Better by the Numbers

Every rare disease diagnosis starts with a question, and sometimes the answer takes years to find. In this episode, Dr. Mai-Lan Ho and Dr. Rich Sidlow share the patient cases that reshaped their careers and explore how artificial intelligence, genetics, and medical imaging are changing the future of diagnosis. They discuss the challenges of the rare disease diagnostic journey, why AI should enhanc...

Dr. Ruben Nazario joins Better By The Numbers to unpack one of the biggest hidden problems in modern healthcare: why critical patient data often gets lost between providers, labs, payers, and electronic health record systems. As a physician executive in clinical informatics, Dr. Nazario works at the intersection of medicine, data infrastructure, and healthcare operations, helping organizations imp...

How does genetic testing actually change cancer outcomes? In this episode, Dr. Tina Bhatnagar breaks down how advances in cytogenetics, molecular profiling, and MRD testing are transforming the way acute myeloid leukemia is diagnosed, risk-stratified, and treated. From real clinical decision-making to the future of personalized oncology, this conversation shows how lab data is turning one-size-fit...

Dr. Shannon Blaylock shares how she is delivering pediatric cardiac care across a massive rural region by rethinking how labs and genetic testing are accessed and applied. From diagnosing missed chromosomal conditions to using tele-genetics and in-office workflows, she reveals how a wider clinical lens can uncover life-changing insights for both patients and their families, often years earlier tha...

Dr. Mel Pohl discusses his path into medicine, the connection between chronic pain and addiction as nervous system conditions, the role of polyvagal theory and cell danger response, the future of lab testing in addiction and chronic pain care, and the mindset shift for clinicians. He also emphasizes the importance of integrating nervous system science with measurable biology and presenting results...

Dr. Nathan Carroll, an internationally recognized board-certified psychiatrist, discusses how lab testing is used in modern mental health care. He covers everything from foundational labs like A1C, thyroid, and metabolic panels to the growing role of biometric data and emerging technologies. Dr. Carroll shares how objective data can support better clinical decisions, why many practitioners overloo...

The conversation delves into the world of precision medicine, focusing on the integration of genetics and epigenetics for personalized health optimization. Dr. Tracy Gapin shares insights on the science of epigenetics, the foundational role of lifestyle, comprehensive testing and tracking, personalized nutrition, and the selection and utilization of diagnostic tests. Case studies highlight the imp...