with the diagnosis don’t survive more than 24 months. To Jeri Bem, MD, that’s no reason to give up. A … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, digestive/gastrointestinal, health care, HealthLink on Air, surgery | Tagged , , ,

10 days in Ghana: Upstate volunteers help build community in Africa

Posted on May 2, 2018 by

BY SUSAN KEETER Near the end of an 11-hour flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, we finally see Ghana out the plane’s windows: saffron-colored earth and lush green foliage dotted with bright blue and pastel pink buildings. … Continue reading →

Posted in adolescents, Alzheimer's/dementia, community, health care, HealthLink on Air, international health care, nursing, prevention/preventive medicine, public health, women's health/gynecology | Tagged , , , ,

Ethics consult: Will your health care proxy honor your wishes?

Posted on March 26, 2018 by

Thomas Curran, MD, and Robert Olick, JD, PhD, are hospital ethics consultants and members of Upstate’s bioethics and humanities faculty They provide advice to patients and families who find themselves in ethically charged situations surrounding care at Upstate University Hospital. … Continue reading →

Posted in bioethics & humanities, cancer, death/dying, health care, HealthLink on Air | Tagged ,

Understanding microRNA: Tiny keys could unlock treasure trove of medical knowledge

Posted on February 21, 2018 by

BY JIM HOWE Researchers at Upstate are looking at tiny bits of genetic material that could open up new ways of understanding diseases and how the mind and body work. The material is called microRNA and is present in saliva, … Continue reading →

Posted in autism, brain/neurology, health care, HealthLink on Air, research | Tagged , , , , , ,

Surgical solution: Ear specialist helps her hearing, balance problems

Posted on February 19, 2018 by

BY AMBER SMITH They weren’t life-threatening, but the symptoms that plagued Jolie Bower were so debilitating she had to stop working. She had a spinning sensation of vertigo and nausea that would come on without warning. Her head would feel … Continue reading →

Posted in ear, nose and throat/otolaryngology, health care, HealthLink on Air, patient story, surgery | Tagged

Sweet dreams: Grieving continues even when you sleep

Posted on February 7, 2018 by

  BY AMBER SMITH The disclosure invariably begins with, “This may sound crazy.” That’s how psychologist Jeffrey Schweitzer, PhD, can tell a bereaved person is about to relay the story of a dream featuring his or her deceased loved one. … Continue reading →

Posted in grief/loss, health care, HealthLink on Air, mental health/emotional health, psychology/psychiatry, sleep | Tagged , , , ,

To operate, or not? Treating breast cancer with less surgery

Posted on December 4, 2017 by

BY AMBER SMITH Most breast cancers are treated with surgery today, but that may change in the coming years, says breast surgeon Lisa Lai, MD, an assistant professor of surgery and medical director of the breast cancer program at Upstate. … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, drugs/medications/pharmacy, health care, HealthLink on Air, research, surgery, women's health/gynecology

A musician gives thanks: Violist’s hands were saved after life-threatening burns

Posted on November 22, 2017 by

BY SUSAN KEETER Classical violist George Myers was taking photographs of construction on his family’s property in Trumansburg, near Ithaca, in October 2014 when a propane tank tipped and fell on him. The 250-pound cylindrical tank pinned him in a … Continue reading →

Posted in dermatology/skin care, emergency medicine/trauma, health care, HealthLink on Air, patient story, physical therapy/rehabilitation, surgery | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

How to raise a reader: Pediatrician shares her love of books and the almost-magical benefit of reading

Posted on November 15, 2017 by

BY AMBER SMITH Once upon a time, there was a family with three little boys. Ari was 8, and he liked making chalk villages and playing the drums. Eli was 4, and he liked Legos and cooking. Jacob was just … Continue reading →

Posted in adolescents, education, health care, HealthLink on Air, Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital/pediatrics | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

What you can do about the public health crises of gun violence and drug addiction

Posted on November 8, 2017 by

The number of Americans dying from gun violence or drug overdoses now surpasses the number of motor vehicle fatalities in the United States. The public health crises of gun violence and drug addiction are also felt in Central New York. … Continue reading →

Posted in addiction, Check-Up From The Neck-Up, drugs/medications/pharmacy, health care, HealthLink on Air, poison center/toxicology, prevention/preventive medicine, public health, research | Tagged , , , , , , ,