Podcasts about northwestern university feinberg school

BUFFALO, NY – June 20, 2025 – A new #review was #published in Volume 16 of Oncotarget on June 10, 2025, titled “Beyond DNA damage response: Immunomodulatory attributes of CHEK2 in solid tumors.” In this paper, led by first author Helen Qian and corresponding author Crismita Dmello from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, researchers compiled growing evidence that the CHEK2 gene, long known for its role in repairing DNA damage, may also influence how tumors respond to immunotherapy. Their analysis suggests that problems in CHEK2 function might make cancer cells more vulnerable to immune system attacks, highlighting a new opportunity to improve treatment outcomes in solid tumors. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed cancer treatment; however, they are effective in only a subset of patients. This review suggests that tumors with reduced CHEK2 activity may accumulate more mutations that produce signals the immune system can recognize. These signals, known as neoantigens, help immune cells identify and destroy cancer cells more effectively. The review connects this process not only to CHEK2's established role in the DNA damage response but also to a newly proposed function in shaping the immune environment of tumors. CHEK2 normally helps maintain genomic stability by enabling precise DNA repair. When this function is lost, cells rely on more error-prone repair methods, leading to additional mutations. These mutations can increase tumor mutational burden, which has been linked to better outcomes with immunotherapy. Beyond DNA repair, the review highlights a second mechanism: activation of the cGAS-STING pathway. This pathway detects fragments of damaged DNA and triggers inflammation that attracts immune cells to the tumor. The authors highlight studies where CHEK2-deficient tumors responded better to PD-1 inhibitors, a common type of immune checkpoint inhibitor. In both lab models and early-stage clinical settings, CHEK2 loss was associated with increased infiltration of CD8+ T cells—immune cells essential for attacking cancer cells. In cancers such as glioblastoma and renal cell carcinoma, which are typically resistant to immunotherapy, reduced CHEK2 expression was linked with more favorable immune activity and higher expression of interferon-related genes. The compiled evidence points to CHEK2 as a potential biomarker for identifying patients likely to respond to immunotherapy. In addition, combining CHEK2 inhibitors with existing immunotherapies may enhance anti-tumor effects, particularly in cancers with limited treatment options. The review notes that some clinical trials using the CHEK1/2 inhibitor prexasertib alongside immune checkpoint therapies have already shown promising early results. “The initial results from this Phase I clinical trial support the immunomodulatory role of CHEK2 expression and even suggest CHEK2 potentiates immunosuppression.” Although more research is needed to confirm these mechanisms and improve treatment approaches, this review underscores the expanding role of DNA repair genes like CHEK2—not only in maintaining genome integrity but also in helping the immune system fight cancer. DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28740 Correspondence to - Crismita Dmello - stellacpak@outlook.com Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C26pEBc0itk Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com and connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Oncotarget/ X - https://twitter.com/oncotarget Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oncotargetjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OncotargetJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oncotarget Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/oncotarget/ Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/user/Oncotarget/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0gRwT6BqYWJzxzmjPJwtVh MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Dr. Susan Quaggin, Chair of Department of Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss concerns over federal funding being frozen by the Trump administration. Dr. Quaggin shares that across the entirety of Northwestern University, nearly 1,300 grants have been frozen, with 400 grants being frozen in the Department of […]

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal welcomes Dr. Yvette Wong, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Northwestern University and 2024 Toffler Scholar, for a deep dive into the dynamic inner world of cells—and how her lab is uncovering new clues about neurodegenerative diseases by studying the microscopic interactions between organelles.Dr. Wong discusses how organelles like mitochondria and lysosomes don't just function in isolation—they actually “talk” to each other at contact points within cells. These cellular conversations may hold the key to unlocking better understanding and treatments for conditions like ALS, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease.Through vivid analogies (like buses exchanging cargo), Dr. Wong helps translate complex science into clear visuals, while also highlighting how advances in super-resolution live-cell microscopy and data analysis are transforming what's possible in neuroscience.

In this enlightening conversation, Meg Rittmanic hosts Douglas and Fiona Phillips, a couple celebrating 50 years of marriage. They discuss the profound partnership in their relationship, the spiritual depth of Fiona's art. The couple shares personal challenges, including a health crisis in their family, and how they navigated these together. Fiona's passion for mental health awareness is highlighted through her art, and they explore the symbolism in her painting 'Firstborn,' depicting Heavenly Mother and Father. Doug shares a poetic reflection on divine design, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the roles of both Heavenly Parents in our lives. In this conversation, Meg, Doug, and Fiona explore the themes of love, compassion, and the divine feminine, particularly focusing on the role of Heavenly Mother in their lives and relationships. They discuss the foundational principles that have allowed their marriage to flourish over 50 years, acknowledging the diverse experiences of others in relationships. The conversation emphasizes the importance of agency, personal growth, and the evolution of understanding within the Church regarding Heavenly Mother, while also recognizing the need for voices to speak out about these experiences.Fiona Phillips is a retired art professor, proud mom of five, and grandma to 13 wonderful grandkids. She is blessed to be married to Douglas, the love of her life! Originally from England, she moved to California with her family when she was just a pre-teen. Her art studio focuses on themes of water, women, nostalgia, and spirituality. One of her standout projects focused on raising awareness of the stigma surrounding mental illness was shown at DSU, Art Access Gallery and the OMA. She created 50 large portraits of adults, teens, and children, many of whom were personally affected by mental health challenges. Fiona's paintings explore themes of faith, our relationship to our Heavenly Parents, and our equality as children of God. Her work has been featured in three International Art Exhibitions by The Church. her paintings and poetry have been published in The Ensign, Liahona, and Exponent II magazines. Most recently Fiona has shown with the Oceanside Museum of Art, the Restore Conference, the Compass Gallery and galleries in California.She's earned numerous “Best of Show” awards and has had solo exhibits in Utah, California, Nevada, and Arizona. She has also earned two master's degrees—an MA in Humanities/Art and an MFA in Visual Art.Dr. Douglas Phillips is a multifaceted individual whose journey blends faith, music, medicine, and a deep connection to his roots. Born and raised in Southern California,Douglas joined the Church of Jesus Christ when he was 18 then embarked on a mission to Spain, an experience that deeply influenced his personal and professional life. Shortly after his return he was married to Fiona, his high school sweetheart.Before pursuing medicine, Dr. Phillips was immersed in the music scene, playing piano and writing songs for a pop music group. This creative outlet honed his discipline and collaborative skills, which would later serve him well in his medical career.He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , followed by radiology specialty training at the University of California, San Francisco.Now retired, Dr. Phillips enjoys life in Southern California, where he continues to explore his passions and contribute to his community. His unique blend of experiences offers a rich perspective on the intersections of faith, creativity, and medicine.Douglas and Fiona have served 2 senior missions together, a member/leader service mission in a Spanish Ward in West Valley UT and as the Area Mission Medical Advisor and Assistant serving the 9 mission units in Southern California.https://fionabphillips.com/https://fionabphillips.com/faith/https://www.patreon.com/c/InHerImagePodcast

Charting Pediatrics has created a space where community care meets real-world challenges. Whether we realize it or not, trauma-informed care touches everything we do as pediatricians. What does it mean to really be trauma-informed? How do we create safer, more supportive environments for everyone, especially those carrying invisible wounds? In this episode, we explore how community providers can be a powerful part of healing, not harm. This episode was recorded on the exhibit floor at the 2025 Pediatric Academic Societies Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Joining us for this episode is Audrey Brewer, MD, a pediatrician at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. She is also an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include: How a trauma-informed approach can completely change outcomes for kids  The types of trauma pediatricians are most likely to encounter in their practice  The role of the pediatrician in the larger support network for a child dealing with trauma  Opportunities for systemic change within the medical field to improve care for traumatized children For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. 

In this episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, join Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F Executive Vice President and CEO as he interviews Dana M. Thompson, MD, MS, MBA, AAO-HNS 2024 Hall of Distinction inductee and Division Head of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Lauren D. Holinger Professor and Chair of Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, about transforming "pipelines" into "pathways" for diversity in medicine.  Discover her five guiding values and learn how her family legacy shaped her commitment to addressing healthcare disparities through mentorship, inclusion, and value-based care reforms. This episode was recorded during The Triological Society 2025 Combined Sections Meeting, January 23-25, 2025, in Orlando, Florida. 

It could be argued that agents of capitalism have built the patriarchal system as a means to keep both men and women controlled and in line. But what if we broke free? What would happen to sex, love and freedom then? Dr. Kate Balesteri joins us to discuss what patriarchy actually is, how it hurts all genders, and how we (men, women and every gender) can take back our agency while heightening our authenticity and consciousness. You can find Dr. Kate Balestrieri at: https://www.modernintimacy.com/dr-kate-balestrieri-sex-therapist/ Facebook http://facebook.com/dr.katebalestrieri http://instagram.com/drkatebalestrieri Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@drkatebalestrieri Dr. Kate Balestrieri"s Bio: Dr. Kate Balestrieri, Psy.D., CSAT-S, is a Licensed Psychologist (Clinical and Forensic) in CA, FL, NY and IL. She is a Certified Sex Therapist, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist – Supervisor, and PACT III trained couples' therapist. Dr. Balestrieri earned her Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, and completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship though the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, with a concentration in Forensic Psychology. In over 16 years of clinical experience, she has conducted clinical and forensic evaluations, provided expert witness testimony in court, and been a treatment provider in clinical, forensic, and correctional settings. The Founder of Modern Intimacy, Dr. Balestrieri is a passionate advocate for mental, relational and sexual health. Throughout her work, Dr. Balestrieri focuses on helping people build resilience and recovery from what ails them to move from a position of pain or discomfort to one of thriving, holistically in their lives. A sex positive provider and human, Dr. Balestrieri is dedicated to helping people have a more expansive and integrated relationship with sexuality. Dr. Balestrieri is a regular contributor for PopSugar, Poosh, YourTango, Psychology Today, House of Wise and has been featured in many other publications. She is also the host of the Get Naked with Dr. Kate podcast, on which she discusses mental health, sex and relationships. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or anywhere you get your podcasts! How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Book referenced: How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Book referenced: What Happened to My Sex Life?: A Sex Therapist's Guide to Reclaiming Lost Desire, Connection, and Pleasure by Dr. Kate Balestrieri Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.

