POPULARITY
Description: How do GLP-1 receptor agonists or GIP agonists work and what is the impact for my psoriatic disease? Hear dermatologist Dr. Ronald Prussick and cardio-immunologist Dr. Brittany Weber answer such questions and more. Join host Archie Franklin as he takes a deep dive into the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists and GIP agonists and the convergence of systemic inflammation related to psoriatic disease with renowned dermatologist and Vice Chair of the NPF Medical Board, Dr. Ronald Prussick from Washington Dermatology Center in Rockville and Frederick, MD, and, cardio-immunologist Dr. Brittany Weber, Director of the Cardio-Rheumatology/ Cardio-Dermatology Program at the University of Texas Southwestern. Learn more about the use of incretin hormones, the impact of weight management on psoriatic disease, metabolic and cardiovascular risk, as well as results from the TOGETHER-Pso and TOGETHER-PsA clinical trials. This episode addresses the actions of incretin hormones (GLP-1 receptor agonist and GIP agonist) and how such use may be beneficial in the management of inflammation related to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Thank you to Lilly for their support of this program activity. Timestamps: (0:00) Intro to Psoriasis Uncovered & guest welcome dermatologist Dr. Ronald Prussick and cardio-immunologist Dr. Brittany Weber. (1:35) What are incretin hormones and how GLP-1 or GIP receptor agonists (RA) inhibit appetite to initiate weight loss. (3:29) Why GLP-1 RAs are of interest in the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. (5:23) The metabolic, cardiovascular, and psoriatic disease convergence. (7:19) Will reduction of inflammation impact cardiovascular risk? (10:59) Treatment challenges associated with having psoriatic disease and being overweight or obese. (13:45) Key points around the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists when managing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. (17:06) Results of the TOGETHER-PsO and TOGETHER-PsA phase 3 clinical trials combining use of an IL-17 inhibitor and a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy. (19:07) Having the conversation of adding a GLP-1 RA medication to a treatment regimen. (22:40) The paradigm shift of GLP-1 receptor agonists and the impact they can have on shared inflammatory pathways. Key Takeaways: · Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonists are two incretin hormones that assist in managing excess body weight -- which as a result can be helpful in managing inflammation in the body. · Psoriasis isn't just a skin and joint disease. It's a complex network of systemic inflammation with shared inflammatory pathways that worsens with increased weight impacting the severity of the disease, and accelerates the risk of metabolic dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease. · The best outcomes occur as a result of multidisciplinary collaboration to address the impact of excess weight and systemic inflammation. If you are struggling to lose weight with diet and exercise, speak with your medical team about your options including the use of GLP-1 or GIP agonists. Guest Bios: Renowned dermatologist Ronald Prussick, M.D., Medical Director of the Washington Dermatology Center in Rockville and Fredrick, Maryland, specializes in the treatment of psoriasis along with other diseases of the skin, hair, and nails. Dr. Prussick is also a Clinical Associate Professor in Dermatology at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.. Dr. Prussick has a research interest in the impact of diet on psoriatic disease and metabolic health, first becoming interested after being involved in Dr. Joel Gelfand and Dr. Nehal Mehta's work in vascular inflammation trials using FDG-PET/CT scans to view systemic and cardiovascular inflammation associated with psoriatic disease. Dr. Prussick has since participated in the development of the 2018 Dietary Recommendations for Adults with Psoriasis or Psoriatic Arthritis and more recently the position statement "GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Psoriasis: A Primer from the National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board". Dr. Prussick is Vice Chair of the NPF Medical Board which provides clinical direction, treatment guidance, and education oversight to the organization and its Executive leaders. Brittany Weber, M.D., Ph.D. is a cardio-immunologist who is the Director of the Cardio-Rheumatology/ Cardio-Dermatology Program at the University of Texas Southwestern. She is also a member of the Division of Cardiology, a clinical investigator, and imaging specialist. Dr. Weber's research integrates advanced imaging, molecular biology, clinical trials, and population health to understand how systemic inflammation and immune deregulation drives cardiovascular dysfunction. Prior to joining UT Southwestern in 2025, Dr. Weber served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and was the Director of the Cardio-Rheumatology Clinic at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a nationally recognized clinic addressing inflammation-related heart disease through collaborative, patient centered care. Dr. Weber is also an author on the position statement "GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Psoriasis: A Primer from the National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board". Resources: "The Metabolic Collison and How You Can Take Control with Psoriatic Disease" podcast episode with dermatologist Dr. Ronald Prussick and registered dietitian Danielle Cahalan "NPF Medical Board Issues GLP-1 Primer for Dermatologists" Press Release "Finding My Path to Managing Psoriatic Disease and Excess Weight" podcast episode featuring dermatologist Dr. Erin Boh, patient advocate Brian Lehrschal, and moderator Jennifer Bomberger.
The "Community Meets Clinic" podcast series introduces clinicians and healthcare personnel specializing in rare neuroimmune disorders. In this episode hosted by Krissy Dilger of SRNA, we met Dr. Benjamin Greenberg of the UT Southwestern Medical Center. He outlined his translational research, including the Q Study, a Phase 1 trial assessing the safety and feasibility of transplanting human glial restricted progenitor cells into the spinal cord of people who have been diagnosed with transverse myelitis (TM) [05:49]. He also described research on immune-remodeling therapies for NMO aimed at reducing long-term immunosuppression. Dr. Greenberg illustrated multidisciplinary care at UT Southwestern and Children's Medical Center, emphasized options for second opinions and clinician-to-clinician remote consultation, and shared hopes for nervous system repair trials and curative immune therapies [07:18]. You can view Dr. Benjamin Greenberg's medical profile here:https://utswmed.org/doctors/benjamin-greenberg/Benjamin M. Greenberg, MD, MHS is a Professor and the Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders in the Department of Neurology [https://utswmed.org/why-utsw/departments/neurology/] at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of Translational Research and Strategic Initiatives for the Department of Neurology. He is also the interim Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center [https://utswmed.org/locations/aston/multiple-sclerosis-and-neuroimmunology-clinic/] and the Director of the Neurosciences Clinical Research Center. In addition, he serves as Director of the Transverse Myelitis and Neuromyelitis Optica Program and the Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Program at Children's Medical Center [https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/specialty-centers-and-programs/neurology/demyelinating-disease-program].Dr. Greenberg earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine before completing an internal medicine internship at Chicago's Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. He performed his neurology residency at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also holds an M.H.S. in molecular microbiology and immunology from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as a bachelor's degree in the history of medicine – both from Johns Hopkins. Prior to his recruitment to UT Southwestern in 2009, Dr. Greenberg was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Division of Neuroimmunology, serving as the Director of the Encephalitis Center and Co-Director of the nation's first dedicated Transverse Myelitis Center.Dr. Greenberg splits his clinical time between adult and pediatric patients at William P. Clements Jr. and Zale Lipshy University Hospitals, Parkland, and Children's Medical Center. His research focuses on better diagnosing, prognosticating, and treating demyelinating diseases and nervous system infections. He also coordinates clinical trials to evaluate new treatments to prevent neurologic damage and restore function to affected patients.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:41 Path to Neurology03:50 Why Neuroimmunology05:49 Research Focus and Trials07:18 Clinic Team and Referrals10:31 Self Care and Hobbies12:17 How the Clinic Can Help14:16 Hope for Future Therapies15:56 Wrap Up
Krissy Dilger of SRNA hosted Dr. Benjamin Greenberg of UT Southwestern to share updates on the Q Study, a Phase 1 trial assessing the safety and feasibility of transplanting human glial restricted progenitor cells into the spinal cord of people who have been diagnosed with transverse myelitis (TM). Dr. Greenberg cautioned the audience against stem cell tourism [00:03:03]. He described the decades-long development of the cell line and safety monitoring for this study [00:01:35]. He reported no safety signals prompting a trial pause and noted the FDA-approved expansion of eligibility from non-ambulatory participants to those who can walk with assistance, while efficacy results were not yet being shared [00:08:31]. Finally, Dr. Greenberg outlined potential next steps, including Phase 2 studies and expanded populations (e.g., MOGAD and NMOSD diagnoses), as well as future targets [00:17:02].Benjamin M. Greenberg, MD, MHS is a Professor and the Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders in the Department of Neurology [https://utswmed.org/why-utsw/departments/neurology/] at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of Translational Research and Strategic Initiatives for the Department of Neurology. He is also the interim Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center [https://utswmed.org/locations/aston/multiple-sclerosis-and-neuroimmunology-clinic/] and the Director of the Neurosciences Clinical Research Center. In addition, he serves as Director of the Transverse Myelitis and Neuromyelitis Optica Program and the Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Program at Children's Medical Center [https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/specialty-centers-and-programs/neurology/demyelinating-disease-program].Dr. Greenberg earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine before completing an internal medicine internship at Chicago's Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. He performed his neurology residency at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also holds an M.H.S. in molecular microbiology and immunology from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as a bachelor's degree in the history of medicine – both from Johns Hopkins. Prior to his recruitment to UT Southwestern in 2009, Dr. Greenberg was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Division of Neuroimmunology, serving as the Director of the Encephalitis Center and Co-Director of the nation's first dedicated Transverse Myelitis Center.Dr. Greenberg splits his clinical time between adult and pediatric patients at William P. Clements Jr. and Zale Lipshy University Hospitals, Parkland, and Children's Medical Center. His research focuses on better diagnosing, prognosticating, and treating demyelinating diseases and nervous system infections. He also coordinates clinical trials to evaluate new treatments to prevent neurologic damage and restore function to affected patients.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:35 Origins of Q Study02:46 Getting Cells Into Cord04:49 Phase One Trial Design06:31 Safety and Efficacy Measures08:31 Eligibility Expanded Criteria11:39 Screening and Selection14:05 Travel and Site Logistics15:15 Early Safety Findings17:02 Next Steps After Phase One19:01 Beyond Idiopathic Myelitis23:07 Damage Differences by Disease25:20 Optic Nerve and Brain Targets27:29 Expected Outcomes and Vision28:58 Final Thanks
This week we feature a collaboration episode between the Pediheart Podcast and the PedsCrit Podcast in which pediatric critical care experts Drs. Alice Shanklin of Northwell Medical Center and Dr. Zac Hodges of UT Southwestern discuss the evaluation and management of heart block in children. What should the clinician be thinking when encountering a previously healthy child with heart block? When is pacing indicated and how should it be performed? Who is a candidate for transvenous or transcutaneous pacing, who is not and why? Drs. Pass, Shanklin and Hodges review many aspects of this in an episode from the PedsCrit Podcast. https://www.pedscrit.com/
In this Leveling Up episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, Dr. Seaward talked about his path into plastic surgery through the British medical training system, his experience working with Dr. Brian Sommerlad, his approach to the cleft palate repair and how he has incorporated and modified the Sommerlad technique. He also discussed the use of buccal fat flaps and buccal myomucosal flaps in cleft palate repairs, his thoughts on the Fisher technique in cleft lip repair, where he thinks the future of cleft lip repair is going, his research on 4D imaging in speech outcomes, how he became ambidextrous, and why surgery is a spectator sport. Read a recent "PRS Global Open" article by Dr. Seaward and co-authors, "Rating the Rater: A Technique for Minimizing Leniency Bias in Residency Applications": https://bit.ly/Seaward_Leniency_Bias Dr. James Seaward is an Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He is the director of the Craniofacial fellowship program, and an associate program director of the plastic surgery residency program at UT Southwestern. Dr. Seaward graduated with honors from Trinity College at Cambridge in England, and then earned a medical degree at the Royal Free and University College medical School in London. After completing a plastic surgery residency in Manchester, he came to UT Southwestern for a pediatric craniofacial fellowship, and then joined the faculty there in 2013. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and an active member of the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association. Your host, Dr. Puru Nagarkar, is a board-certified plastic and hand surgeon, and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #LevelingUp
In September 2025, UDallas welcomed back alumnus Dr. Alex Valadka (BA & BS '83), Chief of Neurological Surgery at Parkland Health and Professor at UT Southwestern, to share firsthand stories from his medical work in Ukraine.For the past several years, Dr. Valadka has traveled twice a year to Dnipro, about an hour's drive from the front lines of the war with Russia, to treat traumatic brain injuries in soldiers and civilians. Through images and personal accounts, he offers a clear picture of the ongoing reality on the ground.Support the show
