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DCIS breast cancer: Not every woman needs surgery
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the earliest form of breast cancer. DCIS is confined to the milk ducts of…
3 questions and answers for mammograms
A mammogram is an imaging test used to screen the breast tissue for breast cancer, which affects about one in…
Penicillin allergy testing: Why it’s important to know the facts
Antibiotics are among the most effective treatments for bacterial infections, and our go-to option often is penicillin. But up to…
How we use PET-CT scans to find more cancer faster than ever
PET-CT (positron emission tomography and computed tomography) often is referred to as the gold standard of cancer imaging. This tool…
From surgery to radioactive iodine and beyond: Hope for patients with thyroid cancer
Most patients respond well to standard therapies for thyroid cancer. The five-year survival rate is more than 98 percent, and…
Why I stand behind digital rectal exams for prostate cancer screening
“You want to put your finger where? Why? Do you really need to do that?” I’ve heard many men say…
100 Blessings
“When we bless life, we restore the world.” ~ Rabbi Marcia Falk I am a Chaplain in a 912-bed inner-city…
Outpatient hip or knee joint replacement: Healthier, faster and more effective
Increasingly younger patients are seeking partial or total hip or knee joint replacement—people in their 40s, 50s and 60s who…
Triple-negative breast cancer: Who should get tested for their genetic risk?
Triple-negative breast cancer is notoriously difficult to treat. It grows aggressively, and it lacks the three most common markers (estrogen…
Tiny salivary glands, big problems: How we treat these painful disorders
Most of the time, people don’t notice their salivary glands. They are located in the mouth and throat, and they…
How a gastroenterologist can help relieve heartburn
Does this sound like a typical day? Maybe you take an antacid with your morning coffee, a Zantac with lunch…
Don’t suffer with chronic pelvic pain—treatment is available!
Imagine feeling one or more of these symptoms in your pelvic area up to 95 percent of the time: Burning…
Acid reflux? Bloating? It could be a paraesophageal hernia
Hernias are common, and you likely know someone who has had one at some point in their life. So, perhaps…
Partial knee replacement: Arthritis relief without a long recovery
The number of first-time total knee replacements, also known as arthroplasties, is expected to grow by 673 percent, reaching 3.48…
How common pituitary tumors can have huge health effects
As the American Cancer Society notes, doctors diagnose about 10,000 pituitary tumors each year in the United States. However, that’s…
Can a heart valve be repaired without surgery?
Heart valve disease, a malfunction of one or more of the valves that allow blood to flow through the heart,…
How to manage medications in the elderly
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the typical Medicare patient sees two primary care providers and five…
COPD in D.C.: A tale of two cities
A September 2017 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the number of Americans who…
New PET-CT technology gives us an edge against cancer
In 2006, the latest technology available for PET-CT scans was the time-of-flight scanner. At the time, this scanner compared to…
How we help LVAD patients fight infection at home
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have saved and extended the lives of thousands of patients with heart failure. These small,…
Say goodbye to BPH symptoms with this advanced treatment
As men get older, many of us find that we have to use the bathroom more often than we used…
3 steps to avoid a second stroke
Having a stroke can be a life-changing experience. Nobody wants to go through it twice. Upon recovery, one of the…
How cochlear implants can work when hearing aids don’t help
Between 2000 and 2010, data from the U.S. Census Bureau show huge increases in the numbers of older Americans between…
Exciting breast cancer news: More women can safely forgo chemotherapy
Data from a 2018 study have confirmed the standard of care for many women with early-stage breast cancer: chemotherapy isn’t…
How diabetes patients can avoid amputation, and when it’s the best option
One of the major goals of our Limb Salvage and Wound Care program is to avoid amputation when we can—and…
45 is the new 50—for colonoscopy
The American Cancer Society has released new colonoscopy recommendations: Adults at average risk should start getting colonoscopies at 45 instead…
Hernia repair through keyhole incisions? How robotic surgery works
Robotic surgery is one of the most effective and least invasive options we offer our hernia patients. In fact, we’re…
Why hospital ratings and rankings don’t tell the whole story
In today’s data-driven world, there’s more incentive than ever to be the best. Health care is no exception. But here’s…
How advanced sarcoma treatment saves limbs–and lives
Sarcomas, which are cancers that start in bones, fat or muscle, are rare and can be challenging to treat. Historically,…
Why is HPV-related head and neck cancer surging among young adults?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S.—it’s so prevalent that nearly all sexually active…
No pulse, no problem! What EMS teams need to know about LVAD patients
When EMS arrives on the scene of a medical emergency, the first things they often check are patients’ pulse and…
Celiac disease: Why gluten-free is still mission-critical in 2018
For years, patients with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity have had to limit their diets to eliminate gluten, a protein…
How we lower heart risks of HER2-targeted breast cancer therapy
Imagine the triumph of surviving breast cancer. Every test and procedure, every round of therapy was worth it to save…
‘Draining the sink’ to treat glaucoma with minimally invasive surgery
Today’s surgeons can use minimally invasive techniques for many conditions that require surgery. For example, knee replacements can be performed…
Advanced technology offers better kidney cancer outcomes, less pain, and quicker recovery
Years ago, before we had advanced and routine imaging, a kidney mass was only discovered when it had become very…
Celebrated Physician: Eiman H. Nabi, MD
It’s no wonder Eiman Nabi, MD, characterizes herself as a“global baby.” Born in India, she grew up in the Middle…
Say what?!? Cochlear implant restores hearing in 90-year-old grandmother
Because of her profound hearing loss, Edna Whitted would pass notes back and forth in church with her granddaughter in…
The heart care team: Dedicated experts for every patient
Much of heart care focuses on the “what”—the diagnosis, treatments and outcomes. But just as important to consider is the…
Can the flu cause a stroke?
In April 2018, beloved Night Court actor Harry Anderson died at 65 from a cardioembolic stroke, which involves blockage of…
Sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency: What patients need to know
Every year in the U.S., one in 5,000 people experience sudden sensorineural hearing loss, or sudden hearing loss. This is…
An explosive issue: E-cigarettes and burn risk
Since electronic cigarettes, commonly known as e-cigarettes, first hit the market in 2007, they’ve become a popular option for people…
Celebrated Physician: Shruti Tiwari, MD
Growing up in India, Shruti Tiwari, MD, wanted to be anything but a physician—a rather unusual attitude, given that her…
Healthcare data and how we use them for cardiology care
Patients used to rely entirely on their primary care doctors’ referrals when they needed to see cardiologists and other heart…
Quick! Name some important diseases: Is traumatic injury on the list?
What if I were to say to you, “Quick! Tell me some important diseases.”? What would you come up with?…
What cancer survivors need to know about long-term heart health
Cancer doctors used to think of cancer treatment in terms of extending patients’ lives by a few more months or…
Internal bracing transforms ACL repair
In 2017, a long list of NFL players tore their anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL), and several were forced to sit…
Tug boat captain recovers from an 18-month ordeal fighting near fatal burn injuries
Tug boat captain Jeff Davis spent 40 years shepherding large ships safely through treacherous waters along every U.S. coast. But…
Celebrated Physician: Scott Frank, MD
When Scott Frank, MD, interviewed for a job as attending anesthesiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in 2005, he asked…
Apps, mannequins and actors: Professional development for today’s nurses
Today’s nurses have to keep track of so much more for patients than they did just 30 years ago. Millennials…
What bariatric surgery patients need to know about excess skin removal
Over the past few decades, weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, has become increasingly common. As such, we’ve…