Join Drs. Neil Skolnik and Sara Wettergreen in this episode as they discuss the importance of emotional wellbeing in overall health. They will explore the connection between mental health and diabetes, focusing on how managing a chronic condition can impact the emotional lives of people living with diabetes and their families. Special guest Dr. Kelsey Brzezinski will also join the conversation.   Please note that this episode includes discussions of sensitive topics, we encourage you to listen with care and understand that the American Diabetes Association® is not an organization that specializes in mental health and only seeks to bring awareness to factors that coincide with a diabetes diagnosis. If you are experiencing challenges seek the support of a licensed medical or mental health professional. Presented by: Neil Skolnik, MD, Professor of Family and Community Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University; Associate Director, Family Medicine Residency Program, Abington Jefferson Health, Abington, PA Sara Wettergreen, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM, Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; and Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist, UCHealth Lone Tree Primary Care, Aurora, CO Kelsey Brzezinski, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL   Do you have questions or comments you'd like to share with Neil and Sara? Leave a message at (703) 755-7288. Thank you for listening, and don't forget to “follow” Diabetes Day by Day!   Additional resources: If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA mental health help line, which is a no-cost, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service available at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Check out the American Diabetes Association®'s newly updated Mental Health Provider Directory to find to find therapists who specialize in supporting people living with diabetes near you.  

Not sure what Minimal Disease Activity or MDA is and how it relates to psoriatic arthritis and your joints? Listen as rheumatologist Dr. Arthur Mandelin explains what MDA means. Join hosts Jeff Brown and LB Herbert as they discuss minimal disease activity in psoriatic arthritis with nationally recognized rheumatologist Dr. Arthur Mandelin who identifies what it is, factors that influence achieving MDA, how long it takes to reach, and the impact on selection of treatments. Dr. Mandelin also addresses fatigue associated with inflammation, and what the future holds for minimal disease activity in psoriatic arthritis. Whether you have psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, this episode offers information to help you understand management goals set by your doctor and the importance of attaining minimal disease activity. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro to Psound Bytes & guest welcome rheumatologist Dr. Arthur Mandelin (02:23) What is minimal disease activity (MDA) (04:32) MDA in comparison to ACR response criteria (07:36) Criteria for reaching MDA (09:20) Positive and negative factors of MDA (11:25) Importance of reaching MDA within a specific time frame (17:34) Length of time to reach MDA (18:48) Selection of treatment options and psoriatic arthritis domains (23:51) Inflammation and fatigue (26:59) A look at the future of minimal disease activity in psoriatic arthritis: Reaching ACR 90 (29:09) Advancements in psoriatic arthritis: Finding disease markers (33:40 ) If you have psoriasis, be aware of your risk for psoriatic arthritis 4 Key Takeaways: There are various ways to measure minimal disease activity in psoriatic arthritis to assess how the disease impacts quality of life.   Attaining and keeping minimal disease activity low through use of different therapy options offers a chance for better bone and joint outcomes. Advancements in psoriatic arthritis include attaining ACR90 and the potential for identifying key markers that make treatment selection more targeted and individualized. Those who have psoriasis need to realize bone and joint pain, and swelling in the joints may be related to their psoriatic skin disease and seek appropriate help.  Guest Bio: Dr. Arthur Mandelin is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the Department of Medicine Division of Rheumatology. Dr. Mandelin launched Northwestern University's first training program in musculoskeletal ultrasonography for rheumatology fellows. He is an active participant in the REASON Group which is a multi-center research collaboration devoted to using ultrasound guidance to obtain minimally invasive synovial tissue biopsies. Dr. Mandelin is a past member of the National Psoriasis Foundation's Medical Board where he served on consensus panels for the development of a variety of practice guidelines.  Resources Mentioned: National Psoriasis Foundation: https://www.psoriasis.org PEST Screener: https://www.psoriasis.org/psoriatic-arthritis-screening-test/ PsA Action Month 2025: https://www.psoriasis.org/psa-action-month/ NSAIDS  for Psoriatic Disease: https://www.psoriasis.org/advance/nsaids-for-psoriatic-disease-psa/ AMP (Accelerated Medicines Partnership): https://www.psoriasis.org/advance/progress-and-success- through-collaboration/  Tags: psoriasis, skin, psoriatic arthritis, minimal disease activity, ACR20, ACR50, ACR70, tender joints, bone erosion, joint swelling, enthesitis, inflammation, pain, fatigue, axial disease, spinal involvement, treatment, NSAIDS, biologics, personalized medicine, dermatology, National Psoriasis Foundation, AMP, Psound Bytes podcast, Soundbites podcast

 If you've been struggling with chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC), you know that traditional laxatives don't always work consistently—and they're not always ideal for long-term use. But what if there was a drug-free, FDA-cleared alternative designed to support your body's natural rhythm? In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Darren Brenner, gastroenterologist and motility expert from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, to explore the Vibrant capsule—a new non-drug treatment that uses gentle vibrations to stimulate natural gut motility. Tune in as we discuss: What makes Vibrant different from traditional constipation treatments  Who may benefit most from this new approach How it works with the body—not against it What this could mean for the future of constipation care As always, speak with your healthcare provider to determine if the Vibrant capsule is right for you.  

(Editor's note: Apologies for the mild echo!)TL;DR: The application deadline for the 2025-2026 cohort of LearnSkin's Integrative Dermatology Certificate Program (IDCP) is April 21st, 2025!As a proud and transformed IDCP alumnus, I know how this program helps dermatologists expand their approach to patient care and reignite their passion for dermatology.From evidence-informed functional medicine to new treatment strategies, IDCP provides practical tools to enhance how we support our patients with the comprehensive, holistic dermatology care I know so many of them are seeking.If you want to join and learn form a forward thinking, supportive, growth-minded community and expand your dermatology toolkit, opportunity is knocking... will you answer?

Dr. Bessey Geevarghese, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics-Infectious Diseases with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, joins Lisa Dent on the show to break down details surrounding the invasive Group A Streptococcal infections that are on the rise in the U.S.

In collaboration with the Women in Otolaryngology (WIO) Section of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Join me as I discuss The Double Bind with Dana Thompson, MD, the Lauren D. Holinger Professor and Division Head of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Many women struggle to discuss their sexual health and pleasure with their providers, friends, and family members. And for good reason. They're sensitive topics to bring up. Women are navigating various physiological changes during the menopause transition (weight gain, hair loss, insomnia), and to further complicate things, changes are happening in their vagina and vulva - not exactly coffee talk topics. Or are they? Midlife women need to normalize our sexual health and pleasure so that we can improve our sex lives for the next 30-40 years. After all, we will be postmenopausal women until the day we die. A healthy sex life is part of our longevity equation.In this episode, we delve into the impact of hormones, particularly testosterone, on libido during midlife and beyond. Additionally, we'll explore somewhat controversial topics, such as vaginal rejuvenation therapies, and cosmetic gynocologic procedures, their benefits, and how they enhance comfort, confidence, and intimacy. Plus, we'll discuss tools like vibrators and other strategies to reignite passion and connection.My guest today is Dr. Sameena Rahman, a board-certified OB/GYN, sex-med gynecologist, and menopause specialist with an academic affiliation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She is the founder of the Center for Gynecology and Cosmetics, a successful practice that emphasizes evidence-based medicine. Dr. Rahman is dedicated to evaluating and treating each patient with compassion, trauma-informed care, and an awareness of personal bias. Additionally, she hosts the podcast Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones and is working on a book exploring sexual function from the lens of different cultures, norms, and religions. Medical Disclaimer:By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or to make any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of the guests on my podcast.Learn more about Dr. Sameena:Website: https://www.cgcchicago.com/Podcast: https://www.cgcchicago.com/podcast/IG: @gynogirlStay connected to JFW:Watch on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videosFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillfooswellnessGrab discounts on my favorite biohacking products: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-productsEnjoy 20% savings and free shipping at Fullscript for your favorite supplements by leading brands:https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jillfooswellnessEnjoy a free upgrade on a Joylux redlight therapy vaginal device: https://joylux.com/pages/vfit-gold-plus-upgraded-device?UTM_CAMPAIGN=X4mzJZVODxyKT6mSnGTaFx5iUksxMnx7STixRU0&UTM_MEDIUM=Online%20Tracking%20Link&UTM_SOURCE=referral&irgwc=1Subscribe to the JFW newsletter at www.jillfooswellness.com and receive your FREE Guide on How To Increase Your Protein in 5 Easy Steps and your free Protein Powder Recipe Ebook. Schedule your complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultation here:https://calendly.com/jillfooswellness/30-minute-zoom-consultations

In this episode, we're diving into the latest ACG Clinical Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)—a major update that reflects the most current understanding of this chronic, immune-mediated disease. Joining us to break it all down are two of the experts who co-authored these guidelines: Dr. Amanda B. Muir, Pediatric Gastroenterologist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Dr. Nirmala Gonsalves, Gastroenterologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine What We Cover: What is EoE? Understanding symptoms and diagnosis Key updates in the latest guidelines and what they mean for patients Treatment options for both children and adults Whether you're living with EoE, caring for someone with it, or simply want a deeper understanding of this condition, this episode is for you! This episode is brought to you by Sanofi, and presented in collaboration with the American College of Gastroenterology's Patient Care Committee.

Timothy Pearman, PhD, ABPP, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL Recorded on February 6, 2025 Timothy Pearman, PhD, ABPP Director, Supportive Oncology Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center Professor, Department of Medical Social Sciences and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL Join us for an insightful episode featuring Dr. Timothy Pearman from Northwestern University, as he explores the critical role of caregivers and care partners to a patient's healthcare team. Dr. Pearman discusses the challenges caregivers face, including burnout, relationship stress, and issues surrounding sex and intimacy. He also offers effective communication strategies to address these challenges and shares ways healthcare professionals can better educate and support caregivers. Tune in to this informative podcast for valuable insights and resources for caregivers! This episode is supported by Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group.

Sex changes as we age. While these changes are often small and gradual, once you hit your 40s and 50s, it's not uncommon to start noticing bigger changes. In this episode, we’re going to talk all about sex at midlife and some of the most common sexual issues that come up during this time for women, as well as tips for dealing with them. My guest today is Dr. Sameena Rahman, a board-certified OB/GYN, sex-med gynecologist, and menopause specialist with an academic affiliation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She is the founder of the Center for Gynecology and Cosmetics, and host of the podcast Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones. Some of the specific topics we explore include: What are some of the most common sexual challenges faced by midlife women? Why is it so taboo to talk about midlife sexual distress? What do women need to know about how peri-menopause can affect your sex life? What are the most helpful strategies for improving sex at midlife? How can self-pleasure help in relieving peri-menopause symptoms? You can follow Sameena on Instagram to stay updated on her work. Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology. *** Thank you to our sponsors!  Passionate about building a career in sexuality? Check out the Sexual Health Alliance. With SHA, you’ll connect with world-class experts and join an engaged community of sexuality professionals from around the world. Visit SexualHealthAlliance.com and start building the sexuality career of your dreams today. *** Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, or Bluesky to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram. Listen and stream all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast!

