Intention to Treat

Intention to Treat

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“Intention to Treat,” hosted by health care journalist Rachel Gotbaum, draws on the world-class expertise of the New England Journal of Medicine to present breaking news and incisive analysis of critical and timely issues in medicine and health care. Through interviews with NEJM editors, specialized experts, physicians, and affected patients, each episode explores a story-behind-the-story, giving listeners needed context and a deeper understanding of complex research, cutting-edge medical interventions, and urgent health policy debates that affect patients and the clinicians who care for them. Practicing clinicians, biomedical researchers, medical trainees, patients, and anyone with an interest in health will find unique insights in “Intention to Treat.”

NEJM Group


    • Sep 25, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 36m AVG DURATION
    • 40 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Intention to Treat

    Brain Injury and Consciousness

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 25:49


    New research using functional brain imaging reveals that many patients considered to be in a coma or vegetative state and who are unresponsive may actually be conscious and aware. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2408662.

    What Exactly Is Long Covid?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 26:03


    The millions of people worldwide who are suffering from a vast array of disabling symptoms long after being infected with SARS-CoV-2 may eventually benefit from a new consensus definition of long Covid. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2407614.

    Restoring Lost Speech

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 22:02


    In recent years, substantial progress has been made in developing brain-computer interfaces that could restore the ability of patients with neurodegenerative diseases and other conditions to communicate. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2407613.

    Race-Based Diagnosis, Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 25:17


    As race-based diagnostic tools, such as pulse oximeters that function poorly on darker skin, continue to lead to inequitable care, a growing movement is working to weed them out of U.S. health care. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2407611.

    Race-Based Diagnosis, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 23:13


    A key measure of kidney function and a risk calculator for vaginal birth after cesarean delivery are among the many tools that have long contributed to health and health care inequities for Black patients. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2405797.

    Race-Based Diagnosis, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 27:36


    Claims that Black people had lower lung capacity than White people led to race-adjusted spirometry and poorer care for Black patients with lung disease. New equations are starting to change that. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2405796.

    Are We Prepared for Bird Flu?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 19:02


    A new strain of H5N1 influenza is spreading in dairy cows in the United States. Will it cause an epidemic in humans? And what does our public health system need to do in order to be ready if it does? A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2405795.

    Treating Obesity in Kids

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 25:39


    In the face of a growing childhood obesity epidemic, some parents and clinicians are turning to new tools such as GLP-1 receptor agonists. This episode explores the implications of that trend. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2400703.

    New Hope for a Common and Deadly Heart Condition

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 24:37


    This episode considers a new treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the world's most common inherited heart condition, which most affected people don't even realize they have. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2400702.

    CAR T-Cells and Safety Signals

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024 25:25


    This episode examines CAR T-cell therapy's early successes, broader promise, and emerging risks, as the FDA considers reports of occasional secondary cancers. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2400701.

    Progress for Parkinson's?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 26:36


    This episode explores the fastest-growing neurologic condition in the world, Parkinson's disease. What have we learned in recent years, and where are the greatest hopes for the future? A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2414003.

    Doctors and Guns

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 25:38


    In this episode, parents who have lost children to gun accidents and physicians working for gun safety discuss the number-one killer of U.S. children and what doctors can do about it. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2314002.

    Race Relations and the First Paramedics

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 29:06


    This episode of “Intention to Treat” tells the story of the Freedom House Ambulance Service — a group of Black laypeople in Pittsburgh who underwent intensive training to become the first paramedics in the United States. [Originally aired on May 4, 2023.] A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2303614.

    Why Doctors Need to Talk about Death

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 23:23


    Highlighting gaps in communication near the end of life, this podcast episode explores a new approach to preparing patients with serious illness and their families for all possible outcomes. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2314001.

    Investigating Injustices in the Journal's History, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024 28:40


    In the second half of our podcast series on historical injustices, guests Evelynn Hammonds and David Jones examine the racism of post-World War II American medicine and its lessons for the present day. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2314000.

    Investigating Injustices in the Journal's History

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 21:31


    Over its 200-plus years, the Journal has sometimes published articles that have perpetuated injustices against various groups of people. A new Perspective series explores that history and its lessons. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2311329.

    Covid Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2023 20:41


    This episode examines Covid-19 variants that are currently circulating, recommendations for booster shots, and new treatments in the pipeline. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2311327.

    Is Xenotransplantation Ready for Prime Time?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2023 47:23


    This episode examines the need for and promise of xenotransplantation, considering first the plight of patients and then the progress being made by researchers. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2309946.

    Alzheimer's Update, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 54:00


    This episode explores the current state of research on the multiple likely mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease as well as promising treatments and diagnostics. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2309944.

    Alzheimer's Update, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023 56:29


    Host Rachel Gotbaum talks with a patient with early-onset Alzheimer's disease and two dementia experts about frustrations with the current state of Alzheimer's care. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2309485.

    The Long Haul of Long Covid

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023 63:22


    This episode explores long Covid, an often-disabling but unexplained syndrome of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2. How is it affecting millions of people, and what is being done about it? A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2309483.

    What We Don't Know about School Shooter Drills

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2023 31:56


    This episode peers into U.S. schools to examine a widespread but non–evidence-based approach to preparing children and staff for gun-violence incidents. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2308309.

