Butts & Guts: A Cleveland Clinic Digestive Health Podcast

Dr. Sandra Hong is the Chair of the Allergy and Immunology Department at Cleveland Clinic. She joins this episode of the Butts and Guts podcast to discuss food allergies and the digestive system. Listen to learn more about the differences between food allergies and food intolerance, as well as the advancements being made to help people living with food allergies.

Dr. Charles Miller is a liver surgeon and the Enterprise Director of Transplantation at Cleveland Clinic. He joins this episode of the Butts and Guts podcast to discuss what you need to know about organ donations and transplantations, as well as perfusion, and how organ availability can be improved.

Dr. Scott Lundy is a Staff Urologist and a Surgical Scientist in the Department of Urology at the Cleveland Clinic. He joins this episode of the Butts and Guts podcast to discuss everything you need to know about low testosterone (also known as "low t"). Listen to learn more about this condition and how to safely seek treatment.

Dr. Tracy Hull is the Section Chief of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Department of Colorectal Surgery at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Hull also holds the Thomas and Sandra Sullivan Family Endowed Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. She joins this episode of the Butts and Guts podcast to share updates in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment and what you need to know about the disease.

Dr. Ly Hoang Roberts is an Associate Staff in the Department of Urology at Cleveland Clinic. She joins this episode of the Butts and Guts podcast to discuss everything you need to know about pelvic pain. Listen to learn more about what and where this type of pain can occur, along with how best to treat it.

Dr. George Thomas is a staff nephrologist and Director of the Center for Blood Pressure Disorders in the Department of Kidney Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. He joins this episode of the Butts and Guts podcast to discuss everything you need to know about hypertension. Listen to learn more about high blood pressure, along with how your gut health can impact your blood pressure and what readings are considered too high and also too low.

On this episode of the Butts and Guts podcast, Michael Rosen, MD, shares everything you need to know about hernia surgeries, along with the basics of abdominal core health. Listen to learn more about these topics from Dr. Rosen, who is a professor of surgery, the Section Head of the Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Team, and the DDSI Surgical Operations Vice Chair in the Department of General Surgery, all at Cleveland Clinic.

The Be Well Kids Clinic brings together a comprehensive team of physicians, researchers and healthcare professionals at Cleveland Clinic Children's with expert knowledge in childhood obesity. Joining this episode of the Butts and Guts podcast from the team is Dr. Jennifer Brubaker. She is a Certified Nurse Practitioner and has been on the staff of the Be Well Kids Clinic for the past eight years. Listen to learn more about this program and how the team can assist children and their families in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.

Dietician Julia Zumpano joins the Butts and Guts podcast once again, this time to discuss a low-purine diet. Listen to learn more about how this diet works and how it can help those with gout or kidney stones.

Dr. Taha Qazi is a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic. He joins this episode of the Butts and Guts podcast to discuss how to manage pouch inflammation. Listen to learn more about this disease and how it can be treated.

On this episode of Butts and Guts, Dr. Daniel Joyce joins the podcast to discuss gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and other sarcomas of the digestive system. Listen to learn about where sarcomas can appear in the digestive system, what causes them to form, the treatment options available, and more.

Dr. Sandra Kim, the new Chair of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at Cleveland Clinic Children's, joins this episode of the Butts and Guts podcast to discuss inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children. Listen to learn about what symptoms to be on the lookout for in a child who potentially may have IBD, what treatment looks like for this disease at Cleveland Clinic Children's, and more.

Dr. Petar Bajic, the new Director of the Center for Men's Health at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Butts & Guts podcast once again, this time to discuss the rise in direct-to-consumer men's healthcare. Listen to learn more about the risks men face when seeking treatment from standalone clinics or online platforms for conditions like low testosterone (low-T) and erectile dysfunction (ED), along with why it's important for men to inform their urologist about these complications versus seeking care elsewhere.

Dr. Michelle Kim is Chair of Cleveland Clinic's Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. She joins this episode of Butts & Guts to discuss neuroendocrine tumors. Listen to learn more about what causes neuroendocrine tumors, how they are diagnosed and treated, and other important information about this disease.

Dr. Shreya Sengupta joins this episode of the Butts and Guts podcast to discuss alcohol-associated hepatitis. Listen to learn more about this disease and how your alcohol consumption can impact your liver.

Prof Prasanna (PS) Sooriakumaran is the Lead for Urology at Cleveland Clinic London and becomes the first guest to join the Butts and Guts podcast from “across the pond.” Listen to this episode to learn more about robotic surgery, as well as the advancements being made in this field at Cleveland Clinic London.

The Patient Perspectives series returns to Butts and Guts, this time highlighting gastric sleeve surgery. Paul, a Cleveland Clinic patient, joins this episode to share his story about traveling to Ohio for heart care and having a sleeve gastrectomy to qualify for a heart transplant. Two important caregivers in Paul's journey also join this discussion: Karen Schulz, CNS, and Diane Harris, a patient navigator. Listen for a glimpse into the specialized care offered at the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Ehsan Balagamwala joins this episode of Butts and Guts during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to discuss everything you need to know about how stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) can be used to treat colorectal cancer. Listen to learn more about this type of treatment, how it differs from other radiation therapies, and who qualifies to receive it.

