A cancer diagnosis sucks no matter what — but factors like income, education, racism, geography, housing, and access to health care, known as "social determinants of health," can worsen the burden. When researchers zoom out from individual experiences and survey cancer survivors, they see patterns called social determinants of health. Individual circumstances such as economic stability, physical environment, racial bias, proximity to a provider, or fluency in that provider's language can influence a survivor's health outcome before any cancer treatment begins. In this episode, we share stories of cancer mavericks who rebelled against the foreshadowing of health disparities. 23-year survivor Mary P. Lovato started a support group at her pueblo in New Mexico that expanded to reach American Indian and Alaska Native tribes across the United States. After learning she had breast cancer at 31, Maimah Karmo made it her mission to advocate for young women, Black women, and those with metastatic disease — and to end health disparities in our lifetime. Finally, health disparities researcher Dr. Carmen Guerra shares how the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center nearly doubled the number of Black patients in its clinical trials. For more information about this series, visit https://CancerMavericks.com.

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In this episode of Vax On: Matthew Zachary and Elura Nanos discuss New York’s COVID-19 surge and how some schools are taking steps to reduce the number of cases among students and staff. They also walk through what society has learned from the second year of a global pandemic.

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Today I talk to Kara Goldin — health product entrepreneur, breast cancer advocate, and the Founder and CEO of HINT Inc. Kara calls herself an accidental entrepreneur because she invented a product that she wanted but couldn’t find: unsweetened, fruit-infused water. Now HINT is available everywhere as a healthy and natural alternative to diet drinks. Kara honed her chops working at AOL and Time magazine, and she even interned for John McCain way back when. Today Kara is expanding HINT to include a line of natural sunscreen and is out with a new book, Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters. Kara Goldin talks about overcoming her diet soda addiction, disrupting the beverage industry, and the importance of knowing what we put in and on our bodies.

And for information on us, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter. 

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In this episode of Vax On, Matthew Zachary and Elura Nanos talk COVID neologisms and reminisce about 80s TV. They also break down the latest travel restrictions due to the new Omicron variant and the latest Sermo poll.

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Today I talk to health marketing and digital health strategist Amy West. Amy is the Head of US Digital Transformation and Innovation at Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical company that specializes in diabetes medications and devices. At Novo Nordisk, Amy makes sure patient experiences drive medical innovation. Amy was listed as one of the Medical Marketing & Media Top 40 Healthcare Transformers in 2018. And she’s still the head of her class! Amy talks about innovation, empathy, and creative problem solving for chronic illness.

And for information on us, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter.

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In celebration of World AIDS Day 2021, Matthew Zachary and guest co-host Elura Nanos welcome Krishna Stone, director of community relations for Gay Men’s Health Crisis, and Damon Jacobs, New York-based licensed therapist and HIV/AIDS activist. They discuss early HIV/AIDS activism, the latest scientific advancements, and what we can all do to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The theme for the WAD 2021 observance is “Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice.” World AIDS Day was first observed in 1988. Each year, organizations and individuals across the world bring attention to the HIV epidemic, endeavor to increase HIV awareness and knowledge, speak out against HIV stigma, and call for an increased response to move toward Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. For more about WAD, visit https://www.hiv.gov.

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Today I talk to multimedia guru and patient influencer Kathy Reagan Young. She’s been blogging since before that was a word. She’s a video producer. And she hosts an amazing podcast called FUMS, an acronym for Fuck You Multiple Sclerosis. And yes swearing like a sailor is also in her toolkit. When Kathy was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis she didn’t let that stop her from being the badass that she is. Instead, she took to the web and started an online MS support community. And she launched the FUMS podcast - a new addition to the OffScrip Health network. Kathy talks about all that as well as the psychedelic effects of Amazonian frog venom and the physics behind ’80s hair.

For more on Kathy’s podcast, visit FUMSnow.com. And for information on us, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter.

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In this episode, Matthew Zachary, Elura Nanos, and guest Amanda Ferraro discuss what they are thankful for, what they’ll be eating on Thanksgiving day, and how to avoid contracting COVID-19.

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Amanda Ferraro is the Iron Woman of cancer survivorship. She’s endured a WTF whirlwind — double pneumonia, seven brain surgeries to treat a cyst on her cerebellum, hydrocephalus, appendicitis, acute myeloid leukemia, and various complications related to those illnesses. But Amanda lived to tell the tale. She started a blog called Cancer is an Asshole, which she expanded into a podcast. Amanda continues to share her story, advocates for patients and runs a nonprofit, all while fighting chronic health problems and being a mom.

And for information on us, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter.

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In this episode of Vax On, Matthew Zachary and Elura Nanos discuss an unexpected Twitter feud about the COVID-19 vaccine. They also discuss scientific evidence that SARS-CoV-2 has been spreading explosively among our woodland friends across the United States.

