According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. It is one of the most impactful and prevalent health challenges facing women today, highlighting the need for quality screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
On this episode of For the Love of Health, we're speaking with Dr. Susan Schaffer Whiteman, medical oncologist at ChristianaCare's Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. Dr. Schaffer Whiteman shares her expertise on how to catch breast cancer early, what the different breast cancer diagnoses actually mean, and how complementary therapies such as acupuncture and proper nutrition can ease treatment side effects. We also discuss the power of comprehensive cancer centers.
If this conversation helps you or someone you love feel more prepared and less alone, share it and subscribe for the next episode.
Susan Whelen Schaffer Whiteman, D.O., is a board-certified Medical Oncologist, Hematologist at ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, specializing in breast and neurological cancers. She earned her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her training in Delaware, Virginia, and Arizona. Dr. Whiteman has held roles as an attending physician and medical director.
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Flu is unpredictable, but your plan doesn't have to be. On this episode of For the Love of Health, we sat down with Dr. Marci Drees, Chief Infection Prevention Officer, and Cynthia Griffin, Chief Nursing Officer of Community Care at ChristianaCare, to map out a smarter way to move through cold and flu season without the stress. From vaccine timing to sick-day decisions, we break down what actually works - and what you can skip - to keep your family safer and your schedule intact.
We also introduce ChristianaCare's Cough & Cold Line (302-623-7400), open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., to help you decide between watchful waiting, primary care, urgent care, or the Emergency Department.
If you're ready to trade confusion for confidence this respiratory season, hit play. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs a plan, and leave a review to help more listeners find evidence-based guidance when it matters most.
Marci Drees, M.D., MS, DTMH, FACP, FSHEA, is the Chief Infection Prevention Officer and hospital epidemiologist for ChristianaCare. Her clinical research has covered topics such as infant mortality, flu vaccination, outpatient antibiotic use, healthcare-associated infections and disease outbreaks.
Cynthia Griffin, BSN, MS, RN, is the chief nursing officer of Community Care at ChristianaCare. She oversees nursing care of Christiana Care owned and affiliated community-based primary care services.
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When’s the last time you had a headache? And when it hit, did you just down a cup of coffee or a couple pills to try to get it to pass?
Almost everyone gets headaches, but not everyone really understands what that pain is trying to tell them. From simple daily tension headaches to severe and debilitating migraine, every headache tells a story. And it’s a good idea to listen to your body and get to the root cause.
On this episode of For the Love of Health ChristianaCare neurologists Dr. Rami Al-Hader and Dr. Asad Fraz demystify the complex world of headaches with surprising insights that might change how you think about that throbbing in your temples. Drs. Al-Hader and Fraz share some of the common causes of headache including weather changes, screen time, sleep patterns, and even genetics, and give tips on simple changes you can make to help minimize your symptoms.
Perhaps most valuable is their expert guidance on when to seek emergency care versus when to manage symptoms at home. From the warning signs of dangerous "thunderclap headaches" to the red flags of neurological symptoms, the neurologists provide clear markers for when that pain in your head warrants immediate attention. They also debunk persistent myths and offer practical advice on hydration and the dangers of medication overuse.
Whether you're dealing with occasional tension headaches or chronic migraines, this episode offers valuable insights to help you better understand and manage your symptoms. Don't suffer in silence - listen now and take the first step toward headache relief.
Rami Al-Hader, M.D., is an empathetic board-certified neurologist with experience in treating a variety of neurological disorders and conditions and advanced training in treating multiple sclerosis. Dr. Al-Hader earned his medical degree from Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, Jordan. He is widely published and received a Resident Teaching Award in 2023 from Wayne State University.
Muhammad Asad Fraz, M.D., is a committed outpatient neurologist who works with adult patients on a wide range of neurological concerns including strokes, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and numerous other conditions. Dr. Fraz earned his medical degree from King Edward Medical University in Lahore, Pakistan, and has worked as a clinical observer and researcher at several academic medical centers.
