Tick bites and concerns about Lyme disease are increasing, especially during warmer months. In this episode of Health Matters, host Courtney Allison speaks with Dr. Laura Kirkman and Dr. Karen Acker of NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell Medicine, and NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital of Children’s Hospital of New York about what people should know about ticks and Lyme disease.

Dr. Kirkman explains the types of ticks found in the U.S., where they live, and how they attach to the body. She emphasizes that not every tick bite leads to Lyme disease—it depends on the tick species, whether it carries the bacteria, and how long it remains attached.

Dr. Acker explains how Lyme disease is transmitted and outlines the stages of infection, including early symptoms such as the characteristic bullseye rash, fever, and fatigue, as well as less common complications involving the nervous system, heart, or joints.

The conversation also covers how Lyme disease is diagnosed and treated, including when testing is necessary and when a preventive dose of antibiotics may be recommended after a tick bite.

Finally, the doctors share practical strategies to prevent tick bites—from tick checks and proper clothing to repellents and safe tick removal—and discuss emerging concerns like lone star ticks and alpha-gal syndrome. Their key message: with awareness and simple precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk.

Chapters

00:00 – Understanding Ticks and Their Risks
Overview of tick species, where they live, and how they interact with humans

04:30 – What Is Lyme Disease?
How Lyme disease is transmitted, early symptoms, and stages of infection

08:45 – Diagnosis, Treatment, and Tick Removal
When to test for Lyme disease, antibiotic options, and how to safely remove a tick

12:00 – Preventing Tick Bites and Emerging Concerns
Prevention strategies, protecting kids and pets, and lone star tick risks

Key Topics Covered

Tick species in the U.S.
Where ticks live and how they attach
Lyme disease transmission
Early symptoms of Lyme disease
Bullseye rash and warning signs
Diagnosis and antibody testing
Antibiotic treatment and prevention
Proper tick removal techniques
Tick bite prevention strategies
Lone star tick and alpha-gal syndrome

Takeaway Message

A tick bite does not automatically mean Lyme disease. By checking for ticks regularly, removing them promptly, and using simple prevention strategies, you can significantly reduce your risk. When caught early, Lyme disease is highly treatable—making awareness and prevention your best tools for staying safe outdoors.

Doctor Bios

Dr. Laura Kirkman is a physician-scientist whose research focuses on the molecular pathogenesis of infection with bloodborne parasitic diseases: malaria and babesiosis. Dr. Kirkman received her M.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine with distinction in research where she benefitted from support from a Howard Hughes Medical Student research award. She completed her clinical training in internal medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital and her infectious disease fellowship at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She is an associate professor of medicine and microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Dr. Karen Acker is a pediatric hospital epidemiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital of Children’s Hospital of New York, and an assistant professor in clinical pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine. She received her medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center followed by a residency in pediatrics at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. After completing her fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in 2018, she joined the pediatric infectious disease division at Weill Cornell Medicine, and has served as a hospital epidemiologist since 2019. Her clinical and research interests include the epidemiology of infectious outbreaks and healthcare-associated infections, diagnostic stewardship, Staphylococcus aureus infections, respiratory viral infections in children, and factors influencing vaccine uptake in children. Dr. Acker is board-certified in pediatrics and board-certified for pediatric infectious diseases.

Kindness may seem simple—but it has powerful effects on our health, relationships, and longevity.

In this episode of Health Matters, host Courtney Allison speaks with Dr. Warren Ng, a psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian’s Center for Youth Mental Health, about what it really means to be kind and why it matters more than ever. Dr. Ng explains that kindness begins with intention and connection, often leading to small but meaningful actions that can ripple outward to others.

The conversation explores the biology of kindness, including how it increases oxytocin—often called the “feel-good” hormone—while boosting serotonin and reducing stress hormones like cortisol. These changes can support heart health, lower anxiety, and even strengthen the immune system.

Dr. Ng also discusses research linking kindness and social connection to longer life expectancy and better cognitive health, including studies on volunteering and brain function in older adults. He introduces the concept of “kindfulness,” or being intentional about kindness, and offers practical tips on how to incorporate it into daily life—whether through helping others, expressing gratitude, or practicing self-compassion.

Chapters

00:00 – What Is Kindness and Why Does It Matter?
Defining kindness as intention, connection, and action—and how small acts can create a ripple effect

04:00 – The Science of Kindness in the Body
How oxytocin, serotonin, and reduced cortisol improve mood, heart health, and stress levels

08:00 – Kindness, Longevity, and Brain Health
Research on social connection, volunteering, immune function, and cognitive benefits over time

11:30 – Practicing “Kindfulness” Every Day
Practical ways to be kind to others and yourself, and why connection is essential for well-being

Key Topics Covered

What kindness is and how it shows up in daily life
The “feel-good” hormones released by kind acts
Effects of kindness on stress, heart health, and immunity
The link between kindness, connection, and longevity
Volunteering and its impact on brain health and cognitive function
The concept of “kindfulness” and intentional compassion
Strategies for practicing self-kindness and building self-esteem
The role of kindness in reducing loneliness and isolation

Takeaway Message

Kindness isn’t just a social gesture; it’s a powerful driver of health. Even small, intentional acts can lower stress, strengthen connection, and improve both mental and physical well-being. In a world where many feel isolated, kindness offers a simple, meaningful way to care for ourselves and each other – and to build healthier, more connected lives.

Doctor Bio

Warren Y.K. Ng, MD, MPH is the community health director at the Center for Youth Mental Health at NewYork-Presbyterian. He is a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University, medical director for outpatient behavioral health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center; and director of clinical services, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at CUIMC; behavioral health service line clinical innovation officer, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Ng oversees the comprehensive spectrum of clinical programs in child, adolescent, and adult outpatient and community behavioral health at NewYork-Presbyterian's Division of Community and Population Health. He also oversees the psychiatric services at the NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at Children’s Hospital of New York within the outpatient, emergency department, and inpatient services. He is the immediate past president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent (AACAP) and serves on the NYS Governor's Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council. At the American Psychiatric Association (APA), he served in the Council on Children, Adolescents, and their Families. He is an Aspen Institute Health Innovator Fellow and a member of the Aspen Global Learning Network. He has been the recipient of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center's Martha Hooven Award for Excellence in Community Service.

Warren Y.K. Ng, MD, MPH - Center for Youth Mental Health | NewYork-Presbyterian