ProfNet Experts Available on the Flu Season, Super Bowl Ads, More

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact them via the contact information at the end of the listing. To receive these updates by email, send a note to [email protected] with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition. 

If you are in need of additional experts, you can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network. You can filter your request by institution type and geographic location to get the most targeted responses. The best part? It's free! Just fill out the query form to get started.

If you have any questions or need assistance with any aspect of ProfNet, please drop us a note at [email protected].

EXPERT ALERTS

• Super Bowl Ads: What Works and Why
• Super Bowl Advertising Teasers on Social Media
• Pros and Cons of Health Care Reform
• Estate Warriors
• Knee Injuries in Sports

EXPERT ROUNDUP

• State of the Union Address
• Flu Season

MEDIA JOBS

• Sports Reporter – San Mateo Daily Journal (CA)
• Copy Editor – New York Daily News (NY)
• Editor (BizWomen) – American City Business Journals (NC)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Grammar Hammer: Feeling Nauseous?
• Media 411: The Popular Unpopular Stories
• The Role of Hispanic Media in 2014

EXPERT ALERTS:

Super Bowl Ads: What Works and Why
John Yorke
President and Partner
Rain43 in Canada
"The stakes are a lot higher with the cost of Super Bowl ads, so marketers need to justify the multi-million-dollar investment. The best ads are ones that resonate with the right consumer base and give them a connection to the brand. Great campaigns like P&G's 'Thanks Mom' for the Olympics know how to do it without having to be weird. But, then again, weird is always more fun for those making the ads."
Yorke, a marketing expert, leads creative agency Rain43 and is a guest host on BNN's "Money and Marketing" segment each week. He is available to offer commentary on effectiveness, strategy and possible outcomes of Super Bowl ads.
Website: http://rain43.com
Media Contact: Elise Greene, [email protected]   

Super Bowl Advertising Teasers on Social Media
Scott Hamula
Associate Professor
Roy H. Park School of Communications, Ithaca College
"Savvy advertisers are thinking outside the television box and incorporating social media into traditional television commercials. Integrating social media helps increase the amount of earned media a brand will capture and engages the audience in more active ways. Instead of passively watching a commercial, they are now interacting with the brand. The impact increases exponentially."
Hamula, an associate professor and chair in the Department of Strategic Communications in the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College, is available to discuss Super Bowl XLVIII advertising and the "teaser" advertisements some brands are using to promote their Super Bowl commercials.
Media Contact: Megan Christopher, [email protected]

Pros and Cons of Health Care Reform
Monica Kaden, MBA, ASA
Principal
Fischer Barr & Wissinger LLC
"Health care reform has pros and cons still unfolding for doctors, future medical students and hospitals. While there may be benefits to reform, there are also consequences to each of these areas."
Kaden is an accredited senior appraiser (ASA) with the American Society of Appraisers. She has performed lost profits analyses and has testified as an expert witness in business valuation and shareholder disputes. She has expertise in valuing medical and dental practices and is the author of several articles published in national publications. She is a graduate of Brandeis University with a B.A. and received her MBA at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She received her accreditation of accredited senior appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers in 2005, and was re-certified in 2010. She is presently in a post-MBA graduate program.
ProfNet Profile: http://profnetconnect.com/monicakaden
Website: http://fbwcpas.com
Media Contact: Amy Delman, [email protected]

Estate Warriors
Ronald Fatoullah, Esq.
Founder
Ronald Fatoullah & Associates
"Families who feud over the family estate are often torn apart by allegations, legal claims and counter claims. Litigation is costly and stressful. An alternative process that is gaining in popularity is estate mediation. Mediation is a process that is specifically designed to achieve a successful resolution when highly emotional and contentious conflicts arise. Mediators are neutral and work for the common good of all individuals involved."
Fatoullah is a practicing elder law attorney with more than 30 years of experience. He has an eight year inclusion as a "Best Lawyer" in New York for in the fields of elder law and trusts and estates, and he is highly regarded for his contributions to the field of elder law.
Website: http://www.fatoullahlaw.com
Media Contact: Carol Schell, [email protected]  

Knee Injuries in Sports
Dr. Kevin Stone
Orthopedic Surgeon
The Stone Clinic in San Francisco
"USA Today recently surveyed 293 players on 20 NFL teams and asked what body part they were most concerned about injuring in a game: 46 percent said knees or other parts of their legs, 24 percent said head and neck, and 26 percent said none. All athletes -- from professionals to everyday runners, joggers and skiers -- are correct to worry about knee injuries, both about the injury itself and the injury done at the time of the surgical reconstruction. Knee injuries like the one suffered by San Francisco 49er NaVorro Bowman damages both the ligament and often the surrounding cartilage. The damaged cartilage, if not repaired or replaced leads, to arthritis. At surgery, if tissue is harvested from one part of the knee to replace the ligament, the harvest itself causes injury, weakness and long-term consequences. Advances in both areas to repair and replace cartilage at the time of injury, and to replace ruptured ligaments with human donor ligaments or pig tissue loaded with the patient's own stem cells, will greatly shorten the recoveries and diminish the long-term effects."
Dr. Stone is a pioneer of advanced orthopedic surgical and rehabilitation techniques to repair, regenerate and replace damaged cartilage and ligaments. He is an orthopedic surgeon at The Stone Clinic and also the chairman of the Stone Research Foundation. He lectures around the world as an expert in cartilage and meniscal growth, replacement, and repair, and holds over 40 U.S. patents on novel inventions to improve healthcare.
Website: http://www.stoneclinic.com
Media Contact: John Goodman, [email protected] 

EXPERT ROUNDUP: State of the Union Address

Following are experts who can discuss health topics covered by President Obama in his State of the Union address. For additional experts on other SOTU-related topics, please see: http://prn.to/1fezqc0. If you need additional experts, you can also submit a query, and can filter your request by institution type and geographic location to get the most targeted responses. The best part? It's free! Just fill out the query form to get started.

