MedTalks: A Three-Part Series

Presented by: James Thomas, DDS, MS; Katherine Schacherl, DDS; Robert Lustig, MD

Original Presentation Date: September 24, 2021

Mini-Course Description:

• MedTalk 1: Beginning With The End In Mind: What Babies Tell Us About Our Future Selves
• MedTalk 2: Incorporating Sleep Assessment into Your Practice: An Essential Evaluative Tool
• MedTalk 3: The Hateful (or Grateful) Eight: The Subcellular Pathologies that Drive Disease

Learning Objectives:

• Comprehend the intricate connections between oral dysfunction, oral restrictive tissues, and various airway disorders affecting both children and adults.
• Analyze the multifaceted negative health outcomes linked to untreated oral dysfunction and restrictive tissues, such as difficulty breastfeeding, infant failure to thrive, feeding disorders, speech articulation challenges, oral diseases, malocclusions, TMJ/TMD issues, and breathing difficulties.
• Evaluate the impact of untreated oral issues on overall health, including effects on posture, head/neck tension, behavioral problems in children due to sleep disturbances, and the progression from early sleep-disordered breathing to severe adult sleep apnea.
• Appraise the significance of early intervention and education in preventing or slowing down the progression of negative health outcomes associated with untreated oral and airway issue

MedTalk 2

• Recognize the significance of integrating sleep quality assessment as a fundamental element within a holistic patient treatment strategy.
• Evaluate the advantages and applications of partnering with SleepImage for evaluating and analyzing patient sleep quality, considering its impact on overall health.
• Construct and justify patient case management approaches based on objective evidence derived from sleep quality assessments, illustrating the influence of these assessments on clinical decision-making processes within healthcare settings.

MedTalk 3

• Analyze the inherent limitation of chronic disease therapy in addressing symptoms without targeting the underlying disease process.
• Evaluate and categorize the eight subcellular pathologies fundamental to all chronic diseases, elucidating their role in influencing both morbidity and mortality.
• Assess and differentiate the potential for modulating the identified subcellular pathologies through dietary interventions while recognizing their incompatibility with pharmaceutical-based treatment approaches.

Speaker Bios:

Dr. James Thomas, DDS, is a pioneering figure at the intersection of pediatric dentistry and oral health's broader implications for overall well-being. His expertise lies in understanding the profound connection between oral health and general health, leading him to found health:latch. As a changemaker in the healthcare field, Dr. Thomas shifted away from traditional pediatric dentistry to create a specialized healthcare model focused on correcting oral dysfunction and supporting breastfeeding in newborns aged 0 to 3 months. With a solid commitment to authenticity, a clear vision, and unwavering values, his innovative approach aims to revolutionize health outcomes and positively transform lives. Dr. Thomas embodies a philosophy of radical kindness, fierce patience, disruptive bravery, and defiant joyfulness, emphasizing operational excellence and an unparalleled patient experience. Continually pushing boundaries, he and his team tirelessly explore innovative strategies to expand their healthcare brand's impact, evolution, and reach, driven by the belief that proper health and well-being are achievable for all.

Dr. Kate Schacherl practices general dentistry at Main Street Dentists in Verona, WI. Dr. Schacherl is a faculty member of Marquette University School of Dentistry Department of Surgical Services. Her work at the department focuses on the relationship between periodontal disease and overall systemic health. She is a teaching faculty at the Pinhole Academy, where she holds an Advanced Certification in the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique®, the minimally invasive scalpel and suture-free procedure for treating gum recession. She has lectured extensively on this topic and taught the procedure to doctors around the globe. Dr. Schacherl is a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) for KavoKerr and works with OrthoMatrix as a dental contractor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Edgewood College and a doctor of dental surgery degree from Marquette University School of Dentistry. Dr. Schacherl has completed over 1500 hours of continuing dental education, including post-graduate work in airway dentistry, orthodontics, periodontal disease, oral surgery, implants, and restorative dentistry. 

Robert H. Lustig, M.D., M.S.L. is an Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology, and a Member of the Institute for Health Policy Studies at UCSF. Dr. Lustig is a neuroendocrinologist with expertise in metabolism, obesity, and nutrition. He is one of the leaders of the current “anti-sugar” movement that is changing the food industry. Dr. Lustig graduated from MIT in 1976 and received his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1980. He also received his Masters of Studies in Law (MSL) degree at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2013. He is the author of the popular books Fat Chance (2012), The Hacking of the American Mind (2017), and the just-released book Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine. He is the Chief Science Officer of the non-profit Eat REAL, he is on the Advisory Board of the Center for Humane Technology, Simplex Health, and Levels Health, and he is the Chief Medical Officer of BioLumen Technologies, Foogal, Perfact, and Kalin Health.