The Scope

The Scope Radio, University of Utah Health

Podcast series by The Scope, University of Utah Health.

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67 episodes
Avg 8 min
English

Episodes 67

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August 7 · 3 min
How to Keep Your Bones Healthy and Strong as You Age
Bone loss becomes a serious health concern as we age, especially for women after menopause. Nearly half of women over 60 will experience a fracture of the hip, wrist, or spine during their lifetime. Women's health specialist Kirtly Jones, MD, explains why the foundation for lifelong bone health is built by our 30s and what we can do at every age to protect our bones. Learn how to build stronger bones, recognize your risk factors, and know when it is time to check your bone density.
August 7 · 9 min
Fertility Treatments Before Age 35
If you and your partner have been struggling to get pregnant, it may be time to consider speaking with your doctor about fertility treatments. It is important to realize the conception strategies and medical options available to you rely on the age of the woman trying to have a child. Women's health specialist Kirtly Parker Jones, MD, speaks with fertility expert Erica Johnstone, MD, about helping young women under 35 become pregnant. This episode is part of a three-part series on fertility treatments. For help getting pregnant between the ages of 35-40 or after 40, please refer to the other episodes in the series.
August 6 · 5 min
Why Diets Fail: Building a Healthier Relationship with Food
Most diets fail not because people lack willpower, but because restriction often leads to frustration and burnout. Registered dietitian Julie Metos, PhD, explains why your relationship with food changes when you change your mindset. Instead of focusing on what you should not eat, she encourages building sustainable habits that help you feel healthier, more energetic, and more in control. Whether you are trying to eat better, lose weight, or simply improve your relationship with food, learn how to create lasting habits that support long-term health.
August 5 · 20 min
Delirium in the Hospital: What Families Need to Know
Sudden confusion in an older adult who is hospitalized is not just "part of aging." It is often delirium, a preventable medical emergency. Roxanne Weiss, MD, is a hospitalist, geriatrician, and medical director of the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) at University of Utah Health. She explains the difference between delirium and dementia, why families are often the first to notice it, and what simple steps can help prevent it.
August 4 · 2 min
Debunking Old Wives' Tales: Burping Babies After Feeding
Many parents worry that if their baby does not burp after a feeding, they will end up with gas, colic, or an upset stomach. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, examines the research behind one of the most common pieces of parenting advice and explains what studies have found about burping, spit-up, and colic. Learn when burping babies may help and when it does not.
August 3 · 2 min
Severe Toothache—ER or Not?
It is Sunday morning, your molar is throbbing, and your dentist is nowhere to be found. Do you ride it out, head to urgent care, or make a beeline for the ER? Emergency physician Jeffrey Druck, MD, lays out when a toothache is just a painful inconvenience—and when it signals something more serious, like a spreading infection. Learn the red flags to watch for, and why the ER is not always your best bet for dental drama.
July 30 · 22 min
When Does Acid Reflux Require Surgery, Not Just Medication?
Medications control most acid reflux, but for some patients, the volume of reflux keeps growing. Eric Volckmann, MD, a bariatric surgeon, explains how minimally invasive laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery (GERD) works and what recovery actually looks like. He also describes how a patient's weight can affect which procedure makes the most sense.
July 29 · 18 min
Delusional Disorder: What It Is and How to Help
Yes, delusional disorder is a real, diagnosable condition. Distinct from schizophrenia, delusional disorder occurs when a person holds one or more fixed false beliefs while otherwise functioning normally. Tyler Durns, MD, a forensic psychiatrist at Huntsman Mental Health Institute, explains the causes and different types of the disorder, along with ways that families can stay connected without reinforcing the delusion.
July 28 · 6 min
The Poop on Poop: What Parents Need to Know About Constipation in Kids
Constipation is one of the most common concerns parents bring to their pediatrician, but knowing what is normal can be confusing. Cindy Gellner, MD, explains why every child’s poop patterns are different, how to recognize true constipation, and why some common concerns may not actually be problems. Learn about the causes of constipation in kids and practical tips to help your child have softer, more comfortable bowel movements.
July 27 · 4 min
Line Drive to the Head—ER or Not?
You take a softball straight to the forehead. It hurts, you are rattled, and now you are wondering: Is this just a bruise, or something more serious? Emergency physician Jeffrey Druck, MD, explains how to spot the signs of a concussion, when head injuries need an immediate ER visit, and what symptoms are safe to monitor from the sidelines.
