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.
Lower Back Pain. Science, Assessment, and Treatment
Presented by: Sean Mackey, MD, PhD
Professor of Anesthesia
Stanford University Medical Center
October 3, 2013
More than 100 million Americans suffer from some form of back pain, and its incidence is increasing in all age groups. Low back pain is considered the No. 2 reason for disability (the common cold is No. 1) and is the most commonly prescribed condition for painkillers. Its consequences have a huge impact on health care costs and will most likely become even more pervasive as the population ages.
Making Your Wishes Known: Advance Directives, POLST, and Other Difficult Things to Talk About
Presented by: The Rev. Susan Scott
Decedent Care Chaplain, Spiritual Care Service
Yusra Hussain, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine
Stanford University Medical Center
September 25, 2013
Advance care planning involves making decisions about the medical care you would want to receive if you become unable to speak for yourself. In other words, if you should stop breathing or your heart stops, what measures would you want taken? It’s essential to share and document your priorities: Without a plan, your health-care team won’t know what interventions to provide and your family may not know what to do.
Ovarian Cancer: Current and Novel Treatment Strategies
Presented by: Oliver Dorigo, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Gynecologic Oncology
Stanford University Medical Center
August 22, 2013
Ovarian cancer affects about a quarter million women worldwide each year. When detected early on—when still confined to just the ovaries—it is a highly curable disease. However because it has no distinct symptoms, ovarian cancer is usually detected at a late stage. Once it metastasizes, survival rates are about 30 percent after five years. It is the 10th most common cancer in the United States and the fifth most common cause of cancer death.
Breast Reconstruction: What Every Woman Needs to Know
Presented by: Gordon Lee, MD
Assistant Professor, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Stanford University Medical Center
July 24, 2013
Plastic surgery in one form or another has been around for hundreds of years. Although most people today think primarily of cosmetic procedures, the fundamental premise is to reconstruct or repair parts of the body. The “plastic” comes from the Greek, plastikos, which means “to mold or to shape.”
I’m Sorry, Can You Repeat That?
Presented by: Robert Jackler, MD
Professor and Chair, Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery)
Stanford University Medical Center
July 10, 2013
Imagine the world in silence. No Bach concertos. No grandchildren’s laughter. A life without hearing can impair learning, limit choices, create social isolation, and lead to depression and increased risk of dementia in older adults.
