Welcome to The Brain Trust, a podcast for and by physicians designed to help improve screening, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in clinical workflows. Tune in weekly to hear our guest primary care clinicians discuss innovative ways to support patients and their families in better managing brain disease.
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Beyond the Needle - A Physician's Guide to Increasing COVID-19 Vaccination Rates
I-VAC & Illinois Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP)
Welcome to Beyond the Needle, a podcast for and by physicians. Sit down with our weekly guest primary care clinicians as we tackle the real-world barriers to COVID-19 vaccination uptake and share our experiences with implementation. Together, we’ll uncover practical solutions to help you and your team incorporate the COVID-19 vaccine into your practice and increase vaccination rates amongst your patients. Working to honor the struggles and traumas of the pandemic, we will empower the primary ...
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The Brain Trust Episode 24: Primary Care Summary: Early Detection and Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
30:11
In today's episode, hosts Dr. Raj Shah and Dr. Eukesh Ranjit revisit foundational lessons on Alzheimer's diagnosis, stressing the importance of practical techniques and understanding the critical role of office staff and caregivers in recognizing early signs. Primary Care physicians gain insights into evaluating cognitive issues, medication lists, …
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In today’s episode host Raj Shah, MD is joined by Susan Frick, MSW, LSW, Social Worker, Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, to talk with caregiver Jeanne as she shares her heartrending experience recognizing her husband John's early signs of Alzheimer's. Jeanne talks about profound changes to simple tasks, like dressing and driving, when faced with th…
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When your world revolves around the delicate balance of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's, each day can bring a torrent of emotions and challenges. That's the reality James Litchfield faced when his father, Buddy, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. Host Dr. Raj Shah and Susan Frick from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center talk about …
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When Leslie first noticed her husband Phil's memory lapses and moments of disorientation, little did she know that these were signs of younger-onset Alzheimer's disease. In our heartfelt discussion with Leslie, Dr. Raj Shah and social worker Susan Frick, traverse the intricate realities of early signs of Alzheimer's. Leslie discusses the day-to-day…
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When Donna's husband, Scott, began showing signs of young-onset Alzheimer's, their world turned upside down. Their story, shared with raw honesty in our latest podcast episode, brings to light the harsh reality of seeking an accurate diagnosis for Alzheimer's, particularly in younger individuals. Their journey through a maze of dismissive attitudes…
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The Brain Trust Caregiver Mini-Series brings you into the quiet strength of Alzheimer's/Dementia care partners, as Dr. Raj Shah and social worker Susan Frick from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center guide us through the delicate tapestry of caregiving. When the familiar fabric of life begins to unravel with the onset of Alzheimer's, it falls on the…
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The Brain Trust - Episode 18: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in African American Communities
28:40
In our latest Brain Trust podcast episode, Dr. Raj Shah chats with Dr. Tonja Austin, family physician and assistant professor from Rush University. Dr. Austin shares her valuable insights, stemming from her extensive, frontline experience within the African-American community in an area commonly referred to as Illinois Southland. They delve into th…
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Connecting Primary Care Practices with Community Health Workers: Advancing Early Detection and Diagnosis of ADRD. Join hosts Raj Shah, MD and Eukesh Ranjit, MD as they discuss the importance of connecting Primary Care Practices with Community Health Workers to advance early detection and diagnosis of ADRD. They chat with Tracey Smith, Director of C…
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Special episode with Dare To Care radio show connecting social workers, community members and primary care physicians on the importance of efforts being made across the state in the early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. We invite you into the world of the Dare to Care program and the Brain Trust initiative this…
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In today’s episode host Raj Shah, MD chats with Avinash Mantha, MD, Associate Program Director at Loyola Hines VA Geriatric Fellowship, to discuss the adaptations primary care will need to make with the introduction of new ADRD treatment modalities. Learning Objectives: •Describe one reason why current processes for early ADRD diagnosis will have t…
