No. of seasons 11 Running time approx. 30 min. Original release 2004 – Current | No. of episodes 139 Original network PBS | |
Producer(s) WXXI Public Broadcasting Council & University of Rochester Medical Center | ||
Second Opinion, an American television series, is the only regularly scheduled health series on public television. Each week, series host Dr. Peter Salgo engages a panel of medical professionals and patients in honest, in-depth discussions about life-changing medical decisions. Using intriguing, real-life medical cases, the specialists grapple with diagnosis and treatment options to give viewers the most up-to-date, accurate medical information. The series is produced for public television by WXXI, The University of Rochester Medical Center and West 175 Productions. Second Opinion is made possible with support from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA).
Contents
Synopsis
Host Dr. Peter Salgo, a full-time medical practitioner, introduces patients and their intriguing real-life medical cases to a panel of specialists from around the country, who share the most up-to-date information and treatment options. Dr. Lou Papa, Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Primary Care Physician Center for Primary Care-Olsan Medical Group, and Dr. Lisa Harris,Primary Care Physician and Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics University of Rochester Medical Center are regular panelists on the show.
In addition to presenting a medical case each week, which generates a discussion among the panel to debate the pros and cons of diagnostic testing, interpret test results, and prescribe the best course of action, the series includes two special segments. “Myth or Medicine” is a field segment where viewers can send in a health claim that they have heard, and Second Opinion’s doctors and producers get to work to find out if it is a medical myth or good medicine. “Second Opinion Five" is a short segment that allows a health care provider to speak directly to the audience, giving viewers the top five things they need to know about a topic (i.e.: Five ways to prevent skin cancer, five signs that you need to go to the ER after a head injury).
According to the Second Opinion web page on PBS's web site,
"The goal of the series is to improve doctor/patient communication and empower viewers to take charge of their own healthcare, and in turn, help them navigate the medical system for better health outcomes. Second Opinion focuses on health literacy in a way that is relevant and accessible to both viewers and to physicians, in a format that engages and entertains viewers."
Online offerings
In addition to the weekly broadcast, Second Opinion engages and educates viewers through a comprehensive web site at www.SecondOpinion-tv.org. The site includes full episodes of recent seasons, medical information in the form of searchable video, resources and transcripts. The site also offers blogs and links to weekly Twitter events to provide a place for viewers to go to access trusted health information.
Series producers
Second Opinion’s executive producers are Elissa Orlando and Elizabeth Brock. Fiona Willis is the series producer. Second Opinion is endorsed by both the American Hospital Association and the Association of Academic Health Centers. The series’ principal medical advisor is Dr. Roger Oskvig, an acknowledged leader in Gerontology and associate professor of medicine at University of Rochester Medical Center, and the inaugural recipient of the 2011 WXXI President’s Award.
Episodes
Alphabetic listing of episodes