Podcasts about Northwestern Medicine

Eric Ruderman, MD, leads a Northwestern Medicine panel discussion with Irene Blanco, MD, Anisha Dua, MD, and Carrie Richardson, MD. Together, they dive into the latest advances in clinical trials and treatment strategies for scleroderma, vasculitis and lupus.The panel discusses the goals and complexities of contemporary clinical trials, recent breakthroughs in therapies and the innovative potential of CAR-T therapy for managing autoimmune diseases. They emphasize the significance of personalized medicine and the collaboration needed among clinicians, industry collaborators and patient advocacy groups to drive research forward.

A Northwestern Medicine clinical trial led by Rod Passman, MD, could improve the way we care for millions of people with atrial fibrillation, but it is facing an unexpected challenge. There has been a pause in federal funding to Northwestern University that could impact this study's progress. While the trial has not been ordered to stop, all National Institutes of Health funding to Northwestern University has been frozen, raising questions about how long this potential life-saving work can go on without a resolution.  

This episode features Dr. Matthew Potts, Neurosurgeon at Northwestern Medicine, discussing normal pressure hydrocephalus in light of increased public awareness following Billy Joel's diagnosis. Dr. Potts explains key symptoms, the diagnostic process, and treatment options that can significantly improve patient outcomes when identified early.

This episode features Dr. Matthew Potts, Neurosurgeon at Northwestern Medicine, discussing normal pressure hydrocephalus in light of increased public awareness following Billy Joel's diagnosis. Dr. Potts explains key symptoms, the diagnostic process, and treatment options that can significantly improve patient outcomes when identified early.

Avanti Kumar-Singh, MD, is an internationally recognized Ayurveda and integrative medicine practitioner, a certified yoga therapist, and a former ER doctor. Her approach brings together Western medicine with the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda from her South Asian lineage. Dr. Avanti is the former co-lead facilitator at Northwestern Medicine's Osher Center for Integrative Health, hosts The Healing Catalyst podcast, and offers courses on integrative medicine. She is a sought- after speaker and advisor in the wellness community, sharing her knowledge with Fortune 500 companies, top academic institutions, and leading industry and medical conferences. She has also been featured in notable outlets such as the Huffington Post, Goop, mindbodygreen, and more. You can connect with Dr. Avanti via Instagram @avantikumarsingh, and get your own personalized box at myarvasi.com Related Episodes: Ep 289 - Niraj Naik on Efficiency with Breath Ep 288 - From the Vault: Dr. Wayne Jonas on How Healing Works If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health. Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Dr. Jim Adams, Chief Medical Officer of Northwestern Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss some of the latest health headlines. Dr. Adams discusses how to react to tick bites. a new FDA drug approval program, and mental health for men.

In this episode of Better Edge, we discuss the Collaborative Advanced Reconstructive Evaluation (CARE) Clinic, a collaboration between Northwestern Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, led by Julia Geynisman-Tan, MD, Julia E. Grabowski, MD, Elizabeth B. Yerkes, MD, and Dana Elborno, MD. Learn how this team uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide leading-edge reconstructive treatments for congenital anomalies and acquired genitourinary tract diseases.

In the U.S., someone dies from heart disease every 33 seconds. Men face a higher risk, yet many are reluctant to see a doctor for regular screenings. Manny Munoz spoke with Dr. Jane Wilcox, associate chief of cardiology at Northwestern Medicine, about why Father's Day is the perfect time to encourage dad to take care of his heart health.AND, Men…Father's deal with as many mental health issues as women do, some you might be surprised to hear bout. Manny spoke with Psychologist Dr. Daniel Singley, founder of the Center for Men's Excellence about that and the stigma surrounding men asking for help.

Dr. Sterling Elliott, clinical pharmacist at Northwestern Medicine and assistant professor of orthopedics at Feinberg School of Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss ivermectin. Dr. Elliot explains, is prescribed to treat parasitic infections. He shares when its prescribed, and whether or not ivermectin is FDA approved.

In this episode of Better Edge, Northwestern Medicine Neurologist Shailee Shah, MD, and Neuro-oncologist Ditte Primdahl, MD, unpack the latest advancements in paraneoplastic syndrome management, highlighted at the 2025 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.   Together, they explore: The complex interplay between immune checkpoint inhibitors and autoimmune neurologic syndromes Emerging therapies, including CD19-directed CAR T-cell treatments Updates to diagnostic criteria and risk stratification using high-risk autoantibodies The role of predictive biomarkers and advanced omics in diagnosis The launch of a dedicated paraneoplastic clinic at Northwestern Medicine

A new study from Northwestern Medicine examined the potentially harmful impacts of TikTok skin care routines. Researchers found that these routines could cause skin damage.

A new study from Northwestern Medicine examined the potentially harmful impacts of TikTok skin care routines. Researchers found that these routines could cause skin damage.

A new study from Northwestern Medicine examined the potentially harmful impacts of TikTok skin care routines. Researchers found that these routines could cause skin damage.

In this episode, Molly Gamble, Vice President of Editorial at Becker's Healthcare, breaks down major industry developments including UnitedHealth's defamation suit against The Guardian, looming federal coverage cuts, and Northwestern Medicine's new academic partnership with BayCare in Florida.

Description: Dr. Igor Koralnik, the co-director of Northwestern Medicine's Comprehensive COVID-19 Center, is one of the world's leading Long COVID researchers. For instance, he's been involved in a first-of its-kind study that's giving experts an idea of how Long COVID affects the body by looking through the eyes. Patients at his center receive coordinated care across 14 different specialties to address the many ways Long COVID affects the body. In the second part of our two-part series on Long COVID,... Read More Read More The post 400 Million+ People Globally With Long COVID: A Top Researcher Seeks Solutions appeared first on Healthy Communities Online.

