Better Edge : A Northwestern Medicine Podcast For Physicians

Perry Xu, MD, discusses his paper, which was a retrospective analysis of HoLEP in patients who held or continued blood thinners. Dr. Xu explains: • The use of the holmium laser in the procedure• Common indications for blood thinner therapy• Intraoperative and post-op outcomes • The clinical implications of the study findings

Hiten D. Patel, MD, joins this episode of Better Edge to discuss his research on using AI to help more accurately detect and stage prostate cancer.

Nilay S. Shah, MD, MPH, explores how social factors and disparities affect cardiovascular health in Asian American subgroups. He emphasizes the need to understand and address these factors in patient care.

Surendra Basti, MD, Manjot K. Gill, MD, and Angelo P. Tanna, MD, share what you need to know from AAO 2024.

Mary Keen, MD, a pediatric physiatrist, shares her extensive experience with rare pediatric conditions. Dr. Keen discusses the challenges of diagnosing these conditions, helpful resources for the diagnostic process, multidisciplinary approaches, innovative treatments, and the role of exercise in managing mitochondrial disorders and other rare conditions.

Keith Summa, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern Medicine, explores the intricate relationship between circadian rhythms and gastrointestinal health. Discover how disruptions in sleep and circadian alignment can affect metabolic processes, intestinal permeability and overall GI function. Dr. Summa also covers the latest research findings and their implications for conditions like obesity, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.

Sarah E. Chuzi, MD, and Courtney Bartelstein, PA-C, offer insights on the broad clinical and community impact of the COMPASS-HF program at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. COMPASS-HF, which stands for Comprehensive Palliative Care and Supportive Services for People with Heart Failure, seeks to support patients with advanced heart failure and their caregivers as they navigate a variety of symptoms, unique psychosocial challenges and complex decisions. 

Join Laura M. Kulik, MD, a gastroenterologist at Northwestern Medicine, as she explores the latest advances in liver cancer care. Dr. Kulik shares her expertise on emerging therapies and the role of collaborative management in this complex field.

Northwestern Medicine’s Srikanth N. Divi, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, and Najib El Tecle, MD, a neurosurgeon, discuss the transformative impact of AI on spine surgery. They explore how AI enhances diagnostic accuracy, reduces complications and improves surgical outcomes. Additionally, Dr. Divi and Dr. El Tecle delve into the critical aspects of AI in medical applications, including machine learning and imaging analysis.Learn more or refer a patient to the Northwestern Medicine Center for Spine Health 

Clyde W. Yancy, MD, MSc, discusses “Heart Failure in African American Individuals, Version 2.0,” his editorial recently published in JAMA. He emphasizes the importance of understanding genetic factors in predicting and managing heart failure in African American people, as well as the implications for genetic screening. Dr. Yancy highlights ways to address health disparities in cardiovascular care that Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute is putting into practice.

Robert E. Brannigan, MD, expands on the American Urological Association and American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s 2024 amendment to the male infertility guideline. As chair of these guideline amendments, Dr. Brannigan delves into recommendation updates, as well as their effect on diagnostic processes and how male infertility is evaluated.

En este episodio de Better Edge, la Dra. Irene Blanco y la Dra. Paulina González-Latapi hablan sobre la clínica de lupus para hispanohablantes y la clínica de trastornos del movimiento para hispanohablantes en Northwestern Medicine. La Dra. Blanco y la Dra. González-Latapi ofrecen un resumen de las clínicas y cómo buscan mejorar los resultados de salud entre la población que habla español. También hablan sobre el desarrollo de cada clínica y ofrecen consejos sobre cómo brindar atención a las personas que prefieren hablar en español.

Jennifer U. Miles-Thomas, MD, a trailblazing urologist and advocate for gender diversity in the field, shares her personal journey, from her specialization in female reconstructive surgery to her recent appointments as vice chair – Regional Integration and Innovation and assistant professor of Urology at Northwestern Medicine, and as treasurer-elect of the American Urological Association. As an expert in the field, Dr. Miles-Thomas sheds light on her unique approaches to her practice and discusses obstacles that hinder gender diversity in urology. She discusses her vision for the future of gender diversity in urology and how it can positively impact patient care and outcomes.

In this episode of Better Edge, Daniela E. Matei, MD, chief of Reproductive Science in Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, discusses her groundbreaking research on chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer. She explains how her team discovered the role of cholesterol in cancer cell survival and the innovative use of nanoparticles to block cholesterol uptake, offering new hope for treatment. Dr. Matei also highlights the potential for combining this approach with traditional chemotherapy and immunotherapy to enhance patient outcomes.

In this Better Edge episode, Irene Blanco, MD, and Paulina Gonzalez-Latapi, MD, discuss the Spanish-speaking lupus clinic and the Hispanic movement disorders clinic at Northwestern Medicine. Dr. Blanco and Dr. Gonzalez-Latapi provide an overview of the clinics and how they aim to improve health outcomes among the Spanish-speaking population. They also discuss each clinic’s development and offer advice on providing care to people who prefer to speak Spanish.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Anton N. Dietzen, MD, a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and fellowship-trained pediatric physiatrist at Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, discusses the challenges of weight management in pediatric patients with special needs. He highlights the higher prevalence of weight issues in this population and the multifactorial causes, including medication side effects and behavioral factors. Dr. Dietzen emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, involving dietitians, physical therapists and psychologists, to create a comprehensive weight management plan tailored to the child’s needs.

This episode of Better Edge delves into the challenges of medication management for individuals with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Rachel O’Conor, PhD, MD, associate professor of Geriatrics at Northwestern Medicine, and a health services and public health researcher specializing in community-engaged research, shares insights from a recent study involving patients and their caregivers. The discussion highlights the difficulties faced by those with changing cognitive abilities in managing multi-drug regimens and the crucial role of family members in this process. Dr. O’Conor emphasizes the importance of understanding both patient and caregiver perspectives to navigate these challenges effectively.

Join Eric B. Larson, PhD, director of Psychology and Brain Injury at Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, as he discusses his intensive seminar in Ukraine with students Diana, Olya and Zhenia. They share their experiences and insights on treating neurologic injuries and emotional trauma related to war. Translator Zhanna Rawalska facilitates the conversation. This episode offers rehabilitation specialists valuable perspectives on the impact of war on mental health and the importance of specialized training.

Robin Cohen, MD, a physiatrist, and Nicolette Bernhardt, PsyD, a board-certified clinical health psychologist, discuss the integration of cancer rehabilitation and psychology. Dr. Cohen emphasizes the importance of physical medicine in addressing issues patients with cancer often experience. Dr. Bernhardt highlights the emotional challenges faced at different stages of cancer journeys. They underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to ensure holistic care.Both Dr. Cohen and Dr. Bernhardt provide care at Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.

In this episode of Better Edge, Channa A. Amarasekera, MD, dives into the creation of the Gay and Bisexual Men’s Urology Program at Northwestern Medicine – the first clinic of its kind. Dr. Amarasekera walks through identifying care gaps with gay and bisexual men, overcoming systematic barriers in LGBTQ+ focused clinics and the future of the Gay and Bisexual Men’s Urology Program at Northwestern Medicine.