In this special “Ask the Expert” collaboration between The MOG Project and SRNA, Julia Lefelar and Dr. GG deFiebre welcomed Dr. Benjamin Greenberg of UT Southwestern, who answered questions from the audience. Dr. Greenberg reviewed major advances in MOG antibody disease research and diagnostic criteria [00:05:06]. He discussed efforts to predict relapse risk using sustained antibody positivity, demographic and clinical models, and immune-cell profiling studies [00:07:55]. Dr. Greenberg detailed controversies around low-positive antibody titers and how cell-based assays and dilution thresholds affect specificity [00:21:38]. He outlined concepts and progress in tolerance-inducing approaches such as Tregs and CAR T therapy, described differences from B-cell–depleting drugs like rituximab [00:26:32] Finally, Dr. Greenberg highlighted the satralizumab meteoroid trial and the ongoing cosMOG study of rozanolixizumab, emphasizing community engagement, registries, surveys, and trial participation to accelerate access and potential curative strategies [00:38:36]. You can learn more about The MOG Project here:https://mogproject.org/Benjamin M. Greenberg, MD, MHS is a Professor and the Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders in the Department of Neurology [ https://utswmed.org/why-utsw/departments/neurology/ ] at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of Translational Research and Strategic Initiatives for the Department of Neurology. He is also the interim Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center [ https://utswmed.org/locations/aston/multiple-sclerosis-and-neuroimmunology-clinic/ ] and the Director of the Neurosciences Clinical Research Center. In addition, he serves as Director of the Transverse Myelitis and Neuromyelitis Optica Program and the Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Program at Children's Medical Center [ https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/specialty-centers-and-programs/neurology/demyelinating-disease-program ].Dr. Greenberg earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine before completing an internal medicine internship at Chicago's Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. He performed his neurology residency at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also holds an M.H.S. in molecular microbiology and immunology from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as a bachelor's degree in the history of medicine – both from Johns Hopkins. Prior to his recruitment to UT Southwestern in 2009, Dr. Greenberg was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Division of Neuroimmunology, serving as the Director of the Encephalitis Center and Co-Director of the nation's first dedicated Transverse Myelitis Center.Dr. Greenberg splits his clinical time between adult and pediatric patients at William P. Clements Jr. and Zale Lipshy University Hospitals, Parkland, and Children's Medical Center. His research focuses on better diagnosing, prognosticating, and treating demyelinating diseases and nervous system infections. He also coordinates clinical trials to evaluate new treatments to prevent neurologic damage and restore function to affected patients.00:00 Welcome01:44 Hosts and Guest Intro05:06 Research Buckets Overview07:55 Predicting Relapse Risk11:46 Tregs and Immune Brakes17:40 Attack Severity and Relapse19:24 MOGAD Criteria Updates21:38 Titers Explained Simply26:32 Targeting MOG Antibodies29:11 CAR T and Immune Reset32:39 When Criteria Changes33:52 Tolerance Research Boom34:48 From Animals to Trials37:17 Community Drives Progress38:36 Meteoroid and cosMOG Clinical Trials41:39 How These Drugs Work44:02 FDA Approval and Access45:49 Insurance Switch Concerns48:39 Rituximab Dosing Debate52:41 Why Antibodies Develop54:18 Future Attack Patterns55:47 CAR T Versus Rituximab57:10 Lab Research and Support01:00:51 Hope for a Cure01:02:14 Closing and Resources
What does it actually take to market a direct specialty care practice in a city full of competitors? For Dr. Ashley Agan, otolaryngologist and founder of Scottie ENT in Dallas, Texas, the answer had nothing to do with billboards or ad spend, and everything to do with how patients felt when they left her office.In this episode, Dr. Agan shares her journey from nearly 13 years at UT Southwestern, including a clerkship director role, to opening her own cash-pay ENT practice named after her late grandmother. From her first pivot away from saying "I'm an otolaryngologist" to leading with "I help you breathe better," Dr. Agan breaks down the marketing mindset shift that changed everything for her practice growth.In this episode, you'll hear:Why Google reviews became the cornerstone of her marketing strategy and what patients consistently say that sets Scottie ENT apartHow she approaches the elevator pitch without feeling salesy and the mindset reframe that makes it feel naturalWhy she stopped offering superbills and what happened when she didHow transparent cash pricing on her website is attracting a patient population she never expectedThe one marketing mistake she would undo from day one, and what she would start doing before she even opened her doorsHow her physician podcast, Back Table ENT, became an unexpected referral engine for out-of-state and international patientsWhat DPC primary care physicians need to know about referring into a direct specialty care practice and how to make those referrals countHer approach to bundled surgical pricing and how she found a surgery center partner that makes cash-pay surgery accessibleHow she uses telemedicine to serve patients across Texas and beyond, including virtual second opinions for her niche specialty in patulous eustachian tube dysfunctionDr. Agan also speaks candidly about building a personal brand alongside a clinic brand, the role her executive MBA played in understanding the business of medicine, and why she believes marketing your practice is ultimately an act of service — not self-promotion.Connect with Dr. Ashley Agan: Scottie ENT | Dallas, Texas Back Table ENT PodcastResources mentioned in this episode: Take the FREE DPC Marketing Self Assessment from AlignedMD HERE. Find a My DPC Story Event near you! State Summits in CA, IL, a My DPC Story LIVE event and the DPC Women's Summit are all coming! Learn more at mydpcstory.com/upcoming-events! The DPC Directory: If you're a DPC doctor, you'll find resources to grow your practice! If you serve the DPC world, grab a FREE listing today and get discovered by doctors who need your services.
Are you eating clean, working out consistently, and still gaining weight — especially around your middle? You're not broken, lazy, or imagining things. Your metabolism is inflamed.In this solo episode, Dr. Shivani Gupta breaks down the real science behind midlife weight gain and why the tired advice to "eat less and move more" can actually make things worse.Backed by a landmark January 2026 study from UT Southwestern — which identified the molecular switch that triggers uncontrolled inflammation in obesity — Dr. Shivani explains why chronic inflammation causes insulin resistance, belly fat storage, and a feedback loop that's nearly impossible to break through willpower alone.She shares the story of her own unexplained weight gain at 37, and how client Lisa — a dedicated runner — lost 15 pounds in 3 months not by restricting more, but by calming her nervous system and reducing inflammation.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN• Why chronic inflammation blocks insulin signaling and shifts your body into fat-storage mode• The NLRP3 inflammasome feedback loop: how obesity, inflammation & insulin resistance reinforce each other• Why intense daily workouts can backfire when cortisol is already elevated• The Vata-pacifying diet and why cold raw foods may be sabotaging your metabolism• A 4-step framework to calm inflammation and support metabolic flexibility• Why curcumin works on 30+ inflammatory pathways — and why that matters more than fish oilRESOURCES MENTIONEDThe Inflammation Code (book)https://www.amazon.com/dp/140199699X?tag=usalinktagdefault-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=trueFusionary Formulas Supplements (use code CODE15 for a 15% Off your first order)https://fusionaryformulas.com/?utm_source=Show+Notes&utm_medium=Show+notes+&utm_campaign=Podcast+promo&utm_id=The+Inflammation+Code+Podcast7-Day Inflammation Detox Challengehttps://www.7dayinflammationdetox.com/Work with Dr. Shivani — Free Discovery Callhttps://shivanigupta.com/CONNECT WITH DR. SHIVANIInstagram: @DrShavaniGuptaWebsite: https://shivanigupta.com/If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend who needs to hear this — and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more women find this message.
Today on the podcast, we sit down with Kelsi Uechtritz ofIcon Global to talk all things NCHA Celebrity Cutting. Happening April 11 at 6 PM in Fort Worth, this exciting event brings together celebrities and top riders for a great cause—benefiting UT Southwestern.We dive into what makes this event so special, who'sinvolved, and the impact it's making beyond the arena.Plus, learn more about Icon Global, a leader in strategicreal estate marketing and advisory services, representing high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and institutions across the U.S. and around the world. Founded by international real estate advisor Bernard Uechtritz, the firmspecializes in managing and marketing some of the most unique properties globally.
Host Janet Michael sits down with Dr. Michael Avery, board-certified general surgeon, Colorectal surgery specialist with Valley Health Surgical Oncology at Winchester Medical Center to discuss colorectal cancer — why awareness matters, who's at risk, how to screen, and how far treatment has come. Dr. Avery brings both personal backstory and clinical expertise to a conversation that could save your life. About Dr. Avery Originally from Charlotte, NC; discovered medicine through a hospital internship Completed undergrad at East Carolina University, medical school at Campbell University General surgery residency at Carolinas Medical Center; colorectal fellowship at UT Southwestern in Dallas Now practicing at Valley Health Surgical Oncology, Winchester Medical Center Colorectal Cancer by the Numbers 3rd most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and women 2nd leading cause of cancer death 150,000+ diagnoses in 2023; approximately 50,000 deaths Nearly half of cases are linked to modifiable risk factors Screening: What You Need to Know Screening should begin at age 45 for average-risk individuals (lowered from 50) If a first-degree relative was diagnosed, begin screening 10 years before their diagnosis age Gold standard: Colonoscopy — both diagnostic and therapeutic in one procedure Alternative options: Cologuard (DNA stool test, ~94–95% sensitivity), CT colonography A positive Cologuard result requires follow-up colonoscopy Colonoscopy prep and sedation have improved significantly — most patients feel comfortable and remember nothing Warning Signs & Symptoms Rectal bleeding (hematochezia) Abdominal pain Changes in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea) Iron deficiency anemia Unintentional weight loss Blood mixed in stool Note: Do not dismiss these symptoms at any age — young-onset colorectal cancer is rising Risk Factors Non-modifiable: Family history, inflammatory bowel disease, genetics Modifiable: Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diet high in processed meats/red meats/refined grains/sugar-sweetened beverages, smoking, excess alcohol Consuming 2+ sugar-sweetened beverages per day associated with nearly 2x increased risk Who's Most at Risk Men are more prone than women and have higher mortality rates African American men face a disproportionately higher risk and younger onset Young-onset colorectal cancer is increasingly left-sided and rectal, which can be more life-altering Advances in Treatment Minimally invasive surgery: hospital stays now typically 1–3 days Total neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer — organ preservation approach ("watch and wait") to potentially avoid surgery Targeted therapies and immunotherapies showing remarkable response rates for certain genetic profiles (e.g., work from Memorial Sloan Kettering) Early-stage colon cancer has an 85–90% five-year survival rate Key Takeaways Colorectal cancer is largely preventable and highly treatable when caught early. Get screened at 45 — or earlier if you have a family history. Don't ignore symptoms — rectal bleeding and bowel changes deserve prompt evaluation. A colonoscopy is the gold standard: one test, one time, can both find and fix the problem. Treatment today looks nothing like it did for your grandparents' generation. Resources & Next Steps Talk to your primary care physician about scheduling a colonoscopy or Cologuard test Contact Valley Health Surgical Oncology at Winchester Medical Center to learn more about colorectal cancer screening and treatment Learn more at valleyhealthlink.com
For patient referrals: call 480-256-6444Can ultrasound liquefy tumors? In this episode of Beyond the Rounds, we explore histotripsy — a novel, non-thermal ultrasound therapy that can destroy tumors without surgery, heat, or radiation. Dr. Nolan Fisher sits down with surgical oncologist Dr. Michael Choti, Chief of Surgery at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, to discuss how this emerging technology may change the way liver tumors are treated.Using focused ultrasound energy to create microscopic cavitation bubbles, histotripsy mechanically breaks down tumor tissue while sparing critical structures like blood vessels and bile ducts. The result: precise tumor destruction in locations that may be difficult or impossible to treat with traditional surgery or thermal ablation.This episode explores how histotripsy works, where it fits in today's treatment landscape, and why clinicians should remain both excited and cautious as the technology evolves.This episode is designed for physicians, advanced practice providers, and clinicians who want a practical understanding of emerging technologies in surgical oncology and liver tumor management.What We Cover• What histotripsy is and how cavitation-based ultrasound destroys tumors• Why histotripsy differs from thermal ablation techniques• The “heat sink effect” and why tumors near blood vessels are difficult to treat• How histotripsy may expand treatment options for liver tumors• Using histotripsy as a bridge to liver transplant• The potential immune effects of tumor liquefaction (abscopal effect)• When histotripsy is appropriate — and when it's not• Current FDA approvals and ongoing research• Why careful patient selection and multidisciplinary evaluation matterKey Topics for CliniciansLiver tumorsColorectal liver metastasesHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)Liver transplant bridging therapyImage-guided tumor ablationHistotripsy technologySurgical oncology innovationMultidisciplinary cancer careAbout Our GuestDr. Michael Choti is Chief of Surgery at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center and a nationally recognized surgical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers. His career has focused on liver tumors, colorectal cancer metastases, and advancing surgical and minimally invasive treatments for complex cancers. He previously served as Chair of the Department of Surgery at UT Southwestern and trained at Yale, the University of Pennsylvania, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.How to Refer a PatientIf you believe a patient may benefit from evaluation at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center:Banner Health providers: Use Cerner's Ambulatory Referral Management (ARM) tool.Community providers:Fax referrals to 480-256-4607or call 480-256-6444 to schedule a patient for evaluation.DisclaimerThis podcast is intended for educational purposes only and is designed for a clinical audience. Any patient scenarios discussed are modified and de-identified to protect privacy. No protected health information (PHI) is disclosed. The information presented should not replace independent medical judgment or individualized patient care decisions.Subscribe to Beyond the Rounds for physician-focused conversations on clinical innovation, specialty collaboration, and evolving standards of care.
