CLOSE UP Video Interviews

YOU JUST STOPPED ME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPH [ON THE SHOPPING CART] “Yes, I noticed it was my cousin, Dr. Milbourne, my name is Aaron Donaldson. He started out wanting to be a veterinarian. As a child he always loved animals, always had a lot of passion towards this life. He turned out to be a heart doctor and what a great heart doctor he is. One of the proudest moments of our entire family is him. We love him dearly.” Aaron Donaldson, outside Pathmark. Watch video interview here.

“What it is- we get involved. It’s the heart rescue program out of Chestnut Hill Hospital. The individual has a ‘STEMI’, a blockage in his neck and they get to Penn Presbyterian within a 90 minute time frame and they have a 95% recovery rate. So the fastest way to get down there for them is to take him by helicopter. This year we’re also celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Flourtown Fire Company being a hundred percent volunteer- started in 1910 and still going strong in 2010.” George B. Wilmot III, Chief, Flourtown Fire Company.

Watch helicopter evacuation and interview here.

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I NOTICE THAT OUT OF THE EYE WITH THE NEW LENS IN IT, THE WORLD SEEMS A LITTLE LESS WARM “More cool or bright?” COOL OR BRIGHT. NOW IS THAT BECAUSE MY PUPIL IS STILL OPEN? “Actually, because you’re comparing it to the right eye which is developing a mild cataract. A cataract is kind of an amber-colored filter. It’s more brownish as you get older. So your brain has been adjusting to that slightly yellowy color over the years and interpreting that as white. Now we suddenly take that amber filter away and your brain says, ‘Man, this is very bright and blue.” This is actually the correct color you’re seeing out of your left eye and your brain will adjust.” Amy E. Weber, Ophthalmologist, Wyndmoor, PA. Watch video interview here.

ANY OPINIONS ON HEALTH CARE REFORM? “I think any health care reform bill that helps people have a primary care doctor would probably be an improvement. It would be nice to see the whole bill in writing before it gets voted on so we can see exactly what’s in there. I think if it limits access to specialists or to other doctors, that would probably be a bad thing. So hopefully it will be a balance between lowering cost without restricting access to doctors… I think it would be an improvement for patients to have a medical home where there’s one doctor who knows all their conditions…” David R. Smith, MD, Chestnut Hill Family Medicine. Watch video interview here.

“I am a cardiologist and a consumer of health care as well and it is clear to me that the present health care system is deeply flawed and reform is urgently needed and, I believe, inevitable. Looking back to my years in medical school, I remember how we would discuss the impending Clinton reform proposal. We had such clarity and certainty that universal health care was a right, a necessity and that obviously the way to achieve universal health coverage would be through a public option. In my entire medical school class, we wall started out believing this. Now as time went on, as actual practicing physicians, our stance on some details may have shifted a bit and for some, quite a bit. But believe it or not, most physicians I know are still in favor of universal coverage and many are in favor of the public option.” Niku Thomas, Einstein Medical Center Cardiologist, right, introducing Wendell Potter, former head of corporate communications for CIGNA, now a vocal critic of the health insurance industry. Germantown Mennonite Church. Click here to see video.

Joe Winiarski: “Sit, sit.” THIS IS GUINNESS AND HE’S DIABETIC AND YOU’E AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST? Claresa Levetan: “Yes my specialty is diabetes.” WHAT’S THE STORY WITH GUINNESS HERE? JW: “Guinness has been a diabetic for about two years. We give him shots every two days He’s good he takes it like a champ.” CL “Two days? two times-” JW: “I mean two times a day” CL:“You know even people have to have that insulin shot on board. Usually it depends on the type of diabetes but if he’s on insulin it’s going to be a shot or two a day so don’t forget the shot of Guinness!” JW “My mom handles that.” CL: “As I mentioned it’s very common to see diabetes in cats but we also see it in dogs. I’m trained as an adult, human diabetes doctor but I’m always glad to see well cared-for diabetes with pets like dogs so thanks for bringing Guinness by.” Click here to watch video interview.

"Thank you, family in America, Charlie Affels and thank you Elizabeth Affel and thank you for the surgery Doctor A. Lee Osterman and thank you, people America." Marwan, a 27 year old Iraqi man, the subject of Close Up in the January 24, 2008 issue of the Local when he was first in the U.S. for reconstructive surgery on his arm that was badly injured from a car bomb that killed nine of his colleagues. He wanted to publicly thank his host family, the people who brought him here and his doctor in the Local on this return visit for additional surgery and therapy. He is seen here cheering at the Chestnut Hill Youth Sports Club major league baseball championship game. With the score tied at 1 to 1 going in to the bottom of the fifth of six innings, the Pirates emerged with a 5 to 1 victory over the Dodgers. 

Download Marwan thanks family in america video