First Contact — Headache in Primary Care

About First Contact — Headache in Primary Care

Brought to you by the American Headache Society, the First Contact — Headache In Primary Care podcast breaks down topics in headache medicine for primary care providers and other healthcare professionals seeing patients with headache disorders. The goal of the program is to provide educational resources to empower healthcare professionals and improve headache and migraine care for patients.

Publisher

American Headache Society

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

31 Aug 2020

Latest episode

16 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

23 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Apr 2026

   Improving Headache Care in Underserved U.S. Communities

   Topic: Improving Headache Care for Underserved Populations Hosts: Mia Minen, MD, MPH, FAHS & Angeliki Vgontzas, MD Guest: Elizabeth Loder, MD, MPH, FAHS Description: 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.

2. 

   13 Jan 2026

   Headache Medicine Advocacy: Lessons from Headache on the Hill

   Topic: Headache Medicine Advocacy: Lessons from Headache on the Hill Hosts: Mia Minen, MD, MPH, FAHS & Angeliki Vgontzas, MD Guests: Robert Shapiro, MD, PHD, FAHS & Annika Ehrlich, DNP, FNP-C, CNRN, AQH Description: Advocacy is a powerful tool for improving care for people living with migraine and other headache disorders, and clinicians and patients can make an impact together. In Season 2, Episode 1 of First Contact: Headache in Primary Care, Drs. Mia Minen and Angeliki Vgontzas speak with Drs. Robert Shapiro and Annika Ehrlich about how headache advocacy has shaped policy, expanded access to treatments, and helped drive meaningful change through initiatives like Headache on the Hill and the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA). You’ll hear practical ways busy clinicians (and patients) can get involved, whether that’s joining advocacy events, writing to representatives, leveraging social media, or simply connecting patients with opportunities to use their voices. [00:58] Why advocacy matters in headache medicine and what’s at stake [01:38] Dr. Shapiro’s advocacy journey + the origin of Headache on the Hill [03:57] Dr. Ehrlich on joining headache care and leading AHDA [06:02] The goals of Headache on the Hill and where federal policy falls short [07:40] Advocacy wins: cluster headache oxygen coverage + VA Headache Centers of Excellence [09:15] Why patients’ voices are essential—and how clinicians and patients work together [11:11] How to participate (including virtual options) when time/travel are barriers [12:46] Other ways to get involved: letter writing, webinars, and social media [14:14] How advocacy can counter burnout and restore a sense of momentum [15:10] Advocacy as an antidote to despair and why progress is possible Learn more (https://americanheadachesociety.org/educational-programs/first-contact-program) about the American Headache Society’s First Contact - Headache in Primary Care program. Learn more (https://allianceforheadacheadvocacy.org/) about getting involved with advocacy.

3. 

   12 May 2023

   What Primary Care Providers Should Know About Newer Migraine Medications

   Topic: Migraine and New Generation Medications Host: Mia Minen, MD, MPH, FAAN, FAHS [@MiaMinenMD (https://twitter.com/miaminenmd)] Guest(s): Claire Sandoe, MD, MSC, FRCPC, Headache Fellow [@ClaireSandoe (https://twitter.com/ClaireSandoe)] | Michael J. Marmura, MD Description: In recent years, many new medications have been developed and approved for the treatment of headache and migraine disorders. These evidence-based treatments, such as those that target calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), often work better and are better tolerated than older medications which were not designed to treat headache and migraine. In this episode, we review each of these new agents to help primary care providers feel comfortable incorporating them into their treatment plan. How do newer medications differ from earlier medications for migraine and headache disorders? Do they offer patients a better quality of life? Are there any restrictions on who can prescribe these newer migraine medications? Hear the answers to these questions and others from Claire Sandoe, MD, MSC, FRCPC, a headache neurologist at Women’s College Hospital and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, and Michael J. Marmura, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology at Thomas Jefferson University with a specialization in headache disorders. [01:42] How do newer medications differ from earlier medications for migraine and headache disorders? [03:44] What does the data on new medications tell us about how they can help certain patient populations? [05:40] Do these newer medications offer patients a better quality of life? [07:31] How are medications specific to the 5-HT1F receptor, such as lasmiditan, opening up new avenues for treatment? [08:27] How do you counsel patients who are concerned about the side effects of new medications? [09:56] What’s next when it comes to the development of new migraine treatments? [11:48] How does the side effect profile of newer medications compare to that of common older medications? [15:06] Are there any restrictions on who can prescribe these newer migraine medications? Is there anything else health care providers need to know in terms of prescribing them? Learn more about the American Headache Society’s First Contact - Headache in Primary Care program at https://americanheadachesociety.org/primarycare/ (https://americanheadachesociety.org/primarycare/), check out our Preventive Migraine Treatment page for more on preventive treatment at https://americanheadachesociety.org/topic/preventive-treatment/ (https://americanheadachesociety.org/topic/preventive-treatment/) and follow us on Twitter (@ahsheadache (https://twitter.com/ahsheadache)).

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.