    Awakened Hope for Narcolepsy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2023 32:35


    In this episode, a patient with narcolepsy describes her rough, long road to diagnosis and treatment, and a researcher elucidates both the condition and a new therapeutic direction. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2308308.

    Obesity and Heart Failure

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2023 38:43


    Cardiologists now recognize that heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) may be caused by obesity. This episode of “Intention to Treat” examines new evidence that treating obesity can prevent HFpEF.   A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2307349.

    Preventing HIV's Collateral Cardiovascular Damage

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2023 50:40


    People living with HIV have increased risk for cardiovascular disease (and other diseases of aging) earlier in life than those without HIV. In this episode of “Intention to Treat,” researcher Steven Grinspoon describes a new strategy for preventing collateral damage. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2307347.

    Prospects for Pain

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 42:02


    Some types of pain have proven resistant to all available medications. In this episode of “Intention to Treat,” Rachel Gotbaum talks with a patient with neuropathic pain and a researcher exploring new sodium-channel blockers that offer promise for such patients. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2305759.

    The Plight of Primary Care, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 53:25


    What is driving U.S. physicians out of primary care — and keeping trainees from going into it in the first place? In this episode of “Intention to Treat,” host Rachel Gotbaum explores the breakdown of the system and possible ways to save it. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2305758.

    The Plight of Primary Care, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2023 54:55


    This episode of “Intention to Treat,” explores the crisis in primary care in the United States, as increasing numbers or primary care physicians leave the field — driven out by corporatization, growing time pressure, and the inability to form the relationships that enable good care. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2303852.

    Unleashing CRISPR on Cancer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 52:50


    In this episode of “Intention to Treat,” host Rachel Gotbaum explores the story of a teenager who's now in remission from previously relapsed lymphoblastic leukemia and talks with the investigator who developed the “off-the-shelf” CAR T cells that made her treatment possible. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2303851.

    New Patient-Centered Options for Cancer Treatment

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 37:07


    “Intention to Treat” host Rachel Gotbaum talks with patient Awilde Peña and oncologist Deb Schrag about a new approach to treating rectal cancer that sidesteps the need for radiation, thereby avoiding long-term side effects and preserving fertility. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2303850.

    Lessons for a Pandemic

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 21:16


    In this episode of “Intention to Treat,” Drs. Harvey Fineberg and Eric Rubin take stock of the failures and successes of the Covid-19 response and elucidate their lessons for combating the next major public health threat, whatever it may be. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2303615.

    Race Relations and the First Paramedics

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2023 58:13


    This episode of “Intention to Treat” tells the story of the Freedom House Ambulance Service — a group of Black laypeople in Pittsburgh who underwent intensive training to become the first paramedics in the United States. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2303614.

    Waiting on Prostate Cancer

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 51:07


    In this episode of “Intention to Treat,” host Rachel Gotbaum talks with patient Robert Schlamberg and Doctors Oladapo Yeku and Oliver Sartor about the option of watchful waiting in the care of men with early prostate cancer. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2303613.

    Is Medicine Ready for AI?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2023 58:22


    In this episode of “Intention to Treat,” Maia Hightower and Isaac Kohane join host Rachel Gotbaum to explore the promise and hazards of artificial-intelligence and machine-learning tools for both clinical and administrative uses in medicine. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2301939.

    The Fauci Phenomenon, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 31:17


    In this episode of “Intention to Treat,” Anthony Fauci sits down with host Rachel Gotbaum to discuss his long career in infectious disease and public health, what has motivated him, and the lessons he has learned and taught along the way. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2300938.

    The Fauci Phenomenon

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2023 55:59


    In this episode of “Intention to Treat,” some of the people who have worked closely with “America's Doctor,” Anthony Fauci, offer insights into his character, values, accomplishments, and adventures over his decades of service at the NIH. A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2300937.

    The Promise and Perils of Psychedelics

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 60:21


    In this episode of “Intention to Treat,” a study participant and a long-time investigator of hallucinogenic drugs for psychiatric conditions illuminate the effects of psilocybin in patients with depression. A full transcript of this episode is available at https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2300936.

    Post-Roe Realities

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2023 62:45


    In this episode of “Intention to Treat,” host Rachel Gotbaum takes us to Tennessee and Ohio, where new abortion bans are already harming patients and threatening their physicians.   A full transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2300935.

    Covid Vaccines — Playing the Long Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2023 35:51


    In this first episode of “Intention to Treat,” NEJM editor-in-chief Eric Rubin and his colleague at the FDA Vaccine Advisory Committee, Paul Offit, consider the achievements, limitations, and expectations of Covid vaccines.   A transcript of this episode is available at nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2300222.

    Trailer: NEJM Group Presents “Intention to Treat”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2023 3:07


    From the New England Journal of Medicine, welcome to “Intention to Treat,” a podcast exploring the most complicated, perplexing, and fascinating issues facing medicine today. From groundbreaking research, to clinical advances, to personal stories from doctors and their patients, we give you a behind-the-scenes look at discoveries that are changing medical practice and provide you with the knowledge to thrive on the front lines of health care.

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