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Major donors to JDRF Dallas and JDRF Executive Board Members were recently invited to an exclusive cocktail party and research discussion at the beautiful Preston Hollow home of Sharyl & John Weber. The “Cocktails for a Cure” evening, which is a pre-JDRF Gala event, included a research discussion led by Matthias von Herrath, M.D.
Paramount Communications President and JDRF Executive Board Member Denise Lyman attended the event and is pictured here with 9-year-old Type 1 diabetic Kendall Tubbs. Kendall is a Youth Ambassador for Diabetes Research and was diagnosed at age two.
Dr. von Herrath serves as Director of the Center for Type 1 Diabetes Research at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology in addition to being a full Member in the Divsion of Developmental Immunology.
Dr. von Herrath and his team study why the immune system sometimes attacks the body’s own cells. Their focus is on Type 1 diabetes, a disease caused by the immune system attacking the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, and on diseases caused by viral infections. Their goal is to develop and evaluate new treatments and therapies for these conditions, in particular immune-based interventions.
Cocktails for a Cure is a lead up event to the annual JDRF Gala, being held March 26 and featuring celebrity honoree Bret Michaels, Julianne Hough (entertainment) and keynote speaker/legendary coach Gene Stallings.
Owning a company like Paramount Communications, Inc., which specializes in medical marketing, allows me to work with some of the best and most talented physicians in the country. My company helps take these physicians, as well as other healthcare-related companies, to the next level and increases awareness of their brand. It’s exhilarating, challenging and a lot of fun at times.
 John Peloza, M.D., Medical Director of the Center for Spine Care One of the more exciting things about my job is getting to learn and be in on the cutting edge of new technologies and treatments that ultimately benefit all of us as patients. I often am able to join my clients in the operating room to witness modern medicine at its finest hour. Tuesday was one of those impactful days because I got to observe a new, minimally-invasive surgery performed by John Peloza, M.D., an internationally renowned spine surgeon and a pioneer in his field of minimally-invasive spine procedures.
Having spent most of my career working in the medical field, it’s astounding how far we’ve come with many procedures, including spinal procedures. Since Dr. Peloza has spent his medical career finessing the art of true minimally-invasive technology, it’s like getting to watch a fine artist at work. What once took hours to achieve, Dr. Peloza performed a minimally-invasive surgical procedure in an hour for a patient who had lower back pain. The entire incision was the size of a small, round pencil eraser. What many don’t realize is that while a surgeon like Dr. Peloza makes it look effortless, it takes years of medical training and additional fellowships in specific specialties of medicine, as well as a genuine interest and passion in continuing to develop and offer input to medical device companies that are engineering the tools to use.
Also, a physician involved in clinical research is a huge and valuable measuring tool that catapults a physician into the outstanding category. Physicians that track patient data and outcomes can offer predictable, successful treatment plans for their patients.
As a medical marketing specialist and a patient advocate too, I am able to read between the lines of some of the so-called physician experts and can offer these guidelines: If you need a specialist, do your homework and don’t just call an 800 number off a billboard or TV commercial, or an offer for a free service, or be swayed because they tell you “all their patients get better.” Ask if they have done a fellowship in their specialty, if they are teaching other doctors, if they are involved in clinical research trials and if they are tracking their clinical outcomes, and if they work with medical device companies to offer input on design & logistics.
There are times in surgery when things can and do get surprising and can take a complicated turn. I’ve witnessed this many times. I want the surgeon who knows his or her specialty backwards & forwards and calmly & methodically thinks it through and knows what to do if something takes an unexpected turn. Good surgeons experience surprises in the operating room routinely and know what to do.
Finally, select a physician who provides follow-up treatment and continues to help you get better. Outstanding physicians never abandon their patients after treatment or tell them to go somewhere else.
The best doctors in the country are usually doing all or most of the above. What never ceases to amaze me is that the outstanding ones care a lot about their patients and care about practicing modern technologies, and ethical medicine.
Medicine is not perfect, but there are a lot of doctors out there attempting to achieve the best results for their patients every single day. Make sure you find one if you need it.
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I never really thought about it until I had dogs – Halloween can be pretty frightening in more ways than one! Think about it from a dog’s point of view: The doorbell is ringing constantly with strange people in scary costumes screaming “Trick or Treat!”