Have a red, painful eye that's sensitive to light? Could be uveitis. Hear ophthalmologist Dr. Timothy Janetos discuss uveitis and how it relates to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Join host Takieyah Mathis for an eye opening discussion about uveitis, cataracts, and eye health with ophthalmologist Dr. Timonthy Janetos from Northwestern Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology. Listen as they discuss what is uveitis and cataracts from key symptoms, the significance of the HLA-B27 marker, diagnosis, to treatment options that help reduce inflammation and preserve long term vision. This episode offers information to help you advocate for your eye health by recognizing when you need help from an ophthalmologist and what actions you can take to reduce your risks associated with uveitis. Timestamps: ·       (0:00)          Intro to Psound Bytes & guest welcome ophthalmologist                      Dr. Timothy Milton Janetos. ·       (1:21)          Definition of uveitis and the relationship to psoriatic                            disease. ·       (5:35)          Symptoms of uveitis. ·       (7:45)          How uveitis is diagnosed. ·       (9:24)          Treatment options for uveitis. ·       (13:11)       What happens if eye injections are needed as treatment. ·       (14:47)        Association between inflammation, psoriatic disease,                           and cataracts. ·       (15:48)        Symptoms of a cataract. ·       (16:33)        Treatment for cataracts. ·       (21:11)        New advancements in treating uveitis and cataracts. ·       (25:50)        General eye health actions to help reduce risks                                       associated with inflammation. Early detection is key. 4 Key Takeaways: ·       Uveitis is a huge spectrum of different diseases with about half of the associations due to chronic, immune related diseases like psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.   ·       If you wake up with a red, painful eye that's sensitive to light, seek help from an ophthalmologist right away to minimize risk of scar tissue formation. ·       Work with a health care team to treat all aspects of psoriatic disease to reduce inflammation whether it's in the skin, joints, and/or the eye. ·       Lifestyle changes such as stop smoking and yearly eye exams are actions that can help reduce inflammatory factors and maintain overall eye health. Guest Bio: Dr. Timothy Milton Janetos is a board-certified and nationally recognized ophthalmologist with Northwestern Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology who specializes in uveitis and cataract surgery.  He is also an Assistant Professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Janetos offers comprehensive care using a personalized treatment plan for both children and adults with intraocular inflammation and infections. He is a professional member of the American Uveitis Society (AUS) and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), as well as the Editor for Frontiers in Ophthalmology and an Editorial Board Member for Annals of Eye Science. Resources: Ø  Psoriatic Arthritis and Uveitis: What's it All About? Podcast with rheumatologist and ophthalmologist Dr. James Rosenbaum. (Released in 2019.)   https://www.psoriasis.org/watch-and-listen/psoriatic-arthritis-and-uveitis-whats-it-all-about-psa/   Ø  Eye Inflammation and Psoriatic Arthritis         https://www.psoriasis.org/advance/eye-inflammation-and- psoriatic-arthritis/  

Dr. Sterling Elliott, clinical pharmacist at Northwestern Medicine and assistant professor of orthopedics at Feinberg School of Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the changes to pharmacy benefit managers, their effect on prescription drug prices, Health and Human Services changing addiction drug availability, and more. And as always, Dr. Elliott answers questions from listeners.

Chief Medical Officer of Northwestern Medicine's Northwest region of hospitals Dr. Irfan Hafiz joins Bob Sirott to share details about a study that focuses on the impact of a nasal spray and how it impacts Alzheimer’s, as well as how intermittent fasting can help keep off weight. He also explains how you can protect your […]

