Conference Coverage

Guest: Riley Bove, MD, MMSc From pregnancy planning and postpartum relapse risk to the overlapping symptoms of menopause, women with multiple sclerosis (MS) face unique challenges throughout the reproductive lifespan. Here to share key takeaways from her session at the 2025 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers Annual Meeting that focused on how we can better care for these patients is Dr. Riley Bove, a practicing neurologist and clinician scientist in the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences.

Guest: Jessica Shull, PhD Guest: Joshua Solomon, MD Host: Ryan Quigley Patients with pulmonary fibrosis often face anxiety and emotional distress that go unadressed during their care. Given this unmet need, a digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) platform was designed to support emotional wellbeing alonside medical treatment. Mr. Ryan Quigley sits down with Drs. Jessica Shull and Joshua Solomon, who presented at the 2025 American Thoracic Society International Conference to explore how this platform may enhance quality of life, support therapy adherence, and integrate into routine care. Dr. Shull is the Director of Digital Health and a Clinical Science Liaison at Vicore Pharma, and Dr. Solomon is a Professor of Medicine in Pulmonary Care and the Director of the Interstitial Lung Disease Program at National Jewish Health.

Guest: Divya Shankar, MD A recent study investigated whether pulse-dose corticosteroids offer a benefit over lower doses in managing acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Join Dr. Divya Shankar as she explains the real-world data, variability in prescribing patterns, and outcomes observed in different levels of care. Divya Shankar is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine as well as a Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician at Boston Medical Center, and she spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Thoracic Society International Conference.

Guest: Daniel Paul Vena, PhD A recent study explored whether lateral wall collapse can predict hypoglossal nerve stimulation efficacy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Join Dr. Daniel Vena as he explains the findings from this research and areas for future explanation. Dr. Vena is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and he spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Thoracic Society International Conference.

Guest: Isabel Bazan, MD, BA As race-neutral reference equations have become the standard in pulmonary function tests (PFTs), a recent study explored the potential impact of this change on diagnosis and treatment of severe asthma. Join Dr. Isabel Bazan as she dives into the data and explains its implications for patient categorization and access to care. Dr. Bazan is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, and she spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Thoracic Society International Conference.

Guest: Martin Cheatle, PhD A thoughtful, communicative, and compassionate approach to opioid use is essential for responsible patient use. Join Dr. Martin Cheatle as he explains the neuroscience of chronic pain, the psychosocial components often overlooked in these patients, and evidence-based strategies for evaluating risk and treatment response. Dr. Cheatle is the Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Penn Pain Medicine Center as well as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Anesthesiology, and Critical Care and the Director of Pain and Chemical Dependency Research at the Center for Studies of Addiction at the University of Pennsylvania. He also presented on this topic at the 2025 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology East conference.

Guest: Michelle Kahlenberg, MD, PhD Our approach to lupus management is accelerating, with emerging results on targeted therapies in skin and renal disease showing promise. Dr. Michelle Kahlenberg shares insights on emerging biologics, CAR-T innovations, and potential barriers in translating treatment breakthroughs into real-world patient care. Dr. Kahlenberg is the Giles Boles and Dorothy Mulkey Research Professor of Rheumatology and a Professor of Internal Medicine at Dermatology at the University of Michigan, and she spoke about this topic at the 2025 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology East conference.

Guest: Laura Cappelli, MD, MHS,MS Patients who are receiving immunotherapy for cancer sometimes develop significant autoimmune complications, which can be fatal. Join Dr. Laura Cappelli, Associate Professor of Medicine and Oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as she explains how multidisciplinary collaboration can help manage these rheumatic immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Dr. Cappelli also spoke about this topic at the 2025 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology East conference.

Guest: John Bridges, MD, MS For children with rheumatic diseases, early diagnosis, personalized care, and multidisciplinary collaboration are critical for optimal long-term management. Join Dr. John Bridges, Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, as he explains how access, timing, and collaboration shape pediatric rheumatology care. Dr. Bridges presented on this topic at the 2025 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology East conference.