Claim your complimentary gift of my exclusive mini weight care guide today!Link: Weight Care Guide — Dr. Francavilla Show (thedrfrancavillashow.coWith the recent release of The Lancet's consensus article, the conversation around obesity treatment and care is evolving. To explore the implications of this shift, I'm joined by Dr. Robert Kushner, a respected expert in the field who has dedicated his career to advancing obesity medicine.Dr. Kushner is a professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the author of over 250 publications and several books on nutrition and obesity. He also co-founded the American Board of Obesity Medicine, contributing to the foundation of obesity care. His latest book, Patient-Centered Weight Management, offers healthcare professionals practical insights. With his extensive experience, Dr. Kushner continues to shape the direction of obesity treatment.In this discussion, we examine the differences between clinical and preclinical obesity and address the important question: should preclinical obesity be treated? Dr. Kushner also explains why a new approach to obesity assessment is essential for the future of healthcare.Be sure to stick around until the end for my takeaways and thoughts on how this impacts healthcare. Want to dive deeper into this discussion? Tune into the full episode and let's unpack it all together!Connect with Dr. Kushner:Website: https://drrobertkushner.com/Connect with me:Instagram: doctorfrancavillaFacebook: Help Your Patients Lose Weight with Dr. FrancavillaWebsite: Dr. Francavilla ShowYoutube: The Doctor Francavilla ShowGLP Strong: glpstrong.com

Jaehyuk (Jae) Choi, MD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL Recorded on January 7, 2025 Jaehyuk (Jae) Choi, MD Jack W. Graffin Associate Professor of Dermatology and of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL In this episode, Dr. Jaehyuk Choi from Northwestern University, explores Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL), covering key diagnostic tools, emerging therapies, and the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach. He delves into effective symptom management, including the psychosocial impact of pruritus, and discusses the latest ongoing research. Additionally, Dr. Choi highlights disparities in diagnosis, treatment access, and patient outcomes. Tune in today to gain valuable insights on this complex diagnosis! This episode is supported by Kyowa Kirin, Inc.

Dr. Molly Mather, assistant professor of psychiatry & behavioral sciences, Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to highlight ‘SuperAgers’ and give tips for living a longer and healthier life.

Show notes: (0:48) Dr. Mark Rosenbloom and his mission (2:54) The ABCs for health optimization (8:39) APOE and COMT genes: Why they matter (14:30) Hormone therapy benefits across all ages (23:19) The Mediterranean diet and avoiding harmful foods (30:07) Follistatin gene therapy and rapamycin (43:03) How to find Dr. Rosenbloom and work with him (46:36) Outro Who is Dr. Mark Rosenbloom?   Dr. Rosenbloom is the CEO and Chief Medical Officer at LIFEFORCE Medical Institute. He began his training at Stanford University and attended Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine where he won the Dean's AOA Research Award and the prestigious Sigmund Winton Award in Biochemistry. Thereafter, he went on to become an Instructor and Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Department of Medicine at Northwestern University. More recently, Dr. Rosenbloom trained at the Cenegenics Education and Research Foundation and founded LIFEFORCE Medical Institute which focuses his practice on anti-aging and Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy(BHRP).   Dr. Rosenbloom is also the Founder of PEPID LLC, which is recognized as the number one developer of medical/drug information and decision support tools. PEPID is now used in schools and institutions worldwide for better risk management and higher productivity to benefit both the staff and patients. Dr. Rosenbloom has also been the Editor of "Your Health Magazine" and has been published in print and media on various topics such as age management, low testosterone for men, BHRT, medical errors, and vitamin toxicity.   An active organization member of the philanthropic community, Dr. Rosenbloom is the founder of Unicorn Children's Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping children and young adults with developmental, communication and learning disorders such as autism and ADD. In addition, he is also a Founding Member of the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders. Dr. Rosenbloom is passionate about this cause and has publically spoken multiple times regarding Autistic-Spectrum Disorders in Children, including numerous network TV appearances in Miami, Boca Raton and Palm Beach, Florida. Connect with Dr. Rosenbloom: Website: https://www.lifeforcemed.com/ Links and Resources: Peak Performance Life Peak Performance on Facebook Peak Performance on Instagram  