Description: Co-hosts Ryan Piansky, a graduate student and patient advocate living with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic asthma, and Holly Knotowicz, a speech-language pathologist living with EoE who serves on APFED's Health Sciences Advisory Council, interview Bethany Doerfler, MS, RDN, a clinical research dietician specializing in lifestyle management of digestive diseases at Northwestern Medicine. Ryan and Holly discuss managing nutritional deficiencies in patients with non-EoE EGIDs and a study Bethany worked on. Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is designed to support, not replace the relationship that exists between listeners and their healthcare providers. Opinions, information, and recommendations shared in this podcast are not a substitute for medical advice. Decisions related to medical care should be made with your healthcare provider. Opinions and views of guests and co-hosts are their own.   Key Takeaways: [:50] Co-host Ryan Piansky introduces the episode, brought to you thanks to the support of Education Partners Bristol Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Regeneron, and Takeda. Ryan introduces co-host Holly Knotowicz.   [1:17] Holly introduces today's topic, common nutritional deficiencies that affect those with eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases that occur in the GI tract lower than the esophagus (non-EoE EGIDs).   [1:31] Holly introduces today's guest, Bethany Doerfler, a clinical research dietician specializing in lifestyle management of digestive diseases, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, motility disorders, and eosinophilic diseases.   [1:45] Bethany currently practices as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a digestive health institute at Northwestern Medicine.   [2:03] Bethany began working with this disorder almost 20 years ago. She worked with Dr. Gonsalves and Dr. Hirano at Northwestern. Dr. Gonsalves invited her to work with EoE patients. Bethany had not heard of EoE.   [2:59] Bethany says the lens that we've used to look at food as the trigger and also a therapeutic agent in the esophagus, we're looking at in non-EoE EGIDs as well; at the same time, trying to make sure that we're honoring the other parts of our patient's lives.   [3:27] Before Bethany started working in GI at Northwestern, she worked in the Wellness Institute, doing nutrition for patients at Northwestern. Bethany has a research background in epidemiology and she wanted to see better nutrition research in GI.   [3:56] Through a friend, Bethany connected with the Chief of GI at that point. Northwestern had never had a dietician working in GI.   [4:08] Bethany is pleased to see a trend in healthcare of thinking about the patient as a whole person, including diet, psychological wellness, physical health, exercise, sleep, and more. Bethany wanted to see more research on GI disorders.   [4:38] Bethany says that eosinophils in the esophagus indicate that something is irritating the tissues, such as reflux, food triggers, aeroallergens, and other things.   [4:58] Eosinophils do belong in the stomach, the small intestine, and the colon. The challenge for researchers has been, how many, where are they supposed to live, and what are they supposed to look like.   [5:10] There is eosinophilic gastritis, where eosinophils can infiltrate the stomach, causing a lot of inflammatory responses that make patients sick. We see that in all parts of the small intestine and less commonly, in the colon, as well.   [5:32] It's a good reminder for listeners that eosinophils are white blood cells. When they're in the tissues, they can swell things up and cause the body to have this inflammatory response in these lower GI tract organs.   [5:49] The symptoms patients can experience are vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, among other things.   [6:14] The nomenclature for this subset of eosinophil-associated diseases has changed and Bethany says to hang tight, there is lots of work underway to nail this down further in the next couple of months to a year.   [6:29] The last guidelines were published by a Delphi Consensus in 2022. The experts in the field got together and voted on the scientific accuracy of certain statements to develop cut points for how to grade.   [6:48] The experts are asking questions like: What counts as eosinophilic gastritis? What do we think are some of the symptoms and the clinical findings so that we all are looking at things through the same lens?   [7:02] To get to these consensus statements, there's a lot of discussion, agreement, and good collegial discussions about making sure that we're looking at this accurately.   [7:12] We're trying to give the right names to the right disorders and give clear diagnostic criteria, so that we're helping our patients get a diagnosis, and we're not labeling something incorrectly and sticking someone with an inaccurate diagnosis.   [7:36] The proper terminology is eosinophilic gastritis in the stomach, eosinophilic enteritis in the small intestine, eosinophilic colitis in the colon, and eosinophilic gastroenteritis where the stomach and the small bowel are involved.   [7:53] There's more to come on the clinical criteria of what makes that diagnosis but we're getting the names and the numbers right.   [8:03] Holly agrees that having the symptoms given a named diagnosis is important to patients, knowing that researchers are looking into their illness.   [9:00] Bethany notes that the diagnosis also means that there are opportunities for medical therapy, cut points for which medicines or therapies work or not, and billing codes. If we can't bill insurance companies, patients might not get certain services.    [9:28] Ryan tells how beneficial it was for him to have access to multi-disciplinary teams and see specialists he might not have seen without the proper diagnosis and just thought it was a GI issue. He was fortunate to see a dietician and start dietary therapy.   [9:53] Bethany says the dietician's priority is the patient's health and wellness.   [10:13] These disorders carry clinical non-gastrointestinal manifestations: fatigue, concern over what to eat, food access issues, family support, and other food allergies. These are important things for a dietician to consider.   [10:37] Are patients growing as they should? Do they feel like they have enough to eat? Do they feel excluded in social settings? There's a list of important things that we want to be looking at. That's why it's important to have a multi-disciplinary approach.   [11:07] First, Bethany wants to see that her patients are physically and nutritionally well. That's a priority if we're going to try to get rid of some of the food triggers that could be exacerbating the disease.   [11:20] Before Bethany takes anything out of someone's diet, she wants to make sure that they're getting enough of the good stuff to help them feel good and grow.   [11:29] From a diet therapy perspective, Bethany is trying to apply a food removal or substitution protocol to other spots outside the esophagus. They're seeing that some of the triggers are very similar, both in the stomach and small intestine.   [12:09] Dr. Gonsalves, Dr. Hirano, and Bethany did a study, The Elemental Study, where they wanted to uncover if food proteins carried the same trigger risk in the stomach and small intestine as they do in the esophagus.   [12:35] They put their patients on a hypoallergenic elemental formula for a period, followed up, and looked at their biopsies of the stomach and small intestine. Fifteen wonderful patients made it through the trial.   [12:56] One hundred percent of the patients achieved disease remission and felt better. There were some genetic alterations in the patients. Then they started the process of reintroducing foods over the year.   [13:15] That was not part of the original grant but was the team's clinical interest to see what it is that people are allergic to. Some of the common suspects: wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, and nuts, were found to be very common triggers for EoG and EoN, as well.   [13:47] The benefit of working with a dietician as part of your team is, first, we can remediate things the disease has caused nutritionally, and second, we can think about how diet can be a therapeutic tool to use with medications or instead of medication.   [14:15] If you want to use nutrition therapeutically, you don't have to stay there if it's not the right time to be taking things out of your diet. We have some good, safe, medical therapies. You can find your food triggers but you don't have to pick that lane forever.   [14:42] Holly and Ryan relate their experiences with traveling abroad and going on medical therapies when they can't stay on their diets.   [15:57] Bethany says low levels of vitamins and minerals in the blood can be caused by a disorder or an elimination diet. In the U.S., dairy is the biggest source of protein for young kids. It's also the biggest source of calcium and vitamin D.   [16:22] Dieticians often say, if we are going to use dietary therapy for EoE or non-EoE EGIDs, we have to think of this as a substitution diet. If we remove something, we have to replace it with something equally nutrient-dense.   [16:39] Bethany and her group look at serum values of Vitamin D, B12, and iron they assess for patients. For kids, instead of drawing blood, they piece together what they're taking against what they need and see if there are gaps to fill with food or supplements.   [17:32] In patients with non-EoE EGIDs, Bethany says we see the disease intersect with the food supply. When we take milk out, we're cutting the biggest source of calcium and Vitamin D. We have to replace calcium and Vitamin D.   [17:55] In the 1950s, a public health law allowed wheat to be enriched with folic acid and other B vitamins and iron. When we cut out wheat, our patients aren't getting enough iron or B vitamins. We have to replace those.   [18:16] For patients who have eosinophils in their stomach and small intestine, their absorption in the small bowel may be directly impacted.   [18:26] People can have low levels of protein in their blood, maybe because they're eating insufficient protein or maybe because the disease doesn't allow them to absorb protein sufficiently when there's swelling in the small intestine.   [18:44] There are other nutrients, like zinc, for people who have diarrhea, and magnesium if you can't eat a lot of whole grains and nuts, There are quite a few nutrients that Bethany is broadly looking at.   [18:54] Based on the absorption in the small intestine, patients' doctors need to look at their B12, folic acid, iron levels, and Vitamin D.   [19:12] Holly loves Bethany's terminology of replacing, not just eliminating, foods. She will use that terminology with her patients to make it feel more supportive for them.   [20:40] A lot of people want to get all their nutrients through their food. That's not always practical. Vitamin D is hard to get exclusively in your diet if you're not drinking milk or eating wild-caught fish. You have to rely on fortified foods or add supplements.   [21:15] One, we want to take a look at your diet and ask how are your calories. We want to make sure you're eating enough. Two, if we suspect there are some vitamin deficiencies, we check your blood or just empirically supplement you.   [21:36] Supplementation should be done carefully. There are some vitamins where you can get too much of a good thing. Vitamins stored in the fat need to be at levels sufficient for repletion, dictated by age and gender. Dieticians know what to recommend.   [22:19] For patients who have non-EoE EGIDs, some have tentative swallowing, so Bethany tries to do as many liquid or chewable safe options for supplements as possible.   [23:46] Holly works with patients who have feeding difficulty, so she appreciates the liquid and chewable supplements for easier swallowing and quicker absorption.    [24:08] Bethany mentions that some fortified oat, corn, and rice breakfast cereals are highly enriched with B vitamins and iron. Look at the labels. It can be a way to layer in more vitamins without purchasing a supplement.   [25:24] Holly doesn't think patients understand how valuable a good dietician can be. She had one patient with celiac who was taking a supplement with gluten in it! She reminds listeners to always consult your care team before making any changes to your treatment plan.   [25:59] Bethany's favorite thing to talk about is foods and where to find what. If listeners have questions, she is happy to post answers on the website.   [26:25] The American Academy of Pediatrics says a cup of vitamin-fortified juice a day is not too much sugar and is a good source of Vitamin C and other nutrients. The calcium and Vitamin D you get from a cup of fortified juice is very value-available.   [26:46] In the non-dairy drink world, some are nicely fortified and some are not. If you make your almond milk, you're missing out on the fortifications.   [27:11] Bethany likes some of the fortified juices and some of the enriched non-dairy milk options. Those are the best ways to get calcium and Vitamin D for people who need calories. Instead of water with meals, substitute an enriched drink with meals.   [27:33] Some people struggle with protein, probably because of their level of food restriction. The typical animal proteins are great. If you can do soy, a cup of soy milk has eight grams of protein. Soy is a complete protein that mimics animal proteins.   [28:04] Cook your cereal in soy milk. Use it as the base of a smoothie. This is before getting into protein powders. Try legume-based proteins, if you can handle legumes. Your supplements have to be personalized. That's the tricky part.   [28:30] If you have a lot of food allergies or intolerances, it may be worth talking to your gastroenterologist, allergist, or dietician about adding elemental formula as a supplement. Bethany uses it often with food allergy patients as a safe supplement.   [29:31] Bethany primarily treats adults but also young adults transitioning from the pediatric side into the adult world. Sometimes a feeding difficulty follows patients into adult treatment. We need everyone at the table to treat this immune-mediated disease.   [30:32] Patient advocacy groups like APFED have ways to help you find dieticians. Also, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has “Find a Specialist” on their website. Eatright.org. Dieticians can do telehealth if you are not near one.   [31:45] If the practice that you're in doesn't have a dietician, you could gently suggest they have one join the practice, or consult with the practice. Patient advocacy is strong.   [33:12] Bethany talks about getting an appointment with a dietician. On the pediatric side, it has to do with the billing code. Ask your insurance if they cover medical nutrition therapy, Billing Code 97802, and for which diseases. Insurance may have stipulations.   [34:14] If medical nutrition therapy is not a covered benefit, ask the dietician if they can do a sliding scale. Holly says she has seen plans in several states where the patient can use the HSA or FSA card to pay for medical nutrition therapy.   [34:49] Bethany believes in the pediatric world, where growth and development are concerns, there's a little bit better coverage.   [34:59] On the adult side, if Bethany has other diagnoses, like high blood pressure, or diabetes, she is also billing for those because she makes sure what she recommends is also in line with what is good for their heart and wellness in general.   [35:55] Bethany was intrigued to learn food proteins do trigger disease activity for our patients in the stomach and small intestine, just as in the esophagus.   [36:20] In the Elemental Trial, they were surprised to learn people with non-EoE EGIDs had more allergies than expected. They were more likely to have more than just one or two. They were also more likely to have rare food allergies like legumes or grains.   [36:43] A patient may want to learn all their food triggers, but they may be a highly allergic person and it may not be worth trying to remove all their food triggers.   [37:06] Bethany wants to remind listeners that the diet approach should be a substitution diet. If you take things out, you've got to replace them with other plants.   [37:18] There's great crossover nutrition between fruits and vegetables. Seeds are great as a fill-in for nuts. There are plenty of other whole grains out there besides wheat. There are lots of good ways to get that nutritional balance into your diet.   [37:31] For anyone who's eliminating a food group, even if you're substituting it, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor about filling in with a good multivitamin, multimineral supplement.   [37:59] Bethany says it's fun working with colleagues to look for other ways to look at this nutrition lens for patients with Non-EoE EGIDs.   [38:14] They are looking at noninvasive ways to find eosinophils to go faster with helping people find their food triggers without having to scope them.   [38:28] Bethany is hoping with that research to be able to help people learn how they can cheat, like having pizza once a month if they are allergic to dairy. That's a question for your care team, but we don't have a great science-based way to answer that.   [38:53] As we study more noninvasive ways to get at eosinophilic activity, we can give patients a little bit more freedom and quality of life. That's what Bethany is working on next.   [39:58] Holly thanks Bethany Doerfler for joining us on Real Talk — Eosinophilic Diseases. For our listeners, to learn more about eosinophilic disorders, please visit APFED.org and check out the links in the show notes.   [40:11] If you're looking to find specialists who treat eosinophilic disorders, we encourage you to use APFED's Specialist Finder at APFED.org/specialist.   [40:21] If you'd like to connect with others impacted by eosinophilic diseases, please join APFED's online community on the Inspire Network at APFED.org/connections.   [40:34] Holly thanks Bethany for joining us today. Holly also thanks APFED's Education Partners Bristol Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Regeneron, and Takeda for supporting this episode.   Mentioned in This Episode: Bethany Doerfler, MS, RD, Clinical Research Dietician specializing in lifestyle management of digestive diseases at Northwestern Medicine Dr. Nirmala Gonsalves Dr. Ikuo Hirano (In Memoriam) The Elemental Study, Gonsalves, Doerfler, Hirano Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics   APFED on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram Real Talk: Eosinophilic Diseases Podcast apfed.org/specialist apfed.org/connections   Education Partners: This episode of APFED's podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of Bristol Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Regeneron, and Takeda.   Tweetables:   “The lens that we've used to look at food as the trigger and also a therapeutic agent in the esophagus, we're doing that in non-EoE EGIDs as well, and at the same time, trying to make sure that we're honoring the other parts of our patient's lives.” — Bethany Doerfler, RD   “We are trying to give the right names to the right disorders and give clear diagnostic criteria so that we're helping our patients get a diagnosis, and we're not labeling something incorrectly and sticking someone with a diagnosis that isn't accurate.” — Bethany Doerfler, RD   “The diagnosis also means that there are opportunities for medical therapy, cut points for which we decide if medicines or other therapies work or not, and billing codes. If we can't bill insurance companies, patients may not be privy to certain services.” — Bethany Doerfler, RD   “Look at the [fortified cereal] labels. You'd be surprised how much they look like a multivitamin, not only for B vitamins but for iron. … It can be a fantastic way to layer in more vitamins without having to think about purchasing a supplement.” — Bethany Doerfler, RD   “There's great crossover nutrition between fruits and vegetables. Seeds are great as a fill-in for nuts. There are plenty of other whole grains out there besides wheat. There are lots of good ways for us to get that nutritional balance into your diet.” — Bethany Doerfler, RD

