For the Love of Health

Health care is about more than broken bones and blood pressure readings. Join hosts Megan McGuriman and Jason Tokarski for engaging conversations about fascinating treatments, innovative programs, groundbreaking research and cutting-edge technology. Learn how our medical experts are creating health today and delivering the care of tomorrow.

Finding a Cure for Colon Cancer with Dr. Bruce Boman

Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer worldwide, equally affecting both men and women. According to the American Cancer Society, when colorectal cancer is caught early, 91% of patients survive five years or longer… however, that percentage drops significantly if the cancer has already spread to distant parts of the body before it’s found. 

In this episode of For the Love of Health, Dr. Bruce Boman, medical director of Cancer Genetics and Stem Cell Biology at ChristianaCare provides invaluable perspectives on his team's research focused on finding a cure for colon cancer.

Whether you're a medical professional, a patient, or simply someone interested in the advancements in cancer treatment, this episode is a fascinating listen.

Renowned for his work in colorectal cancer, and a cancer survivor himself since 2000, Bruce M. Boman, M.D., Ph.D., is an attending physician and director for Cancer Genetics and Stem Cell Biology for ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. He also represents the Graham Cancer Center as a scientist with the Center for Translational Cancer Research.

With forward-thinking collaboration, the Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research at ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute links physicians and scientific researchers under the same roof. Working side by side, together they identify needs of individual patients at the bedside, explore solutions in the lab and translate those results directly into treatment plans as unique as the individuals who will benefit from them.

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The Toughest Questions in Health Care: Can the Internet Replace Primary Care? with Dr. Priya Dixit-Patel and Melissa vanNeerden

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, from July to December of 2022, 58.5% of adults used the internet to look for health or medical information. But while most of us have done it, is it the right approach when you need medical attention?

For the sixth episode of our “The Toughest Questions in Health Care” series, we're asking the question, "Can the internet replace primary care?" ChristianaCare Physician Executive for Core and Primary Care Dr. Priya Dixit-Patel and ChristianaCare Virtual Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Melissa VanNeerden explain why the idea of a “medical home” that provides holistic support is a better approach to foster long-term well-being.  You’ll also hear how technological advances are making it easier to meet health needs in the ways that work best for individual patients.

Priyanka Dixit-Patel, MD is ChristianaCare Physician Executive for Core and Advanced Primary Care.  She is a family medicine physician who specializes in primary care, gynecology and women's health.

Melissa vanNeerden, AGNP is an experienced Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner at ChristianaCare Virtual Primary Care.  She has been in practice since 2016 focusing on disease management and prevention.

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Trauma Informed Care with Forensic Nurse Examiners Amy Stier and Sarah Peluso

In 2023, ChristianaCare’s Emergency Departments treated more than 2,000 patients who were victims of violent crimes. In situations like those, a special team of nurses called Forensic Nurse Examiners provide comprehensive, trauma- informed care. 

In this episode of For the Love of Health, ChristianaCare Forensic Nurse Examiner Coordinator Amy Stier and her colleague, fellow Forensic Nurse Examiner Sarah Peluso explain the vital role Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs) play across the country and how ChristianaCare is setting the gold standard in the field.

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Strengthening the Core with Brian Catania and Travis Ross

If you’ve been involved in any type of fitness routine, you've likely tried exercises that focus on the body’s midsection. Maybe you’ve tried crunches or planks, but have you heard of the Row Dog or the Upside Down Turtle?

On this episode of For the Love of Health, ChristianaCare Physical Therapists Brian Catania and Travis Ross deep dive into their nationally recognized Sling Activation Sequence and why you need to be thinking about the core differently.


Brian Catania, MPT, SCS, ATC, is a physical therapist and site manager of ChristianaCare Rehabilitation Services at Glasgow who has attracted national attention for trailblazing new types of therapy.

Travis Ross, PT, DPT is an outpatient orthopedic and sports Physical Therapist at ChristianaCare in Newark, Delaware since 2006. He co-created the Sling Activation Sequence, which has been used to prevent and reduce injuries by athletes across the country.

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The Toughest Questions in Health Care: Why Is the Cost of Health Care So Expensive?

If you’ve ever received medical care, you’d likely agree the cost of care can be expensive. According to the National Health Expenditure Accounts, U.S. health care spending grew 4.1% in 2022, reaching $4.5 Trillion.

For the fifth episode of our “The Toughest Questions in Health Care” series we're asking the question, "why is the cost of health care so expensive?" ChristianaCare Chief Financial Officer Rob McMurray and ChristianaCare Chief Population Health Officer Dr. Chris Donohue-Henry share insight on health care economics. Hear how challenges are being met with pioneering solutions to reduce cost while simultaneously boosting the quality of care. 

Rob McMurray is the Chief Financial Officer, responsible for the direction and oversight of all financial operations at ChristianaCare. He also has oversight of supply chain operations.

Dr. Christine Donohue-Henry, M.D., MBA is the Chief Population Health Officer at Christiana Care. She is also the President and CEO of eBrightHealth ACO.  Prior to her current role, Dr. Donohue-Henry was the Chief Medical Officer, Community Care at ChristianaCare from 2017 to 2019


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The Science of Sleep with Dr. Shilpa Kauta

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 3 adults in the United States reported not getting enough rest or sleep every day.  Also, an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans have chronic, or ongoing, sleep disorders.