About two years ago, we released a podcast with Dr. Thomas Wadden of the University of Pennsylvania describing work on a new generation of medications to treat diabetes and obesity. They were really taking the field by storm. Since then, much more is known since many additional studies have been published and so many people have been using the drugs. So many, in fact, the market value of the Danish company, Novo Nordisk, one of the two major companies selling the drugs, has gone up. It is now greater than the entire budget of the country of Denmark. This single company is responsible for about half of Denmark's economic expansion this year. So, a lot of people are now taking the drugs and this is a great time for an update on the drugs. And we're fortunate to have two of the world's leading experts join us: Dr. Wadden, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the inaugural Albert J. Stunkard Professor of Psychiatry at Penn. Joining us as well as Dr. Robert Kushner, a physician and professor of medicine at Northwestern University and a pioneer in testing treatments for obesity. Interview Summary Tom, you and I were colleagues at Penn decades ago. And I got frustrated the treatments for obesity didn't work very well. People tended to regain the weight. And I turned my attention to prevention and policy. But you hung in there and I admired you for that patience and persistence. And Bob, the same for you. You worked on this tenacious problem for many years. But for both of you, your patience has been rewarded with what seems to me to be a seismic shift in the way obesity and diabetes can be treated. Tom, I'll begin with you. Is this as big of a deal as it seems to me? Well, I think it is as big of a deal as it seems to you. These medications have had a huge impact on improving the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but particularly the management of obesity. With older medications, patients lost about 7 percent of their starting weight. If you weighed 200 pounds, you'd lose about 15 pounds. That was also true of our best diet and exercise programs. You would lose about 7 percent on those programs with rigorous effort. But with the new medications, patients are now losing about 15 to 20 percent of their starting body weight at approximately one year. And that's a 30-to-40-pound loss for a person who started at 200 pounds. And with these larger weight losses, we get larger improvements in health in terms of complications of obesity. So, to quote a good friend of mine, Bob Kushner, these medications have been a real game changer. Thanks for putting that in perspective. I mean, we're talking about not just little incremental changes in what treatments can produce, which is what we've seen for years. But just orders of magnitude of change, which is really nice to see. So, Bob what are these medications that we're talking about? What are the names of the drugs and how do they work? Well, Kelly, this transformation of obesity really came about by finding the target that is really highly effective for obesity. It's called the gut brain axis. And when it comes to the gut it's starting off with a naturally occurring gut hormone called GLP 1. I think everyone in the country's heard of GLP 1. It's released after we eat, and it helps the pancreas produce insulin, slows the stomach release of food, and reduces appetite. And that's where the obesity story comes in. So pharmaceutical companies have taken this hormone and synthesized it, something similar to GLP 1. It mimics the action of GLP 1. So, you could actually take it and give it back and have it injected so it augments or highlights this hormonal effect. Now, that same process of mimicking a hormone is used for another gut hormone called GIP that also reduces appetite. These two hormones are the backbone of the currently available medication. There's two on the market. One is called Semaglutide. That's a GLP 1 analog. Trade name is Wegovy. Now, it's also marketed for diabetes. Tom talked about how it is used for diabetes and increases insulin. That trade name is Ozempic. That's also familiar with everyone around the country. The other one that combined GLP 1 and GIP, these two gut hormones, so it's a dual agonist, the trade name for obesity is called Zep Bound, and the same compound for diabetes is called Mounjaro. These are terms that are becoming familiar, I think, to everyone in the country. Tom mentioned some about the, how much weight people lose on these drugs, but what sort of medical changes occur? Just to reiterate what Tom said, I'll say it in another way. For Semaglutide one third of individuals are losing 20 percent of their body weight in these trials. For Tirzepatide, it even outpaces that. And I got a third of individuals losing a quarter of their body weight. These are unheard of weight losses. And with these weight losses and these independent effects from weight, what we're seeing in the trials and in the clinic is that blood pressure goes down, blood sugar goes down, blood fats like triglyceride go down, inflammation in the body goes down, because we marked that with CRP, as well as improvement in quality of life, which we'll probably get to. But really interesting stuff is coming out over the past year or two or so, that it is improving the function of people living with congestive heart failure, a particular form called a preserved ejection fraction. We're seeing improvements in sleep apnea. Think of all the people who are on these CPAP machines every night. We're seeing significant improvements in the symptoms of sleep apnea and the apneic events. And lastly, a SELECT trial came out, that's what it was called, came out last year. Which for the very first time, Kelly, found improvements in cardiovascular disease, like having a heart attack, stroke, or dying of cardiovascular disease in people living with obesity and already have cardiovascular disease. That's called secondary prevention. That, Tom, is the game changer. Bob, I'd like to go back to Tom in a minute but let me ask you one clarifying question about what you just said. That's a remarkable array of biological medical benefits from these drugs. Just incredible. And the question is, are they all attributable to the weight loss or is there something else going on? Like if somebody lost equal amounts of weight by some other means, would these same changes be occurring? Those studies are still going on. It's very good. We're thinking it's a dual effect. It's the profound amount of weight loss, as Tom said. Fifteen to 21 to even 25 percent of average body weight. That is driving a lot of the benefits. But there also appear to be additional effects or weight independent effects that are working outside of that weight. We're seeing improvements in kidney function, improvement in heart disease, blood clotting, inflammation. And those are likely due to the gut hormone effect independent of the weight itself. That still needs to be sorted out. That's called a mitigation analysis where we try to separate out the effects of these drugs. And that work is still underway. Tom, one of the most vexing problems, over the decades that people have been working on treatments for obesity, has been long term results. And I'm curious about how long have people been followed on these drugs now? What are the results? And what was the picture before then? How do what we see now compared to what you saw before? The study that Bob just mentioned, the SELECT trial followed people for four years on Semaglutide. And patients achieve their maximal weight loss at about one year and they lost 10 percent of their weight. And when they were followed up at four years still on treatment, they still maintained a 10 percent weight loss. That 10 percent is smaller than in most of the trials, where it was a 15 percent loss. But Dr. Tim Garvey showed that his patients in a smaller trial lost about 15 percent at one year and while still on medication kept off the full 15 percent. I think part of the reason the weight loss in SELECT were smaller is because the study enrolled a lot of men. Men are losing less weight on this medication than women. But to your question about how these results compare to the results of earlier treatment, well with behavioral treatment, diet, and exercise back in the 70s beyond, people lost this 7 or 8 percent of weight. And then most people on average regain their weight over one to three years. And the same was true of medication. People often stopped these earlier medications after 6 to 12 months, in part because they're frustrated the losses weren't larger. Some people were also worried about the side effects. But the long and short is once you stop taking the medication, people would tend to regain their weight. And some of this weight regain may be attributable to people returning to their prior eating and activity habits. But one of the things we've learned over the past 20 years is that part of the weight regain seems to be attributable to changes in the body's metabolism. And you know that when you lose weight, you're resting metabolic rate, which is the number of calories your body burns at rest to maintain basic bodily functions. Your resting metabolic rate decreases by 10 to 15 percent. But also, your energy expenditure, the calories you burn during exercise decreases. And that may decrease by as much as 20 to 30 percent. So, people are left having to really watch their calories very carefully because of their lower calorie requirements in order to keep off their lost body weight. I think one thing these new drugs may do is to attenuate the drop both in resting metabolic rate and energy expenditure during physical activity. But the long and short of it is that if you stay on these new medications long term, you'll keep off your body weight. And you'll probably keep it off primarily because of improvements in your appetite, so you have less hunger. And as a result, you're eating less food. I'd like to come back to that in a minute. But let me ask a question. If a person loses weight, and then their body starts putting biological pressure on them to regain, how come? You know, it's disadvantageous for their survival and their health to have the excess weight. Why would the body do that? Well, our bodies evolved in an environment of food scarcity, and our physiology evolved to protect us against starvation. First, by allowing us to store body fat, a source of energy when food is not available. And second, the body's capacity to lower its metabolism, or the rate at which calories are burned to maintain these basic functions like body temperature and heart rate. That provided protection against food scarcity. But Kelly, you have described better than anybody else that these ancient genes that regulate energy expenditure and metabolism are now a terrible mismatch for an environment in which food is plentiful, high in calories, and available 24 by 7. The body evolved to protect us from starvation, but not from eating past our calorie needs. And so, it's this mismatch between our evolution and our appetite and our body regulation in the current, what you have called toxic food environment, when you can eat just all the time. I guess you could think about humans evolving over thousands of years and biology adapting to circumstances where food was uncertain and unpredictable. But this modern environment has happened really pretty rapidly and maybe evolution just hasn't had a chance to catch up. We're still existing with those ancient genes that are disadvantageous in this kind of environment. Bob back to the drugs. What are the side effects of the drugs? Kelly, they're primarily gastrointestinal. These are symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, and vomiting. Not great, but they're generally considered mild to moderate, and temporary. And they primarily occur early during the first four to five months when the medications are slowly dose escalated. And we've learned, most importantly, how to mitigate or reduce those side effects to help people stay on the drug. Examples would be your prescriber would slow the dose escalation. So. if you're having some nausea at a particular dose, we wait another month or two. The other, very importantly, is we have found that diet significantly impacts these side effects. When we counsel patients on these medications, along with that comes recommendations for dietary changes, such as reducing fatty food and greasy food. Reducing the amount of food you're consuming. Planning your meals in advance. Keeping well hydrated. And very importantly, do not go out for a celebration or go out to meals on the day that you inject or at least the first two days. Because you're not going to tolerate the drug very well. We use that therapeutically. So, if you want to get control on the weekends, you may want to take your injection on a Friday. However, if weekends are your time out with friends and you want to socialize, don't take it on a Friday. Same thing comes with a personal trainer, by the way. If you're going to have a personal trainer on a Monday where he's going to overwork you, don't take the injection the day before. You'll likely be nauseated, you're not eating, you're not hydrating. So actually, there's a lot that goes into not only when to take the dose and how to take the dose, but how to take it to the best ability to tolerate it. Two questions based on what you said. One is you talked about these are possible side effects, but how common are they? I mean, how many people suffer from these? Well, the trials show about 25 to 45 percent or so of individuals actually say they have these symptoms. And again, we ask them mild, moderate, severe. Most of them are mild to moderate. Some of them linger. However, they really do peak during the dose escalation. So, working with your prescriber during that period of time closely, keeping contact with them on how to reduce those side effects and how you're doing out of medication is extremely important. And the second thing I wanted to ask related to that is I've heard that there's a rare but serious potential side effect around the issue of stomach paralysis. Can you tell us something about that? I mentioned earlier, Kelly, that these medications slow gastric emptying. That's pretty much in everybody. In some individuals who may be predisposed to this, they develop something called ileus, and that's the medical term for gastric paralysis. And that can happen in individuals, let's say who have a scleroderma, who have longstanding diabetes or other gastrointestinal problems where the stomach really stopped peristalsis. In other words, it's moving. That's typically presented by vomiting and really unable to move the food along. We really haven't seen much of that. We looked at the safety data in a SELECT trial that Tom mentioned, which was 17,000 individuals, about 8,000 or so in each group. We really did not see a significant increase in the ileus or what you're talking about in that patient population. Okay, thanks. Tom had alluded to this before, Bob, but I wanted to ask you. How do you think about these medicines? If somebody takes them, and then they stop using the medicines and they gain the weight back. Is that a sign that the medicine works or doesn't work? And is this the kind of a chronic use drug like you might take for blood pressure or cholesterol? That's a great way of setting up for that. And I like to frame it thinking of it as a chronic progressive disease, just like diabetes or hypertension. We know that when you have those conditions, asthma could be another one or inflammatory bowel disease, where you really take a medication long term to keep the disease or condition under control. And we are currently thinking of obesity as a chronic disease with dysfunctional appetite and fat that is deposited in other organs, causing medical problems and so on. If you think of it as a chronic disease, you would naturally start thinking of it, like others, that medication is used long term. However, obesity appeared to be different. And working with patients, they still have this sense 'that's my fault, I know I can do it, I don't want to be on medication for the rest of my life for this.' So, we have our work cut out for us. One thing I can say from the trials, and Tom knows this because he was involved in them. If we suddenly stop the medication, that's how these trials were definitely done, either blindly or not blindly, you suddenly stop the medication, most, if not all of the participants in these trials start to regain weight. However, in a clinical practice, that is not how we work. We don't stop medication suddenly with patients. We go slowly. We down dose the medication. We may change to another medication. We may use intermittent therapy. So that is work that's currently under development. We don't know exactly how to counsel patients regarding long term use of the medications. I think we need to double down on lifestyle modification and counseling that I'm sure Tom is going to get into. This is really work ahead of us, how to maintain medication, who needs to be on it long term, and how do we actually manage patients. Tom, you're the leading expert in the world on lifestyle change in the context of obesity management. I mean, thinking about what people do with their diet, their physical activity, what kind of thinking they have related to the weight loss. And you talked about that just a moment ago. Why can't one just count on the drugs to do their magic and not have to worry about these things? Well, first, I think you can count on the drugs to do a large part of the magic. And you may be surprised to hear me say that. But with our former behavioral treatments of diet and exercise, we spent a lot of time trying to help people identify how many calories they were consuming. And they did that by recording their food intake either in paper and pencil or with an app. And the whole focus of treatment was trying to help people achieve a 500 calorie a day deficit. That took a lot of work. These medications, just by virtue of turning down your appetite and turning down your responsiveness to the food environment, take away the need for a lot of that work, which is a real blessing. But the question that comes up is, okay, people are eating less food. But what are they eating? Do these medications help you eat a healthier diet with more fruits and vegetables, with lean protein? Do you migrate from a high fat, high sugar diet to a Mediterranean diet, or to a DASH like diet? And the answer is, we don't know. But obviously you would like people to migrate to a diet that's going to be healthier for you from a cardiovascular standpoint, from a cancer risk reduction standpoint. One of the principal things that people need to do on these medications is to make sure they get plenty of protein. And so, guidance is that you should have about 1 gram of dietary protein for every kilogram of body weight. If you're somebody who weighs 100 kilograms, you should get 100 grams of protein. And what you're doing is giving people a lot of dietary protein to prevent the loss of bodily protein during rapid weight loss. You did a [00:20:00] lot of research with me back in the 80s on very low-calorie diets, and that was the underpinning of treatment. Give people a lot of dietary protein, prevent the loss of bodily protein. The other side of the equation is just physical activity, and it's a very good question about whether these medications and the weight loss they induce will help people be more physically active. I think that they will. Nonetheless for most people, you need to plan an activity schedule where you adopt new activities, whether it's walking more or going to the gym. And one thing that could be particularly helpful is strength training, because strength training could mitigate some of the loss of muscle mass, which is likely to occur with these medications. So, there's still plenty to learn about what is the optimal lifestyle program, but I think people, if they want to be at optimal health will increase their physical activity and eat a diet of fruits and vegetables, leaner protein, and less ultra processed foods. Well, isn't it true that eating a healthy diet and being physically active have benefits beyond their impact on your ability to lose the weight? You're getting kind of this wonderful double benefit, aren't you? I believe that is true. I think you're going to find that there are independent benefits of being physical activity upon your cardiovascular health. There are independent benefits of the food that you're eating in terms of reducing the risk of heart attack and of cancer, which has become such a hot topic. So, yes how you exercise and what you eat makes a difference, even if you're losing weight. Well, plus there's probably the triple one, if you will, from the psychological benefit of doing those things, that you do those things, you feel virtuous, that helps you adhere better as you go forward, and these things all come together in a nice picture when they're working. Tom, let's talk more about the psychology of these things. You being a psychologist, you've spent a lot of time doing research on this topic. And of course, you've got a lot of clinical experience with people. So as people are losing weight and using these drugs, what do they experience? And I'm thinking particularly about a study you published recently, and Bob was a coauthor on that study that addressed mental health outcomes. What do people experience and what did you find in that study? I think the first things people experience is improvements in their physical function. That you do find as you've lost weight that you've got less pain in your knees, you've got more energy, it's easier to get up the stairs, it's easier to play with the children or the grandchildren. That goes a long way toward making people feel better in terms of their self-efficacy, their agency in the life. Big, big improvement there. And then, unquestionably, people when they're losing a lot of weight tend to feel better about their appearance in some cases. They're happy that they can buy what they consider to be more fashionable clothes. They get compliments from friends. So, all of those things are positive. I'm not sure that weight loss is going to change your personality per se, or change your temperament, but it is going to give you these physical benefits and some psychological benefits with it. We were happy to find in the study you mentioned that was conducted with Bob that when people are taking these medications, they don't appear to be at an increased risk of developing symptoms of depression or symptoms of suicidal ideation. There were some initial reports of concern about that, but the analysis of the randomized trials that we conducted on Semaglutide show that there is no greater likelihood of developing depression or sadness or suicidal ideation on the medication versus the placebo. And then the FDA and the European Medicines Agency have done a full review of all post marketing reports. So, reports coming from doctors and the experience with their patients. And in looking at those data the FDA and the European Medicines Agency have said, we don't find a causal link between these medications and suicidal ideation. With that said, it's still important that if you're somebody who's taking these medications and you start them, and all of a sudden you do feel depressed, or all of a sudden you do have thoughts like, maybe I'd be better off if I weren't alive any longer, you need to talk to your primary care doctor immediately. Because it is always possible somebody's having an idiosyncratic reaction to these medications. It's just as possible the person would have that reaction without being on a medication. You know, that, that can happen. People with overweight and obesity are at higher risk of depression and anxiety disorders. So, it's always going to be hard to tease apart what are the effects of a new medication versus what are just the effects of weight, excess weight, on your mood and wellbeing. You know, you made me think of something as you were just speaking. Some people may experience negative effects during weight loss, but overall, the effects are highly positive and people are feeling good about themselves. They're able to do more things. They fit in better clothes. They're getting good feedback from their environment and people they know. And then, of course, there's all the medical benefit that makes people feel better, both psychologically and physically. Yet there's still such a strong tendency for people to regain weight after they've lost. And it just reinforces the fact that, the point that you made earlier, that there are biological processes at work that govern weight and tendency to regain. And there really is no shame in taking the drug. I mean, if you have high blood pressure, there's no shame in taking the drug. Or high cholesterol or anything else, because there's a biological process going on that puts you at risk. The same thing occurs here, so I hope the de-shaming, obesity in the first place, and diabetes, of course, and then the use of these medications in particular might help more people get the benefits that is available for them. I recommend that people think about their weight as a biologically regulated event. Very much like your body temperature is a biologically regulated event, as is your blood pressure and your heart rate. And I will ask people to realize that there are genetic contributors to your body weight. just as there are to your height. If somebody says, I just feel so bad about being overweight I'll just talk with them about their family history of weight and see that it runs in the family. Then I'll talk to them about their height. Do you feel bad about being six feet tall, to a male? No, that's fine. Well, that that's not based upon your willpower. That's based upon your genes, which you received. And so, your weight, it's similarly based. And if we can use medications to help control weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, let's do that. It's just we live in a time where we're fortunate to have the ability to add medications to help people control health complications including weight. Bob, there are several of the drugs available. How does one think about picking between them? Well, you know, in an ideal medical encounter, the prescriber is going to take into consideration all the factors of prescribing a medication, like any other medication, diabetes, hypertension, you name the condition. Those are things like contraindication to use. What other medical problems does the patient have that may benefit the patient. Patient preferences, of course and side effects, safety, allergies, and then we have cost. And I'll tell you, Kelly, because of our current environment, it's this last factor, cost, that's the most dominant factor when it comes to prescribing medication. I'll have a patient walk in my room, I'll look at the electronic medical record, body mass index, medical problems. I already know in my head what is going to be the most effective medication. That's what we're talking about today. Unfortunately, I then look at the patient insurance, which is also on the electronic medical record, and I see something like Medicaid or Medicare. I already know that it's not going to be covered. It is really quite unfortunate but ideally all these factors go into consideration. Patients often come in and say, I've heard about Ozempic am I a candidate for it, when can I get it? And unfortunately, it's not that simple, of course. And those are types of decisions the prescriber goes through in order to come to a decision, called shared decision making with the patient. Bob, when I asked you the initial question about these drugs, you were mentioning the trade name drugs like Mounjaro and Ozempic and those are made by basically two big pharmaceutical companies, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. But there are compounded versions of these that have hit the scene. Can you explain what that means and what are your thoughts about the use of those medications? So compounding is actually pretty commonly done. It's been approved by the FDA for quite some time. I think most people are familiar with the idea of compounding pharmacies when you have a child that must take a tablet in a liquid form. The pharmacy may compound it to adapt to the child. Or you have an allergy to an ingredient so the pharmacy will compound that same active ingredient so you can take it safely. It's been approved for long periods of time. Anytime a drug is deemed in shortage by the FDA, but in high need by the public, compounding of that trade drug is allowed. And that's exactly what happened with both Semaglutide and Tirzepatide. And of course, that led to this compounding frenzy across the country with telehealth partnering up with different compounding pharmacies. It's basically making this active ingredient. They get a recipe elsewhere, they don't get it from the company, they get this recipe and then they make the drug or compound it themselves, and then they can sell it at a lower cost. I think it's been helpful for people to get the drug at a lower cost. However, buyer beware, because not all compounded pharmacies are the same. The FDA does not closely regulate these compounded pharmacies regarding quality assurance, best practice, and so forth. You have to know where that drug is coming from. Kelly, it's worth noting that just last week, ZepBound and Mounjaro came off the shortage list. You no longer can compound that and I just read in the New York Times today or yesterday that the industry that supports compounding pharmacies is suing the FDA to allow them to continue to compound it. I'm not sure where that's going to go. I mean, Eli Lilly has made this drug. However, Wegovy still is in shortage and that one is still allowed to be compounded. Let's talk a little bit more about costs because this is such a big determinant of whether people use the drugs or not. Bob, you mentioned the high cost, but Tom, how much do the drugs cost and is there any way of predicting what Bob just mentioned with the FDA? If the compounded versions can't be used because there's no longer a shortage, will that decrease pressure on the companies to keep the main drug less expensive. I mean, how do you think that'll all work out? But I guess my main question is how much these things cost and what's covered by insurance? Well first how much do the drugs cost? They cost too much. Semaglutide, known in retail as Wegovy, is $1,300 a month if you do not have insurance that covers it. I believe that Tirzepatide, known as ZepBound, is about $1,000 a month if you don't have insurance that covers that. Both these drugs sometimes have coupons that bring the price down. But still, if you're going to be looking at out of pocket costs of $600 or $700 or $800 a month. Very few people can afford that. The people who most need these medications are people often who are coming from lower incomes. So, in terms of just the future of having these medications be affordable to people, I would hope we're going to see that insurance companies are going to cover them more frequently. I'm really waiting to see if Medicare is going to set the example and say, yes, we will cover these medications for anybody with a BMI of 40 or a BMI of 35 with comorbidities. At this point, Medicare says, we will only pay for this drug if you have a history of heart attack and stroke, because we know the drug is going to improve your life expectancy. But if you don't have that history, you don't qualify. I hope we'll see that. Medicaid actually does cover these medications in some states. It's a state-by-state variation. Short of that, I think we're going to have to have studies showing that people are on these medications for a long time, I mean, three to five years probably will be the window, that they do have a reduction in the expenses for other health expenditures. And as a result, insurers will see, yes, it makes sense to treat excess weight because I can save on the cost of type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea and the like. Some early studies I think that you brought to my attention say the drugs are not cost neutral in the short-term basis of one to two years. I think you're going to have to look longer term. Then I think that there should be competition in the marketplace. As more drugs come online, the drug prices should come down because more will be available. There'll be greater production. Semaglutide, the first drug was $1,300. Zepbound, the second drug Tirzepatide, $1,000. Maybe the third drug will be $800. Maybe the fourth will be $500. And they'll put pressure on each other. But I don't know that to be a fact. That's just my hope. Neither of you as an economist or, nor do you work with the companies that we're talking about. But you mentioned that the high cost puts them out of reach for almost everybody. Why does it make sense for the companies to charge so much then? I mean, wouldn't it make sense to cut the price in half or by two thirds? And then so many more people would use them that the company would up ahead in the long run. Explain that to me. That's what you would think, for sure. And I think that what's happened right now is that is a shortage of these drugs. They cannot produce enough of them. Part of that is the manufacturing of the injector pens that are used to dispense the drug to yourself. I know that Novo Nordisk is building more factories to address this. I assume that Lilly will do the same thing. I hope that over time we will have a larger supply that will allow more people to get on the medication and I hope that the price would come down. Of course, in the U. S. we pay the highest drug prices in the world. Fortunately, given some of the legislation passed, Medicare will be able to negotiate the prices of some of these drugs now. And I think they will negotiate on these drugs, and that would bring prices down across the board. Boy, you know, the companies have to make some pretty interesting decisions, don't they? Because you've alluded to the fact that there are new drugs coming down the road. I'm assuming some of those might be developed and made by companies other than the two that we're talking about. So, so investing in a whole new plant to make more of these things when you've got these competitor drugs coming down the road are some interesting business issues. And that's not really the topic of what we're going to talk about, but it leads to my final question that I wanted to ask both of you. What do you think the future will bring? And what do you see in terms of the pipeline? What will people be doing a year from now or 2 or 5? And, you know, it's hard to have a crystal ball with this, but you two have been, you know, really pioneers and experts on this for many years. You better than anybody probably can answer this question. Bob, let me start with you. What do you think the future will bring? Well, Kelly, I previously mentioned that we finally have this new therapeutic target called the gut brain axis that we didn't know about. And that has really ushered in a whole new range of potential medications. And we're really only at the beginning of this transformation. So not only do we have this GLP 1 and GIP, we have other gut hormones that are also effective not only for weight loss, but other beneficial effects in the body, which will become household names, probably called amylin and glucagon that joins GLP 1. And we not only have these monotherapies like GLP 1 alone, we are now getting triagonists. So, we've got GIP, GLP 1, and glucagon together, which is even amplifying the effect even further. We are also developing oral forms of GLP 1 that in the future you could presumably take a tablet once a day, which will also help bring the cost down significantly and make it more available for individuals. We also have a new generation of medications being developed which is muscle sparing. Tom talked about the importance of being strong and physical function. And with the loss of lean body mass, which occurs with any time you lose weight, you can also lose muscle mass. There's drugs that are also going in that direction. But lastly, let me mention, Kelly, I spend a lot of my time in education. I think the exciting breakthroughs will not be meaningful to the patient unless the professional, the provider and the patient are able to have a nonjudgmental informative discussion during the encounter without stigma, without bias. Talk about the continuum of care available for you, someone living with obesity, and get the medications to the patient. Without that, medications over really sit on the shelf. And we have a lot of more work to do in that area. You know, among the many reasons I admire the both of you is that you've, you've paid a lot of attention to that issue that you just mentioned. You know, what it's like to live with obesity and what people are experiencing and how the stigma and the discrimination can just have devastating consequences. The fact that you're sensitive to those issues and that you're pushing to de-stigmatize these conditions among the general public, but also health care professionals, is really going to be a valuable advance. Thank you for that sensitivity. Tom, what do you think? If you appear into the crystal ball? What does it look like? I would have to agree with Bob that we're going to have so many different medications that we will be able to combine together that we're going to see that it's more than possible to achieve weight losses of 25 to 30 percent of initial body weight. Which is just astonishing to think that pharmaceuticals will be able to achieve what you achieve now with bariatric surgery. I think that it's just, just an extraordinary development. Just so pleased to be able to participate in the development of these drugs at this stage of career. I still see a concern, though, about the stigmatization of weight loss medications. I think we're going to need an enormous dose of medical education to help doctors realize that obesity is a disease. It's a different disease than some of the illnesses that you treat because, yes, it is so influenced by the environment. And if we could change the environment, as you've argued so eloquently, we could control a lot of the cases of overweight and obesity. But we've been unable to control the environment. Now we're taking a course that we have medications to control it. And so, let's use those medications just as we use medications to treat diabetes. We could control diabetes if the food environment was better. A lot of medical education to get doctors on board to say, yes, this is a disease that deserves to be treated with medication they will share that with their patients. They will reassure their patients that the drugs are safe. And that they're going to be safe long term for you to take. And then I hope that society as a whole will pick up that message that, yes, obesity and overweight are diseases that deserve to be treated the same way we treat other chronic illnesses. That's a tall order, but I think we're moving in that direction. BIOS Robert Kushner is Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine in Chicago, IL, USA. After finishing a residency in Internal Medicine at Northwestern University, he went on to complete a post-graduate fellowship in Clinical Nutrition and earned a Master's degree in Clinical Nutrition and Nutritional Biology from the University of Chicago. Dr. Kushner is past-President of The Obesity Society (TOS), the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists (ABPNS), past-Chair of the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM), and Co-Editor of Current Obesity Reports. He was awarded the ‘2016 Clinician-of-the-Year Award' by The Obesity Society and John X. Thomas Best Teachers of Feinberg Award at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2017. Dr. Kushner has authored over 250 original articles, reviews, books and book chapters covering medical nutrition, medical nutrition education, and obesity, and is an internationally recognized expert on the care of patients who are overweight or obese. He is author/editor of multiple books including Dr. Kushner's Personality Type Diet (St. Martin's Griffin Press, 2003; iuniverse, 2008), Fitness Unleashed (Three Rivers Press, 2006), Counseling Overweight Adults: The Lifestyle Patterns Approach and Tool Kit (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2009) and editor of the American Medical Association's (AMA) Assessment and Management of Adult Obesity: A Primer for Physicians (2003). Current books include Practical Manual of Clinical Obesity (Wiley-Blackwell, 2013), Treatment of the Obese Patient, 2nd Edition (Springer, 2014), Nutrition and Bariatric Surgery (CRC Press, 2015), Lifestyle Medicine: A Manual for Clinical Practice (Springer, 2016), and Obesity Medicine, Medical Clinics of North America (Elsevier, 2018). He is author of the upcoming book, Six Factors to Fit: Weight Loss that Works for You! (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, December, 2019). Thomas A. Wadden is a clinical psychologist and educator who is known for his research on the treatment of obesity by methods that include lifestyle modification, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery. He is the Albert J. Stunkard Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and former director of the university's Center for Weight and Eating Disorders. He also is visiting professor of psychology at Haverford College. Wadden has published more than 550 peer-reviewed scientific papers and abstracts, as well as 7 edited books. Over the course of his career, he has served on expert panels for the National Institutes of Health, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. House of Representatives. His research has been recognized by awards from several organizations including the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy and The Obesity Society. Wadden is a fellow of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the Obesity Society, and Society of Behavioral Medicine. In 2015, the Obesity Society created the Thomas A. Wadden Award for Distinguished Mentorship, recognizing his education of scientists and practitioners in the field of obesity.