Santina Wheat, MD Family Medicine, Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, joins John Landecker to discuss United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announcing that they are no longer recommending the COVID vaccine for kids and pregnant women.

Fahad Faruqi, MD, Doctor of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Northwestern Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss former President Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis. Dr. Faruqi discusses the difference between ‘terminal’ and ‘incurable’ and what it means for Biden’s health.

Jonna D. Eimer is a health law and corporate attorney and shareholder at Roetzel & Andress in Chicago, Illinois. She represents numerous concierge medicine practices and has extensive experience with other innovative practice models. She also advises her clients – including physicians and physician groups, dentists, behavioral health clinicians, and other health care providers – in forming new practices, selling established practices, and negotiating employment and shareholder agreements, as well as guiding them with respect to regulatory matters. In addition, she counsels clients in forming management services organizations (MSOs) and navigating these sales to private equity. She can be reached at jeimer@ralaw.com.   By Jonna D. Eimer, Roetzel & Andress   Concierge medicine is on the rise, especially in the “snowbird” states like Florida, as practices and hospitals from Chicago and elsewhere have opened concierge practices to serve their patient populations in these warm locations. As these concierge style medicine practices continue to grow all over the country in primary care, pediatrics, women's health and other specialties, practices need to be particularly mindful of the different legal considerations that affect these new practice models. Because patient membership fees are often paid in advance and the patient agreement usually contemplates a personal relationship with increased access to a certain physician, there are different legal challenges and practice issues that should be addressed at the outset of these practices.   Access the Full Interview (iTunes): LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH JONNA D. EIMER, Roetzel & Andress (Updated May 2025) Connect with Jonna directly: Jonna D. Eimer is a health law and corporate attorney and shareholder at Roetzel & Andress in Chicago, Illinois. Watch Webinar Version (YouTube): Watch the Full Interview (YouTube) ...   Transitions, Terminations and Retirement   Jonna D. Eimer is a health law and corporate attorney and shareholder at Roetzel & Andress in Chicago, Illinois. © 2024 Roetzel & Andress. Photo Used With Permission.   The concierge model generally relies on increased access and time for patients because physicians have typically accepted fewer patients. Because of this, it can be very difficult to figure out the fairest way to negotiate a partner's exit and how these patients and fees paid would transfer in the event of such departure. Does the partner get paid only in a buy-out of the whole practice or will the practice buy-out the individual partner upon his or her termination? Would this be handled differently in the case of a retirement? Would the practice consider a buy-out only if another physician can be substituted and take over the patient panel? How then is the new provider paid if fees have already been collected for a given year? It is possible the patients reject the substitute physician regardless of the departing physician's recommendation.   Oftentimes, the agreements governing the practice's operations include long notice provisions prior to any termination or retirement because it is not easy to substitute another concierge doctor if one leaves. Also, the patients have paid for the personal relationship and membership with their own doctor, so they do not always feel that this relationship transfers to another doctor. Another thing to consider is if a doctor terminates or unexpectedly dies or becomes disabled and a new doctor cannot cover their patients, what happens to patient fees that have already been collected? The practice needs to consider whether these fees are returned to patients and then whether a new membership agreement is entered into with the new physician. All these considerations need to be addressed in the initial stages of the company's operations.   Cost Sharing/Expenses   Another issue confronting concierge practices is cost sharing and how to divide expenses in this type of practice models. Practices must decide if they are allocating costs based on each physician's patient panel size or based on their respective ownership percentages of the practice. Once you allow for different panel sizes, these differences can become quite problematic, and physicians can end up disagreeing on the fair allocation of these costs. Confronting these differences early in the formation of the practice and providing for them in the practice's operating documents can help avoid difficult and costly conflicts later for the partners.   Sales to Third Parties   Physician owners in a concierge practice also need to consider at the formation of a practice how the profits of the practice will be divided in the case of a sale to a third party. Will profits be divided based on a physician's ownership in the practice or based on an individual physician's production and fee generation? If a practice has providers with vastly different production and patient panel sizes, then this is important to consider because the higher producing partner may want a sale to a third party to take into account these differences. Another partner may feel strongly that profits should be divided based on ownership percentages in the practice entity, which may be equal even if the providers have different numbers of patients. Frequently, the potential buyer has their own considerations for valuing the practices and may ascribe different values to each physician's practice. The buyer may base its valuation of the practice on patient panel size and fees generated by each individual physician.   Regulatory Considerations   Concierge practices typically charge a fee for membership in their practice, which generally allows patients increased access to the physicians and their services. If the practice is accepting Medicare and/or commercial insurance, the fee cannot be charged for any service already covered by Medicare or insurance. Additionally, if the practice accepts commercial insurance, the fee must be scrutinized to be sure it is allowed under any agreement with a commercial payor of the practice. Some payor agreements may specifically prohibit any patient fee for membership in a practice. Some practices have reached out to their commercial payors directly when converting to a concierge practice and have had these commercial payors review and approve their patient agreements and membership fees.   Coverage and Licensing Concerns   Because of the unique access provided to concierge patients, some practices have added special coverage when these patients are out of state or on vacation. In light of their patients who winter in warmer climates, like Florida, California and Arizona, some practices have partnered with other concierge practices in these states to offer services to their “snowbird” patients. Health systems are taking advantage of these practice models also. For instance, Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine opened a concierge medicine office in Naples, Florida, and Ohio-based Cleveland Clinic also has opened concierge medicine practices in multiple Florida locations. Doctors, however, need to be aware that they need to be licensed in the state where the patient resides. Due to these licensing considerations, some concierge physicians are also obtaining licenses in other states to cover patients that often spend their winters in these warmer states.   Final Thoughts   The above issues are just some of the unique considerations facing concierge practices from Chicago to Florida and other states as well. Because each concierge practice has unique patient fee agreements to consider, there is not a “one size fits all” approach to advising these practices. Concierge practices should not overlook the unique legal and practice issues facing them, from patient fee issues to physician departures. These models have a variety of legal challenges that should be addressed at the early stages of the practice, so they do not lead to partner and patient discord later on.   Connect with Jonna D. Eimer at Roetzel & Andress in Chicago, Illinois.   Jonna D. Eimer is a health law and corporate attorney and shareholder at Roetzel & Andress in Chicago, Illinois. She represents numerous concierge medicine practices and has extensive experience with other innovative practice models. She also advises her clients – including physicians and physician groups, dentists, behavioral health clinicians, and other health care providers – in forming new practices, selling established practices, and negotiating employment and shareholder agreements, as well as guiding them with respect to regulatory matters. In addition, she counsels clients in forming management services organizations (MSOs) and navigating these sales to private equity. She can be reached at jeimer@ralaw.com.   Disclaimer: This site does not constitute medical, financial, legal or other professional advice. Please do your due diligence. © 2025 Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. All rights reserved. This site is not without error or omissions. Concierge Medicine Today is the industry's trade publication, est. 2007. 

Dr. Emma Barber, a gynecologic oncologist with the Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the first FDA-approved at-home HPV test. More than 99 percent of cervical cancer is caused by HPV. The at-home test will give women a chance they haven’t previously had to get on top of their cervical […]

In this episode of Better Edge, Baljash S. Cheema, MD, assistant professor of Cardiology at Northwestern Medicine, and Zach Miller, PhD, manager of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence at Northwestern Medicine, discuss the innovative use of machine learning to identify patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Emphasizing the critical collaboration between clinical experts and data scientists, Dr. Cheema and Dr. Miller explain the process of designing and optimizing AI models to better meet clinician needs and improve patient outcomes.

