Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.

Guest: Samar Ibrahim, M.B.Ch.B.

Primary care clinicians may never encounter a child needing a liver transplant, however when it happens, they play a vital role in the journey for the child, including early recognition of the signs of hepatic failure, timely referral to a hepatologist and co-managing these children with the transplant team following the transplant. Liver transplantation in children has dramatically evolved over the past few decades into a highly successful, life-saving treatment for children with liver failure. What are some of the early signs that a child may need a transplant consideration? What can a child expect following liver transplant, and what role does the primary care clinician play in the long-term follow-up of these children? I’ll be asking these questions of my guest, Dr. Samar Ibrahim, a pediatric gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic as we discuss “Pediatric Liver Transplant”.

Guests: Jim Dornhoffer, M.D. & Matthew Carlson, M.D., M.B.A.

Hearing loss can affect individuals of all ages and significantly impair their quality of life. This can result in difficulties with communication, social isolation and possibly even cognitive decline. Unfortunately, many patients with hearing loss are undiagnosed and therefore untreated. There have been numerous advances in the management of hearing loss that could give significant benefit to our patients. How should we assess hearing loss? Who might benefit from hearing amplification? Is there any treatment for tinnitus and who might be a candidate for a cochlear implant? These are all questions I’ll ask my guests, Dr. Matthew Carlson and Dr. Jim Dornhoffer, both ENT physicians at the Mayo Clinic as we discuss the topic of “Hearing Loss and Cochlear Implants”.

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.

Guest: Erick Bothun, M.D.

Normally, our eyes work together, providing us with one single image and providing accurate depth perception. However, when there’s misalignment of the eyes and they don’t point in the same direction, that’s known as strabismus. It’s much more than a cosmetic issue; a variety of complications can develop if strabismus isn’t treated. Primary care clinicians are usually the first healthcare contact of those with strabismus, and it becomes important for us to recognize it and arrange proper referral for management. Does strabismus only occur in children? How does it differ from amblyopia? What is the treatment and how effective is it? I’ll get answers to these questions and more as we discuss “Strabismus: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment” with my guest Dr. Erick Bothun, a pediatric ophthalmologist at the Mayo Clinic.