Better Edge : A Northwestern Medicine Podcast For Physicians

In this episode of Better Edge, we explore the world of aphasia care and recovery at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital. Join our engaging conversation with experts Sonia Sheth, MD and Michelle Armour, MS, CCC-SLP, as we discuss the innovative Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program at the Northwestern Medicine Aphasia Center at Marianjoy and the principles of neuroplasticity that drive breakthroughs in aphasia rehabilitation. Tune in to learn how patients are triumphing over language barriers and achieving remarkable progress toward on their path to improved communication. Learn more about The Northwestern Medicine Aphasia Center at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital  

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, we speak with Amber Watters, MD, an OB-GYN at Northwestern Medicine, about the groundbreaking obstetrics application LaborLink. The app has revolutionized the landscape of labor and delivery by streamlining patient care and physician workflows. Dr. Watters discusses the crucial role of fetal heart rate tracings in labor and delivery and how LaborLink has improved the process of assessing fetal health. The episode also explores how the app contributes to physician well-being, reducing stress and supporting OB-GYNs, and the positive response and feedback from obstetricians.  

A multidisciplinary team from Northwestern Medicine — Ocular Oncologist Chris Bowen, MD, Neurooncologist Karan Dixit, MD, and Neurosurgeon Stephen Magill, MD, PhD — join this episode of the Better Edge podcast. They discuss primary vitreoretinal lymphoma, a rare and complex disease that poses unique challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, and unravel the mysteries surrounding this condition and its management.

Yvonne C. Lee, MD, of Northwestern Medicine Rheumatology, explores pain mechanisms in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Dr. Lee is an expert on the effects of central nervous system (CNS) modulation of pain in rheumatoid arthritis. She has contributed novel insights into the role of CNS modulation of pain using novel techniques, such as quantitative sensory testing and neuroimaging. She shares her recent findings on sex differences in pain, and quantitative sensory testing in patients with RA and their clinical implications.

Dive into the captivating realm of transplant oncology as Laura M. Kulik, MD, a renowned gastroenterologist at Northwestern Medicine, shares groundbreaking insights. Uncover the remarkable journey of transplantation options for liver cancers, including novel strategies like downstaging and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Join us as we explore how Northwestern Medicine's multidisciplinary expertise is shaping the future of cancer treatment in this Better Edge podcast episode.

Paul Bryar, MD, professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology at Northwestern Medicine, discusses how AI is being used to transform diabetic retinopathy screening.

In this Better Edge podcast episode, Adam Murphy, MD, delves into a critical and often overlooked aspect of healthcare—prostate cancer disparities among minority populations, particularly Black men. Dr. Murphy's pioneering research has uncovered new ways to address disparities, from refining cancer nomograms to integrating advanced genomics into patient care. He also discusses his impactful online workshop that enhances urologists' shared decision-making skills, fostering equitable healthcare for all.

Join our thorough examination of weight loss modalities with Eric Hungness, MD, a general and bariatric surgeon at Northwestern Medicine, and Veronica Johnson, MD, a specialist in internal medicine at Northwestern Medicine, both esteemed experts in their field. In this episode of Better Edge, Dr. Hungness and Dr. Johnson share a comprehensive comparison between surgical and medical approaches to weight loss, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of obesity treatment within gastroenterology.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Andrew C. New, MD, assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine, discusses the benefits of having a behavioral health team integrated into the Emergency Department at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He talks about how this team of psychiatrists and other clinicians works in tandem with Emergency Department staff, as well as his interest in medical education with residents working in this environment.

Tune into Better Edge as we sit down with Emma Barber, MD, director of Robotic Surgery in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Northwestern Medicine. Dr. Barber is an accomplished researcher, having published more than 45 peer-reviewed articles and five book chapters.In this episode, Dr. Barber covers the game-changing study results from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-775 trial. The combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab has transformed the landscape of advanced endometrial cancer treatment, showcasing remarkable improvements in progression-free survival and overall survival rates. Gain valuable insights into the potential implications of these findings and how to incorporate this innovative approach into clinical practice.

Mariam A. Siddiqui, MD, of Northwestern Medicine Rheumatology, delves into the relationship between connective tissue diseases and the skin. She explains the common cutaneous manifestations observed in patients with these conditions, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in diagnosis, treatment, and optimizing patient care. She also explores notable advancements in managing connective tissue diseases and their dermatologic manifestations.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, S. Christopher Malaisrie, MD, surgical director, Center for Heart Valve Disease and professor of Cardiac Surgery at Northwestern Medicine, talks about the complexities, technical expertise needed and evolution of performing the Ross procedure. He also discusses the advantages of the procedure, patient selection, homograft and autograft failure and advancements on the horizon for the Ross procedure.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Bradley P. Knight, MD, director, Cardiac Electrophysiology, director, Center for Heart Rhythm Disorders and the Chester C. and Deborah M. Cooley Distinguished Professor of Cardiology at Northwestern Medicine, discusses the intricacies of safely and effectively implanting LAAO devices for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. He talks about the criteria for determining whether a LAAO device is optimal for a patient and his greatest clinical challenge as a cardiac electrophysiologist when placing this closure device.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Lubna Choudhury, MD, professor of Cardiology, at Northwestern Medicine discusses diverse manifestations, diagnostic testing, medical treatments and surgical options for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) at Northwestern Medicine. She talks about the new treatment advances on the horizon, when to refer a patient to a HCM specialist and what makes Northwestern Medicine uniquely qualified to treat HCM.

Neuro-Otologist Nicholas Hać, MD, and Neuro-Ophthalmologist Neena Cherayil, MD, both of Northwestern Medicine, shed light on eye movement abnormalities in patients with dizziness, including their causes and significance. They discuss comprehensive evaluation and optimal management strategies for patients with dizziness and eye movement abnormalities.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Joy Jia Liu, MD, gastroenterologist and instructor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern Medicine, talks about the causes and prevalence of gastroparesis as well as the approaches Northwestern Medicine takes to treat gastroparesis. She goes into detail about the best practices for managing it and covers the difference between gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia.

Amy E. Krambeck, MD, of Northwestern Medicine Urology, describes the percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) equipment whiteboard her team developed. It which improved equipment communication accuracy, case item accuracy and PCNL cost efficiency. Their evaluation was recently published in Urology.

This episode of the Better Edge podcast features Anita Kou, MD, physiatrist, and Leslie S. Rogers, PhD, psychologist, both at Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital. They discuss how psychology is incorporated into spinal cord injury rehabilitation at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital and how it benefits patients. Dr. Kou and Rogers talk about Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital’s multidisciplinary approach to evaluating and treating patients with spinal cord injuries and how they involve the patient’s family in the recovery process.

This episode of the Better Edge podcast features Michael David Stover, MD, professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Northwestern Medicine, and Sanjeev Bhatia, MD, orthopaedic surgeon at Northwestern Medicine and director of the Hip and Knee Joint Preservation Center. They talk about the field of hip preservation and the different types of hip preservation surgeries available, including all-arthroscopic versus combined open-and-arthroscopic surgery. Dr. Stover and Dr. Bhatia also discuss ideal candidates for these types of hip preservation surgeries and how the approach taken at Northwestern Medicine leads to a higher number of positive patient outcomes.

This episode of the Better Edge podcast features James L. Reilly, MD, associate professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine. Dr. Reilly discusses neuropsychological testing at Northwestern Medicine and how teams use it to establish a baseline of brain function to measure rehabilitation progress in patients with brain injuries. He goes into detail about the multidisciplinary approach to “brain mapping” in the OR that provides real-time feedback during brain surgery.