20-Minute Health Talk

Breaking down the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

With a valuable third vaccine offering protection in the battle against COVID-19, Onisis Stefas, PharmD, Northwell's chief pharmacy officer, discusses how the J&J vaccine works, its efficacy and what it means for relieving the pandemic. 

More from Dr. Stefas

Dr. Stefas explains the science behind Pfizer and Moderna's mRNA COVID-19 vaccines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9mJa-V9r0c&list=PLOylAPfMBafmhQIwY75QbOzNcQEpz5tEr&index=7

 

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Health care heroes reflect on one-year anniversary of first COVID-19 patient

On March 2, 2020, Northwell Health saw its first COVID-19 patient. In a round table discussion, its CEO and two frontline heroes reflect on the year that followed on this special episode of the podcast.

• Michael Dowling, president and CEO
• Mangala Narasimhan, DO, vice president of critical care services
• Sandra Lindsay, RN, intensive care unit (ICU) nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and the first person in the United States to receive the COVID vaccine.

Each share who some of their heroes are, how COVID-19 affected them personally, their memories from the early days of the pandemic in New York and the hope that the vaccines now bring. 

 

Infectious disease expert talks new COVID-19 vaccines and variants

While new variant strains of COVID-19 present new challenges, Bruce Farber, MD, chief of division of infectious diseases, says he remains optimistic. On this episode of the podcast, he talks about the potential impacts on the pandemic and how effective vaccines, including the Johnson & Johnson single-dose shot currently awaiting authorization, will be against these new variants.

More from the experts

Dr. Farber explains what to expect after getting the COVID-19 vaccine: side effects; immunity; what our new normal will look like; and more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEp6iYqWn9c&t=12s

Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOylAPfMBafmhQIwY75QbOzNcQEpz5tEr 

 

A cardiologist covers COVID-19

When she's not treating patients as the assistant director of the Women's Heart Program at Lenox Hill Hospital, cardiologist Tara Narula, MD, is covering the news as the senior medical correspondent for CBS News. During the first wave of COVID-19 in New York, her role as reporter took on new significance for her. On this episode, she covers: 

• The stories that defined 2020
• Practicing medicine during a pandemic
• COVID-19 long haulers
• Women's Heart Month
• Supporting female physicians through mentorship

Beyond vaccines — the need for more COVID treatments

More research and clinical trials are needed to develop COVID-19 treatments, says Kevin Tracey, MD, President of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. The "father of bioelectronic medicine" talks:

• COVID’s impact on medical research 
• What medications exist — remdesivir, convalescent plasma, monoclonal antibodies, etc. 
• Research studies underway 
• What we need to prepare for future pandemics

Northwell research making news:

• The healing power of vagus nerve stimulation
• New research identifies potential therapeutic target for fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome
• Feinstein Institutes research finds sex, gender identity are linked to human brain activity
• Feinstein Institutes study identifies Alzheimer's disease blood biomarkers
• Top 5 Northwell advances of 2023

Read more from Dr. Tracey.

COVID-19 vaccine can boost mental health, too

The COVID-19 vaccine is a turning point in what has become a mental health crisis. Manish Sapra, MD, executive director for behavioral health at Northwell Health, and Mayer Bellehsen, PhD, director for the center for traumatic stress, resilience and recovery, explain that the hope brought by the COVID vaccine enables all of us to begin the healing process - and why that is a process we will go through together. 

"This has been a long, protracted course, and what the COVID vaccine does it sort of sets the clock where we start taking that identity of being in recovery rather than just being a victim. It just gives a level of optimism that we can actually take a big step against a disaster like this."  

More from the experts

Read Dr. Sapra's op-ed on community recovery from COVID-19

Listen to Dr. Bellehsen discuss stress management

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Delivering the COVID vaccine in communities of color

Deb Salas Lopez, MD, discusses Northwell's initiative to help vaccinate Long Island's underserved communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Also, hear firsthand insight from Rev. Scott Williams, whose congregation at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Roosevelt welcomed the vaccine last week.

More from the experts

Dr. Salas Lopez writes about how to make community partnerships work

Read more about Long Island's vaccination efforts

Watch Dr. Salas-Lopez and Rev. Williams on CBS2 News

What transplant patients need to know about COVID vaccines

Transplant patients are at higher risk for COVID-19 and should get the vaccine, but only those using mRNA. Lewis Teperman, MD, director of transplant services for Northwell Health and vice chair of surgery at North Shore University Hospital, explains.

Organ transplants during COVID-19

Dr. Teperman led the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) strikeforce, which wrote the blueprint on how to perform transplants safely during the pandemic. Read some of his insights

6 questions with Dr. Teperman on the COVID vaccine and transplant patients

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The COVID vaccines' impact on public health

Zenobia Brown, MD, vice president of population health, discusses the latest with the coronavirus vaccine and all things public safety, from herd immunity to when we can get back to normal.

 

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More from the experts

Dr. Brown explains the often misunderstood intention of vaccines 

Addressing maternal morbidity and maternal mortality among Black women

Is the COVID vaccine safe for pregnant women?

With limited research available, Michael Nimaroff, MD, senior vice president and executive director, Ob-Gyn Services, explains why Northwell recommends pregnant women get vaccinated. Also, hear Elizabeth Espinal, a research coordinator in her second trimester, discuss her experience getting the first dose of the medication. 

Watch this episode of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube

Despite the World Health Organization's announcement that it does not recommend the Moderna vaccine for pregnant women, Northwell Health along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and other national societies remain supportive of vaccinating pregnant women who meet criteria for vaccination.