I spoke with Dr. Mike Escobedo, a veterinarian with Cornerstone Animal Clinic about this fun holiday and how it can frighten our little pets.
 Dr. Escobedo & Marin Dr. Escobedo says there are three key points about Halloween that he discusses each year with pet owners:
- For the households with pets that are nervous and really freak out about doorbells ringing all night – Turn off the lights and don’t participate. “Otherwise, keep them in a safe place, in another room, and in between trick or treaters, go give them some TLC to keep them calm,” he says.
- Owners with cats – put them indoors on Halloween night. “Believe it or not, there are still some people who do bad things to cats or dogs on Halloween night.”
- Dogs getting into the candy – all candy should be put up and away from the dogs. Dark chocolates especially are very harmful to dogs and can be toxic.
 Mitchell & Marin
And, here are some of my own tips. Don’t take your dog trick or treating, and if you do, keep him on a short leash to keep him from fighting with other dogs or trying to bite scary goblins! The best bet is to keep them inside the house in a safe place. We plan to have Mitchell & Marin in a comfortable area with a favorite toy and blanket, with some classical music playing to keep them calm.
What about you? How are you & your pets spending Halloween night?
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If you have a medical issue that is requiring you to see a medical specialist, there are some important things to consider when selecting this specialist. There are many different physician specialties that treat a variety of medical issues so first and foremost, make sure you are looking at the right specialty. Your primary care physician or internist can direct you as to what specialist you need in the event you are not sure.
Recently, I spoke to John Peloza, M.D., Medical Director of the Center for Spine Care. Dr. Peloza is obviously a specialist in spine care, however his advice on how to select a spine specialist is excellent and can be used for anyone searching for a good specialist of any kind whether it’s a cardiologist or a rheumatologist. I think his advice is spot-on.
“It takes years beyond medical school, internship and residency to master the treatment of spine-related disorders,” says Dr. Peloza. “Patients should look for specialists that have completed post-graduate fellowships and are familiar with all aspects of spine care. Doctors that perform these procedures must be specially trained and demonstrate competence in these procedures.”
Dr. Peloza also notes that the more extensive the physician’s training, the better. Physicians that train other physicians, contribute to research, and design or develop surgical technologies are usually the best.
“I continue to be published in numerous scientific publications, am asked to speak at national and international medical meetings and hold several patents on medical devices for the spine,” he says. “In fact, one of our patented technologies that I helped design, the Serengeti Minimally Invasive Retractor System, recently received the 2010 Medical Design Excellence.”
I’ve worked with physicians of all specialties for years. The combination of education and experience, fellowships, specialized training for themselves and other physicians, clinical research, and scientific presentations are a good recipe for an outstanding medical specialist. So, if you are in need of a specialist for yourself or a loved one, good luck to you and this is some good criteria to follow. Hope this helps!
Recently, my sister had a very serious fall in a freak accident. She hit her head hard on the ground and suffered severe head and neck injuries. After receiving stitches, a CT scan and exams from several medical experts, thank goodness she is going to be okay with time and some physical therapy. After this frightening experience, I was surprised at how many people I know who have also experienced a head injury. With football season here, this is a reality for players at any level from high school sports to the NFL. The following is some helpful information.
 I spoke to neurosurgeon Mike Musacchio, M.D.,who regularly sees patients who have had concussions and head & neck injuries. According to Dr. Musacchio, closed head injuries may range from mild concussions to more severe injuries that may result in hemorrhage or contusions of the brain.
“The hallmarks of a closed head injury or concussion are alteration in consciousness, including confusion and memory loss, or loss of consciousness,” he says. “In addition, signs of a head injury may include blank stares or lack of focus, disorientation, difficulty focusing attention, slurred or incoherent speech, nausea or vomiting, incoordination, and memory loss.”
So, what do you do if the person is experiencing any of these symptoms?
“As a general rule, if any of these symptoms occur after a head injury or there is loss of consciousness, 911 should be called and the patient should be taken to the nearest emergency room,” Dr. Musacchio says. “The injured should also be removed from any potentially dangerous situations, such as returning to a football game or driving a car. Another important thing to remember is that any trauma great enough to cause a head injury may have also caused a neck injury, so the patient’s neck should be stabilized until medical personnel has arrived. This may be as simple as encouraging the patient to lie still or helping brace the neck gently with one’s hands.”