July 23 · 17 min
Botox vs. Fillers: What's the Difference and What's Right for You
Although the terms are used interchangeably online, Botox and fillers are different substances with different uses that work in completely different ways. Sarah Akkina, MD, a facial plastic surgeon, explains how Botox relaxes muscles while filler adds volume, debunks the myth that fillers can "lift," and walks through safety questions to ask before getting any injectable.
July 17 · 15 min
How Hand Reconstruction Can Save Function After Severe Injury
A severe hand injury does not always mean permanent disability or amputation. Advances in reconstructive microsurgery now allow surgeons to restore remarkable levels of movement, strength, and sensation. Hand surgeon Laura Wong, MD, PhD, explains what modern hand reconstruction can accomplish, how treatment decisions are tailored to each patient’s goals and lifestyle, why time is critical after an injury, and the essential role of rehabilitation in helping patients regain independence and return to the activities they love.
July 13 · 16 min
What to Expect at Your First Prenatal Visit
Your first prenatal visit does more than confirm the pregnancy, and it is where your care gets personalized. Abigail Rizk, CNM/MSN, Clinical Practice Director at BirthCare HealthCare and Division Chief of the Division of Midwifery at University of Utah Health, walks through what to expect: the bedside ultrasound, the panel of prenatal labs, genetic testing options, and how to come prepared with your family health history. She also explains how the midwifery team connects you to specialists in behavioral health, maternal-fetal medicine, and more, so your care fits your specific situation from day one.
July 1 · 18 min
Triptans, CGRPs, and Botox: Your Migraine Medication Options Explained
Migraine treatment is not a single pill; it is a toolbox. Karly Pippitt, MD, a family physician and headache specialist at the University of Utah Health headache clinic, walks through rescue medications like triptans and CGRP antagonists, prevention options ranging from blood pressure drugs to Botox, and why setting realistic expectations matters more than chasing a cure.
June 23 · 13 min
Bariatric Surgery in the GLP-1 Era: Who's a Candidate and Is It Safe?
Thinking about weight loss surgery but unsure where to start, especially with GLP-1 medications everywhere? Ellen H. Morrow, MD, MS, FACS, a surgeon with the bariatric surgery program at University of Utah Health, breaks down who qualifies, how safe it is, what life looks like afterward, and how to weigh surgery against GLP-1s when deciding which path fits your goals.
May 22 · 14 min
What Is Diabetes Burnout and What Can You Do About It?
Managing diabetes every day is exhausting, and over time, that weight can lead to something called diabetes burnout. Michelle Litchman, PhD, medical director of the Intensive Diabetes Education and Support Program at University of Utah Health, explains how burnout differs from everyday stress, the warning signs that it is setting in, and four concrete approaches to get back on track. Learn what resources are available and how to access them through your care team.
May 7 · 3 min
How to Recognize Measles Before the Rash Appears
Many people associate measles with its distinctive rash, but the illness actually begins days earlier with symptoms that look much like a severe cold. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, explains how to recognize the warning signs of measles, why the virus spreads so easily, and the serious complications it can cause in children and pregnant women. Learn what makes measles dangerous, how vaccination provides strong protection, and when to contact your child’s pediatrician.
May 7 · 17 min
Migraine or Just a Bad Headache? How to Tell the Difference
A migraine is not just a bad headache, and you do not need to be curled up in a dark room for it to count. Karly Pippitt, MD, a family physician and headache specialist at the University of Utah Health headache clinic, explains how migraines are diagnosed, what triggers them, what aura is, and when to seek treatment.
April 14 · 5 min
Measles or Something Else? How to Tell Common Childhood Rashes Apart
Measles is on every parent's radar right now, but the disease is just one of many childhood rashes that can look alarming. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, details the most common viral rashes in kids—from measles and chickenpox to scarlet fever, roseola, and hand, foot, and mouth disease—and explains when to call your child's pediatrician.
March 30 · 16 min
How Modern Glaucoma Treatment Can Protect Your Vision Long Term
A glaucoma diagnosis can feel alarming, especially knowing that optic nerve damage cannot be reversed. Rachel Simpson, MD, a glaucoma specialist at the John A. Moran Eye Center at University of Utah, explains what glaucoma does to your vision over time, why the treatment approach has shifted toward laser as a first-line option over eye drops, and how a new category of minimally invasive procedures is giving patients more options than ever before.

Showing 41–60 of 67 episodes