Idaho lawmakers were unable to reach an agreement last year on legal protections for in vitro fertilization, or IVF. Associate producer Logan Finney discusses how the procedure works and the legal landscape around fertility with Dr. Emily Jungheim, Chief of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Voters backed enhanced election security, healthcare coverage for IVF and a so-called millionaire's tax to fund property tax relief. Reset learns more about two of the proposals with former Democratic Illinois governor Pat Quinn and Lindsay Allen, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Jennifer L. Payne, MD Guest: Melissa Simon, MD Postpartum depression is a serious medical condition that is among the most common complications during and after pregnancy; however, it is often underdiagnosed.1-4 To learn more about screening patients for postpartum depression, Dr. Matt Birnholz speaks with Dr. Jennifer Payne and Dr. Melissa Simon about screening strategies, the impact of health inequities, and the latest medical guidelines regarding the importance of early screening for postpartum depression. Dr. Payne is a Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences as well as Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Virginia, and Dr. Simon is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. References American Psychiatric Association. Depressive disorders. In: American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5™. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013:155-188. Bauman BL, Ko JY, Cox S, et al. Vital Signs: Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Provider Discussions About Perinatal Depression - United States, 2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(19):575-581. Cox EQ, Sowa NA, Meltzer-Brody SE, Gaynes BN. The Perinatal Depression Treatment Cascade: Baby Steps Toward Improving Outcomes. J Clin Psychiatry. 2016;77(9):1189-1200. Thompson KS, Fox JE. Post-partum depression: a comprehensive approach to evaluation and treatment. Ment Health Fam Med. 2010;7(4):249-257. …

