ASK A DOC: Dr. Christina Li on the benefits, impacts of medical weight loss
Sponsored and provided by LifeBridge Health.
Dr. Christina Li specializes in minimally invasive weight loss surgery at LifeBridge Health's Northwest Hospital in Randallstown.
In this ASK A DOC, Dr. Li shares the benefits and impacts of bariatric and medical weight loss.
The ASK A DOC series is part of WJZ's partnership with LifeBridge Health. See more from the series HERE.
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CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Transgender military members heartbroken, fighting to serve despite Trump ban
Thousands of transgender U.S. military members have until Friday, June 6, to identify themselves and begin a voluntary separation from the armed forces under a ban implemented by the Trump administration. WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren spoke to three decorated service members about the uncertain future ahead. Thousands of transgender U.S. military members have until Friday, June 6, to identify themselves and begin a voluntary separation from the armed forces under a ban implemented by the Trump administration. CBS News Baltimore Transgender military members share heartbreak Colonel Bree Fram joined the military after 9/11 and was determined to give back. She never thought her distinguished career of more than two decades in the Air Force – and now the Space Force – would end with an executive order from the president to purge the military of its transgender members. "I'm absolutely heartbroken because we have given everything of ourselves," Col. Fram said. "We have met every standard, every demand the military in this country has asked of us. We have risen to the challenge and in most cases exceeded that. You can look at our performance reports and see that, year after year, meets or exceeds standards despite what we're being told by this administration that we somehow don't. The evidence is not there to support any of the claims that are being made about who we are, and that hurts." Fram said many of her colleagues have expressed their support. "For me, every day walking through the hallways of the Pentagon, wearing my uniform, is such a gift, and I have people who walk up to me and say, 'You don't know me, but I know you! I support you,'" Fram said. Thousands of transgender U.S. military members have until Friday, June 6, to identify themselves and begin a voluntary separation from the armed forces under a ban implemented by the Trump administration. Courtesy of Col. Bree Fram Uncertainty after Trump's ban on transgender troops Fram's friend and colleague, Navy Chief Petty Officer Ryan Goodell, already made the difficult decision to voluntarily separate from the military. For Goodell, leaving is anything but voluntary, with the fear of having to pay back thousands of dollars in bonuses. "To me, it was a threat that I just couldn't risk, as well as trying to take a little bit of control over what feels to me like an uncontrollable situation," Goodell said. Goodell described it as painful. "To have that ripped away is devastating to me," Goodell said. "I'm supposed to be going to sea next. I'm supposed to be leading our sailors out to sea, and I feel like that has now been taken from me." Thousands of transgender U.S. military members have until Friday, June 6, to identify themselves and begin a voluntary separation from the armed forces under a ban implemented by the Trump administration. Courtesy of DVIDS Sabrina Bruce, a decorated Master Sergeant in the Space Force, also feels the uncertainty. "I've served authentically, and it has not been an issue," Bruce said. "I've been promoted multiple times, multiple medals, awards, everything. It's never been an issue that's come up. I've never been good at anything in my life except the military. I found a community and a home in the military, and so the very real thought that I may lose that, it hurts because all I want to do is serve, and I want to continue giving back and continue standing up for this nation that we all believe in." Thousands of transgender U.S. military members have until Friday, June 6, to identify themselves and begin a voluntary separation from the armed forces under a ban implemented by the Trump administration. Courtesy of Space Force Master Sergeant Sabrina Bruce Trump's position on transgender troops The president has made no secret of his plans to oust transgender service members. "Our warriors should be focused on defeating America's enemies, not figuring out their genders," Mr. Trump said on the campaign trail in North Carolina in August 2024. While in Michigan in April, he promised to get "woke lunacy and transgender insanity the hell out of our government." His administration reportedly wants commanders to "out" transgender troops or force them to get medical check-ups, where they would be identified and forced out of the military. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in April, "Expressing a false gender identity divergent from an individual's sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service." Directives given to U.S. military Although Hegseth had made formal assurances in a February memo that transgender service members would be treated with dignity, the Army's new internal directives to units instruct personnel to intentionally address transgender troops – even superior officers - in accordance with an individual's medical assignment at birth, rather than by their preferred pronoun. Hegseth also told a Special Operations Force military conference in May, "No more dudes in dresses, we're done with that s***." CBS News previously reported that under Army guidance, transgender officers will receive what's known as a "Code JDK" upon separation. The code is for the Military Personnel Security Program. It's typically applied to discharge paperwork where a service member is being separated from the U.S. military for a security reason. "You say they are the problem, but you can't identify them, and the government's response was we have to go through their medical records to figure it out," Col. Fram said. "And I think that's a pretty good indicator that we're not a problem. If you have to look for something in a file to identify someone who is a problem, they aren't the problem." Goodell said, "I'm not a weak link…I'm an addition. I'm not a subtraction." Bruce expressed hope to continue serving in some capacity, "Whether that's in uniform, outside of uniform, whatever that may mean." Maryland Attorney General fights against ban Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said he joined 20 other attorneys general in filing a brief before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals arguing that Mr. Trump's ban on transgender troops is discriminatory and harms national security. "These are courageous, skilled individuals who are willing to risk everything for their country. President Trump's unlawful ban sacrifices military readiness and basic human dignity for political gain. We must stand with all those who are ready to serve, not push them aside because of who they are," Brown said in a statement. Court battles over ban on transgender troops In the short term, hope is dimming for Bruce and other transgender troops. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government can oust transgender military service members while multiple legal challenges wind their way through lower courts. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt cheered the Supreme Court's order as a "massive victory" and said in a social media post that Mr. Trump and Hegseth "are restoring a military that is focused on readiness and lethality – not DEI or woke gender ideology." Troops react to transgender ban Col. Fram said bluntly, "What's likely going to happen is that by the time we get a ruling from the court that puts a final stamp on this, people's lives will have been disrupted. We will almost all—if not all of us—be gone from the military." Goodell said the fear is tangible. "There are times at night where I have to fend off panic attacks because I don't know what my future is going to be…like am I going to be able to learn a job outside of the military," Goodell questioned. An analysis in 2017 found that discharging transgender troops would cost $1 billion, far more than the $52 million spent on gender-affirming care. "In fact, we're taking some of them directly off the battlefield today," Fram said. "These are people who are deployed, doing their wartime mission, who are being told, 'You're not deployable. You need to come home.'" Despite the directive, Fram stressed that her colleagues have her back. "It really does make you stop and think about who you are and what you believe in," Fram said. "And what I think is so amazing about transgender service members is that they have done that look inside. They have said, 'This is who I am. This is what I believe in. I am here to fulfill my oath.' We don't swear that oath just to live by it in the easy times. We do it when it's hard, and right now is one of those hard times, but we're doing it. We are accomplishing the mission, and we will continue to do so until the last day we possibly can." Thousands of transgender U.S. military members have until Friday, June 6, to identify themselves and begin a voluntary separation from the armed forces under a ban implemented by the Trump administration. Courtesy of Colonel Bree Fram
Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
USA Gymnastics President Li Li Leung To Step Down After Guiding Post-Nassar Reform
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 30: President and CEO of USA Gymnastics Li Li Leung (C-R) poses with ... More (L-R) Hezly Rivera, Joscelyn Roberson, Suni Lee, Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Leanne Wong after they were selected for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Women's Gymnastics Team on Day Four of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center on June 30, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by) USA Gymnastics announced Thursday that President and CEO Li Li Leung will step down at the end of the year. This will mark the end of her nearly six-year tenure at the helm, during which Leung guided the organization after the Larry Nassar scandal. Hired in March 2019, the organization credits Leung's leadership for catalyzing a 'historic turnaround" and 'cultural transformation' within the sport. Leung helped the organization rebound from the blows dealt by the Nassar sexual abuse scandal, helping place athlete wellbeing and safety at the forefront. In December 2020, USA Gymnastics established its Athlete Bill of Rights, considered one of the 'first of its kind in sport,' demonstrating a commitment to 'a culture of athlete support and safety driving organizational decision-making." Leung's organization also introduced mental health visits to the National Team program Under the addition, USA Gymnastics now covers costs for regular visits to mental health providers for National Team athletes and coaches. Leung issued the following statement: 'The opportunity to lead USA Gymnastics has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime. Thanks to the dedication of the entire gymnastics community, we are now in an incredible position as we turn our attention to the L.A. Olympic Games. The last several months have been a time of great reflection, and I know that now is the right time to pass the torch to the next leader, with the sport and organization thriving. I wanted to ensure the board has the opportunity to conduct a thorough search and also give my successor a long runway into the 2028 Olympic Games. I'm going to take some time to reset before determining what is next, and I look forward to USA Gymnastics accomplishing great things in 2025 and beyond.' During her tenure, USA Gymnastics surged to success on the medal podium, most notably with 11 medals at the 2024 Olympic Games. In addition to her role with USA Gymnastics, Leung was the recipient of multiple honors in sport. In 2020, Leung was voted vice chair of the NGB Council of the U.S. Olympic sport governing bodies, and was elected to the Executive Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) in 2021. Leung was named a Sports Business Journal 'Power Player' in 2020 and an SBJ Gamechanger in 2024. In 2023, she was recognized on the 2023 A100 list as one of the country's most impactful Asian Americans. She would later be named a 2025 WISE Woman of the Year. Chair of the USAG board of directors, Kathryn Carson, attested to the impact of Leung's leadership. 'Li Li was the right leader at the right time for USA Gymnastics and accomplished in six years what many thought was not possible," Carson said. 'Her deep passion for gymnastics and extraordinary dedication to leading transformation has positioned USA Gymnastics to move boldly toward LA28. With this strong foundation, we are confident we will identify a leader to build on Li Li's legacy.' With a home Olympic Games on the horizon in 2028, USA Gymnastics now commits to securing a replacement in the organization's pivotal quadrennium. The organization 'has engaged CAA Executive Search to lead the search for Leung's successor,' and intends to identify a new president and CEO prior to Leung's departure at 2025's close.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