Guest: Michelle Kahlenberg, MD, PhD Lupus arises from a complex interaction of genetics, environmental stimuli, and immune system errors. Dive into the pathophysiology behind the disease with Dr. Michelle Kahlenberg, the Giles Boles and Dorothy Mulkey Research Professor of Rheumatology and Professor of Internal Medicine and Dermatology at the University of Michigan, as she examines the mechanisms that contribute to the development of autoreactive immune responses. Dr. Kahlenberg also spoke about this topic at the 2025 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology East conference.

Guest: Ihtisham Ahmad Preclinical findings in animal models have shown that activating cannibinoid receptors can shrink prostate tumors in animal models. To explore whether these effects translate to human populations, a recent study examined a potential link between cannabis use and the development of prostate cancer. Hear from Ihtisham Ahmad, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Toronto, as he explains the methodology and findings from his research, which he presented at the American Urological Association 2025 Annual Meeting.

Guest: Mutahar Ahmed, MD Optimizing urinary diversion and continence techniques is essential for improving patient outcomes and quality of life following surgery. Join Dr. Mutahar Ahmed as he provides expert guidance on improving success in conduits and neobladders in the operating room and beyond. Dr. Ahmed is the Director of the Center for Bladder Cancer at Hackensack University Medical Center as well as a Professor of Urology and the Director of the Minimal Invasive Robotic Oncology and Urology Fellowship Program at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. He also presented on this topic at the 2025 American Urological Association Annual Meeting.

Guest: Andrew J. Solomon, MD Accurately diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) involves understanding the diagnostic criteria, recognizing red flags to avoid misdiagnosis, and keeping up with new tools. Dr. Andrew Solomon, Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Neurological Sciences and Chief of the Multiple Sclerosis Division at the University of Vermont, walks through the most difficult aspects of diagnosing patients with MS and potential breakthroughs reshaping how we approach these challenges. Dr. Solomon also spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.

Guest: Wayne Kuang, MD The 2025 American Urology Association Annual Meeting promises to unite the global urology community across six continents around transformative education, game-changing trials, and a renewed focus on patient-centered care. Dr. Wayne Kuang, CEO of MD for Men in Albuquerque and Founder of the ManVsProstate campaign, dives into what makes this year's conference truly exciting.

Guest: Wayne Kuang, MD In an exciting time for diagnostics and therapeutics in urology, the discussions at the American Urological Association's 2025 Annual Meeting are redefining the landscape of men's health. Dr. Wayne Kuang, CEO of MD for Men in Albuquerque and Founder of the ManVsProstate campaign, highlights some of the most anticipated topics at this year's conference, including prioritizing early intervention, preserving vitality, and expanding the focus beyond the prostate to protect the bladder.

Guest: Wayne Kuang, MD Holistic health, fearless thinking, and proactive choices can be transformative in urological health. Dr. Wayne Kuang, CEO of MD for Men in Albuquerque and Founder of the ManVsProstate campaign, explores how we can create a future that works for everyone in the realm of urology.

Guest: Prajwal Ciryam, MD, PhD Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) trigger a rapid transcriptional response in the choroid plexus, dominated by chemokines that attract neutrophils. Join Dr. Prajwal Ciryam, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, as he explains how this early signaling may represent a critical window for modulating inflammation in the injured brain. Dr. Ciryam also spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.

Guest: Kelly Sloane, MD For patients who experience aphasia after a stroke, intervention and social support are crucial for recovery. Dr. Kelly Sloane, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, highlights how timely therapy and strong support systems can help rebuild both language and confidence in these patients. Dr. Sloane also spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.

Guest: Jennie Taylor, MD The FDA approval of vorasidenib marks a new era for mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase (mIDH) gliomas. Approved in 2024 for grade 2 tumors after surgery, it doubled progression-free survival in the INDIGO trial. Dr. Jennie Taylor, Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurological Surgery at the University of California San Francisco, dives into the data and explains what questions remain about long-term use and broader applications.