Well, even though low dose aspirin has been recommended for the reduction of preeclampsia risk for many years, 2 controversies persist: 1. who should get it, and 2. the dose we should use. While the current US recommendation still focuses on 81 mg low dose aspirin, initiated after 12 weeks of gestation (based on risk factors), there's increased movement and growing data supporting both universal adoption and the higher dose of 162 mg. In this episode, we will briefly summarize brand new data out of UT Southwestern which was just published at the SMFM Annual Pregnancy meeting in Las Vegas. Listen in for details.1. https://www.smfm.org/news/new-studyroutine-aspirin-therapypreventsseverepreeclampsiainat-risk-populations2. ACOG CO 7433. The Effect of Aspirin on the Risk of Preeclampsia Based on the Fetal Medicine Foundation First Trimester Risk.4. Bujold E, Rolnik DL, Poon L, Syngelaki A, Wright D, Nicolaides KH. The effect of aspirin on the risk of preeclampsia based on the Fetal Medicine Foundation first-trimester risk. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Oct 31:S0002-9378(25)00808-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2025.10.032. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41177290.
The LACNETS Podcast - Top 10 FAQs with neuroendocrine tumor (NET) experts
ABOUT THIS EPISODEWho is a genetic counselor, and who should see one? How do they fit into the neuroendocrine cancer care team? In this episode, Samantha Greenberg, PhD, MS, MPH, CGC, Director of the UT Southwestern Genetic Counseling Program, demystifies genetic counseling and testing for NET patients and their families. She explains what to expect before, during, and after a consultation—and how results can impact care, family members, and future planning.TOP TEN QUESTIONSRole & Training1. What is a genetic counselor? What training is required? What's your role in the care team? Genetic Counseling & NETs2. How are genetic counselors involved in NET care? 3. Who should get genetic testing? Do all NET patients need it?What if more than one family member has NET? Do you also see family members without a diagnosis?4. How does one's age play a role?Testing Basics5. Genetic vs. genomic vs. NGS—what are these terms?How do patients know they're getting the right test?6. Walk us through a genetic counseling consultation—before, during, after.Results & Implications7. What if the results are positive? How do you guide patients and families?What if the results are negative or inconclusive? How accurate are tests?8. What is a “variant of unknown significance”?9. Can environment or toxins cause hereditary mutations?Practical Guidance10. How can patients find the right genetic counselor? Do they need to be someone who specializes in neuroendocrine cancer?ABOUT THE SPEAKERSamantha Greenberg, PhD, MS, MPH, CGCPronouns: she/her seriesDirector, UT Southwestern Genetic Counseling ProgramAssistant ProfessorSchool of Health ProfessionsSamantha Greenberg is the founding program director of the UT Southwestern Genetic Counseling Training Program. She received her Master of Science degree in genetic counseling and public health from the University of Michigan after teaching middle school science with Teach For America in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She recently completed her Ph.D. at the University of Utah. As a cancer genetic counselor, Greenberg has provided clinical care across a variety of indications and facilitated the development of multidisciplinary teams and genetics clinics for patients with prostate cancer, von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, and paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma. She is the co-director of the paraganglioma program at UT Southwestern, which recently received a Center of Excellence designation from Pheo Para Alliance. Her passion for raising awareness on the genetics of neuroendocrine tumors stems from working with patients and a curiosity for how to optimize identification of patients with hereditary risk.For more information, visit NCF.net/podcast/52For more information, visit NCF.net.
The emDOCs.net team is very happy to collaborate with PECARN STELAR (Seattle, Dallas/Texas, and Los Angeles) Node and the Emergency Medical Services for Children Innovation and Improvement Center (EIIC) in presenting high-yield pediatric topics that highlight evidence based medicine with solid research. Dr. Sing-Yi Feng from UT Southwestern joins us for environmental toxins.To continue to make this a worthwhile podcast for you to listen to, we appreciate any feedback and comments you may have for us. Please let us know!Subscribe to the podcast on one of the many platforms below:Apple iTunesSpotifyGoogle Play
This week’s Pulm PEEPs Pearls episode is a focused discussion between Furf and Monty about non-pharmacologic techniques for airway clearance in the non-Cystic Fibrosis bronchiectasis population. This is a focused, high-yield discussion of the key points about airway clearance, including practical tips and a discussion of the evidence. This episode was prepared in conjunction with George Doumat MD. Goerge is an internal medicine resident at UT Southwestern and joined us for a Pulm PEEPs – BMJ Thorax journal club episode. He is now acting as a Pulm PEEPs Editor for the Pulm PEEPs Pearls series. Key Learning Points 1) Why airway clearance matters in non-CF bronchiectasis Non-CF bronchiectasis is defined by irreversible bronchial dilation with impaired mucociliary clearance, leading to mucus retention. Retained sputum drives the classic vicious cycle: mucus → infection → neutrophilic inflammation → airway damage → worse clearance. Airway clearance techniques (ACTs) are meant to interrupt this cycle, primarily by improving mucus mobilization and symptom control. 2) What ACTs are trying to achieve clinically Main benefits are: More effective sputum clearance Reduced cough/dyspnea burden Improved activity tolerance and quality of life Effects on spirometry are usually small. Exacerbation reduction is possible, but evidence is mixed—some longer-term data suggest benefit for specific techniques. 3) The main ACT “families” and when to use them Breathing-based techniques (device-free, flexible) ACBT (Active Cycle of Breathing Technique): breath control → deep breaths with holds → huffing. Pros: portable, adaptable, good first-line option. Key requirement: teaching/coaching to get technique right. Autogenic drainage: controlled breathing at different lung volumes to move mucus from peripheral → central airways. Pros: no device, can work well once learned. Cons: more technically demanding, needs training and practice. PEP / Oscillatory PEP (stents airways + “vibrates” mucus loose) PEP: back-pressure helps prevent small airway collapse during exhalation; often paired with huff/cough. Oscillatory PEP (Flutter/Acapella/Aerobika): adds oscillation that many patients find easy and satisfying to use. Good fit for: people who benefit from airway stenting, want something portable, and prefer a device. Mechanical/manual techniques (help when patient can't self-clear well) HFCWO (“the vest”): external chest wall oscillation; helpful for high sputum volumes, dexterity limits, or difficulty coordinating breathing maneuvers. Postural drainage/percussion/vibration: caregiver/therapist-assisted options; still useful but consider: GERD/reflux risk with certain positions Hemoptysis risk with vigorous techniques 4) How to choose the “right” technique (the practical framework) There is no one-size-fits-all. Match the tool to the patient: Sputum burden (volume/viscosity) Strength, coordination, cognition, dexterity Comorbidities (GERD, hemoptysis history, severe obstruction/airway collapse) Lifestyle + portability (what they'll actually do) Cost/access and availability of respiratory therapy/physio support A key mindset from the script: this is not a lifetime contract—reassess and adjust over time with shared decision-making. 5) Evidence takeaways (what improves, what doesn't) ACTs reliably improve sputum expectoration and often symptoms/QoL. QoL/cough scores (e.g., SGRQ, LCQ) tend to improve modestly, particularly with oscillatory PEP and some vest studies. Lung function: typically minimal change; occasional short-term FEV₁ benefit is reported in some vest trials. Exacerbations: mixed overall; the script highlights a longer-term RCT of ELTGOL showing fewer exacerbations at 12 months vs placebo exercises. Safety: generally excellent; main cautions are hemoptysis and reflux (depending on technique/positioning). 6) Special population pearls Hemoptysis / fragile airways: start with gentle breathing-based ACTs (ACBT, controlled huffing); avoid overly vigorous oscillatory/manual methods if concerned. Severe obstruction or early airway collapse: PEP/oscillatory PEP can help by keeping small airways open on exhalation. Mobility/coordination barriers: consider HFCWO vest or simple oscillatory PEP devices to enable daily adherence. During exacerbations: keep it simple—1–2 reliable techniques, prioritize daily consistency, and re-check technique. 7) The “real” bottom line Start with simple, self-manageable options (often ACBT ± PEP). The “best” ACT is the one the patient will do consistently. Reassess technique and fit over time; education and demonstration are part of the therapy. References and Further Reading Lee AL et al., “Airway clearance techniques for bronchiectasis,” Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015; PMC7175838. PMID: 26591003. Athanazio RA et al., “Airway Clearance Techniques in Bronchiectasis,” Front Med (Lausanne). 2020; PMC7674976. PMID: 33251032. Iacono R et al., “Mucociliary clearance techniques for treating non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis,” Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2015; PMID: 26078380. Polverino E et al., “European Respiratory Society statement on airway clearance techniques in bronchiectasis,” Eur Respir J. 2023; PMID: 37142337. Doumat G, Aksamit TR, Kanj AN. Bronchiectasis: A clinical review of inflammation. Respir Med. 2025 Aug;244:108179. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2025.108179. Epub 2025 May 25. PMID: 40425105.
