Noma Is a Preventable Disease

An MD graduate of New York Medical College, Peter “Pete” Killcommons is an accomplished executive who has dedicated both his professional career and personal endeavors to helping those in need. He is the founder and CEO of Medweb, a teleradiology and telemedicine service provider in San Francisco. Complementing his work with Medweb, Peter Killcommons is committed to improving children’s access to healthcare in underserved regions of the world.

Poor oral health and a compromised immune system can cause an extremely disfiguring and debilitating oral disease called noma. Noma starts out as a mouth blister. As the disease progresses unchecked, it causes the disintegration of soft tissues such as the lips, cheeks, and skin. At a severe stage, the disease destroys hard tissues, such as the jaw, and causes severe disfigurement of the face.

Noma is a preventable disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), noma can be prevented through quality childhood vaccination (which boosts the overall strength of the body’s immune system), proper nutrition, proper breastfeeding practices, and good oral hygiene.

While noma is caused by an unknown infectious disease, it is not contagious. Children from the ages of 2 to 6 in underserved regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America are susceptible to noma. Without treatment, the condition is ultimately fatal in 90 percent of cases. Even after treatment, adverse complications like difficulty eating or speaking, severe facial disfigurement, and related social stigma often remain.

About the Experimental Aircraft Association

San Francisco, California resident Peter “Pete” Killcommons has been the CEO of Medweb, a teleradiology and telemedicine solutions provider, since 1992. Outside of work, Peter Killcommons enjoys flying and holds membership with various related organizations, including the American Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

Headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, EAA is a non-profit organization uniting aviation enthusiasts of diverse interests and backgrounds, from aircraft builders and restorers to recreational pilots to people enjoying flying.

Its origin traces back to 1953 and a Milwaukee airplane club with about 40 members, founded by Paul H. Poberezny, EAA’s long-serving president and chairman of the board. Developing a passion for aviation from an early age, Poberezny started flying during high school and continued as a war pilot. He was also directly involved with aircraft design and building. Poberezny’s aviation career spanned more than seven decades and surpassed 500 different types of aircraft.

Originally, EAA comprised mainly local aircraft owners who built, modified, and restored their vehicles. With time, however, it expanded to a worldwide organization welcoming people of all ages and aviation interests and experiences. January 2023 marked ЕАА’s 70th anniversary and highest membership since its founding.

Currently, the organization has over 270,000 members and 900 local chapters. In addition to providing them with various educational, career, and networking resources and opportunities, EAA is committed to removing regulatory and accessibility barriers to flight. The organization has also gained international recognition for its signature event, the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, an annual fly-in convention at the end of July, gathering over 10,000 aircraft and 600,000 attendees from more than 90 countries.

Solar Photovoltaic vs. Solar Thermal Systems

With an MD degree from the New York Medical College, Peter “Pete” Killcommons is the CEO of Medweb, a San Francisco, California-based teleradiology and telemedicine service provider. Outside medicine, Peter Killcommons takes an avid interest in solar power for consumers, including solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal systems.

Solar PV and solar thermal systems both provide sustainable energy solutions by using energy from the sun. The two, however, differ fundamentally in their purpose and mechanism.

A solar PV system turns sunlight into electricity. It typically includes one or more rooftop solar PV panels, an inverter, and other electrical and mechanical hardware, such as a charge controller and utility meter. The PV panels are made from two layers of semiconductors, most often silicon, which create an electric field. The sunlight that strikes this field generates a small voltage, a direct current (DC), which the panels transport to the inverter, which, in turn, converts it into alternating current (AC) used by the electrical grid and most home appliances.

Meanwhile, a solar thermal system turns sunlight into heat. Individual systems may have different configurations, but most share components like rooftop solar thermal collectors, heat-transfer fluid, a hot water tank, a pump station, and a controller. Solar thermal collectors are filled with heat-transfer fluid and come in two main types: flat-plate and evacuated tube. As its name suggests, the first consists of flat, dark plates encased in a thermally-insulated box, while the latter comprises a set of glass tubes.

The heated by the sun heat-transfer liquid warms the hot water tank via a copper coil. The pump moves the liquid around the system, while the controller prevents freezing liquid from cooling the tank in colder weather. Besides heating household hot water, the produced thermal energy can also find application in space heaters like radiant floor heating. In this case, homeowners must install pipes on the floor through which the heat-transfer fluid can flow.

The Ethics of Radiology

Peter Killcommons is an accomplished American physician and businessman. He obtained a bachelor of science degree in medicine from City College of New York and a DMD and an MD from New York Medical College. Peter “Pete” Kilcommons is the founder and CEO of Medweb, a company specializing in radiology, telemedicine, and disaster response divisions in San Francisco.

Radiology is an essential branch of medicine that uses imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases. However, the ethical issues in this area must be considered. One of the critical ethical issues in radiology is the balance between diagnostic accuracy and radiation exposure. While imaging is essential for diagnosing many diseases, it can also expose patients to radiation that can have harmful effects, especially with repeated exposure.

Another important ethical issue in radiology is patient autonomy. Patients have the right to make informed decisions about their medical care, including whether to have imaging tests. However, some patients are reluctant to get tested because of concerns about exposure to radiation or other reasons. Radiologists must balance the benefits of testing with patient preferences and ensure they fully understand the potential risks and benefits.

Radiologists must also consider the ethical implications of the information they discover during imaging studies. For example, an imaging test may reveal a critical medical condition the patient was unaware of, such as B. Cancer. Radiologists must provide patients with accurate and comprehensive information about their condition, treatment options, and possible outcomes.

Different Ways Telemedicine Has Impacted Healthcare

Peter “Pete” Killcommons graduated from City College of New York and New York Medical College with multiple medical degrees. Peter Killcommons serves as CEO of Medweb, a provider of medical software and telemedicine in San Francisco, California.

Telemedicine has improved access to healthcare services for people living in remote or rural areas and those with mobility issues. Patients can now access medical care through virtual appointments with their doctors, eliminating the need for long-distance travel and reducing the cost and time associated with in-person consultations. Telemedicine has also enabled healthcare providers to reach more patients, particularly those who cannot visit a healthcare facility due to illness or disability.

Telemedicine has also increased the efficiency of healthcare services by reducing the workload for healthcare providers. Virtual consultations allow doctors to see more patients in a shorter period, as they can conduct consultations from anywhere. Additionally, telemedicine has reduced the number of missed appointments and decreased wait times, leading to increased patient satisfaction.

Patients, particularly those without insurance or with large deductibles, have found telemedicine to be cost-effective. Virtual consultations cost less than in-person appointments, and telemedicine can reduce the cost of transportation and parking associated with in-person visits. Additionally, telemedicine has reduced the need for preventable hospital readmissions, which can be costly for patients and healthcare providers.