Health News

Innovative Market Access and Product Life Cycle Solutions for Life Sciences with AscellaHealth

 
Michael Baldzicki, Chief Brand Officer at AscellaHealth, a global specialty pharmacy and healthcare solutions company joins eHealth Radio and the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Information Channels to talk about the company’s comprehensive suite of Specialty Pharmacy services for pharmaceutical/biotech manufacturers.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Michael Baldzicki discuss the following:
Can you give our listeners information on your background and role with AscellaHealth?
Please describe the AscellaHealth business model and how the company serves life sciences in the specialty pharmacy and healthcare industry. 
AscellaHealth has an exciting new strategic alliance with Optime Care. Can you tell our listeners what this partnership means for others in the industry?
AscellaHealth recently came out with some expanded services. Can you explain these new offerings and their benefits for key market segments that AscellaHealth serves?  
In the current healthcare environment, it seems people are lacking customizable options. Can you speak to the flexibility of AscellaHealth’s solutions and how this ultimately serves to enhance outcomes of branded products?
As chief brand officer for AscellaHealth, Mike ensures the success of the widest variety of strategic projects across departmental segments, and other business development initiatives that cultivate opportunities that affect client segments.
With more than 21+ years of specialty pharmacy, pharmaceutical and biotech industry experience, including roles in national and regional managed markets, specialty supply channels, sales management and specialty brand management. Mike offers strategic insight into specialty pharmacy trends, distribution, contracting, reimbursement, and the application of health outcomes and economic evidence to prove value proposition. He is a recognized leader in the specialty pharmaceutical market for developing and implementing key payer and specialty pharmacy agreements that result in documented savings for specialty market segments.
Mike is active in the biotech community and is an advisor/faculty member of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) for Specialty Pharmacy Advisory Group & Biosimilars Partnership Forum, NCPDP Specialty Pharmacy Stakeholder Action Group, Faulty Board Member of the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) Specialty Pharmacy for ACOs and was 2014 Editorial Board Member for Specialty Pharmacy Times.
He has published abstracts and articles surrounding plasma-based infusion therapy, and managed markets and specialty pharmacy. He has spoken at a variety of seminars and WebEx’s within specialty groups and other industry related settings.
Mike earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and a Certificate in Clinical Research Compliance and Management (CRCM). He has completed programs in leadership development at Harvard University, Brooks Group, Miller Heiman Account Management and MD Anderson Center Cancer Courses.
 
 
Website: https://ascellahealth.com 
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/ascellahealth 

An Opportunity to Lower Medical Costs

 
Christine Cooper, the CEO of aequum LLC and the Co-Managing Member of Koehler Fitzgerald LLC, a law firm with a national practice along with Jack Towarnicky an ERISA/Employee Benefits compliance and planning attorney, having over forty years of experience in human resources and plan sponsor leadership roles joins eHealth Radio and the Healthcare and Legal Channels.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guests Christine Cooper & Jack Towarnicky discuss the following:
Christine, will the No Surprises Act protections against balance billing save workers money?
Jack, surveys show a majority of Americans are concerned about medical bills.  Won’t the No Surprises Act eliminate those concerns?
How can employers help alleviate “financial fragility” when it comes to the medical expenses their employees are not prepared to pay?
How could health care consumerism potentially transform future health care coverage?
What resources and services are available to help participants in a health plan defend against receiving unreasonable or excessive medical billing?
 
Christine M. Cooper, CEO and Member, aequum LLC
Christine M. Cooper is the CEO and Member, of aequum LLC. A patent lawyer recruited to Koehler Fitzgerald LLC in 2016 because of her large law firm experience and IT skills, Christine was quickly elevated to a member of Koehler Fitzgerald LLC and leads the health care practice. Christine is the CEO of aequum and is dedicated to assisting and defending plans and patients.
Jack Towarnicky Member, aequum LLC
As an ERISA/Employee Benefits compliance and planning attorney, Jack has over forty years of experience in human resources and plan sponsor leadership roles. This includes twenty-five years as the leader of a Fortune 100 corporation’s benefits function. While serving in those roles, Jack and his team won a multitude of individual, team and corporate recognitions. In 2020 Jack joined aequum and provides plan drafting and compliance services to employers and plan sponsors.
About aequum
Founded in 2020, aequum LLC serves third-party administrators, medical cost management companies, stop-loss carriers, employer-sponsored health plans and brokers nationwide to protect plan participants, improve employee satisfaction with their health care plans, and generate plan and participant cost savings. aequum helps patients defend medical balance bills and brings savings to employer-sponsored health plans by providing administrative and other services to its partners. In addition, its sister organization, Koehler Fitzgerald LLC, provides legal advocacy to plan participants.
Website: https://aequumhealth.com 
Social Media Links: Facebook: https://facebook.com/aequumbykoehlerfitzgerald Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/aequumllc/about Twitter: https://twitter.com/aequumhealth 
 