Scott Finfer
CEO
Emerge CDS
"The government is creating a daunting challenge for itself by trying to change the dynamics of how the healthcare system works in parallel with what is arguably the largest healthcare IT project ever attempted. Regardless of what your political beliefs are, I'm afraid the combination of these two overwhelming projects will result in a net loss for the American people."
Emerge CDS is healthcare IT software used by cardiologists to streamline patient care.
Media Contact: Melissa Simon, [email protected]

Michael Schwartz, M.D., M.B.A.
President
OrthoTexas
"The Affordable Care Act has provided affordable premiums but not affordable care. We are seeing uninformed patients who believe that because they can afford the premium to hold insurance, they can get coverage. In reality, the deductibles are significantly higher and many are holding plans they cannot afford to use. It should be called the Affordable Premiums Act. In addition, providers severely underestimated the call volume to verify benefits. It is customary for all healthcare providers to call and verify everyone's benefits, which typically happens when you check in or at first appointment, a simple armless process. Providers are not equipped now to verify patients who received their plans via the government. This can hinder the patient being seen in a timely manner."
Media Contact: Sue Schwartz, [email protected]

Robert I. Field, Ph.D.
Professor, School of Public Health; Professor, School of Law
Drexel University
Field is a nationally known expert on health law and public health whose research focuses on ethical issues in managed care, public policy and legal facets of healthcare reform and genetic screening. He is the author of "Health Care Regulation in America: Complexity, Confrontation and Compromise" (2006), a comprehensive guide to the government's role in regulating health care. His most recent book on the American health care system, "Mother of Invention: How the Government Created 'Free-Market' Health Care," was released by Oxford University Press in November 2013.
Website: http://drexel.edu/law/faculty/FacultyProfiles/Robert%20Field/
Contact: Alex McKechnie, [email protected]   

John Higgins, M.D.
Exercise Physiologist, Sports Cardiologist
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Dr. Higgins prescribes exercise programs for people with heart disease. Practicing what he preaches, Dr. Higgins completed a marathon in Houston earlier this month. He has written scholarly articles on energy drinks and their reported health risks, as well as conducted research on heart problems in young athletes. He is an associate professor in the Division of Cardiology at the UTHealth Medical School, the director of exercise physiology at Memorial Hermann Ironman Sports Medicine Institute, and chief of cardiology at the Harris Health System Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital.
Dr. Higgins is available to discuss the First Lady's "Let's Move" program and the many health benefits of physical activity, which include preventing chronic disease, enhancing productivity and improving quality of life. When it comes to fitness, Dr. Higgins says, "By exercise we win!"
Media Contact: Rob Cahill, [email protected]

Michael Gomes
Senior Vice President
BenefitMall
As senior vice president, Gomes heads up all government and carrier relations initiatives and focuses on health care reform and compliance for both BenefitMall's insurance and payroll divisions. A veteran of the insurance industry, Gomes has more than 30 years of experience in planning, developing and executing national sales initiatives, including expertise in the area of government and regulatory affairs. Since 1999, he has been instrumental in driving the expansion of BenefitMall's carrier products across the nation, spearheaded the success of the sales and marketing organizations, and led the development of customer support and service programs that push customer satisfaction to exceptional levels. He upholds his commitment to the health insurance industry through his understanding and fostering of relationships to support the business endeavors of top brokers across the country. He has demonstrated this commitment by providing expert testimony and guidance on behalf of the broker community during the drafting and implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and is frequently asked to provide public testimony in front of various regulatory bodies. His focus has been towards providing guidance on how brokers can leverage their expertise to help individuals and businesses get the best possible health care solution that meets their needs at an affordable price.
Media Contact: Sue Schwartz, [email protected]

Chris Collins
Vice President and Director of Public Policy
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research
Collins is available to discuss health issues related to the SOTU address, including HIV/AIDS, PEPFAR, scientific research, global health, and more. Based in Washington, D.C., Collins joined amfAR as vice president and director of public policy in April 2009 and has spent more than 18 years working in HIV/AIDS policy and advocacy. He is the author of "Improving Outcomes: Blueprint for a National AIDS Plan for the United States," which was published by the Open Society Institute in 2007 and, most recently, was a consultant on policy and communications efforts for organizations including the Coalition for a National AIDS Strategy and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he helped coordinate the Foundation's Global HIV Prevention Working Group and reviewed grant proposals. Additionally, Collins co-founded the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC) in 2002 and served as its executive director for two years, leading the organization's advocacy and development efforts. He continues to serve on the board of AVAC. He also served as chief adviser to U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on HIV/AIDS and health policy, a role in which he developed the first Congressional legislation designed to provide incentives for the development and delivery of vaccines against AIDS, malaria, and TB. Collins is the author of dozens of publications about HIV/AIDS prevention, policy, education, and outreach. He holds a master's degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and graduated from the University of California-Berkeley with highest honors.
Media Contact: David Smith, [email protected]  

EXPERT ROUNDUP: Flu Season

Following are experts who are available to discuss flu season. If you need additional experts, you can also submit a query, and can filter your request by institution type and geographic location to get the most targeted responses. The best part? It's free! Just fill out the query form to get started.

Dr. Michael Smith, MD, MBA, CPT
Chief Medical Editor
WebMD
Smith is available to provide details about some of the leading causes of the flu, and can offer tips on how you can prevent coming down with flu symptoms. Here are a few tips Dr. Smith provides about preventing the flu: 1) Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs can be spread by touching surfaces that have the flu virus in it and then touching your mouth or eye or nose. 2) Frequently wash your hands. While hand sanitizer is great, don't rely on it as a sole antibacterial source. Alcohol-based sanitizers kill cold and flu germs if soap and water are not available. Also, try to avoid shaking hands. 3) Clean areas you frequently touch. Wipe handles, railings, keyboard, doorknobs, phone/fax-machine buttons, and equipment with anti-bacterial wipes. Don't share pens or pencils. Clean your cellphone screen. 4) Prepare. Know what symptoms are prevalent in your area by using tools, such as WebMD's Cold and Flu Map. 5) Stay home when you are sick. You can remain contagious for up to 5-7 days. 6) Get the flu vaccine. Vaccines are the surest way to prevent the flu, and new vaccines are developed each year to protect against new strains. 7) Boost your immune system by eating a well-rounded, nutritious diet; drinking water to constantly flush toxins; do something (go for a run, do yoga) to release stress and relax; get 7-8 hours of sleep; quit smoking. 8) Drink hot tea. Steam from hot drinks stimulates the hair follicles in the nose (the cilia) to flush germs. Also, using lemon will thin mucus lining.
As medical director and chief medical editor at WebMD, Smith is in charge of the medical team that is responsible for upholding the accuracy and credibility of WebMD content, including health news, features, videos, tools, and health reference information.
Bio: http://www.webmd.com/michael-w-smith
Media Contact: Suzanne Yergensen, [email protected]

