Headache & Primary Care Podcast 

Millions of people living with migraine and other headache disorders never make it into a specialist's waiting room, and that gap is far from random. In Season 2, Episode 2 of First Contact: Headache in Primary Care, Drs. Mia Minen and Angeliki Vgontzas speak with Dr. Elizabeth Loder about the systemic barriers that prevent underserved populations from accessing quality headache care. From geographic shortages and insurance hurdles to VIP referral pipelines and language barriers, Dr. Loder breaks down who gets left out and why, and offers practical, affordable strategies primary care providers can use right now. You'll also hear how e-consults, embedded specialty clinics, and professional society guidance are helping bridge the gap for special populations, including pregnant women, adolescents, and elderly patients.

Advocacy plays a critical role in improving headache and migraine care by shaping research funding, policy, and access to treatment. Learn how clinicians and patients work together to drive meaningful change with insights from Robert Shapiro, MD, PHD, FAHS & Annika Ehrlich, DNP, FNP-C, CNRN, AQH.

In recent years, many new medications have been developed and approved for the treatment of headache and migraine disorders. Dr. Claire Sandoe and Dr. Michael J. Marmura review each of these new agents to help primary care providers feel comfortable incorporating them into their treatment plan.

When migraine or headache pain is at its peak and usual treatments aren’t effective, patients often turn to the emergency department for relief. In this episode, Dr. Benjamin W. Friedman discusses headache red flags that warrant referring to the ED, treatments that are administered to patients with migraine in the ED and more.