Masks are coming off in some states and COVID-19 is here to stay

 
 
Dr. Nooristani, a licensed medical doctor with 16 years of experience practicing medicine and the CEO of Balance7 and also head and board member of the non profits Slo Noor Foundation & Saviehealth joins eHealth Radio and the Covid-19 Information and Health News Channels.
Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Dr. Nooristani discuss the following:
Should we continue to wear masks?
Do people still need to be vaccinated?
For those of us that are vaccinated should we get the booster?
Are there new treatments?
Are we safe to attend large gatherings?
Dr. Nooristani is a licensed medical doctor with 16 years of experience practicing medicine and is the CEO of Balance7 and also head and board member of the non profits below:
Slo Noor Foundation has been operational for the past 10 years and has delivered over 30 million dollars’ worth of free care to the un-insured population in San Luis Obispo County and surrounding areas. Thousands of lives have been saved over the years simply by caring for those in desperate need of health care.
Saviehealth is opening its door for the uninsured population in Santa Barbara and surrounding counties to bridge the gap and deliver high quality medical services free of charge. Both organizations are operational in large part because of volunteers, including healthcare workers such as physicians and nurses.
Balance7 is a great resource for health tips, recipes, workouts and general questions to live a better, more fulfilling life.
 
 
Website: https://balance7.com 
Non-Profits: Slo Noor Foundation: https://slonoorfoundation.org  Saviehealth: https://saviehealth.org 

The First New Ischemic Stroke Treatment in 25 years by DiaMedica Therapeutics

 
 
Rick Pauls, President and CEO of DiaMedica Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharma committed to improving the lives of people suffering serious diseases, with initial focus on acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) joins eHealth Radio and the Health News Channel.
Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Rick Pauls discuss the following:
DiaMedica is currently enrolling for a phase 3 clinical trial for an ischemic stroke treatment that is able to be administered to patients within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. Compared to the current treatment of over 25 years with only a 4-hour window, can you enlighten listeners on how this science is disrupting the trajectory of stroke therapy?
DiaMedica's lead candidate, DM199, is a synthetic form of the KLK1 protein, an established therapeutic modality for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke and chronic kidney disease. A form of human KLK1, isolated from human urine, is approved in China for subacute treatment of AIS. As of now, in the U.S., only an IV injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) is the standard treatment for ischemic stroke. Can you expand on how DiaMedica's recombinant protein replacement therapy works?
What is unique about the company's drug and trial design is that you plan to assess two separate clinically meaningful endpoints, stroke recoveries and prevention of ischemic stroke recurrence, across the same study population. What are the clinical benefits of this structure?
DiaMedica is currently enrolling at ten clinical trial sites across the country. Why is it advantageous for listeners to know which local hospital is participating in the first new ischemic stroke treatment in 25 years?
The FDA granted Fast Track Designation to DM199 for the treatment of AIS in September 2021. Fast Track is a process intended to facilitate the development and expedite the review of investigational drugs for the treatment of serious or life-threatening conditions where there is a significant unmet medical need. What are the next steps here, and what timeline are we looking at for phase 3 data?
Rick Pauls was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of DiaMedica Therapeutics in July 2009. Mr. Pauls has served as a member of DiaMedica’s board of directors since April 2005 and as the Chairman of the Board from April 2008 to July 2014. Before joining DiaMedica, Mr. Pauls was the Co-Founder and Managing Director of CentreStone Ventures, an early-stage life sciences venture capital fund, from February 2002 until January 2010. Mr. Pauls was an analyst for Centara Corporation, an early-stage venture capital fund, from January 2000 until January 2002. From June 1997 until November 1999, Mr. Pauls worked for General Motors Acceptance Corporation specializing in asset-backed securitization and structured finance. Additionally, Mr. Pauls has served on the board of directors of several public and private companies. Mr. Pauls received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Manitoba and his M.B.A. in Finance from the University of North Dakota.
 