D. Bruce Irwin, M.D.
Owner and Founder
American Family Care
"The influenza virus is always unpredictable, and that's why it's imperative that people protect themselves. Last year, people didn't take the flu vaccine that seriously, and we saw more seniors hospitalized from the flu than ever before. Based on what we're seeing so far, this flu will be very different than last year. We expect to see many more flu cases in younger children and younger and middle-aged adults."
Dr. Irwin founded American Family Care, the second largest privately owned urgent care operator in the country, in 1982 in Hoover, Ala. He is board-certified and a member and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is based in Birmingham, Ala.
Media Contact: Mary Erskine, [email protected]  

Dr. Eric Adkins
Medical Director, Emergency Department
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
At Ohio State, the emergency department staff has been treating patients who've come in with the flu. The Ohio Department of Health said emergency departments like this hospitalized more than 300 patients for the illness during the first week of January. Dr. Adkins said some of the patients are very sick: "I know we've had some of the patients that have been transferred in that have had a much higher acuity, or sickness from the flu that may require some type of ventilator support because they have such severe illness from the flu." He said that flu shots are best, but noted that they don't guarantee complete protection. Some adults who get influenza may only be ill for four days, not 14, with the shot: "It can lessen the symptoms of it and lessen the duration of it." Dr. Adkins also suggested that if people aren't feeling well and must leave the house, they should wear masks to avoid infecting others. The hospital offers masks for staff, as well as visitors with colds. It also provides dispensers of hand sanitizer. Dr. Adkins urged people to wash hands often, and to consider carrying a small bottle of hand sanitizer in a pocket or purse. And he explained the importance of covering a cough: "It's easy to cough in an elbow so you don't expose others around you."
Media Contact: Sherri Kirk, [email protected]

Dr. Jeffrey S. Kahn, M.D.
Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology
UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas
"Most of the vaccines are produced on eggs, and this has been an issue for individuals with egg allergies. For the first time, there are now egg-free vaccines available. There is also a live vaccine that contains weakened flu viruses that cannot replicate at the normal human body temperature."
Dr. Kahn is available to discuss prevention, trends, factors that can determine the severity of flu seasons including historical influenza patterns, and vaccine preparedness.
Q&A available at: http://tinyurl.com/ltmdpcz

Dr. Robert Haley, M.D.
Chief of Epidemiology
Professor of Internal Medicine, Clinical Sciences
UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas
"Research on flu trends over the past decade conclusively shows that when a flu outbreak occurs in communities with high immunization rates among children, the mortality rate in elderly people is greatly diminished. So immunizing the kids protects the elderly from dying from flu. That's one of the important findings from the past decade. That's what's new in flu."
News release: http://tinyurl.com/l7fe23e
Media Contact: Russell Rian, [email protected] or [email protected]

Nim Traeger
Vice President of Casualty Services
Travelers Risk Control
No doubt, the flu poses high health risks for individuals, but think about it from the business angle. With folks calling out of work or being urged to stay home to limit the spread of the flu, productivity and operations are likely to be negatively affected. Traeger can discuss contingency plans business owners and managers should implement to prepare for the flu and maintain business operations, including: making it possible for employees to work from home, deferring travel for business purposes, and making the flu vaccine available to employees.
Traeger is the practice leader for developing risk assessment and safety consulting services for Travelers Workers Compensation and General Liability insurance, including the Industrial Hygiene and Ergonomic consulting services and Products Safety units. She has more than 20 years of risk management experience.
Media Contact: Kristen Prestano, [email protected]

Dr. Muhammad A. Mirza
Medical Director
Allied Medical & Diagnostic in Clifton, N.J.
Dr. Mirza can offer his thoughts as to the trend of NYC preschools and daycares requiring all children to receive a flu shot, as well as the following flu-prevention tips to protect yourself, friends and family from weeks of misery: 1) Wash your hands. For those occasions where you are unable to wash your hands properly, keep a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 70% isopropyl alcohol or 60% ethyl alcohol) nearby. 2) Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. Try sneezing into a tissue or into the fold of your elbow. 3) Avoid frequently touching nose, eyes and mouth. Even with frequent washing, your hands are still covered in germs. 4) Keep surfaces and objects used daily clean. The flu virus can live and be transferred on a variety of surfaces. 5) Eat right. Help your body fight off flu viruses with a well-balanced diet filled with foods that are rich in vitamin C. 6) Stay active. Any type of cardio exercise will activate your body's infection-fighting defenses and stimulate your immune system. 7) Sleep. Let your body recover and fight off any germs that may have gotten into your system by getting plenty of sleep. 8) Stay hydrated. Drinking fluids, especially water, is a great way to flush out any toxins that may have found their way into your system. 9) Manage stress. Stress can affect your immune system, reducing your body's ability to fight off the flu virus or other germs. 10) Get vaccinated. Save yourself the misery and visit your doctor and get the shot.
Website: https://dravailable.com/aboutus
Media Contact: Mercedes Smith, [email protected]

Brenna Anderson, M.D.
Chief of Reproductive Infectious Diseases, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Dr. Anderson is available to discuss the importance of flu prevention for pregnant women. Here is a link to a Q&A she did on flu shots during pregnancy: http://tinyurl.com/pkoeh7y
In 2006, Dr. Anderson was selected for the Women's Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) Career Development Program at Women & Infants/Brown University, which supported her investigations of the immune system in pregnancy. In 2009, she received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award to study mucosal immunity in the acquisition of HIV. Dr. Anderson has served as the leader of the Infectious Disease Special Interest group for the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and is currently the alternate principal investigator for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Research Network at the hospital.
Website: http://www.womenandinfants.org
Media Contact: Amy Blustein, [email protected]