Guest: Jennifer L. Payne, MD Guest: Melissa Simon, MD Since postpartum depression is a serious medical condition that can negatively impact mothers, infants, and partners, it is important to identify symptoms in a timely manner.1-4 Dr. Jennifer Payne and Dr. Melissa Simon are here to share their clinical experiences screening patients for postpartum depression, explore strategies to overcome common challenges in screening, and identify best practices for collaborating in the care of perinatal women. Dr. Payne is a Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences as well as Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Virginia, and Dr. Simon is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. References American Psychiatric Association. Depressive disorders. In: American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5™. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013:155-188. Campbell SB, Cohn JF, Meyers T. Depression in First-Time Mothers: Mother-Infant Interaction and Depression Chronicity. Dev Psychol. 1995;31:349-357. Moore Simas TA, Huang MY, Patton C, et al. The humanistic burden of postpartum depression: a systematic literature review. Curr Med Res Opin. 2019;35(3):383-393. Thompson KS, Fox JE. Post-partum depression: a comprehensive approach to evaluation and treatment. Ment Health Fam Med. 2010;7(4):249-257. Sage Therapeutics and the Sage Therapeutics logo …

On this episode, host Sophia Lorey sits down with Dr. Bowers to discuss the difference between miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and abortions.People are shouting on social media that women will not get miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy treatment in states that have strong abortion ban laws. Although this is simply not the truth. Dr. Bowers explains how these three all are different - note abortion is the intentional ending of a life, miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies are not. Dr. Maralee C. Bowers is a board certified family physician practicing in Northern California. She works with local pregnancy resource clinics and the Abortion Pill Reversal hotline. She graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, with honors, and received her M.D. from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. She continued her medical training in the family medicine residency program at Hinsdale Hospital in Illinois, and then moved back to her hometown to practice. She is one of the few remaining family physicians doing house visits for homebound patients as well as general primary care in office. She is also a mom of five kids, ages 7 through 21, and the wife of a Catholic Deacon. She believes that faith and science are the bases of truth; one cannot exist without the other. You can learn more about abortion pill reversal here: https://www.abortionpillreversal.com/

In the first episode of a special pediatric psychopharmacology series hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Strawn, Dr. John Walkup joins the podcast to discuss deprescribing in pediatric patients. The conversation delves into the situations that warrant deprescribing from antidepressants, selecting the right time to do so, and dealing with relapse, as well as much more!  Jeffrey R. Strawn, MD is a Professor and Associate Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine, the Assistant Director of Clinical and Translational Research in the Center for Clinical & Translational Science and Training at UC, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UC and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.  John T. Walkup, MD is Head of the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and a Margaret C. Osterman Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science. He also serves as Director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.  Never miss an episode!

“Nurses really are the professionals who educate how to take these medicines, why we use multimodal therapies, why it isn't medicine alone—helping patients to understand that pain is a biopsychosocial spiritual phenomenon, and the pills are just going to hit one little aspect of that entire phenomenon,” Judy Paice, PhD, RN, director of the cancer pain program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL, told Lenise Taylor, MN, RN, AOCNS®, BMTCN®, oncology clinical specialist at ONS, during a conversation about nursing practices for cancer pain management. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0  Earn 1 contact hour of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at courses.ons.org by October 11, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: Learners will report an increase in knowledge related to managing pain in patients with cancer. Episode Notes  Complete this evaluation for free NCPD.  Oncology Nursing Podcast™ episodes: Episode 165: Safely Administer and Prescribe Opioids for Cancer-Related Pain Episode 3: Opioids, Addiction, and Complex Care  ONS Voice articles: Alternative Funding Programs: Don't Be Fooled by Promises of 'Free' Specialty Cancer Drugs CMS's Chronic Pain Experience Journey Map Will Help Patients and Providers Latest CDC Clinical Practice Guideline Facilitates Safe Use of Opioids for Pain What the Evidence Says About Tai Chi in Cancer Care ONS book: Clinical Manual for the Oncology Advanced Practice Nurse (fourth edition) ONS courses: Essentials in Advanced Practice Symptom Management Treatment and Symptom Management—Oncology RN Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing articles: Effects of a Nurse-Initiated Telephone Care Path for Pain Management in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Radiation Therapy Pain Management Revisited Symptom Distress: Implementation of Palliative Care Guidelines to Improve Pain, Fatigue, and Anxiety in Patients With Advanced Cancer Oncology Nursing Forum articles: Barriers for Nurses Providing Cancer Pain Management: A Qualitative Systematic Review Framing Cancer Survivors' Access to and Use and Disposal of Prescribed Opioids Within the Opioid Epidemic Interventions for Managing a Symptom Cluster of Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep Disturbances During Cancer Survivorship: A Systematic Review ONS Position Statement: Cancer Pain Management ONS Learning Library: Pain Management Diagnostics article: Diagnosing Pain in Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Current State and Novel Technological Solutions End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Harvard Implicit Association Test National Cancer Institute's Cancer Pain PDQ Health professional version Patient version Opioid Risk Tool Pain Medicine article: A Tactile Pain Evaluation Scale for Persons With Visual Deficiencies To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities.  To find resources for creating an Oncology Nursing Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From This Episode “Who do patients speak to about their pain? They're often afraid to tell their oncologist, and studies have backed this up. The patient is worried that if they admit to more symptoms, they won't be able to enroll in that clinical trial, so they talk to us, the nurse. And part of our role is to encourage that dialog and assess the pain fully.” TS 7:00 “The nonpharmacologic, which is equally important—and I see these as partners in relief, not as one versus the other. But we may have physical measures like [physical therapy] and [occupational therapy] and orthotics, heat and cold. We may have more emotional or psychological kinds of therapies—cognitive behavioral techniques. We may have integrative measures—mindfulness guided imagery, yoga, tai chi. And some of these kind of transcend multiple categories.” TS 15:57 “For breakthrough [pain], we try to again treat the underlying cause. If this is an unstable vertebral body, is a kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty a possibility for this patient? If there's compression of nerve roots, might an epidural steroid injection or some other interventional procedure help, so that when the patient stands—and that's often what we see the breakthrough pain occurring—or moves position, maybe we can provide some relief that's more directed to the site of pain or source.” TS 24:35 “I set expectations. Again, this is where nurses are key. It is so important that you use these medicines for pain. Yes, they're going to make you feel a little bit less anxious, a little warm and fuzzy, and maybe even help you fall asleep at night, but you cannot use them for that purpose. You can only use these medicines for pain control. We have other medicines to help you if you're feeling anxious or if you're having trouble sleeping at night. And if you use your opioids for those purposes, you are going to get into trouble.” TS 41:11

