This is the first episode of The Pulse, hosted by Maria Zampetoulas. This episode features a fascinating interview with Sasha Kalcheff-Korn, who discusses the current state of the cannibis industry and its impact on the patient.

Episode 2 of The Pulse features Teonna Woolford, who is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization, The Sickle Cell Reproductive Health Education Directive. Teonna was born and raised in Baltimore Maryland. She has always been talkative, friendly, and full of life. She has Sickle Cell Anemia SS and has faced numerous health complications as a result. A true fighter at heart, she has recovered from numerous complications including bilateral hip replacements, a failed bone marrow transplant, many pain crises, and several other complications. She has a zeal for effecting change throughout the Sickle Cell community and understands the realities of those impacted by the disease. While sickle cell has been a huge part of Teonna’s life, she does her best not to let sickle cell define who she is. Teonna has had opportunities to discuss sickle cell advocacy with world leaders including Former First Lady Michlle Obama and Congressman John Lewis. She has been blessed to sit at some incredible tables and contributed to publications and working committees with the American Society of Hematology and NHLBI.

James R. Doty, M.D., FACS, FICS, FAANS is a renowned American neurosurgeon, neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He retired as a distinguished professor of neurosurgery in 2020 having been affiliated with Stanford University since 1997. He remains the founder and director of the Stanford University Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) of which His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the founding benefactor. He is the former chairman of the Dalai Lama Foundation and the former vice-chair of the Charter for Compassion. Dr. Doty is the author of the New York Times and international bestseller Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart, which has been translated into over 30 languages. This is a fascinating interview hosted by Maria Zampetoulas as part of her The Pulse interview series.