Guest: Jennie Taylor, MD Defined by the production of 2-hydroxyglutarate, mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase (mIDH) gliomas are diffuse, slow-growing tumors. Managing these tumors requires personalized strategies that consider resectability, histology, and long-term treatment impacts. Dr. Jennie Taylor, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurological Surgery at the University of California San Francisco, explains the complexities behind this type of tumor and implications for patient care. Dr. Taylor also spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.

Guest: Beth Ann Malow, MD, MS The impacts of climate change present a growing threat to brain health. Rising heat, air pollution, and oxidative stress appear to worsen conditions like stroke, dementia, and multiple sclerosis. Join Dr. Beth Malow as she outlines the essential role clinicians play in prevention and education. Dr. Malow is a Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics and the Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Guest: Lauren Schaff, MD Glioblastomas are fast, aggressive, and resistant to many standard therapies. Dr. Lauren Schaff, a neuro-oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, explains how new molecular understandings and treatment avenues are paving the way for a more personalized, hopeful approach to care.

Guest: Sami Khella, MD Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) can present in multiple ways, making diagnosis complex. Dr. Sami Khella joins the program to outline how we can distinguish CIDP from similar neurological disorders and explain how response to therapy can guide diagnosis. Dr. Khella is the Director of Clinical Electrophysiology and a Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, and he spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.

Guest: Sami Khella, MD With personalized approaches, alternatives to steroids, and novel therapies like efgartigimod, the treatment landscape for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is continuing to evolve. Join Dr. Sami Khella as he shares expert insights on our available options. Dr. Khella is the Director of Clinical Electrophysiology and a Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, and he spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.

Guest: Katrina Abuabara, MD, FAAD Phototherapy, biologics, and JAK inhibitors can all play a role in atopic dermatitis treatment, but it's essential to consider patient-specific factors before choosing one of these options. Dr. Katrina Abuabara, Associate Professor of Dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, explains how we should approach these decisions when caring for patients with atopic dermatitis. Dr. Abuabara also spoke on this topic at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.

Guest: Christian Cordano, MD, PhD While multiple kinds of animal models are commonly used to study multiple sclerosis (MS), they are not always ideal for getting the full picture of the disease. To address these gaps, a new CAR T-cell-based model provides a reproducible disease course, discrete lesion formation, and an improved platform for testing remyelination therapies. Dr. Christian Cordano, Associate Researcher of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences, explains how this approach aims to overcome key limitations of traditional research models for MS. Dr. Cordano also spoke on this topic at the ACTRIMS Forum 2025.

Guest: Vernon K. Sondak, MD Melanoma treatment has undergone a rapid evolution. Immunotherapy has doubled survival rates, and timing the use of these drugs around surgery has shown to be even more effective. Dr. Vernon Sondak explores how the fight against melanoma is stronger than ever with new therapeutic combinations and evolving treatment strategies. Dr. Sondak is the Chair of the Department of Cutaneous Oncology at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida.

Guest: Shalini Prasad, PhD Guest: Sriram Muthukumar, PhD Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP With the constant ups and downs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), consistent monitoring can help provide patient-centric care. Dr. Shalini Prasad and Dr. Sriram Muthukumar, co-founders of EnLiSense, join GI Insights to discuss the wearable device they developed to track inflammation markers in IBD patients. Dr. Prasad is the Head of the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Texas at Dallas, and Dr. Muthukumar is the CEO of EnLiSense.

Guest: Elisa K. Boden, MD For patients with Crohn's disease who require surgery, a variety of risk factors are involved in postoperative recovery and disease control. Learn how prehabilitation programs and lifestyle modifications can reduce complications during and after surgery with Dr. Elisa Boden, an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Oregon Health and Science University.

Guest: Elisa K. Boden, MD For many patients with Crohn's disease, surgery is necessary due to complications like strictures and fistulas. Dr. Elisa Boden explores risk factors and potential complications, which she spoke about at the 2025 Crohn's and Colitis Congress. Dr. Boden is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Oregon Health and Science University.

Guest: Sara Horst, MD, MPH, FACG While inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) does not typically cause significant problems in pregnancy, it's still essential to discuss potential impacts with patients and monitor them closely. Dr. Sara Horst, a Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, joins GI Insights to discuss important considerations for pregnant patients with IBD.