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According to Delaware Health and Social Services, by 2030 more than 150,000 New Castle County residents will be over 60 years old. A majority of those residents are homeowners who hope to stay in their homes.
As Delaware's population ages, physical barriers within their homes threaten their independence and quality of life. When stairs become mountains and bathrooms transform into hazard zones, the consequences extend far beyond inconvenience. Missed medical appointments, preventable falls, isolation, and difficulties for first responders to access patients are the hidden costs of homes that no longer serve their aging residents.
Thanks to a partnership between ChristianaCare and Good Neighbors Home Repair, dozens of our New Castle County neighbors are safer and healthier in their own homes. ChristianaCare HomeHealth Senior Medical Social Worker JoAnn Bruch and Good Neighbors Executive Director Harold Naylor join us to share how their services have teamed up to reduce ER visits by 80-90% among those they've helped, delivering a six-to-one return on investment while restoring independence.
With their 100th patient milestone recently celebrated, the partnership continues expanding to meet growing needs, showing that sometimes a hammer and nails can be just as powerful a tool for good health as a stethoscope. Don't wait for a crisis to consider how you might be able to age in place - start the conversation by listening today.
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According to the American Heart Association, cardiac arrest claims more lives globally than colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, influenza, pneumonia, auto accidents, HIV, firearms, and house fires combined.
But if an emergency happens near you where someone needs CPR, would you be prepared? On this episode of For the Love of Health, we’re joined by Jennifer Oldham, cardiovascular quality and innovation nurse program manager at ChristianaCare. Jennifer tells us why CPR is so vital during the first few moments after cardiac arrest, provides guidelines and tips on how to perform CPR, and talks about life-saving measures that we all should take, be it to help others or ourselves.
Don’t be caught unprepared if you find yourself in a situation where someone has lost consciousness and stopped breathing. Listen now for an episode that could truly save a life.
Jennifer Oldham, MSN, RN, CEN, is a cardiovascular quality and innovation nurse program manager at ChristianaCare’s Center for Heart & Vascular Health. Jennifer has dedicated the last three decades to teaching others about harnessing the power of CPR to save patients and loved ones.
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- ChristianaCare News - Jennifer Oldham Champions Life-Saving CPR Care
- ChristianaCare Center for Heart & Vascular Health
- American Heart Association
- 2025 Wilmington Heart Walk - American Heart Association
- Deputy Heart Attack program Early Heart Attack Care educational course
- Hands-Only CPR Instructional Video
Back to school season is already here, and although it is just the first week of August, we know the last days of summer go fast. From sleep schedules to screen time, back to school can be overwhelming.
Joining us for some Back to School Tips and Recommendations is Primary Care Provider Dr. Chelsea Hastry. She shares her guidance on how to ease into those transitions and make sure your child has a great first couple weeks back to school.
Chelsea Hastry, M.D., is a dedicated and enthusiastic double certified physician in both internal medicine and pediatrics. In her role, she works with patients from babies to the elderly and is passionate about taking care of the entire family.
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- ChristianaCare Primary Care
- ChristianaCare Pediatrics
- ChristianaCare News - Keeping Student Athletes Healthy
- ChristianaCare News - Nurturing Your Child’s Social Health in the Digital Era
- ChristianaCare News - It's All About the Backpacks
- CDC FastStats: Sleep in High School Students
- CDC FastStats: Sleep in Children
What if the hospital could come to you instead of you going to the hospital?
On the first episode of For the Love of Health in 2023, we discussed ChristianaCare's Hospital Care at Home program - an opportunity for patients to receive hospital-level care from the comfort of their own homes. Two years after that first conversation, we're sitting down with physician Dr. Emilia Adah and paramedic Heather Orkis to discover how hospital-level care delivered at home is changing lives across Delaware.
The Hospital Care at Home program has transformed from an innovative experiment to a healthcare game-changer, now having served almost 2,000 patients. The program has expanded beyond acute care to include post-acute services traditionally provided in skilled nursing facilities, creating a comprehensive home care ecosystem that meets patients where they are.
