Mini Medical School lecture series starts March 13

SOUTH BEND -- Do cancer screenings hurt us or help us?

On March 13, an overview of the pros and cons of cancer screenings will begin the 17th annual Mini Medical School Lecture Series at Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend, 1234 N. Notre Dame Ave.

The lecture series, which is free and open to all, is designed to educate members of the general public about medical trends and enhance their ability to ask better questions of their doctors.

Five physicians will join a panel discussion at 7 p.m. March 13 in the auditorium at IU School of Medicine-South Bend. Free parking is just south of the building. A question-and-answer session will follow this and every lecture in the series.

Panelists for the March 13 event: urologist Can Talug, M.D., of the South Bend Clinic; gynecologist Etta Nevel, M.D., of Michiana Obstetrics & Gynecology; gastroenterologist Patrick O'Dea, M.D., of Michiana Gastroenterology; radiologist Samir Patel, M.D., of Radiology Inc.; and Rudolph M. Navari, M.D., associate dean and director of IU School of Medicine-South Bend and an oncologist with the South Bend Clinic.

Each Mini Medical School lecture will begin at 7 p.m. at the medical school. Here is the complete schedule:

-- March 20: "Surgical Oncology and Advanced Cancer Treatments." John Abad, M.D., of IU Health Goshen Hospital's Center for Cancer Care will review an array of treatments and novel advances such as those that change initially inoperable tumors to operable tumors for a number of cancers. He'll also highlight advances in oncology, including targeted therapies, immunotherapy, gene therapy and nano-oncology.

-- March 27: "Heart Disease: Avoiding or Overcoming the Symptoms." Cardiologist Donald Westerhausen, M.D., of North Central Cardiovascular Specialists, will review advances in treating heart diseases and steps one can take to manage the symptoms of heart disease.

-- April 3: "Mental Health Challenges and the Elderly." Psychiatrist Suhayl Nasr, medical director of psychiatry at Memorial Epworth Center, will review challenges associated with aging, steps family and caretakers can take to improve or manage age-related issues such as depression and dementia, plus health-promoting strategies.

-- April 10: "Childhood Obesity: A Critical Challenge to Child Wellness." Pediatrician Sandra Morgan, M.D., of Bristol Street Pediatric Associates, will discuss the epidemic-level growth of childhood obesity and steps parents and caretakers can take to address it.