Dr. Arielle Kanters joins the Butts and Guts podcast during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to discuss everything you need to know about colorectal cancer surgery. Listen to learn more about this type of cancer, its stages, and the surgical treatment options available at Cleveland Clinic.

Duodenal switch surgery is a weight-loss procedure that is regarded as the most effective type of bariatric surgery. Dr. Jesse Gutnick joins the Butts and Guts podcast to discuss this operation in detail and shares how it compares to other weight-loss surgeries.

Dr. Ali Aminian is the Director of the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at Cleveland Clinic. He joins the Butts & Guts podcast this week to discuss new guidelines in bariatric surgery. Listen to learn more about the different types of bariatric surgeries offered at Cleveland Clinic, recent updates regarding these procedures, and the positive impact they can have on the lives of patients.

Did you know that more than 500,000 men elect to have a vasectomy each year in the US? Dr. Sarah Vij joins the Butts and Guts podcast to discuss everything you need to know about this procedure, which is the only FDA-approved form of male contraception or option to prevent a pregnancy for men.

Pelvic floor disorders are more common than you might think. Dr. Anna Spivak joins the Butts and Guts podcast to share updates in pelvic surgery that can help patients control their bowels. She also discusses why it is important to bring up symptoms of any pelvic floor disorder right away with your primary care provider.

Dr. Ben Freiberg joins the Butts and Guts podcast once again, this time to discuss constipation and other common GI problems in children. Listen to learn about the symptoms of constipation in children, when to notify your child's pediatrician about any symptoms, the available treatment options, and more.

Looking to eat healthier in the new year? Dietician Julia Zumpano joins the Butts and Guts podcast once again, this time to share tips for staying on track with any diet or nutrition goals you have set for 2023. Listen and learn how to better your chances of dieting over a long period of time, the difference between being vegan and vegetarian, and more.

Acute liver failure (ALF), though rare in both kids and adults, is when your liver suddenly begins to not function properly. Dr. Mike Leonis of Cleveland Clinic Children's joins this episode of Butts and Guts to discuss everything you need to know about ALF in children, including the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this life-threatening condition.

Laparoscopic liver cancer surgeon, Dr. David Kwon, joins the Butts and Guts podcast to discuss everything you need to know about liver cancer. Listen to learn about the symptoms of this disease, the latest treatment options available including minimally invasive approaches, ways to reduce the risk of liver cancer, and more.

Dietician Julia Zumpano joins the Butts & Guts podcast once again, this time to discuss staying healthy during the holiday season. She shares beneficial eating and activity tips that will help keep you on track with your nutrition goals while still enjoying the holidays.

Dr. Chirag Shah is the Director of Clinical Research and Breast Radiation Oncology in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic. He joins the Butts & Guts podcast to discuss recurrent breast cancer. Listen to learn more about the symptoms of breast cancer recurrence, when to seek medical attention, available treatment options, and other important information to know about this disease.

Dr. Sophia Patel is a pediatric gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic Children's. She joins the Butts & Guts podcast for the first time to discuss a procedure called transnasal endoscopy. Listen to learn more about this approach and how it can help patients (such as those with eosinophilic esophagitis) be evaluated without sedation.

On this episode of Butts & Guts, two guests join the podcast to talk about ostomies and an organization that supports ostomy patients: the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA). Danielle Gulden is a former Cleveland Clinic ostomy patient, current UOAA member, and social media influencer on “Double Baggin' It.” Keagan Lynggard is an ostomy advocate, activist, and patient, as well as current UOAA member. Listen to learn more about the ostomy care and educational opportunities available at the Cleveland Clinic, the resources available through the UOAA, the meaning behind Ostomy Awareness Day, and tips for being an ostomy patient.

This episode of Butts & Guts features Dr. Xiangling Wang, a Staff Physician in Cleveland Clinic's Genomic Medicine Institute in the Department of Kidney Medicine. She discusses genetic testing and kidney disease management with the podcast's host, Dr. Scott Steele. Listen and learn more about genetic testing, who should consider having a genetic evaluation for kidney disease, and the type of care you can expect from Dr. Wang and the renal genetics program team at Cleveland Clinic.

Stress incontinence and overactive bladder are at the center of this Butts & Guts episode. Dr. Howard Goldman, a urologist in Cleveland Clinic's Glickman Urologic and Kidney Institute, shares the difference between these two conditions, the symptoms that may occur, when to seek medical attention, and more. He also discusses the advancements being made at the Cleveland Clinic to help treat individuals experiencing either condition.