Host: Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD How should we approach caring for undifferentiated eczema patients who didn't have eczema as a child, who doesn't have atopic co-morbidities, and isn't flexural? Here to give a quick overview of his session at the Maui Derm 2025 conference that sought to help answer this question is Dr. Raj Chovatiya. Dr. Chovatiya is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School and Founder and Director of the Center for Medical Dermatology and Immunology Research in Chicago.

Host: Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD Here to share his insights on the key themes and topics covered at the Maui Derm 2025 conference is Dr. Raj Chovatiya. Dr. Chovatiya is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School and Founder and Director of the Center for Medical Dermatology and Immunology Research in Chicago.

Host: Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD Here to share a glimpse into where the dermatology field might be headed based on updates from the Maui Derm 2025 conference is Dr. Raj Chovatiya. Dr. Chovatiya is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School and Founder and Director of the Center for Medical Dermatology and Immunology Research in Chicago.

Host: Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD In light of the Maui Derm 2025 conference, Dr. Raj Chovatiya is here to discuss the most significant updates in the dermatology field that helped define 2024. Dr. Chovatiya is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School and Founder and Director of the Center for Medical Dermatology and Immunology Research in Chicago.

Guest: Kelly Gwathmey, MD ALS can take up to a year to diagnose, but researchers are hard at work trying to find ways to minimize diagnostic delays and errors. One such solution is the Rapid Access ALS Clinic, where patients were diagnosed an average of two months sooner. Here to talk about this work is Dr. Kelly Gwathmey, Professor of Neurology at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine who presented a session on this topic at the 2024 American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine Annual Meeting.

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: A. Mark Fendrick, MD Approximately 40 percent of the eligible U.S. population are not up to date with their colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings, which inspired this study that was presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024 to help eliminate the colonoscopy backlog with stool-based CRC screening options. To learn the details of this study and how we can incorporate the findings into practice, join Dr. Jennifer Caudle as she speaks with Dr. Mark Fendrick, Professor of Internal Medicine in the School of Medicine and Professor of Health Management and Policy in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan.

Guest: Phillip H. Kuo, MD, PhD One of the major changes that's occurred very recently in the field of neurodegenerative disease and Alzheimer's disease, specifically, are the recently approved antibody therapies that remove amyloid from the brain, which is one of the culprit proteins in Alzheimer's disease. To learn more about this presentation from SNMMI 2024, join Dr. Phillip Kuo, Professor of Medical Imaging, Medicine, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arizona.

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Geoffrey B. Johnson, M.D., Ph.D. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET scans are a method by which clinicians can see if a patient who is suffering from prostate cancer has tumors that are expressing the PSMA target. In addition to that, the scan allows us to measure how much of the medication we get onto that cancer target and if it's going to be effective. Take a deep dive with Dr. Jennifer Caudle as she speaks with Dr. Geoffrey Johnson, Nuclear Medicine Specialist and Radiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who also presented this research at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2024 Annual Meeting.

Guest: Geoffrey B. Johnson, M.D., Ph.D. When looking at patients who suffer from prostate cancer who are receiving PSMA therapy, we can see on our images that the medication not only goes to their cancer, but it also goes to some other things in their body, including the salivary glands. To learn more about his recent study on salivary toxicity, join Dr. Geoffrey Johnson, Nuclear Medicine Specialist and Radiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Guest: Joyita Dutta The AI landscape is evolving at a rapid pace. However, there is a shortage of large public data sets in nuclear medicine that AI models can be trained on. To learn more about what's on the AI horizon and the challenges that are associated, join Dr. Joyita Dutta, Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, who also presented this at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2024 Annual Meeting.

Guest: Brianna Cagle The Discovery Team at Perspective has developed a compound, called PSV-359, which is a cyclic peptide radiopharmaceutical. It targets a protein, called fibroblast activation protein (FAP), which is a pan-cancer target and is expressed in a wide variety of cancers. To learn more about her presentation from SNMMI 2024, hear from Brianna Cagle, Research Scientist at Perspective Therapeutics in Iowa.