Page 5 - MidWeek - March 30, 2022

MARCH 30, 2022 MIDWEEK 5
As a fellowship-trained neurologist who spe- cializes in headaches and facial pain at Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Dr. Katherine Podraza sees a broad spec- trum of patients, ranging from adolescents to adults as well as pregnant women with headaches.
DR. KATHERINE PODRAZA (MD, PH.D.), neurologist for Hawai‘i Pacific Health Interviewed by Don Robbins
A Specialist To Help Ease Headaches
“Being able to help pa- tients reduce their pain and lead more functional and fulfilling lives is extremely rewarding,” she says. “Giv- en all the new headache and migraine treatments devel- oped over the past few years, there has never been a more exciting time to be practicing headache medicine.”
can include novel calcitonin gene-related peptide targeted treatments, oral preventive medications, headache pro- cedural interventions such as Botox and nerve blocks, neuro- modulation, as well as wellness and lifestyle changes.
psychology while completing my pre-medical studies. I de- veloped a love for neurosci- ence and research, which led me to complete a dual degree in medicine and neurosci- ence. I obtained my medi- cal degree and Ph.D. from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. My passion for neuroscience then led me to a neurology residency at UCL A and ulti- mately two years of advanced training at the UCL A Gold- berg Migraine Program in the comprehensive treatment of headache and facial pain disorders.
I love the outdoors and in my free time you will find me either hiking or stand-up paddleboarding. I also love all forms of dance. I have previously directed a Polish folk dance group and most recently have been learning bachata dancing with my husband.
“I loved science when I was growing up and want- ed to pursue a career where I could combine my love of science with improving the lives of others,” Podraza shares. “In college I decid- ed to pursue medicine and ultimately decided to focus on neurology and headache medicine because I am fas- cinated with the brain and human behavior.”
In this article, Podraza delves further into details about her work and back- ground.
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. What tips do you have for pre- venting brain injuries?
She currently sees patients at two clinic locations — Pali Momi Medical Center and Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children. Po- draza is also an assistant pro- fessor of medicine at Univer- sity of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine.
As a migraine sufferer my- self, I understand the impact headache disorders can have on a patient’s life. I specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of headache pain syndromes, such as migraine, and facial pain disorders, such as trigeminal neural- gia. I use a multi-faceted ap- proach to improve the quality of my patients’ lives. Options
that is often underreport- ed and undertreated. As a headache specialist, I work not only to treat headache patients but also to increase awareness of migraine as a serious public health issue. It is personally fulfilling to help people understand their head- ache disorders and utilize my training as a physician, scien-
tist and neurologist to create unique, state-of-the-art, indi- vidualized treatment plans for my patients.
What specific treatments are your patients typically seeking and what types of problems do they have?
Brain injuries can be dev- astating and leave lasting impacts, so it is important to try to reduce your risks. Sim- ple everyday precautions can help — wearing seatbelts in the car, wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle or bicycle, and trying to prevent falls, especially with older adults. If you sustain a head injury, it is important to im- mediately seek medical care for evaluation.
Neurologist Dr. Katherine Podraza discusses treatment with a patient.
PHOTOS COURTESY HAWAI‘I PACIFIC HEALTH
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
What do you love most about your career?
What would you like readers to know about your medical training?
Migraine is a chronic and often debilitating disorder
When I was an undergrad- uate at Pepperdine Universi- ty, I majored in biology and
A doctor is just a screen away.
Virtual Urgent Care gives you access to physician consultation, diagnosis and treatment for non-emergency conditions through your computer or mobile device. You are why we’re reimagining health care.