Psoriasis Podcast - Winning the Psoriasis Cure Now Video Contest

Welcome to Psoriasis Cure Now Podcast #8. In this podcast, we interview David Straus, CEO of Withoutabox, Inc., who shares his tips and strategies for creating compelling short films, including for the $7,500 Grand Prize in the Psoriasis Cure Now Video Contest, which is accepting submissions through September 26, 2007. Withoutabox helps connect filmmakers and film audiences worldwide.

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You can also listen to it via iTunes; or you can subscribe to our podcast series via these tabs: or

Both filmmakers and audiences should visit Withoutabox to explore the world of independent film and make use of their unique tools that connect films with audiences.

If you would like to comment or sound off on this podcast, or suggest future podcast topics, you can email us at podcast AT psoriasis-cure-now.org, or call our automated comment line at 240-450-2665. Note that we may include your comments (but not your name) on our website or play your message in a future podcast, unless you tell us not to. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for your support, and thanks for listening.

Psoriasis Podcast - Doctor-Patient Communication - No. 7

Welcome to Psoriasis Cure Now Podcast #7. This podcast tries to answer the question: how can we improve doctor-patient communication. What should a doctor be asking a psoriasis patient, and what should psoriasis patients be telling their physicians? In this podcast, we interview Laurence H. Miller, MD, a dermatologist and psoriasis expert. You will learn strategies for getting the most out of your doctor visits, and will gain insights into how a top psoriasis doctor approaches treatment of this disease.

You can listen to this month's program right here:



You can also listen to it via iTunes; or you can subscribe to our podcast series via these tabs: or

Dr. Miller received his medical degree in Switzerland, from the prestigious University of Lausanne, and he did his residency at the NYU Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital. For many years, he worked at the U.S. National Institutes of Health in the skin diseases institute, and was chairing workshops on psoriasis at NIH as early as 1968. He was also an original advisor to the National Psoriasis Foundation and spent nearly three decades on their Medical Advisory Board. He is now in private practice in Chevy Chase, Maryland and is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine. An expert in psoriasis, he is also known for his commitment to his patients.

In conjunction with the release of this podcast, Psoriasis Cure Now has launched an innovative new web tool to help psoriasis patients get more out of their doctor visits. Here's how it works. Before your next doctor appointment, you answer a few questions on our website's Psoriasis Doctor Visit Questionnaire. Then, you print out the results and take it with you to your next appointment with your dermatologist (or whoever treats your psoriasis). Check it out: it could help both you and your physician improve your health.

If you would like to comment or sound off on this podcast, or suggest future podcast topics, you can email us at podcast AT psoriasis-cure-now.org, or call our automated comment line at 240-450-2665. Note that we may include your comments (but not your name) on our website or play your message in a future podcast, unless you tell us not to. We look forward to hearing from you.

This podcast is made possible by unrestricted educational grants from Amgen and Genentech, as well as contributions from listeners like you.

Thanks for your support, and thanks for listening.

Psoriasis Podcast - InnerState Documentary - No. 6 - March 2007

Welcome to Psoriasis Cure Now Podcast #6. This podcast discusses a new documentary film called InnerState, which chronicles the life of three people battling chronic diseases, including psoriasis. The podcast includes an interview with the director of InnerState, and the psoriasis patient who stars in the film.

You can listen to this month's program right here:




You can also listen to it via iTunes; or you can subscribe to our podcast series via these tabs: or

You can find more information on the film, including dates and locations of upcoming screenings, at the Innerstate website. The film was produced by Centocor, which makes Remicade for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. You can learn more about Remicade from our Podcast No. 4 - Remicade for Psoriasis.

The closing music in this podcast is an excerpt from It's All Grace by Janie Feliz, the patient with rheumatoid arthritis who appears in InnerState.

If you would like to comment or sound off on this podcast, or suggest future podcast topics, you can email us at podcast AT psoriasis-cure-now.org, or call our automated comment line at 240-450-2665. Note that we may include your comments (but not your name) on our website or play your message in a future podcast, unless you tell us not to. We look forward to hearing from you.

This podcast is made possible by unrestricted educational grants from Amgen and Genentech, as well as contributions from listeners like you.

Thanks for your support, and thanks for listening.

