Better Edge : A Northwestern Medicine Podcast For Physicians

Sarah E. Chuzi, MD, of Northwestern Medicine Cardiology, highlights the intersection between burnout, end-of-life issues and team engagement in cardiac care units. Dr. Chuzi offers suggestions on how to mitigate these issues and enhance team cohesion to create meaningful connections within the workspace that foster an environment of resilience for both patients and physicians.

In this episode of Better Edge, Kevin C. Welch, MD, professor of Otolaryngology -Head and Neck Surgery at Northwestern Medicine, delves into cutting-edge research and clinical developments within the field of rhinology for symptoms of chronic sinusitis. Dr. Welch provides a scholarly approach while bridging basic science with practical applications in patientcare to discuss topics ranging from diagnosis and treatment of chronic sinusitis to the Northwestern Medicine Sinus and Allergy Center’s innovative multidisciplinary approach to rhinologic patient care.

A recent study from the Bass Lab has revealed how transcription factors within individual cells influence the identity and function of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, according to findings published in Cell Metabolism.

In this episode of Better Edge, Amy E. Krambeck, MD, chief of Endourology and Stone Disease and a professor of Urology at Northwestern Medicine, discusses her experience performing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) procedures and the evolution of the procedure, including the influence of scope size. Dr. Krambeck explains the results of a study she conducted to assess whether scope size impacts patient outcomes, surgical outcomes or surgical satisfaction. The study found no significant difference in complications or outcomes between larger and smaller scopes, however, patients treated with smaller scopes were more likely to be able to go home the same day with their catheter removed.

In this episode of Better Edge, a Northwestern Medicine podcast for physicians, we are joined by Nirmala Gonsalves, MD, professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern Medicine. She delves into the world of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders, discussing crucial aspects of diagnosis, treatment and patient care. Dr. Gonsalves shares her extensive experience and research in the field, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, and highlighting the exciting advances and clinical trials in the area.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Douglas R. Johnston, MD, chief of Cardiac Surgery, and Jane E. Wilcox, MD, MSc, associate chief of Cardiology at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, discuss recent developments and innovations within cardiology and cardiac surgery. They go into detail about the latest technology, minimally invasive operations and services offered at Northwestern Medicine to improve patient access, care and outcomes.

In this episode, Better Edge hosts a thought-provoking panel discussion with distinguished Lurie Cancer Center oncologists John Hayes, MD, Sheetal Kircher, MD, and renowned colorectal surgeon, Vitaliy Poylin, MD, on organ preservation approaches for rectal cancer. The conversation between these Northwestern Medicine experts delves into the evolution of treatment modalities, highlighting the shift from a one-size-fits-all approach to a more nuanced, patient-specific strategy. Their insights offer an insightful exploration of the balance between aggressive disease control and improved quality of life.

In this Better Edge podcast, Harris Perlman, PhD, and Arthur Mandelin, MD, PhD, of Northwestern Medicine Rheumatology, discuss their participation and findings from a study that used multi-modal single-cell RNA-sequencing coupled with histology of synovial tissue from 79 donors to build single-cell atlas of rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue. Dr. Perlman and Dr. Mandelin discuss using the findings of this study to propose a bench to bedside, then back to bench plan to individualize treatments and therapies for patients with RA.

In this Better Edge episode, David J. Palmer, MD, clinical associate professor of Ophthalmology at Northwestern Medicine, and Jeff Good, chief sustainability executive at Northwestern Medicine, discuss the current and future sustainability efforts at Northwestern Medicine, and how the Ophthalmology department has integrated them into daily operations. Dr. Palmer speaks on the medical industry’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions, including drug waste (in the OR and take-home medications) and environmental changes on eye health. Additionally, the guests share advice for other healthcare organizations and physicians that are looking to enhance their sustainability practices.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Sadiya S. Khan, MD, MSc, the Magerstadt Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and associate professor of Cardiology and of Epidemiology at Northwestern Medicine, discusses PREVENT, the American Heart Association’s new cardiovascular disease risk calculator. Dr. Khan goes into detail about her involvement in the study on the PREVENT risk calculator, including its methodology, findings and implications for predicting cardiovascular disease risk.

In this Better Edge podcast episode, Edward M. Schaeffer, MD, PhD, chair and the Edmund Andrews Professor of Urology at Northwestern Medicine, discusses the PREVENT Randomized Trial (PReclude infection EVEnts with No prophylaxis Transperineal), a study in which he was co-primary investigator. The trial, funded by the National Cancer Institute, compared the outcomes of transperineal biopsy without antibiotic prophylaxis to transrectal biopsy with targeted prophylaxis.

In this Better Edge podcase episode, Joshua Meeks, MD, PhD, the Edward M. Schaeffer, MD, PhD, Professor of Urology, sits down with Song Jiang, MD, PhD, a new member of Urologic Oncology at Northwestern Medicine’s Central DuPage Hospital. Dr. Meeks and Dr. Jiang discuss advanced therapies in the management of bladder cancer, and how Northwestern Medicine’s integration efforts are extending leading-edge treatments and clinical trials past Chicago, to the west and beyond.

In this episode of Better Edge, Darren M. Brenner, MD, a gastroenterologist at Northwestern Medicine, discusses chronic constipation, its prevalence, risk factors, subtypes, and treatment options. He uses specific symptom-based criteria to define constipation, such as frequency, texture, straining, sensations of incomplete evacuation, a sensation of mechanical obstruction and the performance of manual maneuvers. Join us as Dr. Brenner puts constipation into context.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Katelyn O. Stepan, MD, assistant professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Northwestern Medicine, discusses the significant changes in the incidence and prevalence of oral cavity cancer in recent years. She goes into detail about the role of HPV in the epidemiology of oral cavity cancer, changes in the treatment landscape, the importance of multi-disciplinary care in treating oral cavity cancers and Northwestern Medicine’s ongoing research in this field.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Brandon Hamm, MD, assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine, provides an overview of the Ketamine Infusion Clinic at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and how ketamine therapy works. He discusses how the clinic was formed and how patients are referred and evaluated for mood disorder diagnosis to be candidates for ketamine therapy. Dr. Hamm also goes into detail about the induction and maintenance period for ketamine therapy and the metrics used to measure its success.

Join Eric Larson, PhD, , Dolly Devara, MD, and Arnold Hoskins, MTS, as they discuss a thought-provoking case study at Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, offering a candid exploration of the challenges that patients and families face when adapting to life-altering conditions. This insightful conversation sheds light on how an interdisciplinary approach and compassionate care impacts patients' rehabilitation journeys.

Scientists have recently found a highly accurate way to predict the best treatment for patients with meningioma based on patterns of gene expression in their tumors. In this Better Edge podcast episode, Stephen Magill, MD, PhD, of Northwestern Medicine Neurological Surgery, discusses this innovative test that could change treatment for one in three patients with meningioma.

In this episode of Better Edge, Tiffany Karas, MD, discusses how physicians and clinicians can create a welcoming and inclusive practice environment to care for all patients.

Robert S. Feder, MD, and Manjot K. Gill, MD, of Northwestern Medicine Ophthalmology, join this episode to share key retina and cornea highlights and clinical pearls from the 2023 AAO Annual Meeting.

Eric M. Ruderman, MD, of Northwestern Medicine Rheumatology, joins this episode of the Better Edge podcast to share key highlights and clinical pearls from the 2023 ACR Annual Meeting.