AI isn't coming for your job; it's coming for your inefficiencies. In this episode, Mo Choumil sits down with Justin Trombold, PhD, MBA, to demystify what real AI adoption looks like for small and mid-sized title agencies. Justin shares how to move past hype and fear to build an AI-ready culture, one practical use case at a time. From low-cost starting points and training roadmaps to automation myths and scaling strategies, this episode lays out a grounded, 90-day framework for turning generative AI into measurable results. What you'll learn from this episode The difference between AI hype and real operational ROI for title agencies Common AI adoption failures, and how to avoid them A simple 90-day roadmap for AI readiness across your team The role of chatbots, virtual assistants, and automation tools when used correctly How to build a tech-forward culture that still prioritizes client trust and compliance Resources mentioned in this episode All Tech National Title Qualia Good Strategy/Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt | Paperback and Kindle ChatGPT Gemini Microsoft Copilot About Justin Trombold, PhD, MBAJustin R. Trombold, PhD, MBA, is the founder and President of AnteSyn Advisors, a strategy and Generative AI consultancy that helps leadership teams turn complex market shifts into value-creating growth. Drawing on a background as a human physiology researcher and postdoctoral fellow at UT Southwestern, as well as strategy roles at North Highland, Grant Thornton, and Deloitte, he specializes in healthcare, life sciences, and technology, with deep experience in growth strategy, M&A, and enterprise transformation. Justin is known for his Enterprise Generative AI Readiness Diagnostic and for guiding organizations beyond AI "pilots" into scalable, measurable impact by aligning vision, operating models, and culture. A frequent advisor, author, and interview guest on GenAI readiness and organizational change, he combines analytical rigor with human-centered leadership to help clients build strategies that are both competitive and ethically grounded. Connect with Justin Website: AnteSyn Advisors LinkedIn: Justin Trombold Connect With UsLove what you're hearing? Don't miss an episode! Follow us on our social media channels and stay connected. Explore more on our website: www.alltechnational.com/podcast Stay updated with our newsletter: www.mochoumil.com Follow Mo on LinkedIn: Mo Choumil Stop waiting on underwriter emails or callbacks—TitleGPT.ai gives you instant, reliable answers to your title questions. Whether it's underwriting, compliance, or tricky closings, the information you need is just a click away. No more delays—work smarter, close faster. Try it now at www.TitleGPT.ai. Closing more deals starts with more appointments. At Alltech National Title, our inside sales team works behind the scenes to fill your pipeline, so you can focus on building relationships and closing business. No more cold calling—just real opportunities. Get started at AlltechNationalTitle.com. Extra hands without extra overhead—that's Safi Virtual. Our trained virtual assistants specialize in the title industry, handling admin work, client communication, and data entry so you can stay focused on closing deals. Scale smarter and work faster at SafiVirtual.com. ______________________________________________________________________
Are you a med student with an upcoming away rotation? Get a head start with this episode of the BackTable ENT Podcast. Dr. Viraj Shah, a PGY-4 ENT resident at UT Southwestern and guest host Dr. Quynh-Chi Dang, PGY-1 at UC Davis Medical Center, discuss how to succeed on away rotations. --- SYNPOSIS They cover the basics of away rotations, factors to consider when applying, and effective strategies for excelling both in the operating room and within the residency team. Additionally, they delve into the importance of networking, securing recommendation letters, and making a positive impression through situational awareness and preparation. Personal anecdotes and practical tips make this a valuable listen for medical students gearing up for their rotations. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 02:33 Diving into Away Rotations05:20 Factors to Consider for Away Rotations22:54 Handling Away Rotation Offers28:33 Succeeding in the OR34:30 Navigating OR Dynamics40:49 Securing Recommendation Letters46:11 Onsite Interviews: Preparation and Presentation50:48 Housing for Away Rotations56:03 Final Tips: Observing Team Dynamics and Being Proactive --- RESOURCES Chi Danghttps://health.ucdavis.edu/otolaryngology/our-team/residents.html Viraj Shah https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/departments/otolaryngology/education-training/residency-program/residents/
Everything you need to know about tubo-ovarian abscesses (TOAs): breaking the stigma, safer treatment, fertility preservation, and better outcomes. This episode of BackTable OBGYN features Dr. Katherine Smith, an assistant professor and MIGS Fellowship Program director at UT Southwestern. With hosts Dr. Amy Park and Dr. Mark Hoffman, Dr. Smith provides an extensive overview of contemporary TOA management, emphasizing the significance of early intervention and the evolving understanding of TOAs beyond traditional STI etiologies. --- SYNPOSIS The conversation delves into the management of TOAs, both non-ruptured and ruptured, and the underexplored connection to the female reproductive tract microbiome. They also touch on the integration of AI in clinical practice, particularly in streamlining administrative tasks. The episode underscores the need for updated guidelines and more research into the microbiological aspects of TOAs to improve patient outcomes. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 02:20 - Understanding TOAs: Early Interventions and Challenges04:43 - Clinical Management of TOAs08:06 - Surgical Approaches and Considerations22:25 - Microbiome and Infection Insights32:10 - Discussing Patient Reactions and Education32:47 - Teaching Practices and Medical Education34:18 - Clinical Observations and Data36:55 - Surgical Management of Ruptured TOAs40:50 - Challenges in Treating Infected Endometriomas50:13 - Exploring the Role of AI in Medical Practice54:23 - Concluding Remarks --- RESOURCES ACOG Recommends Concurrent Sexual Partner Treatment for Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis for the First Timehttps://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2025/10/acog-recommends-concurrent-sexual-partner-treatment-recurrent-bacterial-vaginosis-first-time Strange Bedfellows, Ina Park MD, MS https://www.inapark.net/the-book
Matthew Bannister onJames Watson who shared the Nobel Prize for identifying the structure of DNA, but was widely condemned later in life for his racist and sexist views.Pauline Collins, the comic actor who triumphed in the role of Shirley Valentine on stage and screen. The play's director Simon Callow pays tribute.Judith Vidal-Hall, who edited the Index on Censorship magazine and campaigned for freedom of expression around the worldDugald Ross, the crofter and palaeontologist from the Isle of Skye who discovered dinosaur footprints on the island as a schoolboy.Producer: Ed Prendeville Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse G Edwards Editor: Glyn TansleyArchive: Witness History: Discovering the Secrets of DNA, BBC World Service, 25/04/2025; Archive on 4: DNA 60 Years On, BBC Radio 4, 30/10/2016; Interview with James Watson and Francis Crick, The Medical Television Centre, UT Southwestern, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre at Dallas, 16/05/1968; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 22/12/1989; Shirley Valentine, Paramount Pictures, 1989 (Producer: John Dark; Produced & directed by Lewis Gilbert; Written by Willy Russell); Upstairs Downstairs, ITV; Reporting Scotland 1830, BBC One Scotland, 11/06/2014; Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands: Northern Skye – A Land of Giants and Fairies, BBC Two, 26/04/2017; Out of Doors, BBC Radio Scotland, 07/08/2010; Newsnight, BBC Two, 20/02/2002; One Year On: 9/11, BBC One, 11/09/2002
Listen to JCO's Art of Oncology article, "A Fight Bigger Than Myeloma” by Dr. Adeel Khan, an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Public Health at UT Southwestern. The article is followed by an interview with Dr. Adeel Khan and host Dr. Mikkael Sekeres. Dr. Khan shares the story of a patient whose multiple myeloma diagnosis and treatment serves as a reminder of the civil liberties progress we've made and that we have more to go. TRANSCRIPT Narrator: A Fighter Bigger Than Myeloma, by Adeel M. Khan, MD, MPH, MS I met her during the early part of my clinical training in hematology/oncology. She was in her late 70s, dressed in a rust-colored cardigan and a headwrap with patterns that reminded me of Ghanaian kente cloth. Her eyes were sharp, her tone polite but direct. You could tell from the moment she spoke that she had lived a life where she had to advocate—for herself, for her family, for her place in rooms that were not always welcoming. Her chart said “multiple myeloma, R-ISS II,” but it did not say that she had first come to an emergency room at least a year earlier complaining of back pain and fatigue and had been told it was probably arthritis or old age. It did not mention that she had seen three different doctors before someone ordered the laboratory tests that finally began to work up her anemia and increasingly compromised kidney function. It would take another trio of doctors to eventually order a magnetic resonance imaging whose ghostly lytic lesions led down the path to a bone marrow biopsy and her cancer diagnosis. When I brought this up gently during one of our early appointments, she looked at me and said, “They don't hear pain the same when it comes from someone like me.” As a Black woman from the Deep South, she had grown up learning how to navigate a health care system that did not always believe her. She told me stories about being dismissed, misdiagnosed, and interrupted. She was born into an era of structural violence where she would be ignored at best and mistreated at worst. She carried the weight of those moments, but she also carried strength, and clarity, and the kind of dignity that made people sit up straighter in their leather chairs when she entered the room. She was one of the most quietly revolutionary people I have ever known, having grown up during a time of civil rights activism. She had even taken part in bending Dr King's long arc of the moral universe toward justice and could share story upon story from her glory days. Her myeloma treatments were not easy. Chemotherapy rarely is. She shared that there were days when her body was tired of fighting, when her bones ached, her blood counts dropped, and her neuropathic pain throbbed. In the back of my mind, I thought how tragic it was that her delayed diagnosis added unnecessary complications and whether she too thought of that. She was fully mindful of the issues people with her skin color faced in our American healthcare system and society as a whole and revealed how that motivated her to carry forward. “If I don't take up space here,” she told me once, “then someone else like me won't either.” Over the course of our visits, I came to understand that she did not see her myeloma as the hardest fight of her life. Not by a long shot. Her primary struggle was centered on life in Birmingham in the 1950s where separate but equal was still the law of the land; her mother cleaned houses, her father worked odd jobs, and her own prospects were uncertain. She admired the writings of Richard Wright and Jean Toomer and was not shy in sharing her passions. One day, during a particularly tough visit—her disease had progressed and we were down to limited options—I found myself meandering. We went through the usual workup and discussions: laboratory test results, symptoms, and treatment options. I offered the prospect of clinical trials, but she shook her head gently and said, “I've done my time in experiments—I can't give myself to a system that gave my people so little.” I paused. It was the first hint of what would become a larger conversation—not just about medicine, but about history. She was well aware of the atrocities of the Tuskegee syphilis trials in her home state, the Kligman experiments on incarcerated Black men, and the forced sterilization of women of color. As dependent upon medicine as she was in her old age, it carried a bloody stain of dehumanizing racism that soured her against it. Outwardly, I had little in common with her. As a young South Asian man growing up in times more conscious of racial injustice, I was far removed from these historical crimes. Although I learned of them during my education, I did not internalize their impact on the patients in front of me in clinic. But through her I came to comprehend just how scarring and enduring these events can be and how they can rob someone of trust. And the truth is the health care system had not treated her well. She had personal stories of doctors who did not believe her pain, nurses who assumed she was uneducated, and being passed over for better options, better care, and better answers. “But I kept showing up,” she said. “Because that's what we do. We show up even when we're not wanted.” Her stories to me were revelations. In her younger years, she had helped organize teachers at her school when they tried to fire a fellow Black teacher who seemingly spoke too loud in a meeting. She had lived through redlining, through the crack epidemic, through watching young Black men vanish into prisons, and still she rose every day and worked as a public school teacher for decades. She worked for a system that largely did not work for her. I came to admire that about her—that in simply living day-to-day life with plain dignity and acute awareness of society's issues, she promoted change by living it. “You want to talk about cancer?” she once said, half laughing. “Try walking into a bank in 1972 with a good credit score and a Black face. That's a disease this country still hasn't cured.” Curiously, she did not say these things with bitterness. Not even anger, really. Just clarity. Like someone who had long ago made peace with the truth, even if it was sharp. In clinic, she challenged my every assumption—about treatment tolerance, about compliance, about who is difficult, and who is “advocating.” And she taught me to look differently at the ways bias lingers in medicine. Not just in data or policies, but in subtle moments: the tone we use when explaining options, the hesitations in our tests and referrals, and the assumptions we may not even realize we are making. And she did not just expect good care—she demanded it. She told me early on, “Don't you treat me like I'm anything other than your mother.” That landed. And in seeing patients before me now, I remind myself to wonder who they were in their past lives, what baggage burdens them, and how it all shapes their perspectives. So from my view, she fought multiple myeloma with everything she had, but from hers, she fought something bigger: an entire system shaped by inequality. And ultimately, she made me better to realize that, not just as a doctor, but as a human being. In my years since knowing her, completing my training, and beginning my practice, I reflect on her grace. I think not just about her life, but what it means to practice medicine in a world that often forgets what patients carry with them into the clinic—generations of weight, of injustice, of strength. Mikkael Sekeres: Welcome back to JCO's Cancer Stories, The Art of Oncology. This ASCO podcast features intimate narratives and perspectives from authors exploring their experiences in oncology. I'm your host, Mikkael Sekeres. I'm Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Hematology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami. I am so happy that today we are joined by Adeel Khan, who's Assistant Professor of Medicine and Public Health at UT Southwestern in Dallas to talk about his Journal of Clinical Oncology article, “A Fight Bigger than Myeloma.” Our guest's disclosures will be linked in the transcript. Adeel, thank you so much for contributing to JCO and for joining us to discuss your article. Adeel Khan: Thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure to be here. Mikkael Sekeres: Adeel, I don't want to be disingenuous to our readers by acting as if we've just met. You and I have known each other for a decade since you were still in your training. I wonder if for our listeners you can tell us a little bit about yourself, where are you from and and walk us through your career so far. Adeel Khan: More than happy to. So, I grew up mostly in Oklahoma, but I've sort of lived around in the Northeast and here in the Southwest where I am currently. I did college at the University of Oklahoma. I did medical school at the University of Michigan. I did residency with good fortune at the Cleveland Clinic where I happened to get to know you and have continued to know you since. I did my fellowship then in hematology oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess in the Harvard system and along the way of all that I did a Masters of Public Health at Harvard and a Masters of Science and Epidemiology at Columbia, and that pinball finally settled here to UT Southwestern here in Dallas which I am very happy to make my second home. Mikkael Sekeres: That's great. I will say just for our listeners you've been a superstar