From remarkably simple technology to the personal touch of in-home visits, Hospital Care at Home is providing patients with dramatically better outcomes: zero hospital-acquired infections, minimal delirium, less physical deconditioning, and readmission rates below 10%. But just as compelling as statistics are the personal stories of patients who have gone through the program (spoiler alert: grab your tissues before listening).
Listen now to learn how the future of health care may be right in your own home.
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- ChristianaCare Hospital Care at Home
- For the Love of Health - Hospital Care at Home with Dr. Sarah Schenck
- ChristianaCare News - Hospital Care at Home Honored with DAISY Team Award
- ChristianaCare News - Innovative ways for you to receive hospital-level care in your own home
- ChristianaCare News - 'Just the Best Thing Ever'-Hospital Care at Home Program Celebrates Milestone
Mental illness isn't always obvious. Someone suffering with anxiety or depression can still wear a smile, crack a joke and be successful. On this episode of For the Love of Health, Dr. Mustafa Mufti, Chair of the ChristianaCare Department of Psychiatry, explains how mental health should be treated the same as physical health.
Mustafa Mufti, M.D., is the chair of the ChristianaCare Department of Psychiatry. In this role, Dr. Mufti focuses on fostering and maintaining a vibrant, successful psychiatry department, including physician performance, quality, research and scholarly activity as well as the administration of all departmental educational, clinical and academic programming.
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Our eyes are working for us every second we're awake. Yet eye health often falls at the bottom of our wellness priority lists, taken for granted until problems arise.
Keeping your eyes healthy doesn't just protect your vision - it can prevent serious health problems down the road. But when you have a question about your eyesight, should you see an ophthalmologist and an optometrist? ChristianaCare ophthalmologists Dr. Benjamin Chaon and Dr. Tomilade Adepoju join us to discuss the difference between the two types of providers and when to escalate your care beyond corrective lenses. They also share important information about common eye conditions such as dry eye, inflammatory eye disease, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, along with critical warning signs that everyone should be aware of.
Don't be left in the dark over what's happening with your vision. Listen now for an eye-opening conversation to protect your precious sight.
Benjamin Chaon, MD, is Medical Director of the Wilmington Eye Clinic, and member of the Christiana Care Department of Ophthalmology. He specializes in the medical and surgical management of uveitis and ocular inflammatory diseases, such as iritis, scleritis, retinitis, and ocular infectious diseases, as well as the medical treatment of retinal diseases, such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vascular diseases. Dr. Chaon also performs both routine and complex cataract surgeries, using the latest cutting-edge technology.
Tomilade Adepoju, MD, is an ophthalmologist who specializes in treating patients diagnosed with glaucoma and other related eye diseases. Her focus includes helping her patients with general ophthalmic needs, ranging from diabetic eye care to routine eye exams. She works with her patients and families to understand their eye disease diagnosis and to create a comprehensive eye care plan.
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Summer is officially here, bringing with it backyard pool days, beach trips, and sunshine-filled adventures. But did you know your unprotected skin can be damaged by UV rays in as little as 15 minutes? That tanned complexion many associate with health is actually your body's response to damage!
Before you head to the pool, take a moment to consider a few summer safety tips with Dr. Dylan McDivitt from ChristianaCare Primary Care at Woodstown. He shares the latest guidance on what kind of sunscreen to use and how often to apply; tips on staying hydrated through summer heat; and the best ways to avoid accidents while swimming. And don't forget the importance of getting trained in CPR!
Don't let sunburn or heat stroke ruin your day at the pool - a few minutes of prep now will help you enjoy those long, lazy summer days all season long.
Dylan McDivitt, D.O. is a dedicated and enthusiastic board-certified family medicine physician. In his current role, he works with adult, senior, and pediatric patients to treat their day-to-day non-emergency/primary care needs and to develop strategies for their ongoing health and wellness management.
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