In this episode of Thompson On-Air, host Dave Carro sits down with orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Nicholas Valente to explore what really happens when you stop “just living with” joint pain and start considering hip or knee replacement as a way to regain your quality of life. Dr. Valente walks through what is actually replaced in a joint, how modern implants and surgical techniques (including robotic-assisted options) have evolved, and why waiting too long can quietly shrink your world by limiting the activities and relationships you enjoy. He discusses how to know when it might be time for surgery, the non-surgical treatments often tried first, and what patients can realistically expect from the first days of recovery through the critical weeks of physical therapy. The conversation also addresses common fears and myths around age limits, same-day discharge, pain medications, and restrictions after surgery, emphasizing that the best outcomes come from shared decision-making with a trusted surgeon and a rehab plan tailored to the life you want to get back to living.

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• Email us at Thompson_CorporateCommunications@URMC.Rochester.edu
• Visit our website at http://www.ThompsonHealth.com/podcast

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In this episode of Thompson On-Air, host Dave Carro sits down with emergency physician and palliative care specialist Dr. Adam Cardina and nurse practitioner Alex Michaels to unpack what Advance Care Planning really is, why it matters at every stage of health, and how it can actually expand, not limit, the care options available to patients and families. Dr. Cardina and Alex explain how clarifying your values, naming a trusted healthcare proxy, and revisiting decisions over time can prevent chaos in a crisis and ensure your voice is heard even if you cannot speak for yourself. The conversation tackles common myths (including that Advance Care Planning is only for older adults or for end of life), offers simple starter questions families can use at the dinner table, and highlights how Thompson Health is weaving these conversations into everyday primary care so that planning becomes a normal, compassionate part of routine healthcare.

Contact Thompson On-Air

• Email us at Thompson_CorporateCommunications@URMC.Rochester.edu
• Visit our website at http://www.ThompsonHealth.com/podcast

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Thompson On-Air’s pilot episode takes listeners inside the world of robotic surgery with master surgeon Joseph A. Talarico, MD, F.A.C.S., Chief of Surgery at F.F. Thompson Hospital and president of the medical staff. Dr. Talarico explores what robotic-assisted surgery is, how it differs from traditional and laparoscopic approaches, and why it often means smaller incisions, less pain, shorter hospital stays, and a faster return to normal activity.​ Dr. Talarico explains how he uses the robot for many hernia, gallbladder, and colon cancer procedures, describing the robot as an extension of the surgeon’s hands rather than an autonomous machine. He addresses common misconceptions, outlines when robotic surgery is and isn’t appropriate, and emphasizes shared decision-making, detailed counseling, and careful use of non-opioid pain control to support safer recoveries.​ Drawing on roughly 3,000 robotic cases, Dr. Talarico discusses how the technology has advanced, how it improves precision and consistency, and why patients travel from across the country and even internationally to Thompson’s community-based hospital and Hernia Center of Excellence for robotic care.

Contact Thompson On-Air

• Email us at Thompson_CorporateCommunications@URMC.Rochester.edu
• Visit our website at http://www.ThompsonHealth.com/podcast

Thanks for listening!