The Vitals

What if the best cancer treatment is finding cancer before symptoms ever appear?  Early detection remains one of the most powerful tools in cancer care, but screening only works when people can access it. In this episode of The Vitals , guest host Dr. Raja Flores is joined by Dr. Ash Tewari, Dr. Jamila Sly, and Dr. Emily Sonnenblick for a wide-ranging conversation about how cancer screening is evo...

What will brain surgery look like in the next decade?   On this episode of The Vitals , host Leslie Schlachter sits down with three leading experts in neurosurgery and neurotechnology: Dr. Joshua Bederson, Dr. Benjamin Rapoport, and Dr. Shahram Majidi. Together, they explore the rapidly evolving landscape of brain surgery, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), artificial intelligence, and neurotechnol...

Peptides have become one of the biggest trends in health and wellness, with claims ranging from weight loss and muscle building to faster recovery, better sleep, and even longevity.   But what exactly are peptides—and how much of the hype is supported by science?  In this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter is joined by registered dietitian Eugenia Hamshaw to explore the rapidly expandin...

Pancreatic cancer has long been considered one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose and treat. But as researchers learn more about the biology of the disease, advances in surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapies and artificial intelligence are creating new possibilities for patients and families.  In this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter is joined by three Mount Sinai...

AI is changing medicine—but it isn't replacing doctors.  On this episode of The Vitals , Leslie Schlachter talks with Robbie Freeman and Dr. Girish Nadkarni about how artificial intelligence is already transforming healthcare, from ambient AI that gives clinicians more time with patients to predictive tools that can identify patients at risk before they become critically ill.  They also explo...

How do scientists know if a new treatment actually works?  In Episode 3 of our HealthSpan Explained miniseries, host Dr. Shruti Naik is joined by physician-scientists Dr. Tom Marron and Dr. Fanny Elahi to explore the science behind clinical trials—and why they're the foundation of modern medicine.  As excitement grows around longevity research and anti-aging interventions, separating evidence...

What if the questions women have been asking for decades are finally getting answers?  In this special crossover episode of The Vitals and HERology , Vitals host Leslie Schlachter sits down with Drs. Joanne Stone, Anna Barbieri, and Leslee Shaw to celebrate the opening of Mount Sinai's Carolyn Rowan Center for Women's Health and Wellness—and to explore how it's reshaping women'...

What if every child received comprehensive healthcare simply by going to school?  In this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter sits down with two esteemed guests— Dr. Rachel Vreeman , Director of the Arnhold Institute for Global Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Mount Sinai, and Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton, Director of Primary Health Care Services for Guyana's Ministry...

Can we protect our brains as we age—and even reduce the risk of dementia?  In Episode 2 of The Vitals Health Span miniseries, guest host Dr. Shruti Naik explores the science of Brain Span with neurologist Dr. Fanny Elahi, neuroscientist Dr. Joseph Castellano, and geneticist Dr. Alison Goate.  Together, they discuss what distinguishes normal brain aging from the earliest signs of cognitive decline,...

In this episode of The Vitals, guest host Raja Flores, MD, joins New York State Senator Michael Gianaris and Mount Sinai Queens President and COO Cameron Hernandez, MD, to celebrate the opening of a new advanced ICU at Mount Sinai Queens in Astoria.   The panel discusses how critical care has grown more complex over the last decade—including expanded services like cardiac catheterization and care...

What if the goal isn't simply to live longer—but to live better, for longer?  In this special kickoff episode of The Vitals Healthspan Miniseries, guest host Shruti Naik sits down with Mount Sinai experts Fiorina Kyritsi, MD , Miriam Merad, MD, PhD , and Zahi Fayad, PhD to explore the science of aging—and why the future of medicine may be less about extending lifespan and more about expanding...

How did ketamine evolve from an anesthetic to one of the most important mental health treatment breakthroughs in decades?  In this episode of The Vitals , guest host Dennis Charney , MD sits down with specialists  James Murrough , MD, PhD, and Adriana Feder , MD, to explore the science behind ketamine treatment for depression and PTSD—and why it may offer hope for patients who have not responded t...

