This month I am writing about the hearing aid sales process and hopeful improved outcome for the patient. I often tease patients that no one ever wants hearing aids, but they all want better hearing. Every hearing health care provider in our region has gotten many of the notes I am ...

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Jasneet Bhullar, MD, MS, FACS, FASCRS, colorectal surgeon, UPMC Williamsport, offers patients an innovative latest electro-stimulation treatment option for diarrhea and bowel incontinence. InterStim† II is a discreet neurostimulator system which electrically ...

WILLIAMSPORT— Mariam Salisu, MD, MPH, recently joined UPMC’s Pain Management team. Committed to bettering the lives of individuals through medicine, Dr. Salisu received her medical degree at George Washington School of Medicine, Washington D.C. She then completed a residency in ...

We’ve faced down a lot of challenges this year, to say the least. And now, as COVID-19 cases are spiking across the nation and world, we’re coming up on a new hurdle: How to approach family gatherings this holiday season. Should you gather with friends and family like usual? Limit the ...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s a tradition for Nancy Haner Grantz to host a large crowd of family and friends for Thanksgiving dinner. The Louisville native opened her home to about 25 guests in 2019 to celebrate the holiday with turkey, stuffing and plenty of pie. This year, she’s limiting the ...

While allergies are often associated with warmer weather and high pollen counts, they can be just as bothersome in the fall and winter. Allergens like mold, dust mites and animal dander are the typical cause of allergy symptoms that occur during fall and winter months. What are ...

WILLIAMSPORT — UPMC Williamsport announces that James Pingpank, Jr., MD, FACS, has joined staff at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Dr. Pingpank specializes in the surgical treatment of patients with primary and metastatic gastrointestinal cancer, including advanced malignancies of the liver ...

The risk of heart attack is significantly higher in people with PTSD or traumatic brain injury, a new study of U.S. veterans shows. Past studies have found post-traumatic stress disorder is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Veterans have disproportionately high rates for PTSD as ...

Certain oral antiseptics and mouthwashes may have the ability to inactivate human coronaviruses, according to a Penn State College of Medicine research study. The results indicate that some of these products might be useful for reducing the viral load, or amount of virus, in the mouth after ...

HERSHEY — Dr. Glenn Buchberger is giving his patients sobering advice these days. “Unfortunately, I do not have many happy answers this year to questions about staying healthy at the holidays,” said Buchberger, an internist and pediatrician at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical ...

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps. Osteoporosis is very common, affecting one out of every two women and one ...

More U.S. patients will soon have free, electronic access to the notes their doctors write about them under a new federal requirement for transparency. Many health systems are opening up records Monday, the original deadline. At the last minute, federal health officials week gave an extension ...

WILLIAMSPORT — Dr. Ingrid Ockenhouse has joined the Primary Care team at UPMC Williamsport. Dr. Ockenhouse received her medical degree at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, where she also completed her internship and residency in internal medicine. She has over 34 years of ...

WILLIAMSPORT — Dr. Renee Muchnik, a cardiologist, has been added to the Heart & Vascular team in Williamsport. Dr. Muchnik received her medical degree at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, ...

Abortion opponents were among those most excited by the addition of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. And they had good reason to be. As a law professor and circuit court judge, Barrett made it clear she is no fan of abortion rights. She is considered likely to vote not only to ...

A proposition that would keep alive California’s first-of-its-kind stem cell research program with a $5.5 billion infusion of borrowed money had a narrow lead. With about 11 million votes counted, approval for Proposition 14 was ahead 51% to 49% late Tuesday night. If the proposition ...

FAMILY FEATURES —Traditional family activities like trick-or-treating create fun moments and memories, but the effects of COVID-19 on this Halloween will bring about change for the spooky excitement. You can still ensure a special night for your little ones and all the ghouls, goblins and ...

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) awareness month. More than 3,500 infants die each year in the United States from sleep-related deaths. In Pennsylvania that means 80 babies die each year, that’s four kindergarten classes that will never be. These deaths include sudden ...

WILLIAMSPORT— Donnamarie Lovestrand, assistant professor of nursing at Pennsylvania College of Technology, received the Pennsylvania Association of PeriAnesthesia Nurses’ 2020 Patient Advocate Award. The award was presented during the association’s Annual Education Conference, held ...

WILLIAMSPORT — UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Williamsport will host a virtual “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer” event Monday, Nov. 9 from 6 to 7 p.m. This special event is free and provides community members with the opportunity to give hope, inspiration, and support to those battling lung ...