Your Family's Health

Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard and Pandora Groth talk with Owen Marcus, the founder and CEO of MELD - Men's Emotional Leadership Development. That’s an organization dedicated to improving men's emotional health and leadership through peer support and training.  He developed the MELD Method to help men cultivate emotional intelligence, enhance relationships, and reduce reactive leadership. He is also the author of Grow Up: A Man's Guide to Emotional Maturity.

Millions of people are suffering from some kind of muscular pain daily.  Many have tried medications or shots that only cover the pain. Some do Physical Therapy but, they try to strengthen that muscle, however, it is already short and tight. So, what can be done to eliminate muscular pain?  Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard and Pandora Groth talk with Diane Cherico, a Licensed Massage Therapist, a Medical Massage Practitioner and an Active Isolated Stretch Specialist, and the owner of GET THE KNOTS OUT MASSAGE THERAPEUTIC CENTER in Midland Park, New Jersey. She is also the author of Stretch Your Pain Away in 10 Minutes a Day.

Today we’re talking about what to expect when you’re expecting… at the hospital!! From check-in to check-out, contractions to cuddles, we’re walking you through what maternity patients should expect to experience.  Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard and Pandora Groth talk with Petrinea McAlpine, a registered nurse who works in the maternity department at Katz Women's Hospital at LIJ Medical Center at Northwell Health. Petrinea is also a graduate of the nursing program here at Nassau!

Back pain is the number one cause of global disability – and the total cost of treatment of lower back pain in the United States is over $100 billion annually.  Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard and Pandora Groth talk with Esther Gokhale, creator of the Gokhale Method, a unique, systematic approach to help people find their bodies’ way back to pain-free living. She is the author of 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back, and in 2010, she hosted the nationally televised program Back Pain: The Primal Posture Solution (which is available on DVD and streaming).

If you’ve been feeling foggy or forgetful—you might be low on Vitamin B-12. Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard and Pandora Groth talk with Dr. Majid Fotuhi, a neurologist, and adjunct professor at the Mind Brain Institute at Johns Hopkins and at the department of Psychology and Brain Sciences at George Washington University. He is also the author of The Invincible Brain.

Sobriety is hard—and recovery is a full-time job. Parenting is hard—and more than a full-time job. To talk about both topics, Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard and Pandora Groth talk with Sarah Allen Benton, an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is Chief Clinical Officer and co-owner of Waterview Behavioral Health, and the co-owner of Benton Behavioral Health Consulting.  Sarah has been sober for more than 20 years; and has been a mother for the last 13 years.  Sarah is also the author of PARENTS IN RECOVERY: Navigating a Sober Family Lifestyle.

Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard and Pandora Groth talk about fertility — rates are dropping, so we’re asking the expert: why is making babies getting harder than ever?  They speak with Dr. Marina Straszak-Suri, an experienced OBGYN and educator with over 30 years of experience in women’s health and fertility.  She’s the author of a new book called Optimize Your Fertility Naturally, which guides us through the science and complexity of fertility, offering evidence-based strategies to support our body, mind, and future family.

Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard talks to Sophia Aidiniou, a health education professor at Nassau Community College who collaborates with local health organizations to bring real-world experiences into their classroom. For over 15 years, she has been dedicated to raising awareness about organ donation, and she received the “Making a Difference in the Community” award for their efforts in saving hundreds of lives throughout her career.  She also talks to one of her Community Health students, Gabriella Ibarra-Sanchez, who is a two-time organ recipient.

Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard learns about Hidradenitis Suppurativa, or HS, which is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that may affect an estimated one in 100 people. It’s believed to be caused by an overactive immune system, which can lead to painful bumps, abscesses, and scarring in areas where skin rubs together such as the underarms, thighs, and groins.  She speaks with Dr. Lana Schmidt, a board-certified dermatologist, who will talk about how to recognize HS symptoms, explore the role of the immune system, and discuss a treatment option that is available, and Frank Grimsley, a patient living with HS, who will share his personal experience from the emotional challenges to the importance of finding a dermatologist and the right treatment.

Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard and Pandora Groth talk about food safety. They speak with Deputy Commissioner Katie Howard, who oversees the Division of Food Safety and Inspection, the Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services, and the Food Laboratory at the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. She’s here to help us make sure what’s in our fridge, on our plates, and on our grills won’t send us running—unless it’s for seconds.

Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard and Pandora Groth learn about skin care from Dr. Pooja Shah, the Director of Women’s Skin Health & Wellness with the Department of Dermatology at Northwell Health, and the Director of Dermatology at Northwell’s Katz Institute for Women’s Health.

Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard and Pandora Groth learn about mammograms and breast imaging. They speak with Dr. Aderonke A. Ramos, a radiologist specializing in breast imaging at the Northwell Health Imaging at the Center for Advanced Medicine in Lake Success on Long Island.

Today we learn about health concerns in the LGBTQ+ community, including navigating the healthcare system, to mental health challenges, to why finding a doctor who actually listens to you shouldn’t feel like searching for a unicorn. Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard talks with Bri Nocerino, LGBTQ Services Manager with Pride For Youth, a service - and an advocate - for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning individuals, with a mission to enhance the health and wellness of the community through education, supportive services, and personal development.

Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard and Pandora Groth learn about clinical trials, especially concerning phase 1, or early-stage trial in oncology.  They speak with Dr. Geraldine O’Sullivan Coyne, who was recently named to lead Northwell-START New York-Long Island - the first site in New York, expanding the community-based early-phase oncology research network.  Northwell’s START unit is located at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center in Lake Success.  Dr. O’Sullivan Coyne joins Northwell Health after two years as a clinical investigator at START Dublin in Ireland, and 7 at the National Cancer Institute in Maryland.

Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard learns about the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - established in 1987, AFSP is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education, and advocacy to act against this leading cause of death. She speaks with Katie Mercer, the Programs Manager at the Long Island chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Dr. Jeanine Cook Garard learns that hormonal shifts during menopause don’t just affect sleep and mood — they also change how the brain functions. But what can be done to improve memory, stress levels, and mental clarity for midlife women?  She speaks with Dr. Therese Huston, a cognitive neuroscientist and the author of Sharp: 14 Simple Ways to Improve Your Life with Brain Science.  She is here to help women feel more focused, less overwhelmed, and more like themselves again—using science-backed strategies.

Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard and Pandora Groth learn about Alzheimer’s Disease, and the Alzheimer’s Association Long Island Chapter. They provide vital resources, support, and advocacy for families facing the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.  They speak with Lori Maldavir, the Alzheimer's Association Long Island Chapter Director of Program Outreach.

Dr. Joan Buckley and Pandora Groth learn about SIDS—Sudden Infant Death Syndrome—a heartbreaking and often misunderstood condition.  Joining us is a leading voice in the field, Dr. Matthew Harris, the Medical Director of Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Support at Cohen’s Children's Medical Center, and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra / Northwell.

Prof. Joan Buckley learns about the Northeast College of Health Sciences to see how they’re training the next generation of health care professionals — from chiropractors to nutritionists and beyond.  She speaks with Daryon Ray, the Assistant Dean of Clinical Education and an Instructor at the Levittown Health Center, and the Interim Director of the Long Island Campus of the Northeast College of Health Sciences, and two students from the school.

Prof. Joan Buckley and Pandora Groth learn about Type 2 Diabetes - how it’s diagnosed, treated, and managed. And don’t worry — this show is sugar-free... but packed with plenty of sweet info!  They speak with Dr. Daniel J. Cox, a Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine, at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center.