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Discussion on ways physicians can improve early detection of Alzheimer’s disease by leveraging caregiver support Learning Objectives: Identify opportunities to guide caregivers and families of persons with dementia to appropriate care and support resources. Describe the ways a Care Consultation can be beneficial to families dealing with Alzheimer’s…
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Today, we delve into the changing landscape of COVID-19. Corinne Kohler, MD, FAAFP and Santina Wheat, MD, MPH, FAAFP provide valuable insights into this complex scenario. COVID-19's shift from a designated public health emergency isn't an end. Rather, it’s a transition in the battle against the virus. We explore the impacts of this decision, the co…
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We are witnessing alarming levels of trust erosion and vaccine skepticism that have emerged in the post-COVID world. Join us as we take a deeper look into this critical issue with Christina Wells, MD, MPH, DipABLM, FAAFP and Marian Sassetti, MD, FAAFP. These seasoned family doctors, with over five decades of combined experiences, address the concer…
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Leveraging Health IT and your Electronic Health Record (EHR) for managing and detecting patients at risk for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. Learning Objectives: Describe tools that can be used to screen for dementia, discreetly stored within the EHR and tracked over time. Discuss future directions and the use of AI for the early detecti…
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In today’s episode host Raj Shah, MD chats with Evelyn Figueroa, MD to discuss ways family physicians can improve early detection of Alzheimer’s disease in their Latino patients. Learning Objectives: Describe specific challenges affecting the Latino communities that exacerbate the burden of Alzheimer’s disease. Name one way family physicians can cr…
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Do you know the true impact of COVID-19 vaccinations in preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death? Join us for a vital conversation with our faculty experts. Together, we uncover the latest research on the vaccines' role in preventing complications from the virus and reveal exciting new findings on potential anti-inflammatory benefits …
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The new normal. As clinicians, it is important to have new plans for how we're going to enjoy our lives, enjoy each other, and continue to care for our patients the best way we can. Our patients count on us to be their trusted caregivers. Santina Wheat MD, MPH, FAAFP and Marian R. Sassetti, MD, FAAFP discuss the importance of our interactions with …
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In today’s episode host Eukesh Ranjit, MD talks with Denise Feil, MD, MPH Director of Geriatric Psychiatry Training and Education at Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare Center, about distinguishing differences of early signs, symptoms, and behaviors in neurocognitive disorders. Learning Objectives: Describe early signs and symptoms of a neurocognitiv…
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In part two of this series, Dr. Stephanie LaBedz, a pulmonary and critical care physician at the University of Illinois at Chicago, joins Dr. Christina Wells, a family physician, also with UIC, to discuss her experience with long COVID. She shares how it has helped in her approach to patients suffering from long COVID. They talk about what family p…
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In today’s episode host Raj Shah, MD chats with Avinash Mantha, MD, Associate Program Director at Loyola Hines VA Geriatric Fellowship, to discuss early detection of dementia in veteran populations. Learning Objectives: Describe three potentially reverse causes of early dementia Describe the VA's multidisciplinary and collaborative care approach wi…
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Dr. Heather Prendergast, an emergency medicine physician, Dr. Stephanie LaBedz, a pulmonary and critical care physician, and Dr. Christina Wells, a family medicine physician, all from the University of Illinois at Chicago, share their experiences and insights on long COVID. Their goal is to help primary care physicians be more equipped in dealing w…
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In today’s episode Eukesh Ranjit, MD speaks with guests Sharon Smaga, MD, Heather Knutt, and Becky Salazar to discuss the roles community service agencies can play in assisting physicians in rural areas with early detection. Learning Objectives: Describe benefits of healthcare providers connecting with community service workers around early detecti…