Psoriasis Podcast - Hand and Foot Psoriasis - No. 5 - March 2007

Welcome to Psoriasis Cure Now Podcast #5. Our topic is hand and foot psoriasis, a particularly challenging type of psoriasis that is difficult to live with and difficult to treat.

First, we speak with Craig Leonardi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in St. Louis, Missouri, and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at St. Louis University. He recently conducted a study of a biologic treatment for hand and foot psoriasis.After that, we speak with Tim Savage of Virginia. He has psoriasis on his hands, which are central to his work as a sign language interpreter. We talk to Tim about his experiences treating his hand psoriasis.

You can listen to this month's program right here:

You can also listen to it via iTunes; or you can subscribe to our podcast series via these tabs: or

We have more information on hand and foot psoriasis treatment options.

Several news items are also discussed in this podcast. Here are links to additional information on those items:

* Seventy novel treatments being studied for psoriasis.

* Government funding of psoriasis research increased in 2006.

* Psoriasis legislation introduced in Congress.

* Our Latest News page is the #1 place on the internet for breaking news (and a touch of commentary) on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

* Psoriasis Volunteer sign-up page: help us fight for a cure!

The closing music in this podcast is an excerpt from Fingers & Toes from the debut album, Happy Songs, by Maryland-based, kid-friendly band Milkshake.

If you would like to comment or sound off on this podcast, or suggest future podcast topics, you can email us at podcast AT psoriasis-cure-now.org, or call our automated comment line at 240-450-2665. Note that we may include your comments (but not your name) on our website or play your message in a future podcast, unless you tell us not to. We look forward to hearing from you.

This podcast is made possible by unrestricted educational grants from Amgen and Genentech, as well as contributions from listeners like you.

Thanks for your support, and thanks for listening.

Psoriasis Cure Now Podcast No. 4 - Remicade for Psoriasis - October 2006

Welcome to Psoriasis Cure Now's Podcast Number 4: Remicade for psoriasis. Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Centocor's Remicade (infliximab) for the treatment of adults with severe plaque psoriasis. This podcast includes interviews with a top psoriasis expert and a man treating his psoriasis with Remicade to help people understand what Remicade is and whether it might be appropriate for them.

First, we speak with renowned dermatologist Alan Menter, M.D., Chairman of the Division of Dermatology at Baylor University Medical Center, and Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Southwestern Medical School. He is also President of the International Psoriasis Council. Dr. Menter was the lead investigator for Remicade's U.S. psoriasis study.

Next, we interview Mike Hills, a Remicade patient from Virginia, who shares his experience with the treatment and walks us through an infusion from the patient perspective. Remicade is delivered via intravenous infusion in a medical setting, and is also approved for several other diseases, including psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

You can listen to this month's program right here:




You can also listen to it via iTunes; or you can click on the orange feed icon for other easy ways to subscribe to Psoriasis Cure Now podcasts:

We hope you find the interviews helpful, and inspiring: Mike Hills has found a treatment that works for him. He did not give up trying to clear his psoriasis, and we urge you not to give up either.

Finally, the podcast includes brief excerpts of the virtuosity of famed pianist Byron Janis. Mr. Janis is considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. He also has lived with psoriatic arthritis - in his hands and wrists! - for decades. You will not want to miss this brief interview with him conducted by the Arthritis Foundation a few years ago. The music that opens the podcast is Piano Sonata No.17 In D Minor, Op.31 No. 2 'Tempest': 3. Allegretto, composed by Ludwig van Beethoven, with Byron Janis. The music that closes the podcast is Mazurka for piano No. 45 in A minor, Op. 67/4. CT. 95, composed by Fryderyk Chopin, with Byron Janis. Both are available on this collection of his work.

If you would like to comment or sound off on this podcast, or suggest future podcast topics, you can email us at podcast AT psoriasis-cure-now.org, or call our automated comment line in Maryland at 240-450-2665. Note that we may include your comments (but not your name) on our website or play your message in a future podcast, unless you tell us not to. We look forward to hearing from you.

Ready to become more active on behalf of the psoriasis community? Join the battle here. Thanks for listening!