Colorectal cancer is no longer just a disease of older adults—and the data is raising alarm bells.  On this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter sits down with the Mount Sinai Health System’s leading experts   To unpack why rates are rising, especially among younger populations, and what you need to know right now.   Joining the conversation are gastroenterologists Dr. David Greenwald and...

 In this episode of The Vitals, we explore a question that sits at the intersection of medicine and the future of the planet: Can health care truly become sustainable?  Host and Neurosurgery Physician Assistant Leslie Schlachter is joined by a multidisciplinary team of Mount Sinai experts working across clinical care, energy and infrastructure, and supply chain operations. Together, they unpack ho...

What can living brain tissue reveal that decades of neuroscience could not?  In this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter sits down with Alex Charney and Brian Kopell to discuss the Living Brain Project, one of the most ambitious neuroscience efforts underway at the Mount Sinai Health System. By safely collecting tiny biopsies during deep brain simulation surgery, researchers are studying...

Pattie McCluskey had long relied on her doctors at the Mount Sinai Health System—until an insurance dispute with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield suddenly threw that care into jeopardy. In this episode of The Vitals, Pattie shares what it means when a patient with an established care team must confront disruption around appointments, medications, and procedures already tied to her health, daily life,...

Pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care—but what actually causes pain, and when should you seek treatment?  Two Mount Sinai experts—Drs. Tanvir Choudrhi and Houman Danesh—discuss how physicians diagnose and treat pain, particularly neck and back pain that originates in the spine. Together, they break down:   Why pain is often more complex than it seems  How signals travel b...

In this episode of The Vitals , we sit down with Dr. Alan Adler to unpack one of the most important issues affecting patients and health systems today: negotiations between hospitals and insurance companies.  As discussions continue between Mount Sinai and Anthem, Dr. Adler explains what is at stake in these conversations, how contract negotiations between major health systems and insurers typical...

In this episode of The Vitals ,  Drs. Helen He and Nicholas Brownstone discuss what really happens to your skin during colder months—and how to protect it using science-based strategies, not skincare hype.   From increased water loss and dryness to flare-ups of eczema, acne, and irritation, winter presents unique challenges for our skin. In this conversation, we explore:   Why winter causes increa...

Dr. Michelle Cespedes , infectious disease expert and interim System Chief of the Division of Infectious Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.   Dr. Cespedes shares the latest advancements in HIV prevention, treatment, and research—and why there’s renewed hope in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. In this conversation, we explore:  - Breakthroughs in HIV prevention and care  - Ho...

If shorter days, colder weather, and early sunsets leave you feeling sluggish, unmotivated, or just not yourself , you’re not alone. Millions experience winter blues — and for some, it’s part of a diagnosable, treatable form of depression. Dr. James Murrough helps us understand:  Leslie also opens up about her own experience with seasonal mood changes, making this an honest, practical, and deeply...

Allergies are on the rise around the world—but why? In this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter, PA-C sits down with two of Mount Sinai’s leading experts, Drs. Monica Kraft and Scott Sicherer, to break down what’s really driving the increase in allergic diseases, how to understand the difference between allergies and intolerances, and what the latest science reveals about prevention, tre...

On this episode of The Vitals , we dive deep into one of the most compelling topics in global health today: autism. We welcome two leading experts from the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai:  Dr. Joseph D. Buxbaum – Professor of Psychiatry, Genetics & Genomic Sciences, and Neuroscience; Director of the Seaver Autism Center: https://p...

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) isn’t new—but the conversation (and the tools) have changed. In this episode of Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter sits down with Dr. Jennifer Duchon and Dr. Sean Liu to break down: how RSV spreads, why babies are at higher risk, what to watch for, why antibiotics don’t help, when oxygen is essential, and much more. Learn more about our panelists: Dr. Sean Liu: https:...

As families prepare to head back to school, pediatric experts Dr. Jennifer Duchon and Dr. Meredith Grossman from the Mount Sinai Health System join The Vitals host Leslie Schlachter for a timely conversation on how to set kids up for a healthy, successful school year. From getting back into a learning mindset to essential immunizations, nutrition, and even backpack safety, this episode covers ever...