Prioritizing real-world solutions and fostering a culture of innovation is key to successfully implementing new technologies in healthcare.  In this episode, Karli Arduini Ihde, Director of Innovation at Northwestern Medicine, discusses the organization's approach to evaluating and implementing innovative technology solutions. She highlights the challenge of navigating numerous AI options and the importance of selecting solutions that address key problems and show value within a 3–6 month pilot. Northwestern Medicine ensures responsible AI implementation with a team of data scientists who assess technologies for bias and effectiveness. Karli also shares how the organization is scaling AI innovation to improve efficiency and identify patient risks earlier than ever before. Tune in and learn why healthcare is on the cusp of transformative change! Resources: Connect with and follow Kali Arduini Ihde on LinkedIn. Learn more about Northwestern Medicine on their LinkedIn and website. Discover more about Northwestern Medicine's innovations here.

Dr. Sterling Elliott, clinical pharmacist at Northwestern Medicine and assistant professor of orthopedics at Feinberg School of Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss drug shortages, the president of the Art Institute of Chicago being under investigation, and more. Then, as always, Dr. Elliott answers questions from listeners.

Dr. Michael Angarone, infectious disease specialist at Northwestern Medicine, joins Wendy Snyder (in for Bob Sirott) to answer your questions about the measles vaccine. He talks about how you can find out whether or not you’ve had measles and if it’s safe to get a booster even if you’ve had the vaccine before.

In this episode, John Orsini, Executive VP and CFO of Northwestern Medicine, shares insights into managing financial sustainability amid federal reimbursement challenges, the health system's strategic focus on service line growth, and how innovations like AI and hospital-at-home programs are shaping the future of care.

Dr. Sterling Elliott, clinical pharmacist at Northwestern Medicine and assistant professor of orthopedics at Feinberg School of Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and share safe, convenient, and responsible ways of disposing of prescription drugs. Then, as always, Dr. Elliott answers questions from listeners.

Satish N. Nadig, MD, PhD, Chief of the Division of Abdominal Organ Transplant and Director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Transplant Center, joins John Williams to talk about performing the first double-lung and liver transplant for advanced lung cancer in the U.S. Dr. Nadig tells John about the procedure, how transplants are dependent on ‘man’s […]

Satish N. Nadig, MD, PhD, Chief of the Division of Abdominal Organ Transplant and Director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Transplant Center, joins John Williams to talk about performing the first double-lung and liver transplant for advanced lung cancer in the U.S. Dr. Nadig tells John about the procedure, how transplants are dependent on ‘man’s […]

Satish N. Nadig, MD, PhD, Chief of the Division of Abdominal Organ Transplant and Director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Transplant Center, joins John Williams to talk about performing the first double-lung and liver transplant for advanced lung cancer in the U.S. Dr. Nadig tells John about the procedure, how transplants are dependent on ‘man’s […]

Dr. Jim Adams, Chief Medical Officer of Northwestern Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the latest health topics. Dr. Adams details the cancer risk that CT scans may pose, and the increasing doctor shortages.

In this episode of Better Edge, Christina E. Boots, MD, MSCI, associate professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwestern Medicine, discusses the impact of obesity on reproductive outcomes and the promising role of GLP-1 agonists in treating obesity and infertility. Discover how these groundbreaking medications are reshaping reproductive health, offering hope for patients with higher BMIs. Learn about the latest insights and clinical considerations for their use in preconception care plans.

In this episode of Better Edge, a panel of ophthalmologists from Northwestern Medicine discuss their insights from the 2025 Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) Annual Conference. Nicholas Volpe, MD, president of the AUPO, joins Rukhsana Mirza, MD, and Dmitry Pyatetsky, MD, as they share their perspectives on important topics such as residency education, the future of ophthalmology and the impact of AI in the field. The panelists also explore initiatives aimed at improving faculty development and patient care, emphasizing the need for innovation and collaboration within academic ophthalmology.

In this episode of Better Edge, Kevin Y. Zhan, MD, director of the Northwestern Medicine Cochlear Implant Program, outlines the program's multidisciplinary approach and its expanded candidacy criteria. The program now serves people with significant hearing loss who struggle with speech clarity despite using hearing aids. Dr. Zhan also shares the innovative surgical techniques and personalized rehabilitation strategies that make Northwestern Medicine a leading center for hearing restoration.

Dr. Sterling Elliott, clinical pharmacist at Northwestern Medicine and assistant professor of orthopedics at Feinberg School of Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss a variety of prescription drug topics including the impact that the latest tariffs will have on prescription drug prices. Then, as always, Dr. Elliott answers questions from listeners.

Chief Medical Officer of Northwestern Medicine's Northwest region of hospitals Dr. Irfan Hafiz joins Bob Sirott to talk about who should get the pneumonia vaccine, a study of the impact of the shingles vaccine on dementia, and how artificial sweeteners could affect your hunger. He also discusses how a low-sodium diet would impact people with […]

Chief Medical Officer of Northwestern Medicine's Northwest region of hospitals, Dr. Irfan Hafiz, joins Bob Sirott to talk about an exercise to lessen pain in your knees, the benefits of cooking and eating salmon, as well as walking after a meal. He also discusses research on eating yogurt and the prevention of colon cancer, how […]

Dr. John Christensen, Urologist at Northwestern Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss why there is an increase in the number of men who get vasectomies during March Madness. Then, Dr. Christensen shares some general information about vasectomies.