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In today’s episode Raj Shah, MD speaks with guest Emma Daisy, MD to discuss the roles Illinois physicians working in Federally Qualified Health Centers can play in the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias Learning Objectives: Understand the roles Illinois physicians working in Federally Qualified Health Centers…
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The conversation continues. Dr. Corinne Kohler, Dr. Marian Sassetti, and Dr. Christina Wells reflect on the evolution of the pandemic in the past year. They share their experiences and engage in a discussion about how we, as a community of healers, can collectively move forward. Meet the Faculty Topics include: How practices have changed - both in …
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In today’s episode we will be discussing ways family physicians can improve early detection of Alzheimer’s disease in their African Americans patients. Learning Objectives: (1) Describe one barrier to greater early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias faced by African American patients. (2) Describe ways family physicians can impr…
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Trauma, collaboration, community, crisis, grief, perseverance, fear, uncertainty, mistrust, resilience… What words summarize the pandemic for you? Have they changed over time? Dr. Corinne Kohler, Dr. Marian Sassetti, and Dr. Christina Wells reflect on the evolution of the pandemic in the past year. They share their experiences and engage in discuss…
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In today's episode, Eukesh Ranjit, MD talks with Sharon Smaga, MD about the unique challenges faced by providers serving in rural patient populations. They discuss the barriers, solutions and provide successful tips on how to improve early diagnosis clinic practices in rural communities. Learning Objectives: 1 - Describe barriers to early detection…
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In today’s episode we will discuss barriers and solutions for family physicians in health systems regarding the early detection, diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias Learning Objectives: (1) Describe one barrier to greater early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in health systems (2) Name one so…
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Dr. Eukesh Ranjit hosts this episode and talks with Dr. Raj Shah about the larger ecosystem of the Illinois healthcare landscape involving Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Their discussion provides foundational information on available state resources for health care professionals to access and how the Illinois Department of Public Health is worki…
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Podcast episode 3: Diagnosing, Documenting, & Screening Learning Objectives: (1) Understand what a dementia is, and the importance of documenting a dementia screening assessment objectively on patient charts. (2) Delineate between utilizing diagnostic tools and screening tools in a neurocognitive evaluation. (3) Discuss commonly used cognitive scre…
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Dr. Shah and Dr. Ranjit discuss the differences between the cognitive, functional, and behavioral changes of normal aging and those associated with mild cognitive impairment and dementias. Learning Objectives: • Identify differences between the cognitive, functional, and behavioral changes of normal aging and those associated with mild cognitive im…
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Raj Shah, MD and Tabatha Wells, MD introduce The Brain Trust series and explain, in their own words, the goals and hopes for this series. Welcome to the Brain Trust, A Physician's Guide to Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease and Related dementias. Brought to you from the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians. Funding for this podcast series was provided…
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With so much attention in the news about bivalent boosters and trying to keep up with changes in vaccination schedule guidelines, some of the focus has shifted away from having conversations with adults who remain unvaccinated. Corinne Kohler, MD, FAAFP, Carl Lambert, Jr., MD, FAAFP, and Marian R. Sassetti, MD, FAAFP remind us of the importance of …
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No one is immune to COVID affecting their lives. This is especially true for people with compromised immune systems and people they interact with. Christopher Smyre, MD, Timothy Ott, DO, FAAFP, IAFP President, and Carl Lambert, Jr., MD, FAAFP, will discuss the additional challenges & concerns these patients may have when considering whether to rece…
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With multiple types of practices in various locations that serve patients with a broad range of access to medical care facilities and health insurance, there is not a “one size fits all” answer for implementing COVID-19 vaccines within a facility. Join Corinne Kohler, MD, FAAFP, Marian Sassetti, MD, FAAFP, and Santina Wheat, MD, MPH, FAAFP as they …
