Episode Details

Episode 23: Blood Clots: DVT

The sun rises over the San Joaquin Valley, California, today is August 14, 2020. 

Pain relief is a task that always keeps doctors very busy, especially if pain relief can be accomplished by a medication that is easily-administered, given at a convenient frequency, with no adverse effects, and with no addiction potential (specially to fight the so-called “opioid epidemic”). And if that medication contributes to healing the pain-causing condition, then that’s a perfect medication for pain relief. As a result of that endless search for a perfect pain reliever, the University of Southern California Health Sciences presented a new study on July 13, 2020, revealing that kappa opioids, a significantly less addictive opioid, may both preserve cartilage in joints and also ease pain in osteoarthritis (1). Sorry UCLA, we have to accentuate the positive regardless of the source. Go Bruins! 
 

On August 11, 2020, we woke up to the news that Russia’s government registered the first COVID 19 vaccine in the world. President Vladimir Putin stated that his own daughter was inoculated with the vaccine and “she is feeling well and has high number of antibodies”. While some celebrated the Russian “big step for humanity”, some experts expressed concerns about safety, including the World Health Organization, warning Russia to adhere to standard protocols for testing a vaccine (2). 

Coronavirus has brought more than a disease to the world, it has brought extensive material for political debate and controversy. There is a joke that circulated in social media that may be relevant in this case: A patient asks her doctor, “When will this coronavirus be over?”, and the doctor answers, “I don’t know, I’m not that involved in politics”. We hope humanity steps up and joins forces to overcome this devastating disease.

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Welcome to Rio Bravo qWeek, the podcast of the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program, recorded weekly from Bakersfield, California, the land where growing is happening everywhere.

The Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program trains residents and students to prevent illnesses and bring health and hope to our community. Our mission: To Seek, Teach and Serve. 

Sponsored by Clinica Sierra Vista, Providing compassionate and affordable care to patients throughout Kern and Fresno counties since 1971. 
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“[As doctors, let’s], never forget that we have the opportunity to do more good in one day than most people have in a month."― Dr. Suneel Dhand

Dear residents, how many opportunities did you have to do good today? It’s a great privilege to be instruments to relief pain, find a solution, and bring peace and happiness to your fellow men. It’s really a privilege. We have today an experienced doctor with whom I’ve had multiple conversations, and I’m very happy for having him in our residency program. Welcome, Dr Gonzalez.

Question Number 1: Who are you? 

My name is Alejandro Gonzalez Perez, I am a second-year resident in the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program here in Clinica Sierra Vista, Bakersfield, California. I was born in Cuba where I finished medical school and completed a medical residency in Family medicine, and then a residency in Radiology. I am a father of three children, two boys and one girl. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. My favorite music: Latin music. Favorite sport: I like to go to the gym but I enjoy seeing martial art combats. Favorite movies: action, fiction, and martial arts.

Comment: I recently watched The Karate Kid in Netflix, it’s a good show, and they’ll have a sequel in Netflix this month with the same actors of the original movie. 

Question number 2: What did you learn this week?

Currently I’m on the Cardiology rotation