Dr. Carol Baker
Flu and Vaccine Expert
Texas Children's Hospital
Dr. Baker is a flu and flu vaccine expert at Texas Children's Hospital and serves on the board for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. She has participated in numerous media opportunities serving as an expert source on this topic.
Dr. Baker's research is focused on neonatal infections and vaccine-preventable diseases. Currently she is the principal investigator of a NIH-sponsored phase 2 study of the safety and immunogenicity of tetanus and diphtheria toxoid-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine in pregnant women, a co-investigator of an evaluation of post-partum Tdap vaccine with cocooning of family contacts to prevent pertussis in infants younger than 4 months of age, and a CDC-sponsored multi-center project determining the vaccine-effectiveness of rotavirus vaccines.
Media Contact: Sarah Frankoff, [email protected]

Clark Kebodeaux, Pharm.D., BCACP
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Dr. Kebodeaux is an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Shared Faculty with a community pharmacy in St. Louis. He is a nationally quoted expert on vaccines and has spoken extensively to numerous media outlets about flu season. Dr. Kebodeaux has been administering vaccinations for several years and trains other pharmacists and health care providers on their proper use.
Media Contact: Brad Brown, [email protected]

Baseem Elsawy, M.D.
Family Practice & Sports Medicine Center
Methodist Charlton Medical Center
Senior adults are particularly susceptible to the flu, and the majority of hospitalizations and deaths from seasonal influenza occur in people over the age of 65 who have underlying medical conditions. Dr. Elsawy is an articulate, experienced geriatric-medicine specialist who can discuss the impact of the flu on the senior adult population, what seniors can do to prevent the flu, the importance of the vaccine, and what seniors can do to limit its spread. He has extensive media experience in radio, print, and TV, including the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
Media Contact: Lynette Wilkinson, [email protected]

Dennis J. Cunningham, M.D.
Medical Director, Department of Epidemiology and Infection Control
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Dr. Cunningham is a member of the Section of Infectious Diseases at Nationwide Children's Hospital and an associate professor of clinical pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He is the medical director of the Department of Epidemiology and Infection Control at Nationwide Children's Hospital. His clinical and research interests include the management of children and adolescents with infectious diseases, pediatric infectious diseases and preventing hospital-acquired infections.
Media Contact: Gina Bericchia, [email protected]

Carolyn Dean, M.D., ND
Advisory Board Member
Nutritional Magnesium Association
Dr. Dean is the author of "The Complete Natural Guide to Women's Health" and can discuss natural remedies for the flu if you are worried about the toxicity of flu vaccines. She offers the following tips (take 2-3 that appeal to you or ones you already have in your cupboard): 1) Take the homeopathic Oscillococcinum at the first signs of a cold or flu. Some people use it when they travel, are in crowds, or throughout the flu season on a weekly basis. 2) Vitamin C: 1,000 mg every 1‐2 hours while awake can cut the duration of a cold or flu by several days. 3) Zinc: Choose a chelated product -- dosage: 25 mg; take two per day -- or use zinc lozenges. 4) Garlic: Place a small clove or half a clove in your mouth and let it sit without chewing through the day and night. Swallow with water when it becomes macerated, and replace. Stop if the inside of your mouth becomes irritated. 5) Drink sage tea for cough (steep 20 minutes). 6) Drink fenugreek tea for mucus (steep five minutes). 7) Use wild oregano oil, garlic, or Echinacea herbal antibiotics as tincture, tablets, or teas at least three times a day. 8) Mullein and Lobelia are for chest congestion; half a teaspoon each in hot water, three times a day. These herbs can also be used as a chest poultice for pleurisy, pneumonia, or bronchitis. 9) Detox: Use clay detox baths. Blend 1/4 to 1/2 cup of clay in your blender with 32 ounces of water and pour it into your hot water foot bath or tub. Soak for 30 minutes and shower off. Add magnesium flakes for further cleansing and muscle relaxation. Orally take a magnesium citrate powder mixed with water for better sleep and recovery.
Website: http://www.nutritionalmagnesium.org
Media Contact: Boris Levitsky, [email protected]  

Dr. Jeanne Sheffield, M.D.
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas
Dr. Sheffield's 2010 study analyzed the effects at delivery for women who got a flu shot during pregnancy versus those who did not. The results showed no increase in birth defect rates and a decrease in stillbirth rates in the group that received the shots.
News release: http://tinyurl.com/ogzmd96
Media Contact: Russell Rian, [email protected] or [email protected]

Dr. Taz Bhatia, M.D.
Integrative Health Expert and Medical Director
Atlanta Center for Holistic and Integrative Medicine
Dr. Taz is the best-selling author of "What Doctors Eat," and has had multiple national appearances on "Dr. Oz" and the "Today" show. A leading expert in living healthy and naturally, Dr. Taz suggests the following immune boosters to help your readers get through the cold and flu season: 1) yogurt with live, active cultures, to strengthen the immune system; 2) garlic, which fights infections and bacteria; 3) black or green tea, which boosts production of virus-fighting interferon in the body; and 4) mushrooms -- especially shiitake, maitake and reishi – which increase production and activity of white blood cells.
Bio: http://doctortaz.com/credentials/
Media Contact: Stephanie Wilkinson Christie, [email protected]  

Pascal James Imperato, M.D., MPH&TM
Dean of the School of Public Health
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Dr. Imperato, M.D., MPH&TM, is founding dean and dean of the School of Public Health at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. He is also distinguished service professor and director of the school's Center for Global Health. Prior to becoming dean, he was chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health in the College of Medicine. He is an expert on influenza, vaccines, and disease control. He has served as commissioner of health for the City of New York. He also served six years as a medical epidemiologist in West Africa for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he oversaw mass immunization campaigns against smallpox, measles, yellow fever, cholera, and meningococcal meningitis.
Media Contact: Ron Najman, [email protected]