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Carl Earl Lambert, Jr., MD, FAAFP, Christina Wells, MD, MPH, FAAFP, and Marian Sassetti, MD, FAAFP continue their discussion in part 2 of this podcast series addressing disparities in healthcare and the importance of preventative medicine in reducing them. Today, the focus is on the primary care provider’s impact on COVID-19. They will share what t…
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Carl Earl Lambert, Jr., MD, FAAFP, Christina Wells, MD, MPH, FAAFP, and Marian Sassetti, MD, FAAFP host this 2-part podcast series addressing disparities in healthcare and the importance of preventative medicine in reducing them. The pandemic has brought the curtain down and clearly exposed major disparities we are still facing. They invite you to …
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10. Understanding the COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Under 5 Years to 6 Months Old & Addressing Vaccination Concerns for Parents
47:46
Daniel Johnson, MD and Christina Wells, MD, MPH, FAAFP host this expanded episode to discuss, in detail, the COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5 years to 6 months old . They acknowledge that many physicians may be hesitant to recommend parents vaccinate their infants. They will help listeners understand more about these vaccines so they are bett…
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Santina Wheat MD, MPH, FAAFP and Corinne Kohler, MD, FAAFP talk about some of the different aspects of their experiences with patients pre-conception, during pregnancy, and while nursing. They will share conversations, additional concerns, and fears that this special population has as the decision to get vaccinated not only effects them, but it als…
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8. Overcoming Hurdles to Become a COVID-19 Vaccinator – Problem Solving & Clinic Implementation
30:51
Christina Wells, MD, MPH, and Corrine Kohler, MD discuss the phases they went through to implement vaccine clinics and how they have evolved at two Federally Qualified Health Centers. Candice Oberlies, DMS, PA-C and Clinical Manager and Nancy Bell, Practice Administrator share their experiences from the clinical and administrative perspectives and …
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Christina Wells, MD, MPH, FAAFP and Santina Wheat MD, MPH, FAAFP discuss challenges and opportunities when vaccinating pediatric patients in the ages five to eleven and why we really do need to focus on this younger population. They share some of the most common conversations they are having with parents of this age group. Learn how you can use eve…
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Christina Wells, MD, MPH and Santina Wheat MD, MPH discuss challenges and opportunities for vaccinating adolescent patients ages twelve to seventeen. They share some of the most common conversations they are having with patients and their parents in this age group. Learn how you can use every interaction with your patient as an opportunity to find …
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There were not many COVID-19 treatment options available in 2020 & 2021. Now there are at least four that can be used for non-hospitalized patients. The frequent changes may have been difficult to keep up with. difficult to keep up with all the changes. Timothy Ott, DO, FAAFP, IAFP President, and Mustafa Alavi, MD, breakdown the options and share r…
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In part 2 of this two-part podcast, Mustafa Alavi, MD and Christina Wells, MD, MPH, FAAFP continue their discussion with Rachel Caskey, MD, MA and Amy Christison, MD. They explain major factors that influence vaccine hesitancy and ways to apply motivational interviewing techniques to address these concerns. They remind us, although people get their…
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Vaccine recommendation fatigue is very real. We’ve all been experiencing it. But don’t beat yourself up over it! Join Mustafa Alavi, MD and Christina Wells, MD, MPH, FAAFP as they host Rachel Caskey, MD, MA and Amy Christison, MD to help breakdown motivational interviewing (MI) into simple steps and lay the groundwork for addressing vaccine hesitan…
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Join Dr. Timothy Ott, an academic doctor with 30 years of experience and is currently teaching the family medicine residency at Southern Illinois University, as he hosts a round table with Dr. Kristin Davis, Dr. Santina Wheat, and Dr. Chris Smyre to discuss barriers to COVID-19 vaccine implementation including the obstacles they faced at their own …
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1. Welcome to Beyond the Needle – A Physician’s Guide to Increasing COVID-19 Vaccination Rates
34:22
Join Dr. Mustafa Alavi, a family physician at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Erie Family Health Centers and co-site medical director and Dr. Marian Sassetti, a partner at Lake Steet Family Practice in Oak Park with over 30 years of experience and IAFP’s “2021 Family Physician of the Year,” as they introduce you to our new podcast serie…
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