Taking Charge of Your Health Presented in spring 2002 The traditional doctor-patient relationship is a thing of the past.  Instead of calling health professionals for medical advice, people can log onto the Internet, where information is abundant but not always accurate. Medical advice also comes in the form of television ads for new drugs. While patients are taking more control of their health, providers are learning to work with patients as a team. They're teaching patients how to decipher Internet information, taking their suggestions into consideration and working with them to find the best treatment. In this Mini-Medical School, learn how you can participate in your health care. The Changing Patient/Provider Partnership Hear a physician's and a nurse's perspective on how the new roles and expectations of patients and health-care providers. Joel R. Bessmer, M.D. Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine/General Medicine, UNMC Joyce M. Black, RN, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Adult Health and Illness, UNMC Panel Discussion Learn successful strategies from patients who participate in the process. Moderated by Michael A. Sitorius, M.D. Waldbaum Professor of Family Practice; Professor and Chair, Department of Family Medicine, UNMC Hopes and Hoaxes: Separating Fact from Fiction Find out how to verify whether information is reliable and discover good sources of information. Learn when and how messages should be evaluated. Sandra Salverson, Pharm.D. Adjunct Instructor, College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Practice, UNMC; Drug Information Specialist, Nebraska Health System Clinical Trials:  Who Benefits from Medical Research? Discover the ins and outs of what you need to know about participating in medical research programs. Christopher J. Kratochvil, M.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry; Assistant Director, Psychopharmacology Research Consortium; Vice Chair, Institutional Review Board, UNMC The Mind/Body Connection:  What is Complementary Alternative Medicine? Learn how to partner traditional medicine with lifestyle changes and relaxation therapies to enhance the quality of your life and affect the course of disease.  Diann Greener, M.S., LMT, LMHP Center Director, LIFEstyle Enhancement Center; Program Coordinator, Complementary Alternative Medicine Program, UNMC Herbal Medicines:  They may be “natural,” but are they safe? Find out how herbal medicines interact with other medications and when they can be dangerous.     Tony Ranno, Pharm.D. Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice; Clinical Pharmacist, Geriatric Assessment Clinic, UNMC