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<p>“Sound Medicine” announces its program for Oct. 13, with a conversation about biomedical chimpanzee research, children&#8217;s oral hygiene and concussions in the NFL.</p>

On ‘Sound Medicine’: Biomedical chimpanzee research, corporate wellness, and concussions in the NFL

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INDIANAPOLIS — “Sound Medicine” announces its program for Oct. 13, with a conversation about biomedical chimpanzee research, children’s oral hygiene and concussions in the NFL. 

Are corporate wellness programs effective? In September, “Sound Medicine” health care policy analyst Aaron Carroll, M.D., M.S., wrote an article for Bloomberg about Pennsylvania State University’s newly adopted corporate wellness program that modified its existing insurance plans. Many businesses across the country are also buying into what Dr. Carroll describes as the false sense of hope that wellness programs promise. Dr. Carroll is an associate professor of pediatrics and the associate director of Children’s Health Services Research at Indiana University School of Medicine. He is also the director of the Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research. Ask Dr. Carroll your health insurance questions on his YouTube channel the healthcare triage.

Why did the NIH substantially cut research on chimpanzees? The National Institutes of Health recently decided to drastically reduce the number of chimpanzees used in NIH-funded biomedical research. “Sound Medicine” speaks with three experts to discuss the ramifications of the NIH decision. Jeffrey Kahn, Ph.D., MPH, is a professor of bioethics and public policy at Johns Hopkins University; he also served as the chairman of the Institute of Medicine committee that recommended the reduction. William Hopkins, Ph.D., a researcher at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, discusses the history of chimpanzees in biomedical research and why they are still valuable test subjects. Eric Meslin, Ph.D., director of the Indiana University Center for Bioethics, weighs in  from a bioethical standpoint.

How can children brush their teeth more effectively? To prevent plaque build-up and periodontal disease, children should brush their teeth three times a day for at least two minutes each time. Sandy Roob visits Allisonville Family Dentistry to speak with Marc Murphy, DDS, about ways to promote oral health in children.

What have researchers learned about concussions in the NFL? In August, the NFL reached a $765 million settlement with more than 4,500 retired players. The players accused the league of withholding information about the link between football and traumatic brain injuries. Michael Kirk, producer of the Frontline documentary “League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis,” discusses the documentary, the disbandment of the NFL’s Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee, and what researchers learned from former Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Webster. 

“Sound Medicine” covers controversial ethics topics, breakthrough research studies and the day-to-day application of recent advancements in medicine. It’s also available via podcast and Stitcher Radio for mobile phones and iPads and posts updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Co-produced by the IU School of Medicine and WFYI Public Radio (90.1 FM) and underwritten in part by Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, “Sound Medicine” airs on the following Indiana public radio stations: WBSB (Anderson, 89.5 FM), WFIU (Bloomington, 103.7 FM; Columbus, 100.7 FM; Kokomo, 106.1 FM; Terre Haute, 95.1 FM), WNDY (Crawfordsville, 91.3 FM), WVPE (Elkhart/South Bend, 88.1 FM), WNIN (Evansville, 88.3 FM), WBOI (Fort Wayne, 89.1 FM), WFCI (Franklin, 89.5 FM), WBSH (Hagerstown/New Castle, 91.1 FM), WFYI (Indianapolis), WBSW (Marion, 90.9 FM), WBST (Muncie, 92.1 FM), WBSJ (Portland, 91.7 FM), WLPR (Lake County, 89.1 FM) and WBAA (West Lafayette, 101.3 FM).

“Sound Medicine” is also broadcast on these public radio stations across the country: KSKA (Anchorage, Alaska), KTNA (Talkeetna, Alaska), KUHB (Pribilof Islands, Alaska), KUAF (Fayetteville and Fort Smith, Ark.), KIDE (Hoopa Valley, Calif.), KRCC (Colorado Springs, Colo.), KEDM (Monroe, La.), WCMU (Mount Pleasant, Mich.), WCNY and WRVO-1 (Syracuse, N.Y.), KMHA (Four Bears, N.D.), WYSU (Youngstown, Ohio), KPOV (Bend, Ore.) and KEOS (College Station, Texas).

Please check local listings for broadcast dates and times.