 
Website: https://diamedica.com
Social Media Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/diamedica Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/diamedica 

How to Camouflage a Virus: The Latest in Gene Therapy with Genine Winslow

 
 
Genine Winslow, the CEO and Co-founder of Chameleon Biosciences, a biotechnology company focused on safer, more effective gene therapies joins eHealth Radio and the Health News Channel.
Chameleon’s (patent pending) EVADER™ platform is helping to make it possible to treat people who previously could not be treated with gene therapy, especially children with genetic diseases such as severe Hemophilia B.
Listen to host Eric Dye & guests Genine Winslow discuss the following:
Obviously viruses are on everyone’s mind right now. The truth is that while viruses can be deadly such as in the case of COVID-19, gene therapy actually uses viruses as treatment vehicles for genetic diseases. Can you explain what it is about viruses that makes them ideal for treating genetic diseases?
As I understand it, Chameleon’s work focuses on treatments for people who can’t be treated with conventional gene therapies--why is it that some people, especially children, are untreatable?
Going into detail--back to COVID-19--the vaccines so many of us are getting are designed to prime our immune systems to help us detect and fight COVID-19. Chameleon’s work sounds like the opposite goal--to help viruses get past a person’s immune system multiple times. Talk about the science in that--where did the idea come from?
At Chameleon, you’ve developed an innovation called EVADER™. Can you explain (in simplified terms) what EVADER does to get around the issues you just described?
Obviously getting to market for something like EVADER is something that takes a lot of time and testing and funding. Can you tell us where Chameleon is in the process?
You’ve worked for many different groups as a scientist and now you run your own company. To all the managers and leaders out there, what is it that you would say scientists need in the workplace to be able to do their best work?
Genine Winslow is the CEO and co-founder of Chameleon Biosciences, a biotechnology company she founded in 2017 focused on safer, more effective gene therapies. At Chameleon, Genine combines her backgrounds in both immunology and gene therapy to engineer a next generation AAV based vector for systemic repeat dosing for children and adults who today cannot be treated with conventional gene therapies. Prior to Chameleon, Winslow has led gene therapy scientific initiatives at multiple companies including Audentes Therapeutics, BioMarin, BlueBird Bio, and Cell Genesys.
 
 
Website: https://chameleonbiosci.com 
Social Media Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChameleonBiosci Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/chameleon-biosciences-inc 

Innovative and Better for your Passsover from Kosher.com: Manischewitz and other great Kosher Brands

 
 
Shani Seidman, the Chief Marketing Officer for Kayco Kosher, the leading Kosher Brand company in the United States housing hundreds of well-known Kosher brands joins eHealth Radio and the Health News and Nutrition Channels.
Listen to host Eric Dye & guests Shani Seidman discuss the following:
As Passover approaches tell us what kinds of foods are traditional and why? 
Lets talk about Kosher.com – which is part of Kayco Kosher, what is Kosher.com and what can people expect on here in the way of better for you products and recipes as we approach Passover?
Tell us about some of the Better For Your products from Kayco starting with  Manischewitz the leading maker of the traditional Matzo and what is new from them?
You also have a Better For You Brand called Heaven & Earth, tell us about those products
In addition, Tuscanini – from Italy – tell us about that brand and products.
Shani Seidman is the Chief Marketing Officers for Kayco Kosher, the leading Kosher Brand company in the United States housing hundreds of well-known Kosher brands. Brands under the Kayco Kosher umbrella include Gefen; Heaven & Earth; Manischewitz; and Tuscanini, to name a few. Shani leads the marketing and innovation of these brands as well as leads strategy for Kosher.com , the leading resource for all things Kosher, including recipes, products, and video content geared toward everyone from those keeping kosher to those who just want to learn more about the tradition.
 
Websites: www.kayco.com | www.kosher.com | Passover.com 
Social Media Links: Instagram: https://instagram.com/kosherdotcom Facebook: https://facebook.com/kosherdotcom 

Vetster and the Pet Tele-health Medicine Market with Dr. Sarah Machell

 
 
Vetster’s Medical Director Dr. Sarah Machell joins eHealth Radio and the Animal Health and Tele-Health Medicine Channels. Vetser has helped improve access to veterinary care and services, and has stepped forward to help bridge the care gap for pet owners and veterinarians.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Dr. Sarah Machell discuss the following:
Tell us about Vetster. What is the platform and who uses it?
How does Vetster work?
We have heard that many vet offices are closing across the country due to staffing issues etc. In your professional opinion, why is that and does Vetster help close that gap?
Is Vetster mainly for sick visits or should pet owners be getting periodic wellness checks for their pets and how often should they be getting them?
Can I see the same vet every time or will I be assigned to different vets?
What is the primary differentiator between Vetster and say other telehealth vet medicine platforms out there?
With the pandemic being an ongoing concern, do you see the future of pet healthcare being telemedicine or is there ever a time to go in and see a vet?
Can Vetster prescribe prescriptions for pets?
Where can one go to sign up for Vetster?
Dr. Sarah Machell is a licensed, practicing veterinarian a 1997 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. She brings 18 years of experience in the establishment & growth of 2 successful small businesses in Oakville, Ontario; a small animal veterinary practice with 20 employees & an adjunct retail pet store.
 
