Medicine In America

GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs: What’s Real, What’s Risky, and Can They Extend Lifespan?

GLP-1s are rewriting the rules of weight loss. In this episode I’m joined by Dr. Melanie Jay, MD, MS, a nationally recognized obesity specialist and professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, to answer the questions everyone is asking, "What do GLP-1s really do? Who should take them and who shouldn’t? What are the risks of “cosmetic” use? And can these drugs actually extend your lifespan? We get into the real-world issues people aren’t talking about enough: online prescribing without proper screening, side effects and long-term unknowns in healthy users, and why success often depends on medical counseling, follow-up, and lifestyle support, not just a prescription. If you’re considering GLP-1s, already taking one, or treating patients who ask about them daily, this episode is your hype filter. To learn more about Dr Melanie Jay click here [https://med.nyu.edu/faculty/melanie-r-jay]or to hear her TED Talk [https://youtu.be/4gdWNPQszsM?si=_vcZ4-UtyFMg0hY6]

Screens, Stress & Vaccines: The New Reality of Children's Health

Screens, Stress & Vaccines: The New Reality of Children's Health takes listeners inside the modern pediatric landscape—one shaped by digital overload, rising anxiety, chronic illness, and confusion around vaccines. Dr. Marion Mass breaks down what parents need to know, what doctors wish they had more time to say, and how families can take simple steps toward better health in a world that feels anything but simple. For more information on children's health, go to Children's Hospital of Philidelphia [https://www.chop.edu/] website. About Dr. Marion Mass: Dr. Marion Mass has worked as a pediatrician in suburban Philadelphia for 25 years, serving in hospital, newborn unit, emergency room, primary care, She has experience working in both pediatric and urgent care settings.  She is the co-founder of Practicing Physicians of America and a board member of  Free2Care—a coalition of 32 member organizations, representing 8,000,000  Americans, 70,000 of whom are physicians. She is the principal author of  Free2Care’s two position papers (2019 and 2022) on reducing cost and waste in  American healthcare. In 2023, she served as a visiting fellow at the Independent  Women's Forum.  She has written numerous opinion columns on cost and access, with her work  appearing in a wide variety of publications, including the Wall Street Journal,  RealClearHealth, the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Hill, the New York Post, and Philly  Burbs, among others.  Dr. Mass graduated from Penn State University and Duke University Medical School: she trained in pediatrics at Northwestern’s Robert Lurie Hospital.

Beating the Odds: How a Journalist Outsmarted Cancer

Introducing Medicine in America: Patient Stories. These episodes share powerful journeys with patients and families who find ways to get the care they deserve. When veteran journalist Michael Kaplan, author of Advantage Players, was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, he used his reporter’s instincts to beat the odds. Known for his career covering professional poker players and high-stakes gamblers for outlets like The New York Times and Vanity Fair, Kaplan turned those same investigative skills on his diagnosis. In this inspiring Medicine in America: Patient Stories episode, he shares how a combination of journalism and advantage-play strategy led him to an optimal, non-chemo treatment for stage-four mantle cell lymphoma with no known cure. Today, Kaplan has zero evidence of cancer cells in his blood. To learn more about Michael Kaplan and purchase his new book: Advantage Players: Advantage Players [https://huntingtonpress.com/advantage-players/]

Why The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is Now Blood Cancer United

In this bonus 5-minute episode of Medicine in America, host Anthony Manson speaks with Lynn Richardson-Godfrey, SVP & Chief Experience Officer at Blood Cancer United, about the organization’s powerful rebrand. Formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the new name reflects a broader mission: to serve all blood cancer patients, families, and caregivers. Learn why inclusivity matters, what the change represents, and how Blood Cancer United [https://www.bloodcancerunited.org] continues its fight to improve lives and find cures.

Why Medical Nonprofits May Be Your Most Important Ally in Cancer Care.

A blood cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming; however, medical nonprofit organizations are available to help.In this episode of Medicine in America, host Anthony Manson speaks with Gwen Nichols, MD, EVP Chief Medical Officer of Blood Cancer United, about how nonprofits provide the care and guidance your doctors may not have time for. From free expert information, second-opinion support, and financial assistance to pediatric programs and clinical trial navigation, Blood Cancer United (formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) ensures patients and caregivers get trusted answers, practical help, and hope. Learn why turning to a nonprofit can help you take control and get the care you truly deserve. To learn more about Blood Cancer United or get in touch with them, go to their website: Blood Cancer United.org [https://www.bloodcancerunited.org]