Dr. Musacchio says that after a head injury, it is important to have follow-up with a physician. He says the brain is more susceptible to a second injury during the first 7 to 10 days after an injury, so it is important to abstain from sports or other activities that increase the risk of a repeat injury. He says the injured should also be closely observed for any delayed symptoms that may develop, and examined by a physician if any changes occur.
We just returned from a GREAT trip to Europe a few weeks ago: France, then Italy. Specifically Paris, then southern Italy–the beautiful, sunny, gorgeous Amalfi Coast. Home to such great towns as Capri, Positano, Ravello, and many others.
Here is the view from our gorgeous resort in Ravello: the Palazzo Sasso.
While I could go on & on about the outstanding Palazzo Sasso, an incredible 12th century villa, and the breathtaking beauty of the town of Ravello which perches high above the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, I need to talk about the food! Specifically, the Mediterranean diet which I’ve blogged about in the past.
Pete & I were in heaven with all the fresh food prepared with locally produced olive oil, freshly caught seafood and did I mention the wine???!!! Here’s a sample of one of the fabulous local wines we had:
Day after day, we had fresh seafood, pasta, pizza, salads made with the best tomatoes ever! In fact, to recap the components of the Mediterranean diet:
- Olive oil
- Fresh fruits & nuts
- Fresh vegetables
- Cheese & yogurt
- Fish & poultry
- Wine (moderate consumption such as a glass of wine per day) note: hard to do while in Italy!!
- Moderate exercise (20-30 minutes a day)
While I’ve been a fan of the Mediterranean diet and way of life for years, it’s so much more fun to actually be on the ground where it originated. I’m already planning our next trip!
How about you? Are you living the Mediterranean way of life and cooking with some of the above? Mangia!
 Marin lounging after a healthy meal & walk Recently, my 9-month old puppy Marin ate something outside in the backyard and was exhibiting frightening symptoms: profuse vomiting, uncontrollable shaking, and labored breathing. Alarmed, I rushed her to our vet, Dr. Mike Escobedo of Cornerstone Animal Clinic.
While I still don’t know what she consumed, Dr. Escobedo assured me I did the right thing given her symptoms. He had some pretty scary stories to tell me of things that dogs and cats have consumed and ended up in a very serious, sometimes fatal situation. He gave Marin an injection of meds to help with nausea & vomiting and gave us a prescription for her.
I found out that there are many everyday things in our kitchen that can be lethal to our pets. According to Dr. Escobedo, the top 10 toxins in the kitchen are:
- Chocolate
- Grapes, raisins & currants. “Just a few ingested grapes or raisins can cause kidney or liver failure,” he says.
- Xylitol/sugar-free gum/candy. Xylitol is extremely toxic according to Dr. Escobedo. This one hit close to home at the Lyman house. We have packages of sugar-free gum all over the house. In the drawers they go from now on!
- Fatty table scraps
- Onions & garlic
- Compost
- Human medications. Our other dog, Mitchell, once swallowed a vial of insulin landing us in Dr. Escobedo’s clinic for observation. Luckily I spun into action right after he swallowed it, and fed him a ton of food to counteract a potential hypoglycemic episode. Of course, he loved all the extra food he got to eat that day!
- Macadamia Nuts
- Household cleaners
- Unbaked bread dough/alcohol
What do you do if you think your pet has ingested something toxic? “Call your vet asap,” says Dr. Escobedo. “Most clinics can tell you if it’s something worrisome or walk you through what to do.” In many cases, they will induce vomiting to get the suspected toxin out of the body.
I have found it’s helpful to have knowledge of an after-hours emergency vet hospital in case you need it. Recently, we had to take our other dog Mitchell there when we thought he swallowed a nail!
Hope this helps! Has your pet ever ingested something scary? What did you do?
As I navigate the new world of finding help for my aging parents, I’ve been surprised at how many of my friends are also dealing with the same issues. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are prevalent, and while it’s all difficult, there is a lot to learn when you are faced with it.