since the moment you were a resident. It's been a real treat for me to get to know you over the years. Adeel Khan: Thank you so much. Mikkael Sekeres: Can you tell us a little bit about your own story as a writer? You're a good writer. We get submissions from some really good writers every single week. It's a real privilege to be an editor for the Art of Oncology section and it's always reinvigorating to me to see how many good writers there are in medicine. How did you start your journey as a writer and how long have you been writing reflective narrative pieces? Adeel Khan: I would say if I went back to let's say high school, you know, people tend to be divided into kind of like the sciency types versus the literary arts types and you're kind of an either/or, you know, you didn't really have as much crossover then. But you know, I actually didn't mind when we had an essay due and I liked writing back then, and when I entered college I did a minor in English because I actually did enjoy that and I just liked the idea of being able to put your thoughts on paper in a way immortalizing them. Adeel Khan: And then as I sort of pursuing medicine more and more, publishing is really- it has all kinds of flavors to it and scientific publishing is obviously what has been emphasized, but you know, there's so many things to talk about within medicine. There's the science and the art of the field, and as I've moved along, I've written different pieces focusing really on patient stories and interactions. And I think my motivation has always been that as I have gotten particularly nowadays increasingly busy, I've had the fortune and misfortune of becoming more and more busy, it's easy to lose the opportunity to really connect with people that makes what we do meaningful. And so in those times when you know, and they can be rare, but when you really get to connect with someone in front of you who you're helping to care for, it's really refreshing and it's rejuvenating and I've tried to keep that with me as long as I can as I've gone through my journey. Mikkael Sekeres: There's a lot of jumping off points from what you just said, Adeel. I wonder if I can start with do you consider yourself an English major who's good at science or do you consider yourself a scientist who's a good writer? Adeel Khan: I think I'm too humble to say either. I think I was really a science major who just happened to like writing and reading and kept that as a part of myself. Mikkael Sekeres: Because I think there are a cadre of doctors who are actually English majors and have learned to turn science into storytelling and that's their entrée into science and medicine. I remember I talked for a while with David Scadden about this. He's a brilliant translational scientist who's based at Mass General who also teaches a writing course to the Harvard undergrads and who was an English major when he was an undergrad at Case Western. We've talked about this, about how there are people, I'll include myself in this, who just think different, who probably have these liberal arts brains and they figured out a way to convert science into a way a liberal arts person can understand it. Adeel Khan: Yeah, I mean narrative medicine has been I think around all along and it has only kind of been recently named as a field, but I mean it very much speaks to that that there's so much more than just G proteins in medicine. Mikkael Sekeres: I'm thrilled to hear that by the way. You mentioned you were an English minor. Are there particular writers who are an influence on you or can you talk about what's the most recent book or article you've read? Adeel Khan: Oh, that is a great question. Paulo Coelho is someone I've liked for a long time, The Alchemist. I really liked it because I read it after I had lived in Egypt. I lived in Egypt between college and med school as a study abroad program, and I had actually been to the Faiyum Oasis where the protagonist in that story ends up. And so it was just a fascinating story to me that I could trace some of the steps that are discussed in the book and it's so much- it's a story about self discovery which at that phase of life that I was in was you know, very much a theme of my own life. And so that's one that definitely stands out in my head. Mikkael Sekeres: Do you think reading pieces outside of medicine makes you a better scientist? Adeel Khan: I think absolutely. I think it makes you a better human being. In some ways I lament that so much of what I do reading now is so much just about what's in the field, what's new in myeloma, what's new in hematology oncology and I sort of miss the escape to reading other things and being able to pursue it. And even broader than just what a novel really offers. I mean, I grew up reading comic books too and I've always loved superheroes and fiction whether it's Star Wars and other things. And really they're just stories and the medium- there might be connotations whether it's a comic book or a or a novel, but they're just different mediums, but the fact that they're just stories is fundamental. I actually think to myself that it's so fascinating that the earliest piece of writing that we've really retained as human beings is we believe, the Epic of Gilgamesh, which is really a story of a superhero when you think about it, you know, and it's it's fiction, it's phantasmic in so many ways. But it speaks to how stories are just vital as people. Mikkael Sekeres: And what is it about graphic novels or my kids now of course call them graphic novels. We're not allowed to call them comic books. Adeel Khan: As they've been renamed, yeah. Mikkael Sekeres: What is it about graphic novels or comic books or the story of a hero that appeals to us in medicine? Adeel Khan: I think it's in some ways a parable of what we're doing. There's something so powerful and fundamental about this idea of good-evil and we can rename it in different ways, but that you're trying to overcome something that's an issue, an obstacle. And when you think about what we do in- particularly in oncology, that's very much what we're trying to do. We're trying to overcome an illness, a disease, to try to help the person in front of us. And it has different aspects to it. It could be someone pursuing something in a lab, it can be treating someone in front of you in clinic, but that simple dichotomy of there's something good about what you're doing because there's something bad in front of you is just the fundamental that runs through it all. Mikkael Sekeres: It's fascinating. I wonder if 30, 40, 50 years ago people would have said, “Oh, it's because the doctor is the hero,” but we don't view ourselves that way anymore. The patient is the hero. I love how you posit this as a good versus evil, the evil of course being cancer and the good everything that our patients do and that we try to to help to do to overcome that. Adeel Khan: For sure. Mikkael Sekeres: You wrote a really great essay about a woman who was a patient of yours. Can you tell me a little bit about what inspired you this time to make this connection and to write about this woman? Adeel Khan: Within the past year or so as I had been just really- the fortune and misfortune of getting busier, I lamented that I just wasn't able to spend as much time with patients in the way that I used to. One of the beauties of medical school and you know, to some degree residency and certainly fellowship is that you just have a little bit more time as a trainee, student and trainee where you can really bond with your patients I think a little bit more. And so in trying to kind of refresh my motivation, I was thinking about just kind of randomly some stories that I've kept in the back of my mind and this patient's story is one that stood out to me as I was recalling things. It was so fascinating to me because she had the disease which I now focus on. And the way that she viewed it and the way that she viewed it as a part of her life was just so different than what I think most people think of. And in that way it was very revitalizing that her focus in her life was part of a broader theme of the way that I think she viewed society. And this was just one piece of her own part of that much, much larger puzzle. Mikkael Sekeres: You really write lovingly about her and about how meaningful her context was in how you cared for her and what her experience was in the medical system. I wonder if I can read a little bit of what you wrote because it really did grab me as well. I'm going to start out by quoting you where you say, “Outwardly, I had little in common with her. As a young South Asian man growing up in times more conscious of racial injustice, I was far removed from these historical crimes. Though I learned of them during my education, I did not internalize their impact on the patients in front of me in clinic. But through her, I came to comprehend just how scarring and enduring these events can be and how they can rob someone of trust.” Wow, there's a lot there. Could you start with what was your perspective as a young South Asian man growing up in Oklahoma and what your view was of racial injustice compared to what her experience was of racial injustice? Adeel Khan: Yeah, I have to admit I don't know that I thought that much of it back then and I think that that's part of what it is. You know, being someone who was South Asian, I'm Pakistani, I have Indian roots, and coming into American history and as we learned about it there's so much about slavery and the theme of slavery unfortunately and and the struggles that enslaved peoples have. And you know, as a relatively recent immigrant, I didn't see myself in that narrative. I didn't see myself in that historical reality. But I knew about it intellectually, you know, I knew about the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments, you know, I learned about all these things and and you learned about how atrocious so much of it is. But again, not being so directly connected, I did not put myself in that same role as someone to view it so close to myself. I will say it hit a little bit more after 9/11 when you know, I was randomly stopped at airport security a little bit more often in those days and again, I think that speaks to racial injustices, you know, I was certainly profiled looking back then, I've been held by TSA in the past, but even that is very minor compared to what African Americans have dealt with here. And this patient in just kind of sharing her tidbits during our time together, I was not directly asking her so much of this. She was really offering a lot of it to me as we would talk and she would be very generous in sharing parts of her story. And over time I kind of understood the broader narrative of her life. You know, it was clear how much of all that was actually in the forefront of her head. Adeel Khan: And I think she might have been a little bit more unique in the way that she kept it there, but she was hyper vigilant of issues of society and the roots that brought a given society to where it is here. I kind of got to know her, this is during the COVID pandemic and this was after the injustice of what happened to George Floyd and so it was a theme that I think people were talking about more and so I think she felt comfortable in saying really what was quite a bit that was stewing in the back of her head seemingly at all times. Mikkael Sekeres: It's so interesting you talk about what you endured after 9/11 as being, I'm going to quote you now, “minor” compared to what she's been through, but even a minor affront like that can really compromise your trust. You write about her, “As a Black woman from the deep South, she had grown up learning how to navigate a healthcare system that did not always believe her.” Can you expand on that a little bit? How is it that the healthcare system didn't believe her and what can we do going into interactions with patients from different backgrounds where we're incorporating that there's a compromise of trust and we have to make up for that? Adeel Khan: Yeah, and I think you know, it's so unfortunate that so many people have stories like this where, in her case really it was back pain that was her presenting symptom. This is long before she knew me. And she'd had the back pain for quite some time, but being an older woman, she was in her 70s at that time, she was not in phenomenal health for other reasons. It sounds like she was just kind of ignored, told that it was old age, tendon changes, she did not have meaningful imaging for some time. When she finally did after seeing a slew of different providers, that's when it was revealed like there's something more significant here. And then when you kind of piece that a little bit retrospectively and I think she certainly sensed this and I did when I- hindsight's always 20/20, when I looked through things, it's like, well, this probably could have been caught much earlier. It's just that no one really I think listened to what she was speaking to with her pain and the gravity that was actually behind it. And it just speaks to the fact that I think we have to be more thoughtful in what we take away from patients and not to ignore even small comments because they might be revealing of something much bigger behind them. Mikkael Sekeres: You quote her, you have some really great quotes in your essay where you just listen to what she says and transcribe it because what she says is very meaningful. And one of the quotes you provide from her is, “They don't hear pain the same when it comes from someone like me.” Wow. “When it comes from someone like me,” someone like her, how was it that people weren't hearing her description of pain, something that was different that was going on in her body and how can we be more attentive to people when they complain about things like pain? Adeel Khan: It's unfortunate that there's even known data to show how depending upon a patient's melanin content in their skin, how likely they are to get pain medications and what happens to them is different and this is an unfortunate example of that where I think she just wasn't heard properly. And so it wasn't addressed properly and she was not shy about saying that. I mean I think she sensed that. She was very clear in feeling that herself and in wanting to have better care, she was still prevented and hence why she had to go from provider to provider. Mikkael Sekeres: You've lived in a bunch of different places in the country. I mean, following your path, you've been in Oklahoma, you've been in Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, and now Texas. Do you think that we as providers have to have different levels of sensitivity depending on where in the country we're practicing and how some of our patients' trust in healthcare may have been compromised in those different parts of the country? Adeel Khan: I think absolutely. I mean this particular patient was from Alabama which has a heavy history that she was again very aware of and for those of us reading history books are also very aware of too. And it's interesting how, while the U.S. is in some ways- has some aspects that are monolithic, but it's very much not so. It's very patchy and people are different, you know, if I take one theme that we're talking about here is obviously racial injustice, but if you take something like obesity, you know, prevalence rates are very different throughout the country and attitudes surrounding it are also very different. And I think we do- ought to be mindful that in treating the patient in front of us, it's not done without context. And so how they view their illness and their situation is going to be different depending upon the state, depending upon the city, depending upon actually even the era that they grew up in. So I would say now, if you took actually a similar patient, but you put her in a very modern context post-year 2000, she's likely to have different feelings of the situation around her than someone who was born in this case in the 1940s. And that just speaks to the fact that circumstances change and we should be recognizing that as providers, even though it's not always easy to. Mikkael Sekeres: Well, it just emphasizes how very important it is to know the history of the place where we practice and how it's affected our patients' perceptions of healthcare and trust and being cared for, particularly now as there's such a movement to whitewash that history and eliminate it from major institutions like the Smithsonian. It has been such a pleasure to have Adeel Khan here. He is Assistant Professor of Medicine, Public Health at UT Southwestern in Dallas and wrote just a great JCO article called “A Fight Bigger Than Myeloma.” Adeel, thank you so much for submitting your article and for joining us today. Dr. Adeel Khan: Thank you so much for having me. It's been a pleasure. Mikkael Sekeres: If you've enjoyed this episode, consider sharing it with a friend or colleague or leave us a review. Your feedback and support helps us continue to have these important conversations. If you're looking for more episodes and context, follow our show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen and explore more from ASCO at ASCO.org/podcasts. Until next time, this has been Mikkael Sekeres for JCO Cancer Stories: The Art of Oncology. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Show Notes Like, share and subscribe so you never miss an episode and leave a rating or review. Guest Bio: Dr Adeel Khan is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Public Health at UT Southwestern.