Dr. Jim Adams, Chief Medical Officer of Northwestern Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss measles. As the number of measles cases continue to rise, Dr. Adams shares who might need a measles booster. Then, Dr. Adams shares the cause of a rise in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) cases, and what measures parents should take to reduce […]

Colorectal cancer can spread to the liver, and once it does, patients are often at the bottom of the list to receive a liver transplant. But Northwestern Medicine is now offering a new transplant option for select patients that involves splitting a deceased donor liver in two parts. Reset hears from the first patient to undergo this treatment, Barclay Missen, and one of the surgeons Dr. Zachary Dietch. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

In this episode, Dr. Ali A. Baaj, Chief of Spine Surgery at the University of Arizona and incoming Professor at Northwestern Medicine, discusses the role of international collaboration in U.S. healthcare. He shares insights on physician shortages, global training programs, and the evolving landscape of neurosurgical education and innovation.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern Medicine have established the Collaborative Advanced Reconstructive Evaluation (CARE) Clinic, which provides multidisciplinary care for children, adolescents and women with congenital anomalies and acquired diseases of the genitourinary tract. In this episode, two of the clinic's leaders, Drs. Julia Geynisman-Tan and Dr. Julia Grabowski, talk about the transformative surgical innovations they've developed and life-changing procedures and supportive care they offer to help women achieve functional vaginal anatomy, relief from pain, the ability to menstruate and more.

About Kali Arduini Ihde:Kali Arduini Ihde is a dynamic, results-driven digital transformation leader with 18+ years of experience in advancing healthcare through innovative technologies. As Director of Innovation at Northwestern Medicine, she orchestrates multi-million-dollar portfolios, fosters cross-functional alignment, and implements data-driven strategies to deliver client-centric solutions. She previously oversaw ePMO, scheduling, physician referrals, and operational transitions for Epic, forging strategic partnerships and streamlining organizational workflows. Kali holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, complementing her robust project management acumen.Things You'll Learn:It's crucial to ground innovation work in the organization's biggest problems. This ensures that any new technology being explored is directly relevant to improving patient care, workforce experience, or other key challenges.Finding real solutions amidst the AI hype requires a rigorous vetting process. Organizations should focus on finding solutions that can make meaningful impacts.Scaling AI innovation requires a dedicated team focused on implementation and widespread adoption. Innovation shouldn't stop at testing it out but be applied and expanded to the whole organization.AI is poised to revolutionize healthcare by identifying issues and risks earlier. Coupled with precision medicine, the next generation of AI promises a future where treatment is tailored to the individual. This means that in 5-10 years, healthcare will look vastly different.Healthcare is expensive and takes a lot of people to complete. This should be considered when implementing AI solutions and technology.Resources:Connect with and follow Kali Arduini Ihde on LinkedIn.Learn more about Northwestern Medicine on their LinkedIn and website.Discover more about Northwestern Medicine's innovations here.

A Northwestern Medicine study published in Nature Medicine, used a new technique called spatial transcriptomics to examine the brain's response to Alzheimer's therapies, revealing new molecular targets that could enhance the effectiveness of current therapies and not just slow the disease, but potentially improve patient outcomes. David Gate, PhD, assistant professor of Neurology in the Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology and director of the Abrams Research Center on Neurogenomics, led this research. 

Changes limiting programs, grants, and even the nature of studies are already underway at the NIH, NSF, FDA, CDC, and more.On President Trump's first day in office, he signed an executive order to end what he calls “illegal and immoral discrimination programs,” referencing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the federal government. The repercussions of this are already being felt across science agencies.Things are changing fast: Last week, a federal judge in Maryland temporarily blocked parts of the DEI purge from being carried out. At the same time, federal research agencies have already made changes. For example, the National Institutes of Health suddenly pulled a program that provides grants to PhD students from marginalized backgrounds, and has already canceled studies mid-project, like one on LGBTQ cancer patients. The National Science Foundation has begun reviewing active research science projects that may not comply with Trump's executive orders. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took down resources for HIV prevention, LGBTQ+ health, contraception, and more—then partially restored them, as ordered by a judge. And the Food and Drug Administration pulled its guidance on the importance of having some diversity in clinical trials, like those to test drugs and medical devices.So, what does banning diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts mean for medical research? And what does it mean for our health?Host Flora Lichtman talks with Dr. Rachel Hardeman, director of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis; and Dr. Melissa Simon, an ob-gyn at Northwestern Medicine, and director of the Center for Health Equity Transformation in Chicago.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

A new $11.7 million award from the National Institute of Mental Health aims to help Northwestern Medicine investigators move the dial on the youth mental health crisis by targeting early warning signs of mental health risk in toddlers, rather than waiting until diagnosable and severe conditions are present later in childhood. In this episode, Lauren Wakschlag, PhD, who is co-leading this grant, explains how the team will implement evidence-based developmental decision tools to determine “when to worry” about young children's mental health.

In this episode, Dr. Patrick McCarthy, Executive Director of Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, joins Scott Becker to discuss the institute's 20-year legacy, groundbreaking innovations in heart care, and the impact of AI and GLP-1 medications on cardiovascular health.

A recent $10 million endowment to Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management will establish a new Healthcare Leadership Center in partnership with Northwestern Medicine. The goal of the center is to train the next generation of healthcare leaders in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape. Craig Garthwaite, Professor of Strategy and the Director of Healthcare at Kellogg, joins host J. Carlisle Larsen to talk more about the goals of the center. He also shares his thoughts on the challenges facing the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.