Better Edge : A Northwestern Medicine Podcast For Physicians

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 Preventive Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, discusses her research on the associations between neighborhood-level racial residential segregation, socioeconomic factors and life expectancy in the US. Dr. Khan explains how social determinants of health contribute to disparities in life expectancy and recommends how physicians can improve health equity in their own practice. JAMA Health Forum.2023;4(7):e231805.

In this episode of Better Edge, Robert Kushner, MD, discusses the approval of the new obesity management drug, tirzepatide, as a treatment option for patients. He emphasizes the need to shift the conversation from weight loss to improved health.

Recent data suggests a rising trend in testosterone replacement therapy, even in cases without a clear clinical indication. In this Better Edge podcast episode, Channa Amarasekera, MD, of Northwestern Medicine Urology, sheds light on the common reasons people seek this therapy, potential benefits and risks, diagnostic criteria, patient selection, contraindications and the critical decision-making process.

Join podcast host Angela Chaudhari, MD, for the fifth episode of Parts and Labor on a captivating discussion with Northwestern Medicine complex family planning experts Cassing Hammond, MD, Leanne R. McCloskey, MD, and Ashley M. Turner, MD, as they explore the evolution of this crucial OB-GYN subspecialty. The distinguished panel explains what complex family planning is, explores how best to raise awareness among clinical staff regarding patient options, and shares thoughts on the impacts of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision.

Join us in this episode of Better Edge, as we explore the remarkable work of the Northwestern Medicine Wheelchair Skills Clinic at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital. This episode features Mahesh Ramachandran, MD, chief medical officer at Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, along with Anna Chavez, PT, DPT, and Barbara Peraino, PT, both physical therapists from the Northwestern Medicine Wheelchair and Positioning Center at Marianjoy. The episode explores how this program revolutionizes patient care by enhancing wheelchair users' independence, empowering them to overcome real-world barriers and ultimately improving their quality of life.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Michael Brook, PhD, associate professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine and director of the Isaac Ray Research Program in the Division of Psychiatry and the Law, goes into detail about the role of forensic psychiatry, psychology and neuropsychology in legal proceedings. He discusses the expertise of the division’s highly trained team in a variety of legal issues and clinical subspecialties, as well as the research he is leading to address community violence using a public health approach.

In this episode of Better Edge, Stephen Hanauer, MD, and Parambir Dulai, MD, both gastroenterologists of Northwestern Medicine delve into the intricate world of inflammatory bowel diseases. They explore the causes of IBDs and address genetics, the microbiome and environmental factors. They emphasize the need for a holistic approach to patient care, encompassing potential complications and the necessity of multidisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, they touch on the IBD Clinical Decision Support Tool and the future of IBD research, with hopes of advancing treatments and ultimately finding a cure.

Dr. Beutler's research has focused on how the gut and the brain communicate with each other to maintain body weight, and how this goes awry in diseases such as obesity. This interview focuses on new research, including dual incretin agonist tirzepatide as the first pharmacological agent that rivals the efficacy of bariatric surgery for obesity management.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Vehniah K. Tjong, MD, answers the frequently asked question: does running increase the risk of hip and knee arthritis? She discusses a recent survey of 3,800 runners from the 2019 and 2021 Bank of America Chicago Marathons.

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.