Kidney cancer management is evolving. How are experts adapting? In this installment of BackTable Tumor Board, Dr. Brandon Manley (Urologic Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center), Dr. Raquibul Hannan (Radiation Oncology, UT Southwestern), and Dr. Rana McKay (Medical Oncology, UC San Diego) join guest host Mark Ball (Urologic Oncology, National Cancer Institute) to share their multidisciplinary perspectives on challenging, real-world kidney cancer cases.---This podcast is supported by:Ferring Pharmaceuticalshttps://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/trackclk/N2165306.5658203BACKTABLE/B33008413.420220578;dc_trk_aid=612466359;dc_trk_cid=234162109;dc_lat=;dc_rdid=;tag_for_child_directed_treatment=;tfua=;gdpr=${GDPR};gdpr_consent=${GDPR_CONSENT_755};gpp=${GPP_STRING_755};gpp_sid=${GPP_SID};ltd=;dc_tdv=1---SYNPOSISThe conversation covers diagnostic dilemmas, navigating the treatment options of surgery, systemic therapy, and radiation, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. Through detailed case reviews, the panel highlights practical pearls, emerging clinical trials, and collaborative approaches that exemplify modern kidney cancer care.---TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Introduction02:20 - Case 1 (Incidental Renal Mass)16:52 - Case 2 (Bilateral Renal Masses)37:22 - Case 3 (Locally Advanced Renal Mass)56:34 - Case 4 (Symptomatic, Metastatic Disease)01:14:00 - Final Takeaways
In this episode, Dr. Madhuri Sopirala, Medical Director and Chief of Infection Prevention at Parkland Health and Chair of SHEA's Infection Prevention and Control Burn Unit Special Interest Group, moderates a timely conversation on the unique challenges of infection prevention in burn units. She is joined by Dr. Samuel Mandell, Associate Professor of Surgery at UT Southwestern and Director of the Parkland Regional Burn Center, and Dr. David Weber, Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Infection Prevention at UNC Medical Center, as well as current SHEA Board of Trustees President. Together, they explore why burn units require specialized approaches to infection prevention, the nuances of distinguishing outbreaks from baseline infection risks, and strategies for optimizing burn unit design to improve patient safety. The discussion also highlights often-overlooked vectors of infection, emerging research priorities, and what the future may hold for advancing infection prevention in burn care.
Sean Morrison, Ph.D., from the Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, investigates how stem cells function, regenerate, and interact with their surrounding environment in the bone marrow. His research reveals how leptin receptor-positive cells—key components of the bone marrow niche—regulate hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and regeneration, influence platelet production, and respond to physiological stress like pregnancy. Morrison uncovers a reciprocal relationship between these niche cells and peripheral nerves, showing that disrupting nerve signals impairs bone marrow recovery after chemotherapy or radiation. His work also links retrotransposon activation during pregnancy to increased red blood cell production, with implications for maternal health and transplant medicine. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40449]
Sean Morrison, Ph.D., from the Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, investigates how stem cells function, regenerate, and interact with their surrounding environment in the bone marrow. His research reveals how leptin receptor-positive cells—key components of the bone marrow niche—regulate hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and regeneration, influence platelet production, and respond to physiological stress like pregnancy. Morrison uncovers a reciprocal relationship between these niche cells and peripheral nerves, showing that disrupting nerve signals impairs bone marrow recovery after chemotherapy or radiation. His work also links retrotransposon activation during pregnancy to increased red blood cell production, with implications for maternal health and transplant medicine. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40449]
Sean Morrison, Ph.D., from the Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, investigates how stem cells function, regenerate, and interact with their surrounding environment in the bone marrow. His research reveals how leptin receptor-positive cells—key components of the bone marrow niche—regulate hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and regeneration, influence platelet production, and respond to physiological stress like pregnancy. Morrison uncovers a reciprocal relationship between these niche cells and peripheral nerves, showing that disrupting nerve signals impairs bone marrow recovery after chemotherapy or radiation. His work also links retrotransposon activation during pregnancy to increased red blood cell production, with implications for maternal health and transplant medicine. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40449]
Sean Morrison, Ph.D., from the Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, investigates how stem cells function, regenerate, and interact with their surrounding environment in the bone marrow. His research reveals how leptin receptor-positive cells—key components of the bone marrow niche—regulate hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and regeneration, influence platelet production, and respond to physiological stress like pregnancy. Morrison uncovers a reciprocal relationship between these niche cells and peripheral nerves, showing that disrupting nerve signals impairs bone marrow recovery after chemotherapy or radiation. His work also links retrotransposon activation during pregnancy to increased red blood cell production, with implications for maternal health and transplant medicine. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40449]
Sean Morrison, Ph.D., from the Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, investigates how stem cells function, regenerate, and interact with their surrounding environment in the bone marrow. His research reveals how leptin receptor-positive cells—key components of the bone marrow niche—regulate hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and regeneration, influence platelet production, and respond to physiological stress like pregnancy. Morrison uncovers a reciprocal relationship between these niche cells and peripheral nerves, showing that disrupting nerve signals impairs bone marrow recovery after chemotherapy or radiation. His work also links retrotransposon activation during pregnancy to increased red blood cell production, with implications for maternal health and transplant medicine. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40449]
Sean Morrison, Ph.D., from the Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, investigates how stem cells function, regenerate, and interact with their surrounding environment in the bone marrow. His research reveals how leptin receptor-positive cells—key components of the bone marrow niche—regulate hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and regeneration, influence platelet production, and respond to physiological stress like pregnancy. Morrison uncovers a reciprocal relationship between these niche cells and peripheral nerves, showing that disrupting nerve signals impairs bone marrow recovery after chemotherapy or radiation. His work also links retrotransposon activation during pregnancy to increased red blood cell production, with implications for maternal health and transplant medicine. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40449]
What happens when we trade case law for cancer care? You get one of the richest, most human conversations we've ever brewed.This week on Counsel Brew, we branch out beyond the courtroom and into the clinic with Dr. Richard Hall—a thoracic oncologist whose life's work is treating lung cancer and supporting patients through some of their toughest moments.A proud Texan and graduate of Texas A&M and UT Southwestern, Rick went on to train at the University of Virginia and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center before returning to UVA, where he not only treats patients but also trains the next generation of oncologists. He's earned teaching awards, led UVA's fellowship program, and advanced cutting-edge research in immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and combination treatments.But beyond the credentials lies a doctor who knows that medicine is about people first. In this conversation, Rick opens up about: ☕ The emotional reality of delivering difficult news and how empathy and communication are as vital as any treatment. ☕ The evolution of lung cancer care, from chemotherapy to immunotherapy to antibody-drug conjugates (a “guided missile” approach to attacking tumors). ☕ Why collaboration among medical teams is just as important as collaboration in business or law. ☕ His personal journey from med school to oncology and the moments that shaped his calling.And because no Counsel Brew is complete without actual brew, we lighten things up with Rick's adventures as a self-taught barista—how chasing the perfect shot of espresso demands scientific precision in measurements and pressure—his favorite lattes, and the joy of finding balance through coffee.
In this episode of the SRNA "Ask the Expert" podcast moderated by Dr. GG deFiebre, Dr. Kyle Blackburn and Dr. Benjamin Greenberg discussed the need for updated diagnostic criteria for myelitis. Dr. Blackburn explained the term myelitis and the importance of precise terminologies for accurate diagnoses and research [00:05:10]. Dr. Greenberg elaborated on the advancements in testing and understanding of associated disorders like NMOSD and MOGAD since 2002 [00:11:10]. Both experts stated that the shift from "transverse myelitis" to "myelitis" will aid future research, treatments, and patient care [00:17:27]. They reassured patients that these changes would essentially refine their care but not alter it dramatically [00:23:40]. They encouraged patients to stay informed and communicate with their healthcare providers about these updates [00:28:58].Kyle Blackburn, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He specializes in neuroimmunology and has clinical interests in antibody-mediated neurologic disorders, including autoimmune encephalitis, epilepsy, and ataxias; neurologic complications of cancers, including paraneoplastic disorders and checkpoint inhibitor/CAR T-cell toxicity; and demyelinating disorders, including sarcoidosis, neuromyelitis optica, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-associated disease, and multiple sclerosis. Dr. Blackburn earned his medical degree at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He performed his residency in adult neurology at UT Southwestern, serving his final year as Chief Resident, and stayed to complete a fellowship in neuroimmunology, during which he earned the James T. Lubin Clinician Scientist Award from the Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association (SRNA). He joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2020.Benjamin M. Greenberg, M.D., M.H.S. is a Professor and the Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders in the Department of Neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of Translational Research and Strategic Initiatives for the Department of Neurology. He is also the interim Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center and the Director of the Neurosciences Clinical Research Center. In addition, he serves as Director of the Transverse Myelitis and Neuromyelitis Optica Program and the Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Program at Children's Medical Center.Dr. Greenberg earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine before completing an internal medicine internship at Chicago's Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. He performed his neurology residency at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also holds an M.H.S. in molecular microbiology and immunology from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as a bachelor's degree in the history of medicine – both from Johns Hopkins. Prior to his recruitment to UT Southwestern in 2009, Dr. Greenberg was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Division of Neuroimmunology, serving as the Director of the Encephalitis Center and Co-Director of the nation's first dedicated Transverse Myelitis Center.Dr. Greenberg splits his clinical time between adult and pediatric patients at William P. Clements Jr. and Zale Lipshy University Hospitals, Parkland, and Children's Medical Center. His research focuses on better diagnosing, prognosticating, and treating demyelinating diseases and nervous system infections. He also coordinates clinical trials to evaluate new treatments to prevent neurologic damage and restore function to affected patients. 00:00 Introduction00:58 Overview of Myelitis and Diagnostic Criteria02:57 Historical Context and Importance of Updated Criteria05:10 Challenges with Current Terminology11:10 Changes in Understanding and Diagnostic Approaches17:27 Implications for Patients and Clinical Practice23:40 Impact on Research and Future Directions28:58 Patient Advocacy31:17 Conclusion
The toolbox for vessel preparation is rapidly expanding. Are you keeping up? In this episode, host Dr. Sabeen Dhand is joined by Dr. Jay Matthews, interventional cardiologist (Manatee Memorial Hospital) and Dr. Michael Siah, vascular surgeon (UT Southwestern), to explore the latest innovations and strategies in vessel prep. --- This podcast is supported by: Cagent Vascularhttps://cagentvascular.com/ --- SYNPOSIS The discussion opens with a look at new additions to their practice over the past few years, including bioresorbable scaffolds for below-the-knee interventions and retrievable stent technologies. Both experts emphasize the role of imaging—particularly CT angiography and IVUS—and discuss how renal disease impacts their use of contrast during diagnosis and intervention. They then walk through how they assess vessels on angiography or IVUS to decide when and where to use specialty tools. From intravascular lithotripsy for managing dense calcification to serration angioplasty, the conversation highlights how the doctors decide to use specialty balloons and devices. The episode also touches on the practical challenges of balancing device cost with treatment effectiveness. The physicians break down the latest specialty balloons and devices and touch on their own experiences with them. To close, the guests share what emerging technologies they're most excited about and how these devices could change their day-to-day practice. Whether you're in IR, cardiology, or vascular surgery, this episode offers a valuable roadmap to the current and future state of vessel preparation. --- TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Introduction4:07 - New Changes in Techniques14:57 - Vessel Characteristics on Angiogram18:10 - Approaches to Above-the-Knee vs. Below-the-Knee Disease23:48 - Latest Specialty Balloons46:14 - New Devices on the Horizon50:58 - Words of Advice and Final Thoughts --- RESOURCES POINT FORCE Registry: https://evtoday.com/news/cagent-initiates-point-force-registry-of-serranator-pta-catheter?c4src=news
In this episode of Perimenopause: Head to Toe, Dr. Rachel Pope is joined by expert dermatologist Dr. Melissa Mauskar, who dives into how perimenopause and menopause affect our skin. From changes in the face to thinning skin, Dr. Mauskar explains why skin and hair transformations during this time are not only inevitable but also manageable.Dr. Mauskar is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Dermatology and OB-GYN at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in dermatology, with a focus on vulvar health and dermatologic changes that come with different stages of a woman's life.In this episode, you'll learn: How estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone affect your skin. Why you might notice acne, dryness, or thinning hair in your 40s and beyond. The importance of topical estrogen for maintaining skin thickness. How perimenopause might trigger or worsen conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and even melasma. Tips for preventing skin aging, including the importance of sunscreen and good skincare routines.If you've noticed changes in your skin, this episode offers expert advice on how to address them and what you can do to prevent further damage.About Dr. Mauskar:Dr. Melissa Mauskar is an expert in dermatology and vulvar health, with extensive experience in addressing the skin changes that women experience during perimenopause and menopause. She is the founder of the Vulvar Health Program at UT Southwestern and frequently presents at symposia on women's health dermatology.