I went straight to an expert to get information. Lue Taff, L.M.S.W. (Licensed Master’s degreed Social Worker) is the Director of the Elder Support Program at The Senior Source. Lue is a Certified Geriatric Care Manager and is also no stranger to the problem in her personal life. Her 87-year-old mother has dementia and lives in Lue’s hometown of Little Rock, AR, making it challenging for Lue who lives in Dallas.
What are signs to look for that an aging parent may have dementia?
- “One of the first parts of the brain to be affected is the one that affects “executive functioning,” Lue says. “It controls the front part of the brain and affects your ability to take care of business. So, it is very important to determine if bills are being paid, and money is being managed.”
- “Other signs to look for are hygiene, cleanliness of the home. Opening the refrigerator can tell you a lot. Is there food sitting in there from a year ago? Are they eating well or are they eating cereal three times a day?”
- A good piece of advice she offers is to ask your parent a question that you know the answer to that involves short-term memory. Short term memory is the first thing to go. Ask them a question regarding a recent event.
- Changes in behavior or mood are another symptom. Is there a loss of interest in life? A withdrawal from things they normally enjoy? Anger?
I always thought dementia and Alzheimer’s were basically the same symptoms and treated the same. Not so, says Lue.
“It is very important to get a proper medical diagnosis. There are many forms of dementia that require different medications. The wrong medication can have side effects and be harmful.”
There are also other causes of dementia: A deficiency in B12, or a head injury, for example.
When you decide to seek help, get an accurate diagnosis. If the primary care physician diagnoses dementia, then ask for a referral to a specialist such as a neuropsychologist or a neurologist. In the Dallas area, there are 3 excellent medical programs that specialize in dementia: University of Texas Southwestern; the Center for Brain Health; and Baylor University Medical Center.
Hope this helps. In the future, I will blog about types of caregiving situations from assisted living facilities to in-home healthcare. Are you going through this within your family? What has helped your loved one?
I know that you should watch how much your dog eats so he doesn’t become overweight, but did you know that our dogs can get skin allergies? And do you know what the #1 culprit is? Their diet!
I spoke to Dr. Debbie Schaffer, one of my favorite veterinarians who is with Animal Medical & Surgical Hospital of Frisco. She is one of Mitchell & Marin’s veterinarians–yes we have several. (We even drive a 40-mile roundtrip to take our dogs there.) According to Dr. Schaffer, she sees dogs very frequently in her office with skin allergies related to food. We are working hard for Mitchell and Marin to not have to experience this!
Marin lounging after a healthy meal & walk “Some owners feed their dog everything! Dogs are not meant to process carbs, they can do fat, not carbs,” she says. Even if you are not feeding your dog table food, many of the tasty, chewy dog treats you find at pet stores are culprits too–Snausages, Pepperoni & liver treats for example.
“I had one dog whose owner fed him everything from bacon, eggs, & pancakes for breakfast, to spaghetti and garlic bread for dinner,” she says. This dog ended up with serious allergies.
Dr. Schaffer says the signs to look for if your dog has allergies is if he is scratching his body or his ears. “Then, the cheapest, easiest way to determine if they have an allergy is to put them on a controlled diet and see if the scratching stops.” A controlled diet means a reasonable amount of a good quality dog food daily.
So, stop the treats and table food to assess what is going on. Then put him or her on a controlled diet. Your little buddy will thank you!
Is your dog scratching alot?
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Mediterranean Garbanzo Salad
Cuban Chicken over Spanish Rice
Sicilian-Style Swordfish with Pasta & Capers
Summer Harvest Ratatouille
Swordfish with Zucchini & Orange
Grilled Pork Loin with Fire-Roasted Pineapple Salsa
Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken
Individual Grilled Veggie Pizzas
Pineapple-Raspberry Parfaits
Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Banana Bites
Raw Berry Crisp
Fruit Salad with Vanilla-Apple Syrup
Pomegranate-Pineapple Granita
Poached Rum Raisin Pears
Mixed Berries with Mascarpone-Limoncello Cream
Berry Tart with Ginger Cream
Grilled Avocado and Pesto Salad
Cucumber Cups
Spicy Pineapple-and-Mint Salsa
Watermelon, Lemonade, and Blueberry Ice Pops