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Today I talk to Melissa Boudreau, endometriosis advocate and the latest podcasting rockstar to join OffScrip Health. It took years of suffering the debilitating effects of endometriosis and a battery of unrelated tests before Melissa would finally get diagnosed with the disease. That’s because endometriosis isn’t talked about. Despite the fact that one in ten women have it, it takes an average of 7 to 10 years for most women to get diagnosed. Melissa is working to change that. She started the podcast "The Cycle" to get the conversation going and help endo patients share their stories.

Listen to The Cycle. Endometriosis Podcast. And for information on us, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter.

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For decades, the portrayal of cancer in movies and television was grim. If a character was diagnosed with cancer, it was a near certainty they'd be dead by the credits. But, like cancer treatment itself, Hollywood evolved, and many storylines about cancer became stories of survival. In this episode, we ask the question, "Who influences us and why?" From musicians to television stars, film producers to televised cancer screenings, when celebrities lend their voices to raising awareness and fundraising, that kind of star power can move mountains. Join us as we hear from voices such as actor Patrick Dempsey, StandUp2Cancer Co-Founders Katie Couric, Pam Williams, the late Laura Ziskin. Also appearing in this episode: Steven Hoffman (Professor of Global Health Law and Political Science at York University in Toronto, Canada,) Dr. Larissa Nekhlyudov (Director of Internal Medicine for Cancer Survivors at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute,) Kami Kosenko (Professor of Communication at North Carolina State University,) and Milton Kent (Former reporter and sports columnist for The Baltimore Sun). For more information about this series, visit https://CancerMavericks.com.

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In this episode of Vax On, Matthew Zachary and Andrew MacDowell discuss scientists' predictions on the COVID-19 pandemic. They also talk about the U.S. opening its borders for international travel and Sermo poll on an unexpected COVID-19 treatment.

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Ritesh Patel is Senior Partner, Global Digital Health at FINN Partners. He is a digital evangelist and has been evangelizing digital since the early days of the dot com boom in the late 1990s. As a young man, he joined Agency.com and quickly began to consult with major fortune 500 companies to evangelize the merits of the World Wide Web. (Remember that term, kids?) He's recently taken his mission on the road to speak at a wide variety of digital and healthcare-centered events worldwide, focusing primarily on digital strategy, tools, platforms, and ecosystems in Healthcare and Health Systems.

And for information on us, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter.

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In this episode of Vax On, Matthew Zachary and Elura Nanos discuss the FDA’s authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for children 5 through 11. They also discuss some of China’s aggressive tactics used to eliminate COVID-19 in the country.

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Today I talk to Allison Rosen, a science nerd, a TikTok star, a dance fanatic, a Myam Bialik look alike, and a cancer survivor. Allison was diagnosed with Stage II colon cancer at age 32. That was nearly ten years ago and ever since Allison has been using her personal experience as a cancer survivor and her training as a medical researcher to educate people about young adult cancer. She’s even taken to TikTok to talk about her ostomy bag, one of the permanent bodily changes she’s undergone since getting cancer. Allison now serves as the Project Director at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. And when she’s not working hard, she’s out living life to the fullest - on the dancefloor or on top of a surfboard.

Follow Allison Rosen on TikTok @allisonrosen4, Instagram @alicat380, and on Twitter @ARosen380.

For more information on us, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter. 

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In this episode of Vax On, Matthew Zachary and Elura Nanos dive into vaccine rates by zodiac sign, breakthrough COVID-19 deaths, and an unsettling supply chain disaster.

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Today Koby and Hannah Greenzweig, a pair of twins in their tweens, wax about adolescence in the age of Covid. Hannah loves to draw and play with Baby Tristan, her toy dinosaur. Koby loves the Terminator but didn’t care much for his fourth-grade teacher. The Greenzweigs jam about everything from video games and middle-school bullies to doing your taxes. Believe me, these kids have a lot to say. That’s because they’re my children. 

For more information on us, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter. 

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In this episode, Matthew Zachary and Elura Nanos discuss the most recent foods and goods that have been in short supply due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discuss one Miami School’s unusual vaccine mandate.

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Today I talk to baking businesswoman Loren Brill. While battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in her early twenties, Loren became interested in health foods. But she couldn’t find many store-bought snacks that weren’t loaded with artificial flavors and ingredients. So after she recovered from cancer, Loren set out on another life-affirming mission: She founded Sweet Loren’s, which specializes in vegan cookie dough made with all-natural ingredients. Because she wanted to prove that one can be good to their body without giving up the sweet things in life. 

Find out more about Sweet Loren’s at https://sweetlorens.com. For more information on us, visit https://OffScrip.com and follow @MatthewZachary, @VaxOnPod, and @OffScripHealth on Twitter. 

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