Call the Doctor

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Call the Doctor

Tuesdays at 7pm on WVIA-TV
Sundays at 2pm on WVIA-TV
Also available on WVIA On Demand - Click here
Call the Doctor is a health care series broadcast live every Tuesday at 7:00pm by the PBS station WVIA-TV serving a regional audience of hundreds of thousands in 22 counties throughout northeastern and central Pennsylvania. The 1 hour show features a panel of top medical and health care professionals informing viewers about important and relevant health issues. The panel answers live call-in and email questions from viewers.
Viewers may call in questions during the show at 1-800-326-9842 or click here prior to or during the show to submit your questions online.
If you have a topic or a condition you would like to see covered on a live Call the Doctor program, please e-mail your ideas and suggestions to Joseph Chrobak, producer of Call the Doctor josephchrobak@wvia.org

All-new live episodes

What to do after an Automobile Accident
Tuesday, March 13 at 7pm
Safety and health are the most important concern after an automobile crash. The moments immediately after an auto accident can be emotional and confusing. Auto accidents are unexpected and stressful. Make sure serious medical needs are dealt with quickly and completely.
Aneurysms
Tuesday, March 20 at 7pm
An aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. There are Brain and Aortic aneurysms and when the size of an aneurysm increases it can rupture, resulting in a severe hemorrhage, other complications or death. If an aneurysm in the brain bursts, it causes a stroke
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Tuesday, March 27 at 7pm
Mild Cognitive Impairment is a condition characterized by significant cognitive impairment; it is different from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. It involves problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment that are greater than typical age-related changes.

Programs available On-Demand and website information
2011-2012 Season
Fish Oil, Vitamins and Supplements
Helpful Websites: Bucci Laser Vision, Geisinger, Everything Natural, and Community Medical Center.
Prescription Predicament
Helpful Websites: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Geisinger and Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Foot Health
Helpful Websites: Geisinger and Physicians Health Alliance, and Susquehanna Health.
Balance and Dizziness
Helpful Websites:Geisinger, Bloomsburg University, Vision and Learning Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Allied Services
Pediatric Obesity
Helpful Websites:Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Geisinger, Greater Hazleton Health Alliance, Community Medical Center.
Sexual Addiction and Sexual Anorexia
Helpful Websites: STAR Sexual Trauma and Recovery, Marworth Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Treatment Center, Heart to Heart Counseling Center, and A Better Today.
Super Foods
Helpful Websites: Geisinger, Weis Markets, Everything Natural
Vascular Disease
Helpful Websites: Geisinger, Community Medical Center, Greater Hazleton Health Alliance, Susquehanna Health
Sexual Abuse: Healing the Victims
Helpful Websites: Geisinger, Community Medical Center, Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), The Children's Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania
Dental Delimma
Helpful Websites: Geisinger, Waterfront Orthodontics, Scranton Pediatric Dentist, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania
Breast Health
Helpful Websites: Northeast Radiation Oncology Center, Geisinger, Community Medical Center, Allied Services, Susan G. Koman for the Cure

Cleft Lip and Palate
Helpful Websites: Destiny's Crossing, Geisinger, Community Medical Center.

Blood Donation: Every Drop Counts
Helpful Websites: Community Medical Center, Geisinger, American Red Cross NEPA Blood Services Region

2010-2011 Season
Emergency: Is it or isn't it?

Stem Cell Research

Dealing with Death and Loss

Crohn's Disease

Near Death Experiences

The Latest in Vision Correction

Panic Attacks

George Thomas

Meet the team

George Thomas, Vice President of Membership for WVIA, started at the station on 10/31/94 ... yep Halloween! (How spookie!) He is responsible for the WVIA TV & FM membership fundraising programs which account for 1.7 million dollars annually, which is the significant portion of revenue the stations need in order to operate. "It's all about our members," George states. "If we didn't have generous people in our area supporting the programs and efforts of WVIA, it would close tomorrow. That's how important each member is to the station."

George started as the manager of the Telemarketing Department in 1994. In 1996, he was promoted to Membership Manager overseeing the installation and running of the new membership software program as well as all renewal, acquisition, and additional gift mailing programs.

In 1998, he was promoted to Director of Membership and On-air Pledge and given responsibilities of the on air TV and FM pledge drives. He also oversaw the Call Center with 7 employees, the matching gift program, the thank-you gifts sent out, and many annual member appreciation days.

In 2003 in support of a national PBS Major Giving Initiative, George's direct reports were re-aligned to work with the new Vice President of Major Gifts and included overseeing the operations of the Data Entry Department and the Front Desk.

In June of 2007, George was promoted to Vice President of Membership overseeing all aspects of entire WVIA membership program including major giving.

George adds, "I've have the privilege of working with great people in the department. With them, we are proud to have a great customer service record and run one of the more mature membership programs in the country."

He trains the on air pledge drive talent and can be seen in WVIA's membership campaigns "pitching" the station's popular programs. He also loves to create funny promotional spots you see on air from time to time. In fact, he has received two national Telly Awards for his collaborative creative efforts.

Amid literally hundreds of television channels available to you by cable and satellite, and dozens of radio stations, WVIA is the only regional broadcaster with the sole purpose of education, public service and community enrichment. "I am proud and consider it an honor to go on the air and ask people to support a station that provides so much."

In 2003, George was offered the seat as moderator for Call the Doctor, a popular weekly live call-in program.

Just starting his 6th year as moderator of Call the Doctor, George Thomas is excited about what he and producer Mary Theresa Mazur have been able to do with the show working with a tremendous Promotions team and Production Department.

"The capacity of this show to help people, change lives, and in some cases actually save them .... there's no other local newscast or show that can do that."

"Call the Doctor" airs Tuesdays at 7:00PM. The show is an informative, interactive program featuring medical experts from the WVIA 22 county viewing area. With each episode, viewers are encouraged to call in their questions to a panel of health care experts. "Call the Doctor" is one of WVIA-TV's longest running local programs; it has been airing from the studios of WVIA for 20 years.

George Thomas is a graduate of Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA earning a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing. He is also a graduate of Ambassador University, Pasadena, CA with a bachelor's degree in Theology and a minor in Computer Science. George achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and currently serves on the board of the region's Boy Scout Council.

His passion for presenting and public speaking goes back to high school when he convinced his principle to let him take the senior public speaking course in his junior year. That passion continued through college and beyond by taking numerous public speaking courses and attending speaker's clubs.

George resides in Alden, PA with his wife Colleen and their two sons, Christopher and Collin. Jack James, his stepson, currently attends college at Luzerne County Community College.

Joseph Chrobak

Meet the team

Producer of Call the Doctor

Joseph started volunteering with WVIA in September 2003. He worked as a camera operator and production assistant on membership pledge drives, State of PA, Ballroom and Pennsylvania Polka. While volunteering at WVIA during his school years taught him the ins and outs of the industry. He later went on to learn more skills and honed his craft while working in the industry.

Joseph was hired as a freelance member of the WVIA production department in December 2008. During local television productions Joseph fills many positions, such as director, camera operator, audio technician, floor manager, video operator, teleprompter just to name a few. He has also worked periodically in the WVIA Engineering Department since June 2008.

Joseph can be seen on television when he hosts portions of the WVIA Great TV Auction and membership pledge drives. He also works as an on-air radio talent during WVIA-FM membership pledge drives.

Throughout the years he held many production positions on the WVIA long running interactive television program, Call the Doctor, but in July 2010, Joseph became the Producer of the show.

Joseph lives in the Pittston area and spends his free time with his lovely wife.

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Meet the team

Meet the team

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