An age-friendly approach to arthralgias. Attack arthralgias with ease! Learn how to evaluate and manage common joint complaints in older adults. We're joined by Dr Una Makris, @unamakris.bsky.social (UT Southwestern). Claim CME for this episode at curbsiders.vcuhealth.org! Patreon | Episodes | Subscribe | Spotify | YouTube | Newsletter | Contact | Swag! | CME Show Segments Intro Case 1 from Kashlak General approach to joint pain in older adults Diagnosing osteoarthritis Management of osteoarthritis in older adults Non-pharmacological interventions Pharmacological interventions: topicals, orals, injectables When to refer for joint replacement Case 2 from Kashlak Diagnosis of Late onset rheumatoid arthritis (LORA) Differential Diagnosis and Distinguishing features Lab work/Imaging When to refer to rheumatology Approach to managing LORA The 5Ms framework Initial treatment with glucocorticoids Ageism as a driver of undertreatment in older adults Treating to target Key takeaways Outro Credits Producers, Writers and Show Notes: Joseph (Lee) Young, MD, Leah Witt, MD, Rachel Miller, MD Cover Art and Infographic: Leah Witt, MD Hosts: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP Reviewer: Emi Okamoto, MD Showrunners: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP Technical Production: PodPaste Guest: Dr. Una Makris Disclosures Dr. Makris reports no relevant financial disclosures. The Curbsiders report no relevant financial disclosures. Sponsor: Heart of Care If you care about patient safety, team performance, and building a culture of readiness, subscribe to In the Heart of Care. Available now, wherever you get your podcasts. Sponsor: FIGS Curbsiders listeners can get 15% off. Just go to wearFIGS.com and use code FIGSRX.
High Reliability, The Healthcare Facilities Management Podcast
Bob Feldbauer is helping lead two major transformations — one at a national organization, and one at a world-class children's hospital.In this episode, the Healthcare Facilities Network sits down with Bob to talk about the future of the Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMPF), where he's currently President-Elect. From the organization's growth since 2019 to his goals for 2026 and beyond, Bob offers a forward-looking view of AMPF's evolving role in the industry.We also dive into his work at Children's Health in Dallas, where he's serving as project executive on a $5 billion pediatric campus in collaboration with UT Southwestern, one of the most ambitious healthcare construction projects in the country.If you're interested in where healthcare facilities leadership is headed, this episode is a must-listen.
In this series “evidence today and tomorrow”, the HPB disease site working group of the SSO explored current gaps in HPB surgical oncology, highlighting existing evidence and ongoing work aimed at filling those gaps. In this episode of SurgOnc Today, Dr. Julie Hallet from the Unviersity of Toronto and chair of the SSO HPB Disease Site Working Group, and Dr. Winnie Lo from Eastern Virginia Medical School are joined by Dr. Adam Yopp and Dr. Amit Singal from UT Southwestern, and Dr. Katie Kelley from University of California San Francisco. They will be discussing the state-of-the-art evidence and upcoming trials on treating hepatocellular carcinoma.
Welcome to another episode of the Oncology Brothers podcast! In this episode, Drs. Rahul and Rohit Gosain, both practicing community oncologists, are joined by Dr. Tian Zhang from UT Southwestern to discuss key highlights from the ASCO 2025 annual meeting, focusing on genitourinary (GU) malignancies. Episode Highlights: • KEYNOTE-564: discussed 5 years OS data, reinforcing the role of adjuvant pembrolizumab in renal cell carcinoma • AMPLITUDE: combination of PARP inhibitor niraparib with abiraterone improved progression-free survival in patients with homologous recombination repair mutations in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer • ARANOTE: positive quality of life impact when using darolutamide in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, which is also FDA approved now • NIAGARA: the prognostic value of ctDNA in muscle-invasive bladder cancer, emphasizing its implications for treatment strategies YouTube: https://youtu.be/Rt8HQpdyVY0 Follow us on social media: • X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/oncbrothers • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oncbrothers • Website: https://oncbrothers.com/ Join us as we break down these important studies and their potential to change clinical practice in oncology. Don't forget to check out our other episodes for more insights into cancer care!
Struggling to have your patients show all their skin? Don't worry, we've got just the expert to help. This week, we're joined by Dr. Audrey Rutherford as she dives into the importance of vulvovaginal dermatology. Listen in as she discusses lichen sclerosus, topical steroids, and how to make patients comfortable during full body exams. Each Thursday, join Dr. Raja and Dr. Hadar, board-certified dermatologists, as they share the latest evidence-based research in integrative dermatology. For access to CE/CME courses, become a member at LearnSkin.com. Catch Dr. Rutherford live at IDS2025 for more on vulvovaginal in dermatology! Audrey Rutherford, MD is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in skin cancer, common skin concerns, and complex medical dermatology. She has expertise in dermatologic conditions affecting women's gynecological health, including lichen sclerosus, and is an active member of societies such as ISSVD and ISSWSH, dedicated to these underserved patients. Dr. Rutherford earned her MD from UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas, where she also completed her rigorous dermatology residency training. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Dermatology and is a published author contributing to international dermatologic research and education. She is currently practicing and seeing patients in Denver, Colorado.
Cybersecurity in healthcare is facing heightened challenges as regulations shift, IoT devices proliferate, and ransomware attacks become increasingly devastating. Josh Spencer, Founder, and CIO at FortaTech Security and with over fifteen years in the field including time as CISO/CTO at UT Southwestern, explores why HIPAA changes are necessary, the high stakes of securing medical devices, and how both technology and culture play roles in protecting patient data and safety. The conversation breaks down risks, practical mitigation strategies, and the ongoing evolution of both threats and defensive tools -- including AI -- and covers the evolving HIPAA landscape and the move from “addressable” to required controls, ransomware's impact on hospitals and patient safety, challenges and best practices in securing connected medical (IoT/OT) devices, the importance of real-world risk assessment and penetration testing in healthcare, and human factors, including security awareness training and leveraging AI both for defense and as a threat. Let's connect about IoT Security!Follow Phillip Wylie at https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipwyliehttps://youtube.com/@phillipwylieThe IoT Security Podcast is powered by Phosphorus Cybersecurity. Join the conversation for the IoT Security Podcast — where xIoT meets Security. Learn more at https://phosphorus.io/podcast
In this episode, Dr. Jaime Almandoz, Associate Professor of Medicine at UT Southwestern, is joined by Dr. Robert F. Kushner, Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University and a leading authority in obesity medicine, to discuss the recent Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission report, “Definition and Diagnostic Criteria of Clinical Obesity.” The report introduces a new framework for defining clinical and preclinical obesity, aiming to move beyond the limitations of BMI. Dr. Kushner shares insights into the Commission's global consensus process and how the updated definitions can transform care, reduce weight stigma, and support more targeted treatment. Don't miss this timely conversation on the evolving future of obesity diagnosis and management.
➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstoryDr. Tiffany Moon is a Chinese-American anesthesiologist, entrepreneur, and television personality best known for appearing on The Real Housewives of Dallas. Born in Beijing and raised in the U.S., she earned her medical degree by age 23 and is now an Associate Professor at UT Southwestern. In addition to her medical career, she is the founder of Aromasthesia Candles and Three Moons Wine. A dedicated philanthropist and advocate for AAPI communities, Dr. Moon shares her story of resilience and connection in her upcoming memoir, Joy Prescriptions.➡️ Show Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/tiffanymoonmd/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-moon-md-fasa-06938455/https://www.tiffanymoonmd.com/ ➡️ Podcast SponsorsHubspot - https://hubspot.com/ Vanta - https://www.vanta.com/scott Federated Computer - https://www.federated.computer Lingoda - https://try.lingoda.com/success_sprintCornbread Hemp - https://cornbreadhemp.com/success (Code: Success)FreshBooks - https://www.freshbooks.com/pricing-offer/ Quince - https://quince.com/success Northwest Registered Agent - https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/success Prolon - https://prolonlife.com/clary Stash - https://get.stash.com/successstory NetSuite — https://netsuite.com/scottclary/ Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary➡️ Talking Points00:00 – Intro01:34 – The Moment That Changed Everything06:01 – The “Good Asian Daughter” Script08:51 – Breaking Away from Her Parents13:28 – Healing & Finding Joy After Trauma14:39 – Redefining High Performance17:48 – Sponsor Break21:40 – Tiffany's First Taste of Joy30:13 – What Writing Taught Her About Herself32:24 – The #1 Joy-Killing Trait34:30 – Sponsor Break38:35 – Tiffany the Entrepreneur43:15 – Loving the Journey, Not Just the Goal46:57 – Escaping the Scarcity Mindset48:40 – Joy in Her Career53:10 – Comparison: The Thief of Joy1:01:53 – A Lesson for Her KidsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Are you feeling the weight of perfectionism and the constant need to achieve? Dr. Tiffany Moon's journey is a testament to how the pressure to be perfect can hinder personal fulfillment. As a successful physician, reality TV star, and author, she realized that her life was driven by external accomplishments rather than internal joy. In this episode, Dr. Tiffany shares how she stopped living for external validation and began to align her actions with her authentic self. From moving away from toxic friendships to learning the art of saying no, she highlights the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing well-being over societal expectations. Her book, Joy Prescriptions, explores this journey and how Dr. Tiffany applied her doctor's mindset to prescribe joy in everyday life. It's not just about removing the negative but creating space for what truly brings happiness. Ready to start your own journey of self-rediscovery? Join us as we explore how you can overcome perfectionism, prioritize joy, and live a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. "To stop filling your bucket with the wrong things is a mindset shift. First, you change your mindset, and then you start doing things that fall in line with the new mindset." ~ Dr. Tiffany Moon In this Episode: - Meet Dr. Tiffany Moon - Behind the scenes of the Real Housewives of Dallas - Jen's Real Housewives experience - Dr. Tiffany's upbringing, academic achievements, and career - Escaping the trap of perfectionism and reconstructing Life - Finding healing: therapy, self-help books, and a "friends" audit - Tiffany's Real Housewives experience - Dr. Tiffany's life and career after her awakening - How to pre-order the Joy Prescriptions book About Dr. Tiffany Moon: Dr. Tiffany Moon is a board-certified anesthesiologist, entrepreneur, and author. She is a proud mother of twins and a dynamic television and social media personality. Dr. Tiffany graduated from Cornell University at 19, earned her medical degree with Alpha Omega Alpha Honors from UT Southwestern, and completed her anesthesiology residency at UCSF. She has been named one of D Magazine's Best Doctors, authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications, been recognized as a Distinguished Educator by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and serves as an Oral Board Examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology. She is the founder and CEO of Aromasthesia Candle Company, Three Moons Wine, and LeadHer Summit. Her debut book, Joy Prescriptions—a powerful exploration of overcoming perfectionism and finding joy through gratitude, self-compassion, and connection—will be published in May 2025. Pre-order Joy Prescriptions: https://www.joyprescriptions.com/ Website: https://www.tiffanymoonmd.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanymoonmd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffanymoonmd Where to find me: IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jen_gottlieb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb Website: https://jengottlieb.com/ My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb
In this episode, Dr. Seema Khosla talks with women's sleep expert Dr. Safia Khan about women's unique sleep challenges. Dr. Khan is an editor for "A Clinical Casebook of Sleep Disorders in Women" and specializes in women's sleep health at UT Southwestern. She explains how sleep disorders affect women differently across their lives, particularly during pregnancy and menopause, and how these transitions disrupt normal sleep patterns. Discover Dr. Khan's assessment strategies for insomnia in women, including decision-making frameworks for implementing CBT-I versus medication interventions. Learn about the underdiagnosis of sleep disorders in women, particularly during menopause, and strategies for changing this normalized narrative. The conversation explores the physiological differences in sleep-disordered breathing between men and women, explaining why sleep apnea incidence equalizes during menopause. The discussion addresses managing hypersomnia during pregnancy, approaches to fatigue without diagnosed sleep disorders, connections between PCOS and sleep disruption, and guidance on Restless Legs Syndrome management, including the critical role of iron deficiency screening in adolescent girls. This episode provides essential knowledge for practitioners seeking to better understand and treat the unique sleep health challenges women face across their lifespans.
Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Sarah Barlow, a professor of pediatrics at UT Southwestern in Dallas and head of the children's hospital integrated programs on obesity. Together, they discuss the new Healthy Eating Research consensus recommendations on healthy beverage consumption. Resources: • Healthy Beverage Consumption in School-Age Children and Adolescents: Recommendations from Key National Health and Nutrition Organizations (https://tinyurl.com/2hztabmd) • Healthy Beverage Consumption in Early Childhood (https://tinyurl.com/3fjp39v6) • Healthy Beverage Quick Reference Guide (https://tinyurl.com/5n8tcte6)
The mother of a 5-year-old boy found dead in South Dallas was sentenced to life in prison last week for beating the child. 29 year old Tiffany Williams was found guilty Friday of injury to a child in connection with the 2022 death of Zamaurian Kizzee. The boy's legal father, 77 year old Ulysses Kizzee, faces a charge of injury to a child by omission. In other news, Southwestern Health Resources, which includes the medical providers and hospitals at Texas Health Resources and UT Southwestern are no longer in-network for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas insurance plans, including commercial plans, as well as Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans; Big Bend National Park in Texas could soon expand by thousands of acres. Three lawmakers — U.S. Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Ben Ray Luján D-New Mexico, and U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio — introduced a bill in Congress last month to acquire roughly 6,100 acres along the park's western boundary; and April is Dallas Arts Month and the city is buzzing with fresh, interactive ways to experience art and music. Check out the trends taking over the city in today's edition of the Dallas Morning News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Welcome to another episode of the Oncology Brothers! In this episode, Drs. Rahul and Rohit Gosain are joined by their brother, Dr. Timothy Brown from UT Southwestern, to discuss the latest treatment paradigms for upper gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, specifically focusing on esophageal and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, as well as gastric cancer. Episode Highlights: • Early Disease Management: perioperative FLOT versus concurrent chemoradiation. • Adjuvant Nivolumab: Insights from the Checkmate 577 trial and its implications for patients with residual disease post-chemoradiation. • Biomarker Testing: The importance of testing for MSI, HER2, Claudin 18.2, and PD-L1 to guide treatment decisions in metastatic settings. • Patient-Centered Care: Emphasizing the significance of shared decision-making and multidisciplinary approaches in managing complex cases. Join us as we unpack the nuances of upper GI malignancies and share key takeaways from recent studies and clinical practices. YouTube: https://youtu.be/UNyi71u2wIw Follow us on social media: • X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/oncbrothers • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oncbrothers • Website: https://oncbrothers.com/ Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more updates on treatment algorithms and oncology insights!
It is Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day – an annual opportunity to bring more awareness to this aggressive type of breast cancer that is difficult to treat because it lacks an estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptor. It primarily affects younger women and Black women and can spread quickly and be deadly if left untreated for too long. Treatment for TNBC used to include the toughest forms of chemotherapy, with debilitating side effects – but we've come a long way in how we treat patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer so their outcomes are better. Today, we are speaking with Dr. Heather McArthur of UT Southwestern. She is a former Susan G. Komen grantee, Professor and the Komen Distinguished Chair in Clinical Breast Cancer Research. Dr. McArthur has been working on a Phase 3 clinical trial called KEYNOTE-522, which is testing whether a specific immunotherapy drug improves overall survival for people with high-risk early Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Dr. McArthur, along with her colleagues, are trying to determine if all people with this type of breast cancer truly need the drug, and if not, who would most benefit from taking it.
Dr. Joseph S. Takahashi is Professor and Chair of Neuroscience and the Loyd B. Sands Distinguished Chair in Neuroscience at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He is also an Investigator in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Joe and his lab members are trying to better understand the biological clocks in our bodies that control our 24-hour schedules. Within each of us are internal clocks that are genetically controlled. A special set of genes within nearly all of our cells turns on and off each day to regulate a wide variety of biological functions, and Joe is studying these genes and how they contribute to our biological rhythms. Functions influenced by our biological clocks include our sleep schedules, blood sugar, body temperature, liver metabolism, and many other aspects of our physiology. When Joe isn't at work, he enjoys playing tennis, skiing, hiking, eating delicious food, and drinking great wine. Joe received his B.A. in biology from Swarthmore College and he was awarded his Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Oregon in Eugene. Afterwards, he conducted postdoctoral research as a pharmacology research associate at the National Institute of Mental Health. Before moving to UT Southwestern, Joe served on the faculty of Northwestern University for 26 years. Over the course of his career, Joe has received numerous awards and honors including the Honma Prize in Biological Rhythms Research, the NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award, the Searle Scholars Award, the Bristol-Myers Squibb Unrestricted Grant in Neuroscience, the C. U. Ariens Kappers Medal, the Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award from the Sleep Research Society, the W. Alden Spencer Award in Neuroscience from Columbia University, and the Peter C. Farrell Prize in Sleep Medicine from the Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine. He has also been elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Member of the National Academy of Sciences, a Member of the National Academy of Medicine, and an Honorary Member of The Japanese Biochemical Society. In our interview, Joe shared his experiences in life and science.
Leaders from the top-polluting countries, like the US and China, aren't showing up to the UN's big climate conference in Azerbaijan. And, walking pneumonia typically affects school-age kids, but the CDC reports a rise in cases in children aged 2-4.At COP29, The World's Top Polluters Are No-ShowsThe United Nations' annual international climate conference, COP29, got underway this week in Baku, Azerbaijan. Leaders from around the world come together at this conference to hammer out deals between nations to lower emissions and coordinate climate change-related financial efforts.And a big focus this year was to negotiate a deal for wealthier countries to financially compensate developing nations who've experienced climate-change related damage. The only problem is that world leaders from the top-polluting countries, like the US and China, aren't even showing up.Ira Flatow is joined by Umair Irfan, senior correspondent at Vox, to catch up on this and other science stories of the week, including new data on rising alcohol consumption, why Voyager 2 got an inaccurate snapshot of Uranus in the 1980s, and why the world's largest organism might also be its oldest.Walking Pneumonia Is Spiking. Here's How To Stay SafeLast month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put out a report outlining a significant spike in Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, better known as walking pneumonia. This respiratory illness is caused by bacteria spread through respiratory droplets, and symptoms usually mimic the common cold. It's pretty common, with about 2 million infections happening each year, mostly in school-age kids. This year's spike, which started in the spring, is a little different: There's been a significant increase in kids aged 2 to 4 and it is now the new leading cause of pneumonia for that group.Dr. Preeti Sharma, pediatric pulmonologist at Children's Heath in Dallas, knows what it's like to have a child with mycoplasma pneumonia. Her daughter came home with the illness in the spring. What she thought was a typical cold turned into a deep and lingering cough: a telltale sign of walking pneumonia.Dr. Sharma, who is also an associate professor at UT Southwestern, joins Ira Flatow to discuss this year's Mycoplasma pneumoniae spike, the best treatments, and how to keep your family healthy this holiday season. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.
Download the 13-Page "Omega-3 Supplementation Guide" Discover my premium podcast, The Aliquot Join over 300,000 people and sign up for my newsletter Become a FoundMyFitness premium member to get access to exclusive episodes, emails, live Q+A's with Rhonda and more Everyone has to get old sometime, but what if, at least for some aspects of aging, we didn't have to? Imagine if the loss of heart size and the stiffness that often comes with aging could be reversed, even well into late middle-age. And not by a little - by a lot. Today's guest, Dr. Benjamin Levine, has shown that with the right exercise protocol, people who were sedentary most of their lives could reverse up to 20 years of heart aging. Dr. Levine is one of the world's leading experts in understanding how the heart adapts under a variety of conditions, whether that's exercise, elite athleticism, or hospital bedrest. Or even highly exotic conditions, like prolonged exposure to microgravity. He is the founding director of the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at UT Southwestern in Dallas, a leading facility renowned for its research in cardiovascular physiology. His expertise also extends into space medicine, where he advises NASA, underscoring his broad, deeply fundamental understanding of how the heart changes over time. Additionally, he is a recognized authority in sports cardiology, consulting for organizations such as the NCAA, NFL, NHL, and various professional sports leagues. In this episode, we discuss: (00:06:21) Are 3 weeks of bed rest worse for fitness than 30 years of aging? (00:10:08) Why untrained individuals recover fitness faster than athletes following bed rest (00:11:40) Does exercise protect against long COVID? (00:14:31) "COVID triad testing" guidelines for evaluating heart health in athletes (00:16:17) Why strict bed rest is a model for space flight (00:17:14) How 12 weeks of bed rest affects heart size (00:18:42) Why a brand-new rubber band mimics a lifetime of endurance training (00:22:14) The exercise dose that preserves youthful cardiovascular structure (00:24:22) The exercise regimen that reversed 20 years of heart aging (00:28:05) What it takes to reverse vascular age by 15 years in 70-year-olds (00:33:29) Benefits of starting an exercise regimen in your 70s [benefits that don't involve cardiac remodeling] (00:39:17) Considering the risks of high-intensity exercise (00:42:42) Balancing high-intensity & moderate-intensity training (00:47:39) Training for health vs. training for performance (00:48:47) Why muscle mass & cardiorespiratory fitness are like retirement funds (00:49:58) Make exercise a part of your personal hygiene (00:51:01) Why does VO2 max correlate with longevity? (00:58:29) The 2018 JAMA study on cardiorespiratory fitness & mortality (01:04:06) How does change in fitness over time affect mortality? (01:06:19) Why exercise non-responders should consider "increasing the dose" (01:10:08) The 2 limiting factors for improving VO2 max in competitive athletes (01:13:05) How marathon training affects heart size in sedentary young people (01:17:20) Heart adaptations in purely strength-trained vs. endurance athletes (01:23:09) Why pure strength-trainers should incorporate endurance training (01:26:53) How strength training affects blood pressure (exercise pressor reflex) (01:31:27) How exercise influences cardiac output in mitochondrial myopathy patients (01:33:25) Does CrossFit count as endurance training? (01:35:50) What's the best exercise for improving blood pressure? (01:40:57) Lifestyle strategies for treating hypertension (01:43:26) Why recovery is key to reaping the benefits of a training stimulus (01:47:22) The best indicator of being overtrained (01:48:22) Heart rate brackets & running pace estimates for training zones 2-5 (01:54:46) Why heart rate variability is a poor indicator of recovery (02:00:02) Why do men tend to be faster runners than women? (02:03:34) Can women achieve similar aerobic exercise benefits doing 2x less than men? (02:05:06) Are there cardiovascular benefits of HRT in women? (02:06:57) How Dr. Benjamin Levine defines "extreme exercise" (02:08:45) How does exercise volume affect coronary plaque calcification (02:15:35) How exercise duration & intensity affect coronary calcium levels (02:18:48) Why high exercise duration & intensity increases risk of Afib (02:21:18) What exercise dose increases Afib risk? (02:23:06) Managing stroke risk in athletes prone to Afib with anticoagulants (02:26:00) Why you shouldn't become an endurance athlete to "live longer" Watch this episode on YouTube