Catherine Troisi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor/Infectious Disease Epidemiologist
The University of Texas School of Public Health
"All you need to do is get a flu shot, and you will be protected against H1N1. It takes about two weeks until it's fully effective. But you can be partially protected before then. If you can, don't hang around people who are sick, a good hand washing lasts at least 20 seconds, and make sure to eat healthy foods, and get plenty of rest."
Dr. Troisi is an infectious disease epidemiologist with expertise in influenza and other outbreaks. She can discuss immunizations, flu strains, viral outbreaks and other issues of public health practice in the community.
Media Contact: Hannah Rhodes, [email protected]

Brian Currie, M.D., M.P.H.
Vice President and Medical Director for Research
Montefiore Medical Center
"We are seeing the beginning of flu season in earnest – with an uptake in the past two weeks in the numbers of patients presenting with flu-like symptoms and the numbers of people with positive test results for flu. They are presenting primarily for Influenza A, not Influenza B strains. We strongly recommend that those who have not been vaccinated get their flu shots because it covers most of the current strains."
Dr. Currie is a graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed an M.P.H. in Epidemiology at the Columbia University School of Public Health. He is board certified in infectious diseases and internal medicine. He is a member of the NYSDOH Task Force on Life & the Law's Committee for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness.
Media Contact: Helene Guss, [email protected]
 

Nathan Litman, M.D.
Director of Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases
The Children's Hospital at Montefiore
"Everyone can play an important role in preventing the devastating impact of the flu. Those at greatest risk of complications from flu are children under the age of two, pregnant women and adults over the age of 65. It is not too late to get vaccinated. Antibodies that protect against the flu develop in about two weeks after vaccination, and the flu season is expected to continue through the spring."
Dr. Litman is a graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is board certified in infectious diseases and internal medicine. He has received numerous awards for teaching including from the pediatric house staff and from the Infectious Diseases fellows at Montefiore. He has been named several times in "Best Doctors in New York."
Media Contact: Helene Guss, [email protected]

Belinda Ostrowsky, M.D.
Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
Montefiore Medical Center
"In addition to getting vaccinated, we urge everyone to take common sense steps to prevent the spread of germs, including washing your hands, covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth and when sick, stay home and limit contact with other people."
Dr. Ostrowsky is a graduate of State University of NY at Stony Brook School of Medicine and did her residency at the Mayo Clinic. She is board certified in infectious diseases and internal medicine.
Media Contact: Helene Guss, [email protected]

Dr. Keri Peterson, M.D.
Internal Medicine Physician
"The 2009 H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, is the predominant virus this flu season.  As always, vaccination is the first step in flu prevention, but after getting vaccinated, it's important for everyone to follow simple steps to help prevent the spread of the flu virus. These include washing your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds, coughing and sneezing into your elbow instead of your hands, and disinfecting germ hot spots around the house that are touched most frequently – like doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls – a household disinfectant that kills 99.9 percent of cold and flu viruses, including the H1N1 strain, that can live on hard non-porous surfaces for up to 48 hours."  Dr. Peterson has been in private practice with a prominent medical group on the Upper East Side of Manhattan since 1999, and she is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association. With a demonstrated commitment to the advancement of medicine, she has several publications in leading medical and scientific journals. She is a medical contributor and columnist for Women's Health Magazine and is a regular guest on the "Today" show.
Media Contact: Anne Lohmeyer, [email protected]

Trauma Cleaning and Biohazard Removal
Andrew Whitmarsh
Operations Safety and Compliance Manager
Aftermath
"There are three simple steps to stop the spread of influenza in homes and the workplace:  1) Clean: Wipe all surfaces, including toys and doorknobs, with a household cleaning agent, such as Lysol, to rid them of germs. 2) Dry: Allow ample time to dry completely before disinfecting it. 3) Disinfect: Once the surface is clean and dry, apply a disinfectant to rid the surface of bacteria and viruses. But make sure to carefully read a product's label for instructions. Bleach is only effective if diluted properly by water."
Whitmarsh is an expert on trauma cleaning and biohazard removal, but he can explain how the same techniques that Aftermath uses to clean up crime scenes can also be used to sanitize homes during the flu season. Aftermath is a national company with local offices through the U.S., specializing in crime scene clean up and biohazard remediation following unattended deaths, homicides and suicides in homes and businesses.  With more than 16 years of experience and thousands of biohazard remediation and crime scene clean-up jobs, Aftermath is the only company offering standardized quality assurance.  Aftermath created an innovative and professional cleaning process to deliver hospital-grade sanitation to protect people from dangerous bacteria and bloodborne viruses.
Website: http://bit.ly/LNhgFB
Media Contact: Jana Spoleti, [email protected]

Maurie Markman, M.D.
National Director of Medical Oncology
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)
"From the beginning of my career, I recognized the importance of practicing medicine as a 'people's' doctor. All of my research and work has been motivated by the thought of giving patients every option to beat their disease."
A nationally-renowned oncologist, Dr. Markman is the Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs and National Director of Medical Oncology at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). He is available to comment on current flu trends and share tips about what people with chronic diseases, especially cancer patients and their families, need to know about flu and what they should do if they get sick. He has more than 20 years of experience in cancer treatment and research at some of the country's most recognized facilities, including at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Taussig Cancer Center at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. A Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Markman is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology. He also holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Bioethics from the Department of Philosophy at Cleveland State University. He has published more than 1,400 articles, editorials, peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters, reviews, letters and abstracts. In addition, he has written or co-edited 10 books and served as an editorial board member on over 40 journals. He is currently editor-in-chief of numerous oncology journals, including Oncology Digest and Current Oncology Report. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Media Contact: Brianna Huy, [email protected]