Psoriasis Cure Now Back to School Podcast - Children with psoriasis

Welcome to our "Back to School" podcast. Our topic is how to help children with psoriasis, and our guest is Amy Paller, MD, the Walter J. Hamlin Professor and Chair of Dermatology, Professor of Pediatrics, at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. Or to be more blunt: Dr. Paller is one of the nation's leading pediatric dermatologists and an expert on psoriasis in children. Everyone who knows a child with psoriasis should hear this interview, which discusses treatment strategies for psoriasis in children, what to tell a child's teacher about the disease, and how to address the emotional impact of psoriasis that can significantly impair a child's quality of life. Following that interview, we review a children's book, called "Oh, Yuck!" that discusses gross things like maggots, worms, and yes, psoriasis. And we close with a beautiful song by singer-songwriter Kevin Burdick, a psoriasis patient since age 15.

You can listen to this month's program right here:



You can also listen to it via iTunes; or you can click on the orange feed icon for other easy ways to subscribe to Psoriasis Cure Now podcasts:

We also want to tell you about another great resource we have available for parents of children with psoriasis. Our PsoriasisKids.org campaign is launching with this podcast and with our Back to School Fact Sheet about psoriasis in children. It fits on both sides of a single sheet of paper, and you should give it to your child's teachers, coaches, school nurse, etc., so that everyone caring for your child during the day knows the facts about psoriasis, how it can affect children, and how that educator can help alleviate the challenges psoriasis poses for kids. The sheet was designed with input by parents, teachers, people who had psoriasis as children and a dermatologist with extensive experience treating psoriasis. Download it FREE from PsoriasisKids.org. We hope it helps.

As discussed in the interview, new research confirms what we suspected all along: psoriasis in children impairs quality of life comparably to other chronic diseases that have traditionally been seen as more detrimental than psoriasis, like asthma, epilepsy and diabetes. So we need to keep a close watch on how children with psoriasis are faring.

Our book feature discusses "Oh, Yuck! The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty." The book includes sections on lice, maggots, vomit, snot and ... PSORIASIS. We were at first horrified, but perhaps children consdier it a badge of honor to be included in the upside down world of kids where gross is good? Is this offensive, or is it high praise? How would a boy or girl with psoriasis feel about it? Let us know what you think by emailing us at podcast AT psoriasis-cure-now.org, or by calling our automated comment line in Maryland at 240-450-2665. Remember: we may publish your comments on our website or in a future podcast, unless you ask us not to. We look forward to hearing from you!

The song that closes this podcast is "In Your Cocoon" by Salt Lake City-based singer-songwriter Kevin Burdick. Kevin suffered his first serious bout with psoriasis at the age of 15, and this song invokes how psoriasis impacted a relationship Kevin had. To hear more music from and learn more about the life of this talented musician, visit Kevin Burdick online.

Kevin Burdick has flourished despite his struggles with childhood psoriasis. Let's do all we can to ensure that every child with psoriasis can be happy and pursue his or her dreams.

Thanks for listening, and we'll be back with a new podcast in September. Don't forget to visit PsoriasisKids.org for more on children with psoriasis.

Psoriasis Podcast - The biologics breakthrough - August 2006

Welcome to Psoriasis Podcast Number Two. The heart of this podcast is an interview with Ivor Caro, M.D., Medical Director of Dermatology at Genentech, discussing what can fairly be called the biologics breakthrough for psoriasis. Biologics for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psorisis are transforming many lives, and we hope you find this introduction to biologics worthwhile. Dr. Caro was previously on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where he conducted clinical trials on a number of the biologics that are now on the market or coming to market to treat psoriasis. Genentech markets a biologic called Raptiva, and we also discuss Raptiva in the interview.

You can listen to this month's program right here:



You can also listen to it via iTunes; or you can click on the orange feed icon for other easy ways to subscribe to Psoriasis Cure Now podcasts:

If you would like to comment or sound off on this podcast, you can email us at podcast AT psoriasis-cure-now.org, or call our automated comment line in Maryland at 240-450-2665. Note that we may include your comments (but not your name) on our website or play your message in a future podcast, unless you tell us not to. We look forward to hearing from you!

Also in this podcast, we review two recent books that include depictions of psoriasis. A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America by Stacy Schiff, tells the story of Benjamin Franklin's years in France during the Revolutionary War. Throughout this time, Franklin was also battling psoriasis, and Pulitzer Prize winner Schiff writes about Franklin's psoriasis as a meaningful part of the story. It's a fascinating book about a great man. Click here for more on Ben Franklin and his psoriasis, incuding his own writings about the disease.