If you're on the hunt for steroid-free itchy scalp remedy options to end the embarrassment and discomfort of flaky, itchy scalp problems, this episode is for you.From cradle cap in infants to itchy, crusty, flaky dandruff in adults, so many people feel like they've tried every dandruff treatment in the book. From medicated anti-dandruff shampoo to topical steroids and other medications, you know that eventually, the flaking, itching, and redness all return.This is because those treatments don't deal with the root of the issue, which is an imbalanced scalp microbiome, leading to an overgrowth of things like malassezia.AND a compromised skin barrier, which can be a trigger for the atopic march (food allergies, dry skin, allergic rhinitis, eczema, and asthma).Joining me to discuss how to get rid of dandruff, cradle cap removal, and her line of gentle scalp rebalancing products is return guest Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH. She is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Clinical Attending at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.Dr. Gupta has over 20 years of experience as a board-certified pediatrician and health researcher and currently serves as the founding director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research (CFAAR).She is world-renowned for her research on the epidemiology, economic impact, prevention, and management of allergic conditions, and strives to find answers and shape policies surrounding these conditions in order to reduce burden and improve health equity.In This Episode:Why Dr. Gupta sought out an effective itchy scalp remedyWhat is cradle cap? (+ cradle cap removal options)Why scalp issues in babies could trigger food allergiesDandruff causes (+ how the scalp microbiome is involved)How Yobee hair products workThoughts on hair products causing MORE scalp inflammationWho can use Yobee products? (Can you use it for beardruff + beard care?)Quotes“So for the scalp, typically your cells should regenerate every month. And what happens when you have dandruff, it's happening more frequently and that's where you're getting those white flakes. So it's happening almost weekly. And what's causing that? So many things. So we all use different hair products now and a lot of the hair products have chemicals in it. And so what are those chemicals doing to disrupt the microbiome? You have to think about that.”“Eczema and the cradle cap and food allergies and allergic rhinitis and asthma, they're all connected. And so if you have one, you have a higher chance of having the rest. So those babies with eczema, just like my daughter, develop food allergies. But now we're seeing more and more, like a lot of the creams or, like you said, shampoos will have a food component and that could be causing that food allergy to start up because it's entering them through their skin.”LinksFind Dr. Gupta online | Instagram | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook | Twitter | TwitterFind Yobee online and on InstagramGet Dr. Gupta's book,

Edith Freeze is a Community Scientist at Northwestern University's Fienberg School of Medicine and a fierce champion of environmental rights. Her career is the product of endless curiosity, a thirst for education, and hustle. Her passion for environmental issues comes directly from her experiences growing up in Ecuador and a reverence for her Andean Indigenous roots. This double demon joins to explain how she balances her work as an empirical researcher in healthcare with her long-standing advocacy for environmental rights. These two parts both complement and overlap each other and allow her to make contributions is ways that may not be possible without traveling her unique journey.    Give it a listen.

Dr. Francesca Duncan, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss their study on how they can delay menopause and extend ovarian function as humans are living longer.

They say age is just a number…and no concept drives this point home more than biological age. You see, your chronological age isn't the same as the age of your cells. That's why you can have people who look younger (or older) than their stated age.   This has a lot to do with Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 or PAI-1.   People age at different rates and there are conditions and circumstances that make some age more rapidly than others. From climate, diet, stress and genetics, there are so many factors that impact the health of our cells.   Here's the good news: how long we've been on the planet doesn't have to dictate our health and wellness. There are proactive steps we can take to extend not just the span of our lives but its quality too.   What is plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and how does it affect aging? Why is there a difference between chronological age and biological age? What can we learn from communities and locations that have longevity?   In this episode, I'm joined by the chairman of the Department of Medicine at Northwestern University, and leader of the Potocsnak Longevity Institute, Dr. Douglas Vaughan. He talks about the strides we've made in understanding biological age and what we can do about it.  Things You'll Learn In This Episode    -The biggest driver of biological age People's biological age can be higher or lower than their stated chronological age. What is plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and how does it impact this?    -How to slow aging Every choice we make either ages us faster or it slows down the aging process. How do we make choices that support longevity?    -A convergence of scientific strides We're in the golden age of understanding biological aging. What strides have been made to deepen our knowledge and discover interventions?   Guest Bio   Dr. Douglas E. Vaughan, is chairman of the Department of Medicine and the Irving S. Cutter Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and has been elected to membership in the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians. In 2018, Dr. Vaughan led a study that reported the first genetic variation that appears to protect against multiple aspects of biological aging in humans in an extended kindred of Old Order Amish living in the vicinity of Berne, Indiana.   Dr. Vaughan now leads the recently launched Potocsnak Longevity Institute, bringing together scientists and experts across many disciplines to study those populations that seem resistant to negative consequences of aging with a goal of discovering what makes them unique. With a deeper understanding of how aging works, the institute aims to expand the healthspan for all people with future therapies and lifestyle interventions. To learn more, visit https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/longevity/index.html.    About Your Host   Hosted by Dr. Deepa Grandon, MD MBA, triple board-certified physician with over 23 years of experience working as a Physician Consultant for influential organizations worldwide. Dr. Grandon is the founder of Transformational Life Consulting (TLC) and an outspoken faith-based leader in evidenced-based lifestyle medicine.   Disclaimer    ​​TLC is presenting this podcast as a form of information sharing only. It is not medical advice or intended to replace the judgment of a licensed physician. TLC is not responsible for any claims related to procedures, professionals, products, or methods discussed in the podcast, and it does not approve or endorse any products, professionals, services, or methods that might be referenced.   Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

On September 26, 2024 we spoke with Jones Parker about dopamine receptors, the changes in neuronal activity produced by various antipsychotic drugs, and their relationship to antipsychotic efficacy in humans. Guest: Jones Parker, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Participating: Matt Wanat, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UTSA Host: Charles Wilson, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UTSA Thanks to James Tepper for original music

Welcome to OncLive On Air®! I'm your host today, Ashling Wahner.  OncLive On Air is a podcast from OncLive®, which provides oncology professionals with the resources and information they need to provide the best patient care. In both digital and print formats, OncLive covers every angle of oncology practice, from new technology to treatment advances to important regulatory decisions.  In today's episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Tarita Thomas, MD, PhD, MBA, and Rimas Lukas, MD, about abstracts presented during a brain cancer­–focused clinical science symposium at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting. Dr Thomas is an associate professor of radiation oncology and Dr Lukas is an associate professor of neurology (neuro-oncology; hospital neurology) at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.  In our exclusive interview, Drs Thomas and Lukas discussed the results of 4 abstracts presented during the symposium. In particular, their discussion highlighted findings with ST101 in window-of-opportunity cohorts of patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM), the prognostic utility of cerebrospinal fluid circulating tumor DNA in recurrent high-grade glioma, the genomic drivers of GBM, and preclinical data with navtemadlin (KRT-232) in IDH wild-type GBM.  ___ That's all we have for today! Thank you for listening to this episode of OncLive On Air. Check back on Mondays and Thursdays for exclusive interviews with leading experts in the oncology field.  For more updates in oncology, be sure to visit www.OncLive.com and sign up for our e-newsletters.  OncLive is also on social media. On X, follow us at @OncLive. On Facebook, like us at OncLive, and follow our OncLive page on LinkedIn.  If you liked today's episode of OncLive On Air, please consider subscribing to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and many of your other favorite podcast platforms,* so you get a notification every time a new episode is posted. While you are there, please take a moment to rate us!  Thanks again for listening to OncLive On Air. 

Is residency signaling important? Why write a residency personal statement? Should I put geographic preference on ERAS? What makes a medical student CV stand out? Deborah Clements, MD, is chair of the department of family and community medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and program director for the McGaw Northwestern Family Medicine Residency at Lake Forest. As a chair on the board of National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), Dr. Clements shares advice on how to stand out on your residency application. ✶✶✶✶ 

Dr. Linda Suleiman, assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Medical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine joins Lisa Dent to talk about the why it’s important to have diversity and equity when recruiting the next generation of healthcare workers. “Better knowledge means better health for you and your family. Turn […]

Is residency signaling important? Why write a residency personal statement? Should I put geographic preference on ERAS? What makes a medical student CV stand out? Deborah Clements, MD, is chair of the department of family and community medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and program director for the McGaw Northwestern Family Medicine Residency at Lake Forest. As a chair on the board of National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), Dr. Clements shares advice on how to stand out on your residency application. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

Are you struggling with a super itchy skin rash that looks like eczema? If gluten seems to be a trigger – you might be dealing with dermatitis herpetiformis!Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a rare skin rash that starts off as incredibly itchy, small blisters that eventually start to become open sores due to constant scratching.This rash is generally considered to be MORE ITCHY than eczema, and is commonly found in the creases of elbows, knees, and buttocks.What causes DH, you might ask? The answer is surprising: Gluten. Yes, dermatitis herpetiformis is a gluten rash – the skin manifestation of celiac disease. In fact, eliminating gluten from your diet and skincare is necessary to find relief.Joining me to talk about the link between gluten, dermatitis herpetiformis, and celiac disease is fan-favorite guest Dr. Peter Lio, who is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology & Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, completed his internship in Pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital, and his Dermatology training at Harvard where he served as Chief Resident in Dermatology. While at Harvard, Dr. Lio received formal training in acupuncture. Dr. Lio has written a textbook on Integrative Dermatology and has published over 100 papers.In This Episode:What is dermatitis herpetiformis (DH)?Dermatitis herpetiformis symptomsHow is this gluten rash diagnosed?Other clues that you may have dermatitis herpetiformis (e.g. altered oral health)Autoimmune conditions linked to this celiac rashCan removing gluten from your diet improve dermatitis herpetiformis symptoms?Dermatitis herpetiformis treatment optionsNutrient deficiencies associated with celiac diseaseShould you use gluten-free skincare if you have DH?Quotes“Dermatitis herpetiformis, or DH, is really an inflammatory autoimmune disease that actually results in tiny blisters, although when most patients see it, they tend to look more eczematous…It's incredibly itchy.”“[The itch] can be absolutely crazy. They can be going nuts where they're scratching. And again, it's these funny areas, elbows, knees, buttocks, and they're so uncomfortable. They can't really seem to get to the itch. I find it's even more intense and deeper in general than atopic dermatitis.”LinksFind Dr. Lio online | Twitter | FacebookHealthy Skin Show ep. 216: Could Your Rash Be A Sign Of Lymphoma? w/ Dr. Peter LioHealthy Skin Show ep. 246: Everything You Need To Know About Skin Tests (Done By Your Dermatologist) w/ Dr. Peter LioHealthy Skin Show ep. 275: Why You're So Itchy (HINT: It's Probably Not Histamine) w/ Dr. Shawn KwatraDermatitis Herpetiformis (NIDDK)Dermatitis Herpetiformis (NIH)Dermatitis Herpetiformis: Novel Perspectives