Aileen Marty, M.D., FACP
Professor of Infectious Diseases
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
"The flu cannot only make you miserable, keep you from work, school and play, it can kill. Protect yourself and your family."
Dr. Marty, has over 30 years of experience in the practice of medicine. She served 25 years in the U.S. Navy specializing in tropical medicine, infectious disease pathology, and disaster medicine and in the science, medical response and policy involving weapons of mass destruction. She has served as a professor of emerging infections and pathology at the Uniformed Services University, the Johns Hopkins University, the National Defense University, and the University of Valencia, Spain. She has worked with and for the World Health Organization in Europe, Africa, and the Americas. She has extensive in-country experience in infectious diseases, humanitarian assistance, and mass gathering medicine and she is also an anatomic and clinical pathologist with a certificate in Forensic Medicine and has served as an expert witness for various legal cases. She has worked with and for elements of DoD, DHS, DHHS (CDC, NIH), DOS, and USDA developing plans, programs, training, and policy for government agencies, the White House National Security administration, and other government agencies. She attended the Navy War College, where she trained in strategic studies, diplomacy, joint military operations and the art of war. The Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) recognized her as an expert on chemical, biological, radiation and high-energy weapons and called on her to develop plans, training and policy for government agencies including the White House and the National Security Administration. She is one of only 403 people listed in the international roster as a member of the United Nations Monitoring and Verification Team for Weapons of Mass Destruction. She has over 90 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and has edited 3 medical books on infectious diseases, biological warfare, and tropical medicine.
Media Contact: Ileana Varela, [email protected]

Anna Post
Emily Post Institute
Post is an etiquette expert and great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post. She is a co-author of Emily Post's Etiquette, 18th edition, a regular contributor to Reuters and has previously written for CNN.com and The Huffington Post. When it comes to staying healthy, she has advised people for many years on how to politely avoid physical contact when encountering a person who exhibits flu-like symptoms. Knowing good flu etiquette is an important step in helping prevent the flu. Here are a few tips: 1) Be proactive: Protect yourself from seasonal influenza by getting vaccinated every year. 2) Share space, not the flu: Flu is highly contagious. Covering sneezes and coughs is a good habit all year round, especially during flu season. The flu virus can travel up to six feet from a person who is coughing, sneezing or even just talking. 3) Be informed and show concern: If someone near you is exhibiting signs of the flu – fever, aches, chills, tiredness – encourage them to see a doctor quickly as the flu can be treated with prescription flu medicines. Don't feel uncomfortable. Just tell them, "I'm worried about you. I think you should see a doctor."
Media Contact: Darcy Keane, [email protected]

Kathy Gruver, Ph.D., LMT
Natural Health Speaker, Author, Educator and Practitioner
"By keeping our immune system strong using vitamins, minerals, herbs, homeopathics and mind/body techniques, we can stave off colds and the flu or at the very least limit their effect on us. We can debate whether it's the germ or the terrain. The terrain we can control, the germ we can't. Taking control of what we can, like our stress response can help us stay well and see enhanced health."
Gruver has been working in the natural health field for over two decades and prides herself on her balanced approach of combining safe natural remedies with judicious use of Western medicine. She is a frequent expert on radio and in print talking about natural ways to avoid the flu and how to shorten its course. She is an award-winning author and the host of the national TV show based on her first book, "The Alternative Medicine Cabinet" (winner Beverly Hills Book Awards). She has earned her Ph.D. in natural health and has authored two books on stress: "Body/Mind Therapies for the Bodyworker" and just published, "Conquer Your Stress with Mind/Body Techniques" (finalist for the USA Best Books Award). She has studied mind/body medicine at the famed Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine at Harvard Medical School and pursued further education at The National Institutes of Health. Gruver has been featured as an expert in numerous publications including Glamour, Prevention, Men's Health, Huffington Post, Yahoo.com, Ladies Home Journal, Massage and Bodyworks Magazine, and Massage Magazine. She has written dozens of health and wellness articles and contributing posts. She has also appeared as a guest expert on over 100 radio and TV shows including NPR, SkyNews London, CBS Radio, and Lifetime Television, and has done dozens of educational lectures around the country.
Media Contact: Kathy Gruver, [email protected]  

Nathan Newman, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.
President of Urgent Care Association of America
Director and Vice President of Medical Operations for Concentra, Inc.
"With the onslaught of flu cases and winter colds, this time of year can be particularly difficult to get an appointment with one's primary care physician.  The immediacy and convenience of an urgent care center can be an important resource for patients who need flu immunization, evaluation and treatment quickly and affordably."
Dr. Newman currently serves as the National Urgent Care Medical Director and Vice President of Medical Operations for Concentra, supervising the clinical operations in over 330 centers across 44 states. His role has expanded to include the National Quality Medical Director for all clinical sites at Concentra; adding over 250 worksite locations and 50 primary care clinics. He received his medical doctorate in an accelerated, three-year program at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA. As a double board-certified family physician/geriatric specialist, he participated on staff at The University of Florida-affiliated Family Medicine residency program in Jacksonville, Florida and was Chairman, Department of Family Medicine, at Orange Park Medical Center from 1994-1998. In 1998, he organized and implemented American medical systems to expatriate patients in Europe as a medical director in conjunction with Baylor College of Medicine. In this capacity, he traveled extensively throughout Europe to foster relationships with local hospitals, doctors and managed care organizations for the purpose of providing up-to-date medical care for American and British citizens. He returned to the United States to serve as chief medical officer of Family Medical and Dental Centers, a multi-specialty medical group offering pediatrics, family practice, internal medicine, OB-GYN, cardiology, pulmonology and behavioral health services in seven North Florida sites. In 2007, he became the chief medical officer of Solantic Urgent Care Centers, one of the nation's fastest growing and innovative urgent care organizations. He supervised over 150 physicians in 34 sites. An avid spokesperson for urgent care medicine, he has been interviewed on numerous radio and television shows including The Neil Cavuto Show and The Today Show. Dr. Newman is an active member of the American Medical Association, having been elected as an AMA Delegate to the House of Delegates since 2011. He is also a Delegate to the Florida Medical Association since 2009 and is active in the American Academy of Family Physicians, Florida Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Physician Executives.
Media Contact: Bridgit Strauss, [email protected]