 
Website: https://vetster.com
Social Media Links: Facebook: https://facebook.com/vetster.incTwitter: https://twitter.com/vetster
 

How Rise Medical is Making Sexual Wellness Mainstream with CEO Dan Markel

 
 
Dan Markel the Founder & CEO of Rise Medical, a first-of-its-kind community of medical professionals and sexual wellness experts dedicated to the personalized treatment of vitality issues through integrative care joins eHealth Radio and the Health News and Sexual Health Channels.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels & guest Dan Markel discuss the following:
Millions of people suffer in silence from sexual wellness and intimacy issues. Rise Medical has launched in the health and wellness space to illuminate sexual wellness as a key pillar of health, empower people to enter into meaningful conversations about it and provide effective, non-invasive solutions. Being the CEO of Rise Medical, how did you get into this space, and what drove you to help people in this area. How do you help people to not shy from hiding the issues but rather seek out help to live a full life.
What is your background before Rise Medical and how did you become an expert in this field?
There are many services that are offered when you go to your general physician to inquire about help in sexual wellness, what is offered at Rise and what sets you guys apart from standard protocols.
Male and female services are offered at Rise for sexual wellness, but also explain how Rise can also treat the couple stemming from Tele-Rise™, a therapeutic online service to medical treatments. Walk us through and explain the process.
Rise Medical is a first-of-its-kind community of medical professionals and sexual wellness experts dedicated to the personalized treatment of vitality issues through integrative care. Through its national network of urologists and urogynecologists, Rise provides a customized, empowering method of rejuvenating your sexual health, offering non-invasive support for men and women. Find true intimacy through cutting-edge treatments designed to quickly address a variety of vitality challenges, including enhanced male sexual performance, female vaginal rejuvenation, hormone balancing, or solutions for chronic pain and hair loss. Explore customized wellness remedies for individuals and couples, complete with flexible virtual Tele-Rise™ options from the comfort of your home/mobile device. Browse the treatments at RiseMedical.com and follow @RiseMedicalinc on Instagram to learn more.
Dan Markel is the Founder/CEO of Rise Medical, a first-of-its-kind community of medical professionals and sexual wellness experts dedicated to the personalized treatment of vitality issues through integrative care. Alongside his wife of 30 years, he aims to provide a customized, empowering approach to rejuvenating sexual health and discovering true intimacy. Growing up in a large family separated by bitter divorce led Markel to recognize the relational cost of ongoing dysfunction and disconnection. Now, armed with trademark positivity, a sense of humor, and a unique interdisciplinary perspective, he finds immense satisfaction in helping clients work toward greater connection in their relationships.
Entrepreneurial at an early age, Markel’s first business credit was a lemonade stand in which his mom and sister were key investors. He soon picked up a paper route and earned real-world sales experience hawking candy out of his socks at school. A knack for acting led him to the world of high school theater, where he met his wife. The two moved to Los Angeles to attend Loyola Marymount University, then New York, where Dan earned an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Proving you really can do it all, he juggled running a successful Los Angeles-based real estate firm with appearances on New York soap operas, all while raising a family of six.
Working toward his MBA at the University of Southern California, Markel dove into the world of investment banking on Wall Street with Morgan Stanley. There, he specialized in private equity for startups and growth companies, raising more than $100M in over 35 offerings. Meanwhile, he developed a keen interest in the specific challenges lying at the intersection of thriving work, healthy living, and quality relationships.
This led him to create practical, people-centered solutions as the founder of multiple start-ups, actively resolving real-world problems, such as establishing one of the first “live-work” loft projects in Los Angeles and founding a national recovery company to revolutionize treatment for addiction/alcoholism. He went on to co-found Intrivo Diagnostics, responsible for the first OTC Covid testing kits coupled with user friendly APP tracking/recording results for individuals and larger populations with schools, companies, and governments. His latest venture - Pure Blue Group - is making great technological advancements in areas of digital health, humanitarian aid, fitness, and healthy cuisine.
With a proven track record of entrepreneurial success a mile long, Markel’s proudest achievement remains helping to raise his four amazing children (now adults): Vivian, Jackson, Max, and Stella. Believing that “the true test of a person’s character is what he does when no one is watching,” he strives to live every day with integrity and a lens of gratitude. He currently splits time between California and his home state of Nebraska with wife and Rise Medical Co-Founder Kathleen and their two dogs, Theo and Truck.
 
