Vanessa K. Ferrel, MD, MPH, completed postgraduate medical training in primary care and social internal medicine and obtained board-certification in internal medicine. Dr. Ferrel is passionate about employing the practices of health equity, social medicine and antiracism to achieve liberation for marginalized and oppressed people.
Annie Kou-Chow, MD, practices at Drexel's Partnership Comprehensive Care Practice and specializes in primary and preventative care for people living with HIV.
There was a time when an HIV diagnosis was believed to be a death sentence. However, with the advancement of medication over the years, that is no longer the case. Further, recent studies have found the next best thing to a cure: U=U.
My patients can expect that I will listen to their concerns, and I will explain their medical problems to them in a way they can understand. I am an open and honest communicator and use shared decision-making with my patients.
Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors and all the delicious food the season has to offer. With warmer weather upon us, you will likely start cooking out more often with family, friends and loved ones. This is a great opportunity to enjoy fresh vegetables and grilled foods, but it's also an opportune time to develop a foodborne illness. To avoid getting sick after a cookout, keep these food safety tips in mind this summer.
Tens of millions of Americans suffer from mental health illnesses each year, yet only about half of those receive treatment. As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month in May, it’s time to raise awareness about mental health issues, reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, and promote self-advocacy for those who are suffering.
In honor of World AIDS Day 2022, December 1, Drexel Medicine's Partnership Comprehensive Care Practice will be tabling at Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust and The Spot, providing HIV testing and counseling, free HIV home test kits, HIV prevention information, free condoms and more!
Frequently asked questions about U=U, or Undetectable = Untransmittable. U=U is important because it is a message of hope that is empowering to people living with HIV. It means people living with HIV can have a relationship without the fear of transmission.
Philadelphia magazine recently published its annual list of the region's "Top Doctors." The list of physicians, who were chosen by their peers, can be found in the May 2022 issue of the magazine.
January is Thyroid Awareness Month! Your thyroid is a gland in the front of your neck. It makes thyroid hormone (TSH), which helps your body use energy. TSH also keeps your brain, heart, nerves, and muscles doing their jobs.
Philadelphia magazine published its annual list of the region's “Top Doctors.” The list of physicians, who were chosen by their peers, can be found in the May 2023 issue.
You’re sniffling, your throat is scratchy, and your nose feels congested. Maybe it’s seasonal allergies, or maybe it’s COVID-19 – but how can you tell the difference?
Drexel HOPE’s mobile medical unit offers services for opioid use disorder with a multidisciplinary team of providers, peer specialists, and case workers who connect Philadelphians with the care and resources they need. Drexel HOPE is funded through a five-year Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant.
Seasonal allergies affect around 20 percent of Americans. Even if you do not have allergies, you probably know someone who does.
"At an appointment with me, patients can expect that we will get to know each other well very quickly. We will work together to achieve shared goals. Patients will get prompt responses to their calls or messages, and they will know their lab results within 24 hours of those being drawn. They will see that the providers and staff make a great team, and that we welcome them into our internal medicine family. Our goal is for every patient to appreciate that we know who they are, and we care about their well-being!"
Does eating grapefruit help decrease blood pressure? High blood pressure can be unsafe if it’s not treated. It can put you at risk for heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and other medical issues. Adjusting your lifestyle habits through diet changes, more exercise and working with your health care provider can help avoid serious medical problems.
Drexel experts offered insights that are cause for both concern and relief, given the rapid spread of this virus and the medical community’s increasing familiarity with it.
The Partnership Comprehensive Care Practice strives to be a comprehensive clinic where patients can get multiple medical needs met in a one-stop-shop format, but did you know that there are many other services offered by our team of case managers? From specialist appointment scheduling to rental and utility assistance, our case managers work with each patient on an individual basis to meet their unique social and emotional needs.
This year, your flu vaccine may be more important than ever. According to The Center for Disease Control (CDC), both flu viruses and COVID-19 will be spreading this fall and winter, and it is possible to catch both illnesses at once.
Your diet plays an enormous role in your heart's health. This is especially true for women and other people assigned female at birth , who are more likely to die of heart disease than men and people assigned male at birth. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading killer of women over age 25 and is responsible for one out of every four female deaths in the United States.