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PCCSF’s Dr. Duncan Joins Women in Medicine Panel Discussion at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital

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Three decades ago, just over a third of medical students were women. Today, women make up roughly 50 percent of medical students, which means women could make up 50 percent of the physician population in the near future.

To talk about this positive growth, FHI Communications invited PCCSF’s Dr. Teresa Duncan and two other leading female healthcare professionals to be a part of its 5th annual Women in Medicine Discussion: Celebrating the Legacy, Embracing the Future hosted at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital on Tuesday, October 16th.

Dr. Duncan was and the panelists shared their unique story of the challenges they had to overcome and the opportunities that lie ahead for women in medicine.

“As women, we need to support each other,” said Dr. Duncan. “We benefit by openly talking to each other and understanding where we come from and where we’re going.”

Dr. Duncan began her training with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from West Virginia University. She then obtained her doctor of medicine degree and continued her matriculation at Marshall University, also in West Virginia. Meanwhile, she was also completing her Pediatric Residency, where she served as chief resident.

Dr. Duncan went on to move to South Florida to complete a fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami. She enjoyed living and working in Miami so much that she remained a “local” and has practiced critical care with Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida since 2003. Her interests include the care and transport of children who require specialized critical care needs and volunteer outreach services for the under served.

With more women like Dr. Duncan entering the field, it provides a new perspective, and proves that women are just as talented and capable in the medical profession.

PCCSF’s Dr. Greissman Discusses Meningitis with HealthyWay

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What may seem as a normal cold or flu could instead be the potentially life-threatening infection, meningitis. Because it’s important to act quickly, patients should understand the telltale signs of meningitis and take the appropriate medical action. Dr. Allan Greissman of Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida shared with HealthyWay what symptoms patients should look out for.

Everyone gets sick from time to time. But sometimes, what we think of as a normal cold or flu might actually be far more dangerous. With flu season fast approaching, it’s important to understand and recognize the difference between normal illness and more serious conditions.

If flu-like symptoms come on and escalate quickly, it may mean you or a loved one has actually contracted meningitis. Meningitis is an infection that causes our meninges—the membranes that provide a protective barrier for the brain and spinal cord—to swell.

Meningitis is a serious condition that requires immediate attention from a medical professional. It can be life-threatening if left untreated, so it is important to understand the telltale symptoms. When you can spot symptoms early on, you can quickly seek out medical attention that can mitigate the negative effects of the disease.

Understanding the Types of Meningitis

There are a few different types of meningitis, but bacterial and viral meningitis are the two most common.

Bacterial meningitis is the most severe form of meningitis and can be fatal, especially if treatment is delayed. There are many types of bacteria that can cause meningitis, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group B Streptococcus, and Listeria monocytogenes.

Thankfully, the introduction of and increased access to safe and effective vaccines resulted in a steady decrease in bacterial meningitis cases since the 1990s. However, cases that do occur are dangerous and can be fatal if left untreated.

Bacterial meningitis is treated with oral or IV antibiotics, and treatment can last between 10 and 21 days, according to Allan Greissman, MD, of Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida.

The second most commonly experienced meningitis is viral meningitis. Although there is no vaccine for viral meningitis, you can be vaccinated against some of the viruses that could cause meningitis, like measles, mumps, or influenza.

It helps to think of viral meningitis as a potential complication of these other viruses. This means that, although you might catch measles, mumps, or the flu from someone with viral meningitis, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will also develop viral meningitis.

“Viral meningitis will run its course and should not [be], and is not, treated with IV antibiotics,” says Greissman. He notes that one exception is a form of viral meningitis caused by the herpes viruses, which is treated with an antiviral medication.

To read the full story, visit Healthy Way.