New weight-loss drugs have transformed care for people with obesity. In this Clinical Reviews podcast, Robert F. Kushner, MD, MS, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine joins JAMA Deputy Editor Mary McGrae McDermott, MD, to discuss prescribing these drugs to improve health outcomes and minimize adverse effects in people with obesity. Related Content: Medications for Obesity

Editor’s choice: Shifting trends and sicker patients: Reassessing hysterectomy performed for benign indications by gynecologic oncologists Editorial: Who you gonna call? Hosted by:David E. Cohn, MD, MBA, FACHE, Editor-in-Chief of Gynecologic Oncology Featuring:M. Dwight Chen, MD, Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group/Sutter HealthConnor C. Wang, MD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineEmma Barber, MD, MS, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Editor’s choice: Shifting trends and sicker patients: Reassessing hysterectomy performed for benign indications by gynecologic oncologists Editorial: Who you gonna call? Hosted by:David E. Cohn, MD, MBA, FACHE, Editor-in-Chief of Gynecologic Oncology Featuring:M. Dwight Chen, MD, Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group/Sutter HealthConnor C. Wang, MD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineEmma Barber, MD, MS, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Interviewer: Dr. Peter Poullos Interviewees: Emmanuel Asenso, DO, Allison Kessler, MD, MSc, Joseph Samona, DDS, Satendra Singh, MD   Description:  This episode of the DWDI podcast brings together four incredible individuals for a live recording session during the 5th annual SMADIE conference on April. The panel featured Emmanuel Ascenso, Dr. Joe Simona, Dr. Satendra Singh, and Dr. Allison Kessler, all of whom had previously been interviewed on the podcast and had garnered significant listenership. Each guest shared their personal and professional journeys, highlighting their experiences as healthcare professionals with disabilities. Throughout the episode, the guests touched on themes of mentorship, intersectionality, and the importance of allies in driving change. They also highlighted the need for tailored feedback, proactive advocacy, and the power of sharing personal stories to educate and empower others. The episode underscored the significance of acceptance, education, and cross-movement solidarity in creating a more inclusive healthcare environment.   Key Words: ADA, Accommodation, Clinical Work, Ableism, Storytelling, Podcast, DocsWithDisabilities, Stuttering, SCI, Deaf, Physical Disability. Transcript: https://bit.ly/DWDI_Ep_96_Transcript  Docs With Disabilities Original Interview Episodes Linked Bio's:  Dr. Emmanuel Asenso Jr is a second-year resident physician in the combined Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine residency program at Johns Hopkins and MedStar Franklin Square in Baltimore, MD. He was born and raised in Northern Virginia to Ghanaian immigrant parents. He completed his undergraduate studies at Virginia Tech, completed his Masters in Public Health from George Washington University in DC, and then completed medical school at Rowan University SOM in New Jersey. He is a person with a childhood-onset fluency disorder, also known as stuttering. Navigating a communication disorder throughout training has been challenging, rewarding, and full of lessons. He is passionate about supporting marginalized people and advocating for health equity through primary care and public health. He is also interested in the intersectionality between racism and people with disabilities.    Allison Kessler, MD, MSc, is the Section Chief of Renée Crown Center for Spinal Cord Innovation. She is board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Medicine. Dr. Kessler is the Associate Director of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab's SCI Medicine Fellowship. She holds appointments at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine as Assistant Professor in the Department of PM&R.  Bonus: Behind the white coat interview   Dr. Joseph Samona graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and completed AEGD residency at the University of Texas Health San Antonio. He currently works as an associate in private practice in the Metro Detroit area. He is also profoundly Deaf and is a strong advocate for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community who are underrepresented in the dental field. He have given lectures at several dental schools and local dental organizations on effective communication with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.  He also developed a project where he created a series of educational videos about oral health in American Sign Language on YouTube to increase accessibility to oral health care.  He is currently a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Academy of General Dentistry, and American Dental Association.   Satendra Singh, MD, serves as the Director Professor and Coordinator of the Enabling Unit at the University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India. Additionally, he holds the role of Co-chair of the International Council for Disability Inclusion in Medical Education and is a steering committee member of the Health Humanities Consortium. As a disability justice advocate, he has spearheaded numerous policy reforms, notably the inclusion of disability rights as mandatory competencies in the new medical curriculum in India. He serves as the organizational head of Doctors with Disabilities: Agents of Change in India, a nationwide group of health professionals with disabilities dedicated to social justice. Furthermore, he is a member of the core group on disability at the National Human Rights Commission. Bonus: We Don't Shy Away From Our Disability: Dr Satendra Singh  

Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, finding the right job in orthopaedics can be a complex and daunting task. In this episode, we're examining the tools for making this daunting task as easy as possible. Joining us to share valuable insights on this topic are Dr. Sanjeev Bhatia and David Mandell. Dr. Sanjeev Bhatia is an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at Northwestern Medical and is on faculty of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He remembers well the stress of evaluating jobs as he came out of training from Northwestern, Rush University and the Steadman-Philippon Research Institute. Even at that stage, Sanjeev was helping his colleagues analyze the financial implications of different jobs, sharing a financial model he had developed. His interest in helping fellow physicians only increased when he changed jobs a few years into his career. Sanjeev writes often on financial and career topics in his monthly column for Orthopedics Today. David Mandell is an attorney in The Law Office of David B. Mandell, PC, and principal of the nationally-known wealth management firm OJM Group, LLC. He holds a bachelor's degree, with honors, from Harvard University. His law degree is from the UCLA School of Law, and he also earned an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management. David has addressed many of the nation's leading medical conferences, including The American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, the American Section of the International College of Surgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Ortho Summit, the American Association of Orthopaedic Executives, and numerous others. In this episode, we answer questions which you might have on navigating the orthopedic job market and making better job decisions like; What are some of the important things that chief residents and fellows do not pay much attention to when looking for jobs? What is “The Doctors Agents” and how does it help young doctors to secure jobs? What are helpful sources to look at when searching for jobs in order to be better prepared? and more. Find out more about The Doctors Agents here: https://www.thedoctorsagents.com/  Learn more about and purchase the AI generated contract review tool here: https://www.thedoctorsagents.com/what-we-do/#ai-contract-eval   

WE GOT US NOW #KeepFamiliesConnected campaign series WELCOME to Season 4 of the ⁠WE GOT US NOW Podcast⁠ series POWERED by ⁠The Just Trust⁠ For our 6th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day, WE spotlight voices from our community, and uplift our allies working across the field to create a just and equitable society that seeks to keep justice-impacted families connected.   Dr. Nia Heard-Garris, MD, MBA | MSc | FAAP is a pediatrician and a physician-investigator at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and in the Department of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She examines the influence of social adversities experienced in childhood and subsequent child and adolescent health. Dr. Heard-Garris is also interested in the factors that contribute to thriving and resilience despite these experiences. Dr. Heard-Garris completed a prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Fellowship at the University of Michigan. She earned her Master of Science in Health and Healthcare Research. She received her Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Howard University College of Medicine and helped to launch the student-run free clinic serving DC residents. Dr. Heard-Garris earned her Bachelor of Science in biology at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Heard-Garris is also an active member in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Dr. Heard-Garris has had numerous media appearances, including CNN/Sesame Street, NPR, NBC, and numerous others.  In this episode, she takes our listeners on a deep dive about the impacts of structural racism on the lives of children with incarcerated parents. She believes in using research to better inform clinical practice and policy that supports youth, their families, and their communities to become their healthiest selves and thrive. Don't Miss This Insightful Discussion! FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: ⁠WEGOTUSNOW.org ⁠|⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ LISTEN to the WE GOT US NOW Podcast on SPOTIFY, APPLE Podcasts and all podcasts platforms. #WEGOTUSNOW  #10MillionInspired #ChildWellBeing #Community #Allies #ChildrenwithIncarceratedParents  #WeGotUsNowPodcast 

You can text us here with any comments, questions, or thoughts!In our latest podcast, Kemi interviews Dr. Oluwateniola “Teni” Brown, a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Brown leads diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at Northwestern Medicine as the Director for Obstetrics and Gynecology and for McGaw Medical Center.  Her clinical focus includes pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and fistulas, while her research centers on treatment disparities, surgical outcomes for pelvic floor disorders, and bias in medicine. She's dedicated to providing quality, compassionate, and equitable care and is an alumnus of our Get That Grant® coaching program! Dr. Brown's insights offer a powerful message: Bet on yourself, embrace the journey, and never settle for anything less than the joy you deserve in both life and career. Join the conversation as they discuss: Dr. Brown's decision to enroll in "Get That Grant" and "Fully Funded" and how coaching helped her navigate challenges, apply skills, and realize her dreams. The importance of a supportive community with a shared language and strategic structure that allows for articulating your ambitions without intimidation. The power of coaching in strengthening one's personal authority and decision-making skills.  Why learning to lead oneself effectively, empowers you to navigate your professional journeys more confidently.  Loved this convo? Please go find Dr. Brown on Twitter/X @teni_brown and show her some love!  And if you'd like to learn more foundational career navigation concepts for women of color in academic medicine and public health, sign up for our KD Coaching Foundations Series: www.kemidoll.com/foundations.  REMINDER: Your Unapologetic Career Podcast now releases episode every other week! Can't wait that long? Be sure you are signed up for our newsletter (above) where there are NEW issues every month! 

Host Fred Goldstein invites Ruchi Gupta, MD professor of pediatrics and medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and the founding director of the Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research to discuss Food Allergies, their prevalence, new treatments and how payers should look at this area.

In this podcast episode covering the “HemOnc Pulse” Live meeting in Chicago, an expert panel explores unanswered questions in managing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The panelists included Grzegorz Nowakowski, MD, a Professor of Oncology and Medicine in the Division of Hematology at the Mayo Clinic; Jane Winter, MD, a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; and Alan Skarbnik, MD, Director of the Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Program and of Experimental Therapeutics, Malignant Hematology at Novant Health.

Recorded at the first “HemOnc Pulse” Live meeting, this podcast episode features a panel discussion on unanswered questions in Hodgkin lymphoma with Andrew Evens, DO, MBA, MSc, Director of the Lymphoma Program and Associate Director of Rutgers Cancer Institute; Grzegorz Nowakowski, MD, a Professor of Oncology and Medicine in Division of Hematology at the Mayo Clinic; and Jane Winter, MD, a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Recorded at the first “HemOnc Pulse” Live meeting, this podcast episode features a panel discussion on unanswered questions in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with Rami Komrokji, MD, Vice-Chair of the Malignant Hematology Department at Moffitt Cancer Center; Sanam Loghavi, MD, an Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Jamile Shammo, MD, FACP, FASCP, a Professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Sangeetha Venugopal, MD, MS, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Amer Zeidan, MBBS, MHS, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Yale University.