Non-Pharmalogic Treatment of Pain
Presented by: Ravi Prasad, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor of Anesthesia
February 27, 2014
The pain that comes from hitting a finger with a hammer or touching a hot stove serves an important purpose, warning our bodies to respond to danger. But for more than 100 million adult Americans, the pain never seems to go away.
Chronic pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. It is one of the largest causes of disability in the United States, costing greater than $500 billion each year in lost productivity and health care treatment.
Hearing, Hearing Loss, and Current Technology
Presented by: Gerald R. Popelka, PhD
Chief, Division of Audiology
Professor of Otolaryngology/ Head and Neck Surgery
February 20, 2014
While hearing loss can have a variety of causes, including infection and some medications, its most prevalent cause is the simple act of aging. About 18 percent of the entire U.S. population are Baby Boomers—some 57 million people—who are now turning 60, and more of the population will continue to thrive and remain active until well into their 80s. Hearing usually holds steady until about age 50, starts to drop by age 60, and takes a more significant drop between age 70 and 80.
The Art of Diagnosis: Getting to the Root of Complex Medical Problems
Presented by: Bryant Lin, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine – General Medical Disciplines
Stanford University School of Medicine
February 6, 2014
Even in this age of modern medicine, doctors can’t always crack the case. Some patients have an illness or disease that defies a simple diagnosis. Those are the people for whom Bryant Lin, MD, has opened a new clinic at Stanford University School of Medicine.
The Consultative Medicine Clinic at Stanford is the only place on the West Coast that specializes in the complex diagnosis of patients who have seen multiple doctors without getting an explanation for their illness, Lin said. He takes inspiration from a legendary figure who was the model for Sherlock Holmes, the fictional British detective who could always solve a crime that stumped police. Holmes was famous for his ability to deduce the culprit based on observations and clues that others overlooked.
Robotic Surgery for Gynecologic Cancer
Presented by: Amer Karam, MD
Associate Clinical Professor, Associate Director Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Stanford Hospital and Clinics
January 30, 2014
This robot saves lives. But it owes everything to the skill of its operator—a human being. Together, they are one of the best teams a woman could ask for if she needs surgery to get rid of cancer in her reproductive system.
The robot is a device known as the da Vinci Surgical System, which has propelled robotic surgery to become a leading treatment for gynecologic cancer, according to Amer Karam, MD. Gynecologic cancer includes malignancies of the uterus, cervix, ovaries and other reproductive organs and tissues, which are diagnosed in about 80,000 women in the United States each year.
When is a Senior Moment Just a Senior Moment? The Latest on Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Presented by: Geoffrey A. Kerchner, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford Center for Memory Disorders
Stanford University School of Medicine
January 23, 2014
It happens: we lose the keys. We forget where we left the cell phone. Or we can’t remember the name of a good friend we’ve known for years.
Those simple missteps can be enough to strike terror in people who are aging and wondering—am I getting Alzheimer’s disease?
Neuropathic Pain – From Head to Toe
Presented by: Ian Carroll, MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Anesthesia
Stanford University Medical Center
October 17, 2013
The human body contains a complex network of nerve cells that, once activated by an external stimulus, function to transmit the sensation of pain. The nerves remain quiet until the stimulus is strong enough, and the resulting pain is a product of the nervous system functioning properly. This is the kind of pain that arises from hitting your hand with a hammer or by getting kicked in the shin.