Sleep can impact everything from mental and physical health to our social interactions. In this episode of For the Love of Health, Dr. Shilpa Kauta, Medical Director of the ChristianaCare Sleep Wellness Center discusses how sleep plays an active role in our health and longevity. 

 Dr. Kauta shares the science behind sleep's healing properties, from hormone regulation to memory consolidation, and why neglecting sleep can lead to a host of serious health issues. Join us for a conversation that could lead to your most restful nights yet.

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The Toughest Questions in Health Care: Why Are Residents Burnt Out and What Can Be Done About It?

Residency can be an incredibly stressful part of the medical education experience. In a 2006 study of first-year residents – also called interns – researchers found 4% met criteria for being burnt out at the start of the year. That number was 55% by the end of the year.

For the fourth episode of our “The Toughest Questions in Health Care” series we’re looking at a challenge that has plagued teaching hospitals – like ChristianaCare – for decades. Dr. Brian Levine, ChristianaCare Associate Chief Academic Officer and Designated Institutional Official, and Dr. Andrew Blake, a second-year emergency medicine resident at ChristianaCare,  tackle the question, "why are residents burnt out, and what can be done about it?"

It's a conversation that takes us from the historical grind of residency to today's efforts in creating nurturing environments that still meet the high standards of medical training. We examine the fine line between the stress needed to forge competent physicians and the potential harm of overwhelming pressures.

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Food is Medicine with Michelle Axe and Rob Gurnee

Food can play a critical role in someone's health, especially in managing a chronic illness. One approach is helping patients eat better and stay healthier, and it's a concept called Food is Medicine. 

The Food is Medicine program at ChristianaCare is called the Delaware Food Farmacy,  and it is changing the way that patients eat.

In this week's episode of For the Love of Health,  Michelle Axe, program manager of Food and Social Care Initiatives at ChristianaCare, and Rob Gurnee, the executive director of Lutheran Community Services in Wilmington share how the Food is Medicine concept is changing the way we are improving nutrition insecurity in the community. 

Learn how the shift from food insecurity to nutrition security can help keep patients healthy at home. 

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The Toughest Questions in Health Care: Why Can Emergency Department Wait Times Be So Long?

Lengthy emergency department wait times are nothing new. This has been a national issue since the 1980s. It’s a challenge for every health system – a challenge with no easy solutions.

ChristianaCare is home to America’s 15th busiest ED, and in the third installment of our year-long series, “The Toughest Questions in Health Care,” Dr. Kert Anzilotti, ChristianaCare Chief Medical Officer, and Ric Cuming, ChristianaCare Chief Operating Officer, deliver insightful answers to the question, “Why can ED wait times be so long?”

Together, we walk the complex maze of healthcare efficiency, examining the intricacies behind long queues. Learn how factors like hospital-wide patient volume, case severity prioritization and the ripple effects of post-acute care facility shortages contribute to a significant bottleneck. And explore a data-driven approach to improving patient flow and emergency department functionality.

Finally, we provide guidance on choosing the most suitable venue of care for a variety of medical needs, a major way the public can be part of helping hospitals reduce wait times in the ED.

Ric. Cuming is chief operating officer of ChristianaCare. In this role, Ric oversees the delivery of efficient and fiscally responsible system operations. He also works with other leaders to ensure high-quality and safe patient care. Ric joined ChristianaCare in 2016 as the system’s first chief nurse executive.

Dr. Kert Anzilotti is chief medical officer for ChristianaCare. His work focuses on the optimization of care delivery across the health care system through strategic visioning, network development, clinical technology implementation and leveraging medical informatics.

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Saving Seconds and Reducing Door to Needle Time with Dr. Kim Gannon

Every minute that a brain is not getting blood flow during a stroke millions of neurons are dying. So, every minute, every second counts when treating a stroke patient.

That is why ChristianaCare’s stroke team has been on a multi-year journey of exploring every element, every step of the initial treatment process and the amount of time it takes to get a patient from coming in the door to getting IV blood thinners – known as Door To Needle (DTN) time.

We take a deep dive into how expert stroke teams bring clarity to chaos in a race against a ticking clock with Dr. Kim Gannon, medical director of ChristianaCare’s Comprehensive Stroke Program. We explore where opportunities to reduce DTN have been found and where they are still available in the high-stakes decisions and protocols that swing the pendulum between recovery and lasting impact. And we understand the impact of the first rule of medicine – do no harm.

Learn how a drive to be exceptional today and even better tomorrow is leading to drastically better outcomes for patients who come to one of the nation’s highest volume stroke programs.

Dr. Kim Gannon, an active vascular neurologist, oversees ChristianaCare's stroke program, one of the busiest stroke programs nationwide. She combines the expertise of a clinician with doctorate research to improve both patient and population health in neurological care. Dr. Gannon oversees ChristianaCare’s inpatient neurology consultative service, neurocritical care, and neurointerventional surgical services.

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