Dr. Deborah Goldman is a pediatric gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic Children's and joins this episode of Butts & Guts to discuss everything you need to know about hereditary pancreatitis. Listen and learn about what symptoms to look for, how and when to seek treatment, and other facts to be aware of related to this condition.

Dr. Zeyad Schwen joins the Butts & Guts podcast and shares key information about a procedure known as transperineal biopsy. Learn about this safe, more precise way to diagnose prostate cancer, as well as other innovative treatment options, during this episode.

Two special guests from the Cleveland Clinic are featured on this episode of Butts & Guts: Dr. Jacob Kurowski and Dr. Jessica Philpott. Dr. Kurowski is a pediatric gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic Children's, and Dr. Philpott is an adult care gastroenterologist. Learn how the two work together to ease young patients who experience Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) from pediatric to adult-centered care in what is know as Cleveland Clinic's Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program.

Children can face certain struggles as their digestive muscles develop, such as difficulty swallowing or constipation. Dr. Ben Freiberg joins this episode of Butts & Guts to discuss these and other possible digestive conditions that kids may experience and shares how they can be treated.

Fecal (Bowl) Incontinence is more common than people might think. Rebecca Gunter, MD, joins this episode of Butts & Guts and shares insight into this disease, how it can be treated, and offers words of encouragement for bringing it up with a medical professional.

Petar Bajic, MD, is a urologist in the Center for Men's Health at the Cleveland Clinic's Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, specializing in men's health and sexual medicine. He joins the Butts & Guts podcast as the special guest on this episode to discuss how certain diet and lifestyle changes can help men who experience Erectile Dysfunction (ED).

Stephanie Norman, CNP, is the special guest on this episode of Butts & Guts. She is a certified nurse practitioner in Cleveland Clinic's Department of Colorectal Surgery. Listen as she discusses the role of advanced practice providers (APPs) in surgical treatment and what type of care they can provide to patients.

Cristiano Quintini, MD, is the Program Director and Surgical Director of Cleveland Clinic's Liver Transplantation Program. In this episode of Butts and Guts, Dr. Quintini provides insight into what information is considered prior to a liver transplant and also discusses several strategies that be implemented when performing this type of surgery.

Amy Lightner, MD joins Butts & Guts to discuss Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and innovative treatments using stem cell therapy at Cleveland Clinic's Center for Regenerative Medicine & Surgery. Dr. Lightner also gives an update on the 2022 Sherman Prize and how you can submit a nomination.

The body's cells need a steady supply of fuel (known as glucose) in order to properly function. Kadakkal Radhakrishnan, MD, Director of Nutrition and Intestinal Rehabilitation at Cleveland Clinic Children's, discuss what happens when the body isn't able to use glucose the right way, also known as glycogen storage disease.

Listen to this week's Butts & Guts to learn more about Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).Tracy Hull, MD, Vice Chair of Cleveland Clinic's Department of Colorectal Surgery, also shares fertility considerations that are part of a patient's treatment plan.

Colorectal surgeon Joshua Sommovilla, MD joins Butts & Guts to discuss common procedures performed on older adults and considerations taken to ensure optimal recovery time. Dr. Sommovilla also provides an update on minimally invasive surgical research that will further benefit patients.

Butts & Guts kicks off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with Patricia Ajayi-Fox, MD, a gastroenterologist in Cleveland Clinic's Digestive Disease & Surgery Institute. Listen as she discusses the importance of getting screened for colorectal cancer, and the concerning disparities in the Black community regarding screening and outcomes.

Returning guest Darrell Cass, MD joins Butts & Guts to discuss Cleveland Clinic's recent fetal surgery, only the 2nd of its kind in the world. Listen as Dr. Cass shares how a multidisciplinary surgical team removed a tumor growing on baby Rylan's heart while he was a 26-week-old fetus.

Obesity is a complex chronic disease that has reached pandemic levels and requires long-term, multispecialty management. Roberto Simons-Linares, MD, Director of Bariatric Endoscopy at Cleveland Clinic, joins Butts & Guts to discuss treatment options and the personalized care provided in our Bariatric Endoscopy Program.

Typically, organs for transplantation are obtained from deceased donors. Unfortunately, there are not enough deceased donor organs available for everyone who needs a transplant and, as a result, the number of patients on the transplant waiting list continues to grow. Koji Hashimoto, MD, PhD joins Butts & Guts to discuss living donor liver transplants and the benefits of this option.

Shubha Bhat, PharmD joins the Butts & Guts podcast to discuss Cleveland Clinic's unique inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient-centered medical home and how a clinical pharmacist collaborates with a team of gastroenterologists, surgeons, nutritionists, dietitians, nurses, nurse practitioners and psychologists to capture the needs of a patient dealing with this condition.

Listen to this week's Butts & Guts as Hannah Kerr, MD discusses kidney transplants, a new topic for the podcast. Learn answers to common questions on kidney transplants, and how innovations in surgical techniques provide a better quality of life for patients undergoing the procedure.