The second book we discuss is Sweet and Low: A Family Story by Rich Cohen. Cohen mischaracterizes psoriasis in this otherwise enjoyable book, and we have called him on it.

Finally, we close the podcast with a song by singer-songwriter--and psoriasis patient--Nik Everett. The song is "I Let The World Go 'Round" from his Summer's Gone CD. It's a catchy tune from this Philly-area artist. (We'll be featuring additional artists with psoriasis in future podcasts.)

Thanks for listening, and we'll be back in three weeks with another Psoriasis Cure Now Podcast.

July 2006 Psoriasis Podcasts - The future of psoriasis treatment

Welcome to the first ever Psoriasis Podcast. We have a wonderful series of podcasts planned for the months ahead. What is a Psoriasis Podcast? Think of it as a mini radio program that you can listen to on your computer or through your iPod. Our Psoriasis Podcasts will typically be about 30 minutes long, and will consist of one or more interviews with people who can shed light on important issues faced by people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and their loved ones.

For this first Psoriasis Podcast, we decided to look beyond the current state of psoriasis treatments and focus on the future. What will psoriasis treatment look like 10 years from now? 20? It's always risky to look into a crystal ball, but it can also be fun and inspirational. For this look into the future, we interview Steven R. Feldman, MD PhD. Dr. Feldman is a professor of dermatology, pathology and public health sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and an internationally recognized authority on psoriasis. We think you will find his insights into the future of psoriasis treatments most compelling.

Also in this program, we update you on our effort to convince Google to adhere to its stated policy and stop running paid ads for phony miracle 'cures' for psoriasis, an incurable disease. For more on that, see our Google ads news release.

Finally, we close the program with an excerpt from a new song called "Psoriatic" by eccentric cult icon Scott Walker, from his new album The Drift. It's not every day that the word "psoriatic" appears in pop culture, although this is not exactly "pop" music. In fact, we do not know how to describe it. The album has received mostly rave reviews, but we'll leave it for you to judge. Perhaps he'll cast some people with psoriatic arthritis for the music video.

You can listen to this month's program right here:



You can also listen to it via iTunes through this direct link (or by searching 'psoriasis' on iTunes); if you have iTunes on your computer, you can subscribe to our monthly podcasts directly through this link; or you can click on the orange feed icon for other easy ways to subscribe to future Psoriasis Cure Now podcasts:

If you would like to comment or sound off on this podcast, you can email us at podcast AT psoriasis-cure-now.org, or call our automated comment line in Maryland at 240-450-2665. Note that we may include your comments (but not your name) on our website or play your message in a future podcast, unless you tell us not to. We look forward to hearing from you! [Update, 7/22/06: Early reaction to this podcast has found two areas receiving the most interest. At 4:15 into the podcast, the discussion of anti-IL-12/IL-23 antibodies is pretty exciting. And at 27:00, the discussion of patient complaince is striking a chord for many patients. Please keep those comments coming.]

Of course, as we discuss in the podcast, it is imperative that everyone who cares about finding a cure for psoriasis write their lawmakers to request that psoriasis research finally receive its fair share of biomedical research funding. It will take just two minutes of your time--please enter your zip code here and submit your letters right now:

Then add your name (and optional comments) to the attached letter, and our Action Alert system will automatically forward it to your lawmakers. Don't delay--you are just two minutes away from making a BIG difference. Enter your zip and click GO now!

Dr. Feldman is also the founder of DrScore.com, a free website that lets you rate your doctors, and see how others rated doctors. It also offers information to physicians to help them improve the quality of care they are providing patients. Please check it out and rate a few of your doctors today.

If you have any questions or comments for Dr. Feldman or us about this podcast, email us at podcast AT psoriasis-cure-now.org. If there are questions of general interest, we will post Dr. Feldman's responses here.

Finally, be sure to check back here often for future psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis-related podcasts from Psoriasis Cure Now, or subscribe to our podcasts via iTunes and they will be delivered to you automatically! And please let us know what you think, and what topics you would like to see covered in future podcasts.

These podcasts are made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech, a company committed to improving the lives of psoriasis patients through expanding awareness and developing innovative research and treatments for this life-altering disease, and individual contributions from psoriasis patients and their loved ones. Like what we're doing? Please consider a tax deductible contribution.