Dr. Richard Birkel
Senior Vice President of Center for Healthy Aging
Director of the National Council on Aging's (NCOA) Self-Management Alliance
"The flu is a contagious illness that can be severe and life-threatening, especially for older adults. Each year in the United States, nine out of 10 flu-related deaths and more than six out of 10 flu-related hospital stays occur in people 65 and older. There are many vaccine options, and several have been developed for specific stages of life. For example, there is a higher dose flu vaccine for adults 65 and older that was designed specifically to address the age-related decline of the immune system."
As a national voice for older Americans and the community organizations that serve them, NCOA aims to help this age group maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Because older adults are at greater risk for the flu and its related complications, NCOA's goal is to help older Americans understand why their age makes the flu a serious health threat and to empower them and their caregivers with information about vaccination and the vaccine options available to them.
Dr. Birkel has been a public health activist and an advocate for families living with chronic illness and disability for more than 30 years. He is a national expert on long-term care, family caregiving, and the implementation of evidence-based practices in health and mental health systems. At the Center for Healthy Aging, he leads the NCOA's efforts to encourage and assist community-based organizations serving older adults in developing and implementing evidence-based health promotion/disease prevention programs. He also leads the NCOA's Self-Management Alliance, which brings together business, nonprofit, and government leaders to develop self-management tools for millions of older adults, so they can play an active role in improving their own health. Prior to coming to NCOA, he served as chief executive of the Rosalynn Carter Institute and held the Pope Distinguished Chair in Caregiving at Georgia Southwestern State University.  He received his B.A. from Yale and a Masters in Public Administration and Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Virginia.
Bio: http://www.ncoa.org/press-room/thought-leader/richard-birkel.html
Website: http://www.ncoa.org/Flu
Media contact: Jean Van Ryzin, [email protected]

Kevin Ronneberg, M.D.
Associate Medical Director
Target
Dr. Ronneberg is an expert resource on cold & flu prevention and treatment and can also answer any questions as it relates to flu vaccinations, treatment and prevention. He is very experienced speaking with the media about cold and flu prevention -- last year, he administered a flu vaccine on air to host Mario Lopez on Extra! He oversees the corporation's focus on providing high quality, affordable and convenient care to guests in a retail setting -- through Target Clinic and Target Pharmacy. Prior to joining Target in 2012, he served as a medical director for Medical Health Plan, a regional health plan serving 1.6 million lives in the Midwest. In this role, he led a health strategy and consultation team that worked directly with employers to improve the health of their employees through better plan design, utilization of health management programs and onsite health offerings. For more than 12 years, he practiced medicine with Fairview Health System in Wyoming, Minn. In 2001, he started and developed Fairview's sports medicine practice, which is now known as Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care.  His leadership at Fairview also included decreasing clinic wait times and improving quality reporting and scores in primary care clinics. He is a board certified family medicine physician who has focused on sports medicine and wellness for 12 years. He has served on the board of directors for Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center 2004 – 2012, and as the associate medical director for the Twin Cities Marathon, since 2004. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School, and he completed his residency training through the University of Minnesota at Park Nicollet Health System. He is also an avid triathlete and runner, completing more than a dozen triathlons, five marathons and numerous shorter races. He is also a father of two children, ages 2 and 10 months. He can be seen in videos for Drug Store News; Modern Healthcare; Extra TV.
Media Contact: Christina Bortner, [email protected]

Daniel P. McGee, M.D.
Spectrum Health Medical Group Physician
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital
Dr. McGee practices as a pediatric hospitalist at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. He is available to discuss the current thinking among pediatricians about what vaccines are needed and address parental concerns, such as: 1) When children should get the flu shot. 2) There are many different varieties of flu shots (at least 5). Which one is right for your child? 3) When is it not the flu and just a bad cold? 4) How is the 2013-2014 cold and flu season expected to stack up to previous years. 5) Common steps to help prevent the flu. 6) Why should I receive the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine, meningococcal (meningitis) vaccination and make sure that adolescents receive their boosters.
Media Contact: Angela Crawford, [email protected]

William Schaffner, M.D.
Past President
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
"It's not too late, but, my goodness, if you haven't been vaccinated, please do it now. It is the best way to prevent influenza."
Dr. Schaffner is immediate past-president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, and a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN. He also urges people to be aware of pneumococcal infection, a common complication of influenza that can cause a particularly severe type of pneumonia, as well as meningitis, blood poisoning and other serious infections. Influenza season is a good time for patients to ask their doctors about whether they need pneumococcal vaccination. He is active in the field of infectious disease research and has authored or co-authored more than 400 published studies, reviews and book chapters on infectious diseases. He currently serves on the editorial board of a number of scientific journals, including Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vaccine and the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). His work has focused on all aspects of infectious diseases, including epidemiology, infection control and immunization. In 2009, he received the James D. Bruce Award from the American College of Physicians for "distinguished contributions to preventive medicine." He has worked extensively on the effective use of vaccines in both pediatric and adult populations. He is a strong proponent of collaboration between academic medical centers and public health institutions.
Media Contact: Geralyn LaNeve, [email protected]; or Jen Hession, [email protected]

Susan Rehm, M.D.
Medical Director
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
People often confuse influenza with colds or stomach viruses, according to Dr. Rehm, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. She recommends a simple acronym to help identify the flu, FACTS — fever, aches, chills, tiredness and sudden onset, and advises contacting a doctor who may prescribe antiviral medication at the first sign of flu symptoms. She stresses vaccination as the first line of defense to prevent influenza, but also recommends people take daily preventive actions like hand washing and covering your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and staying home when sick to help reduce the spread of this infectious disease. Since 1983, she has been a staff physician at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH, where she serves as vice chair of the Clinic's Department of Infectious Disease and executive director of physician health. She is a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American College of Physicians. She is a member of several professional societies, including the American College of Physician Executives, the American Society for Microbiology and the American Medical Association. Since 2002, she has been honored as one of the "Best Doctors in America." She is a member of the faculty at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. She has authored publications encompassing a variety of topics in infectious disease.
Media Contact: Geralyn LaNeve, [email protected] or; or Jen Hession, [email protected]

Luis Ostrosky, M.D., FACP, FIDSA
Associate Director of Infectious Diseases Fellowship
UTHealth Medical School
Dr. Ostrosky, M.D. FACP, FIDSA, specializes in infectious diseases, hospital epidemiology, infection control, and fungal infections. He is available for interviews in English and Spanish. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and actively pursues translational and clinical research in medical mycology and hospital epidemiology. He is a professor of internal medicine at UTHealth Medical School, the associate director of infectious diseases fellowship at UTHealth Medical School and the medical director for epidemiology at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. Dr. Ostrosky obtained his medical degree from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.
Media Contact: Rob Cahill, Robert.Cahill@uth,tmc.edu

