Some examples of how MD Expertise helped patients and their families:

• A patient with a life-threatening skin cancer of the face was initially advised to have simple local radiation therapy. She sought a second opinion from Dr. Vasquez who performed an extensive review of the medical literature. Dr. Vasquez ultimately referred her to a multi-specialty tumor board, where it was concluded that the patient’s disease necessitated aggressive surgical and radiation therapy. Dr. Vasquez guided her through this process. She is now disease free several years after her diagnosis.

• Dr. Vasquez consulted with a family regarding their mother who lived out of state. Their mother was diagnosed with a lymphoma and there was confusion about the implications of the diagnosis and the appropriate therapy. Dr. Vasquez reviewed the most recent medical literature and contacted the patient’s doctor. She clarified the situation to the family and the patient so they were reassured that the correct plan was being followed. They were very comforted to understand what to expect in the future.

• A patient with difficult to control hypertension and chronic kidney disease found it impossible to comply with a complicated treatment regimen involving several medications. After a careful review of the patient’s history, Dr. Vasquez designed a new, simpler regimen that was effective in controlling the patient’s high blood pressure and that the patient was able to follow.

• A patient with newly diagnosed breast cancer had obtained two differing opinions from two medical centers regarding the need for further surgery. Dr. Vasquez assisted the patient in understanding the rationale for the different opinions and the medical literature supporting the preferred approach. The patient was reassured and was able to undergo treatment with confidence.

• A patient with new onset, difficult to control asthmatic episodes needing hospitalization. Dr. Vasquez diagnosed a rare process causing her bronchospasm and identified successful treatments.