How A Rare Mutation Exposed Weaknesses In Sperm Donation Oversight
A recent case in Europe has reignited debate over the regulation of sperm donation after a man unknowingly carrying a rare, cancer-causing genetic mutation fathered at least 67 children across eight countries. Ten of these children have been diagnosed with cancer, including leukemia, brain tumors and lymphomas. The case demonstrates how advances in reproductive medicine can outpace regulatory safeguards. It highlights the urgent need for robust genetic screening and thoughtful policy in reproductive medicine—a theme explored in greater depth in the new book, Destiny's Child No Longer: Rewriting the Genetic Future. The donor's sperm carried a mutation that causes Li-Fraumeni syndrome or LFS, one of the most severe inherited cancer predisposition syndromes. Individuals with the syndrome face a dramatically increased risk of developing a wide range of cancers, often at a young age, and may develop multiple cancers over their lifetime. The lifetime cancer risk for carriers is estimated at up to 90% by age 60, with about half developing cancer before age 40. The donor himself is healthy, and the mutation was not known to be cancer-causing at the time of his donations between 2008 and 2015. The issue came to light when two families, each with children diagnosed with cancer, independently contacted their fertility clinics. Genetic analysis linked the cases to the same donor. This prompted a more exhaustive investigation. Of the 67 children identified as having been conceived with the donor's sperm, 23 were found to carry the mutation. Children who inherit the mutation not only face a high risk of early-onset cancers but also have a 50% chance of passing the mutation to their own children. Ten of the children have developed cancer to date. The affected families now face lifelong medical surveillance for their children. The required medical procedures include regular whole-body MRI scans and specialist evaluations. The burden of this ongoing surveillance, uncertainty, and potential medical intervention is considerable. Still, while stressful, these protocols have been shown to improve outcomes by enabling the early detection of tumors. This case highlights a critical gap: the absence of internationally agreed-upon limits on the number of children conceived from a single donor. Some countries impose strict limits, such as a maximum of 10 children per donor. Others, including the United States, have no binding regulations. An absence of limits placed on children by donors can result in sibling groups that may number in the dozens or even hundreds. In Europe, regulations are inconsistent, with limits varying and enforcement complicated by cross-border reproductive care. Experts have long warned that having many siblings can pose psychological risks. These include the risk of unintentional inbreeding and the challenge of tracing family connections when health issues arise. This case shows how much harder it gets when a rare genetic disorder is involved, making it difficult to inform and support all affected families spread across different countries. While sperm banks routinely screen donors for common genetic diseases and conduct thorough medical and family history reviews, rare mutations like the one implicated here often escape detection. Whole-genome sequencing of all donors is not currently standard practice due to the high cost and the limited ability to interpret the clinical significance of many rare variants. The case has prompted renewed calls from geneticists, clinicians and ethics councils for the establishment of international standards that limit the number of children per donor and improve cross-border coordination in donor tracking and notification. There is also growing advocacy for enhanced genetic counseling and support for donor-conceived individuals and their families. This incident underscores the need for limits on the number of children each donor can have. Such limits can help reduce the risk of spreading rare genetic disorders and enhance communication in the event of a medical issue. Enhanced cross-border collaboration among fertility clinics, sperm banks and health authorities is also necessary to ensure timely notification and assistance when genetic risks are identified. Centralized registries could enable real-time tracking of donors. Denmark's model, which limits donors to 12 children across six families, offers a framework for regional coordination. There is also a need for enhanced genetic screening protocols, potentially incorporating more advanced sequencing techniques for donors while balancing considerations of cost, privacy and interpretive challenges. Cost-effective genetic screening in sperm banks is increasingly achievable through targeted approaches and technological innovation. Rather than relying solely on whole-genome sequencing, which remains expensive for routine use, many banks now employ tiered genetic panels that prioritize high-penetrance genes known to cause severe conditions. This focused strategy can reduce testing costs by 60% to 80% compared to broader, less targeted screening. Collaborative databases that enable sperm banks to share mutation libraries and screening results help reduce redundant testing, resulting in a 30% reduction in per-donor screening costs. Advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning are also contributing to this effort. These technologies can identify donors who are at a higher risk of carrying undetected mutations, lowering false-negative rates by up to 40% and enhancing overall efficiency. Public-private partnerships, such as those modeled after the National Institutes of Health's All of Us program, could further subsidize advanced screening, making comprehensive genetic assessments more accessible without significantly increasing costs. As technology and data-sharing practices advance, these combined measures offer a practical approach to enhancing donor screening while maintaining affordability for both clinics and recipients. As reproductive technology continues to advance and global mobility increases, this case serves as a cautionary tale regarding the unintended consequences that can arise when regulation and oversight fail to keep pace with scientific advances. The challenge now lies in ensuring that the promise of assisted reproduction is matched by a commitment to the safety and well-being of all involved—donors, recipient families and, primarily, the children themselves.