Dr. Andrew C. Eisenberg
Practicing Physician
"Annual flu vaccination is the safest and most effective prevention technique we currently have to protect against this potentially deadly disease. While flu can be dangerous for everyone, it is of particular concern for children. On average most years, more than 20,000 children are hospitalized and more than 100 children die due to flu. Flu strains can change from year to year and flu is often underestimated in its severity, therefore making it critical for the entire family to get vaccinated each and every year to ensure everyone is protected."
Dr. Eisenberg is a practicing physician in Sarasota, Florida. He holds a bachelor's degree from Brown University as well as medical and master of health care administration degrees from Tulane University. He is an adjunct professor at Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health and is a member and past chair of the Council on Quality and Practice of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He has been a medical advisor for Families Fighting Flu since October 2007, and has worked extensively with this national, nonprofit organization to educate about the importance of annual flu vaccination for the entire family. He has participated in numerous interviews with national, regional and local media outlets. Additionally, he has led many educational initiatives, such as webinars and online summits, to provide medical perspective about the flu and ways families can stay "flu free."
Media Contact: Jenn Corrigan, [email protected]

Jon McCullers, M.D.
Pediatrician-in-Chief of Le Bonheur Children's Hospital
Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Dr. McCullers, M.D. is pediatrician in chief at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital (pronunciation La Bonner) and is one of the country's leading flu experts. He studies influenza and secondary infections like pneumonia.  Before joining Le Bonheur in 2012, he worked at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and still maintains a lab there to study flu and co-infections. He has spoken on video with parents about the flu and he gives tips on how to prevent getting sick. He also has weighed in on herd immunity for children and the importance of getting vaccinated.
Media contact: Sara Burnett, [email protected]

Dr. Theresa Ramsey
Cofounder
Center for Natural Wellness
"You want to get in front of an illness. As soon as you know you're coming down with an illness and can soak in Epsom salt, the better it will work."
Dr. Ramsey says soaking in Epsom salt helps spur a process called vasodilation, which increases white blood cell production and helps the body fight illnesses quicker. You can get Epsom salt – actually magnesium sulfate – for just a few bucks at your local pharmacy or supermarket, and doctors say soaking in it can help ease aches, calming the body as it fights the symptoms of a cold or flu.
Website: http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org
Media Contact: Peter Smolowitz, [email protected]

Dr. Margaret Philhower
Naturopathic Doctor
Soaking in Epsom salt could be especially useful for people fighting H1N1, which often causes severe body aches. Says Philhower: "Magnesium is a fantastic way to help relax the muscles and flush the lactic acid out of them. Getting a virus is the body's way to force us to detoxify, and an Epsom salt bath is one of our favorite recommendations for a gentle detoxing."
Dr. Philhower is a naturopathic doctor who has a private practice in Oregon She writes for NDHealthcare.com. She suggests soaking in Epsom salt could be especially useful for people fighting H1N1, which often causes severe body aches
Website: http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org
Media Contact: Peter Smolowitz, [email protected]

Dr. Thomas Pangburn, M.D.
Vice President
MedExpress Urgent Care
Peak flu season is here – we usually see the highest rates in February and flu season can last until May. Expect H1N1 flu to feel like most flu symptoms but your fever may be a little higher, your cough a little deeper, and you may feel even achier or more wiped out. Some patients also experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Get a flu shot now – it takes about two weeks for your body's immune system to fully protect against the virus. Getting a flu shot is a healthy choice for you, your family and the entire community. The more people who protect against the virus, the less flu in general – which is good for everyone. Besides vaccinations, the best ways to beat H1N1 are the same as they are for flu and many other winter illnesses: get plenty of sleep, eat right, disinfect shared surfaces and wash your hands often. There's more to flu season than flu – we also see a lot of colds, strep throat, laryngitis, pneumonia, ear infections and upper respiratory infections like sinusitis and bronchitis.
Media Contact: Kendel White, [email protected]

Dr. Satesh Bidaisee
Deputy Chairman of the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
School of Medicine at St. George's University, Grenada
"What can people do to prevent the flu? The best way to prevent the flu is to get the vaccine. Next, personal hygiene measures such as covering sneezes, hand washing and environmental cleanliness is critical. And, persons with the flu should limit their contact with other persons. How important is the vaccine? The annual flu vaccine is the first and most important way to prevent and to protect against the flu virus. The vaccine is particular important for persons who are at greatest risk including healthcare workers, young children (not less than six months old), pregnant women, persons with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and persons over the age of 65 years. If you do get the flu, what can you do to limit its spread? Limit contact with other persons, maintain personal and environmental hygiene and take antiviral drugs prescribed by a doctor."
Dr. Bidaisee is an associate professor and the deputy chairman for the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in the School of Medicine at St. George's University, Grenada. As a research investigator, he engages education and research activities in the areas of infectious disease prevention and control. He has written and published on the topic of human behavior, climate changes and viruses. He holds degrees as Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH). He is also a member of the Society of Biology (MSB), United States National Board of Public Health Examiners, Certified in Public Health (CPH), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health (FRSPH). He also holds memberships to several international organizations including the International Society on Infectious Diseases and the American Public Health Association.
Media Contact: Lara Cohn, [email protected]  

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• GRAMMAR HAMMER: FEELING NAUSEOUS? In today's world, saying you feel nauseous is pretty commonplace, but is it worth getting into a grammatical spat? Cathy Spicer, aka Grammar Hammer explains: http://prn.to/M4qyxO
• MEDIA 411: THE POPULAR UNPOPULAR STORIES. You may or may not agree that Justin Bieber's arrest or the USA's Olympic uniforms were newsworthy, but the truth is, these stories were everywhere last week. How did these stories become the most popular stories of the day? Evelyn Tipacti takes a deeper look: http://prn.to/1dYXxxe
• THE ROLE OF HISPANIC MEDIA IN 2014. Last week we hosted a #ConnectChat with Maritza Puello, a managing editor of Newscore at Fusion, the ABC-Univision venture that launched in October of last year. Maritza discussed Fusion, its content, the differences between Hispanic and English language stations, challenges in the industry and much more. Check out a recap of the chat here: http://prn.to/1aLLmPW

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