Conference Coverage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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