 
Website: https://risemedical.com 
Social Media Links: Instagram: https://instagram.com/risemedicalinc Facebook: https://facebook.com/RiseMedicalInc Twitter: https://twitter.com/RiseMedicalInc 

Autumn DNA’s Adam Pivko Is Helping Others Stay Healthy Through Their DNA

 
 
Adam Pivko, the Co-founder of Autumn DNA, a new company that is all about Nutrigenomics joins eHealth Radio and the Health News Channel. Autumn DNA first decodes a person's DNA through an actual at-home sample, and then after examining the sample the company sends them monthly supplements and nutrients that will best suit what their DNA and body needs to stay healthy.
Listen to host Eric Dye & guests Adam Pivko discuss the following::
How do you decode someone's DNA?
Why is this process much better than just trial and error methods?
How did you even come up with this concept and idea?
What are doctors and others saying?
What's next for your company?
Adam Pivko is the Co-founder of Autumn DNA, a new company that is all about Nutrigenomics -- they first decode a person's DNA through an actual at-home sample, and then after examining the sample the company sends them monthly supplements and nutrients that will best suit what their DNA and body needs to stay healthy. It has been named one of the most innovative companies nationwide, as it actually uses science and DNA to figure out what you need, rather than trial and error, and these two guys + some of the doctors on their board created the entire process.
 
 
Website: https://tryautumn.com
Social Media Links: Instagram: https://instagram.com/autumn_dna Facebook: https://facebook.com/Autumnwellness Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/autumn-dna 

This Wall Street exec and former addict left it all to open an mental health center

 
 
Jaime Blaustein, Co-Founder and CEO, of the Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center, a world-class, dual diagnosis treatment center with a mental health focus founded by widely recognized thought-leaders in mental health and substance abuse disorders joins eHealth Radio and the Mental Health Channel.
Listen to host Eric Dye & guests Jaime Blaustein discuss the following:
Tell us about your personal journey and how you came to be the CEO of the Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center.
How is the Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center different from other centers?
What ways can family and friends encourage and support someone that they love to get treatment for mental health disorders and addiction?
What are some of the biggest mistakes family and friends make? What do you wish people knew about supporting someone that's going through a mental disorder or addiction?
What is something that you wish people would know about seeing a therapist?
We saw that Sylvia Brafman has a career mentorship program. Can you tell us more about it?
Closing Summary: We've been conditioned to think that seeing a therapist means there is something wrong with us. However, even the most resilient people can improve their well-being by going to therapy. Jaime Blaustein and Ben Brafman are hands-on experts in behavioral health, combining clinical knowledge and practical experience. In addition to clinical therapy, the Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center offers a range of wellness programs like meditation, career counseling, art therapy, and more. They strive to make patients feel like they are a part of life and our wellness package plays a big role in helping patients feel more connected to the world around them.
Mr. Jaime Blaustein is Co-Founder and CEO of SBMHC. Prior to this role, he was an investment banker at Credit Suisse in its Global Industrials coverage group in New York City. Here he was responsible for advising clients in the basic materials sector on strategic matters, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, restructurings and various debt and equity financings. Prior to this role, he worked in institutional sales at Lord Abbett, a mutual fund manager overseeing ~$150 billion in assets under management. He previously worked in wealth management at Morgan Stanley and later Wells Fargo, advising a wide array of clients on investment strategies.
Jaime received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his M.B.A. from Duke University. He is an unapologetic NY Giants, Duke Blue Devils and Michigan Wolverine fan. His interests include fitness, steakhouses, international travel, meditation retreats, and quality time with friends. Jaime is a newly minted resident of Miami. He is actively involved in sponsoring dozens of men in recovery and is beyond excited to marry his business expertise with his passion for helping others make a comeback from the depths of mental illness and addiction.
 
 
Website: https://sylviabrafman.com 
Social Media Links: Instagram: https://instagram.com/sylviabrafmancenter Facebook: https://facebook.com/sylviabrafmanmentalhealthcenter Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/the-sylvia-brafman-mental-health-center