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HealthLink on Air
Sundays at 6 a.m.

“HealthLink on Air” is a 60-minute program produced since 2006 by Upstate Medical University, the academic medical center in Syracuse, NY.

“HealthLink on Air” provides a weekly dose of information on health and medical issues affecting central New Yorkers. The program showcases health professionals and researchers from Upstate Medical University, Upstate University Hospital, the central New York community and those visiting the region who are involved with health care issues and events. The interviews are permanently archived online.

For more information, visit the HealthLink on Air website.

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  • Orthopedic nurse Peter Jaskula explains how to reduce the risk of falling, especially among older people. Neurotrauma nurse navigator Melissa Port discusses what to expect if you become an informal caregiver for someone recovering from a brain injury. Upstate's Norton College of Medicine students Kathleen Renna and Veronica Rive tell about the school's Planetary Health Report Card.
  • Cardiologist Christopher Prendergast discusses how to diagnose and treat high cholesterol in children. Family medicine doctor Jocelyn Young talks about hepatitis C and why primary care doctors should be testing for it. Physical therapist Michelle Jay explains how exercise can be beneficial during and after cancer treatment.
  • Gynecologist Katherine Frega discusses how endometriosis is diagnosed and treated. Microbiologist and tick expert Saravanan Thangamani explains that ticks can carry more than one pathogen and tells how to protect yourself. And pediatrician Danielle Daniels answers what to do if you're unvaccinated and discover that you've been exposed to measles.
  • Pediatrician Danielle Daniels explains how the measles virus spreads and how to protect your children and yourself. Toxicologist Michael Keenan discusses unintentional poisonings. And neurologist Antonio Culebras goes over 10 tips for getting good sleep.
  • Lawyer and ethics consultant Edward McArdle discusses New York's new Medical Aid in Dying Act. Registered dietitian Heather Dorsey goes over changes to the food pyramid and healthy eating advice. Gynecologist Maureen Burke answers whether estrogen replacement therapy is safe for women at menopause.
  • Nurse Tamara Roberts explains how virtual reality is helping burn patients relieve pain. Oncology nurse Zeke Auburn explains how cooling caps are designed to help prevent hair loss in some patients receiving chemotherapy. Chaplain Jim Brulé discusses the role of death doulas.
  • Endocrinologist Malek El Muayed explains how weight-loss drugs work. Nurses Michelle Vallelunga and Sandra Champagne discuss maternal stroke risks.
  • Explore expert perspectives on treating pulmonary embolisms, the vital role of allied health professions, and critical care protocols for pediatric strokes.
  • Urologic oncologists Gennady Bratslavsky and Hanan Goldberg share an overview of localized prostate cancer, from screening recommendations and diagnosis to treatment options. Lauren Meyer from Upstate's Department of Family Medicine and Lauren Bavis, from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, talk about a course they teach to help future doctors learn how to communicate with patients and rural communities.
  • Colorectal surgeon Joseph Valentino discusses why colon cancer is affecting younger people and what patients can expect from Upstate's colorectal cancer program. Professor Stewart Loh tells about his research into the origins of amyloidosis, which can attack the kidneys, heart and liver.