Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, describes himself a “recovering cardiothoracic surgeon.”
He is also chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, a nationally and globally recognized research and academic institute. On “Health Care Heart to Heart,” he and his guests discuss medical and scientific issues of the day.
Episodes
Prescription Drug Takeback and Pharmacy Insights with Dr. Ally Dering-Anderson
With National Prescription Drug Takeback Day set for April 27. “Health Care Heart to Heart” podcast host Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, chancellor of UNMC, speaks with Ally Dering-Anderson, PharmD, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice and science in the UNMC College of Pharmacy, in the latest episode of the podcast, which now is streaming.

Dr. Dering-Anderson and Dr. Gold’s wide-ranging discussion include a discussion of how Dr. Dering-Anderson decided to become a pharmacist, which involved a student teaching experience. Dr. Dering-Anderson also explains why no-longer-in-use prescription drugs from the home is important, how pharmacists can help people who may have questions about their medication, and how in Nebraska, every day is drug takeback day.

“Several years ago, the Nebraska Pharmacists Association created Nebraska Meds, which took the help of the unicameral, and the governor and the Department of Health,” she said. “Together, pharmacies in Nebraska accept the return -- we don't resell them, we make sure that they're destroyed correctly -- of drugs that you don't want in your home any longer. And we do that all the time.”
Exploring DNA and Forensics with Mellissa Helligso
UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, speaks with Mellissa Helligso, manager and the technical lead of the Human DNA Identification Lab at UNMC.

Helligso, who shares that she became interested in DNA and laboratory work as a new mother watching “CSI; Las Vegas” reruns, also speaks to Dr. Gold about her work and the recent accreditation the lab received to perform forensic investigative genetic genealogy as part of its work with law enforcement.

She also spoke with the chancellor about testifying at criminal trials.

“At first it was very intimidating, and it made me very nervous,” she said. “But I would say over time, it's become kind of one of the more challenging aspects, and it's enjoyable just because you have to stay on your toes.”
The Importance of Cancer Screenings
As Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month ends, Drs. Gold and Watanbe-Galloway discuss the importance of screening, the impact of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the impact of UNMC’s new Rural Health Education Complex at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in terms of statewide cancer care.
Dr. Watanabe-Galloway discussed the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center’s role as a National Cancer Institute Designated Cancer Centers.
“NCI decided several years ago that each cancer center needed to decide on its catchment area,” she said. “The entire state of Nebraska is our catchment area, which means we cover central and western parts of Nebraska, which are primarily rural, and then there are many other important, underrepresented populations included.”
Dr. Gold praised the work of the cancer center, “not just, of course, in this month where we're talking about colorectal cancer awareness, but all the time in looking out for rural and urban communities and trying to reduce the instance of cancer in our state.”
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
In his latest “Health Care Heart to Heart” podcast, now streaming, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, speaks with Sydney Norton, a speech language pathologist at the Munroe-Meyer Institute’s RiteCare Clinic in Hastings, Nebraska.
As Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month continues, Norton and Dr. Gold discuss the role of a speech language pathologist and the effect therapies can have on her young patients and their families.
“We always say we have the best job in the world, because we get to play all day,” Norton said. “And if we're doing our job really well, that's what it looks like -- and the kids really don't know any different. We get the joy of meeting kids where they're at and going through the journey with parents, of getting a diagnosis and getting intervention.
“It is a really exciting job. It's a really joyful job.”
Talking Cancer Awareness and Prevention
In his latest “Health Care Heart to Heart” podcast, now streaming, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, speaks with Joann Sweasy, PhD, director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases here UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.

Dr. Sweasy speaks about the origin of her desire to fight cancer, her goals for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the Eppley Institute and what convinced her that Omaha was a place where she could make a difference in the battle against the disease.