Better Edge : A Northwestern Medicine podcast for physicians

In this episode of Better Edge, we delve into innovative strategies for enhancing inpatient rehabilitation outcomes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Anthony Phan, MD, a physiatrist, discusses the importance of multidisciplinary approaches and optimizing consult practices. Join us as we explore effective techniques and best practices for maximizing functional recovery in an acute care setti...

Eric Ruderman, MD, leads a Northwestern Medicine panel discussion with Irene Blanco, MD, Anisha Dua, MD, and Carrie Richardson, MD. Together, they dive into the latest advances in clinical trials and treatment strategies for scleroderma, vasculitis and lupus. The panel discusses the goals and complexities of contemporary clinical trials, recent breakthroughs in therapies and the innovative potenti...

In this episode of  Better Edge ,  Sean W. P. Koppe, MD , moderates a panel of hepatologist, featuring  Laura M. Kulik, MD ,  Andres Duarte, MD ,  Sarang B. Thaker, MD  and  Amanda C. Cheung, MD , as they discuss recent advances and challenges in liver research. The conversation addresses such key issues as the timing of immunotherapy in relation to transplants, the role of albumin management and...

In this episode of Better Edge, we discuss the Collaborative Advanced Reconstructive Evaluation (CARE) Clinic, a collaboration between Northwestern Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, led by Julia Geynisman-Tan, MD, Julia E. Grabowski, MD, Elizabeth B. Yerkes, MD, and Dana Elborno, MD. Learn how this team uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide leading-edge...

In this episode of  Better Edge , Northwestern Medicine Neurologist  Shailee Shah, MD, and Neuro-oncologist  Ditte Primdahl, MD, unpack the latest advancements in paraneoplastic syndrome management, highlighted at the 2025 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.   Together, they explore: The complex interplay between immune checkpoint inhibitors and autoimmune neurologic syndromes Emerging t...

In this episode of Better Edge podcast, Sri Komanduri, MD, discusses the latest advances in the screening and management of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer. He highlights the significance of risk stratification to enhance patient outcomes and minimize the incidence of interval cancers. Additionally, Dr. Komanduri emphasizes the importance of improving patient access to care and the role...

In this episode of Better Edge, Baljash S. Cheema, MD, assistant professor of Cardiology at Northwestern Medicine, and Zach Miller, PhD, manager of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence at Northwestern Medicine, discuss the innovative use of machine learning to identify patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Emphasizing the critical collaboration between clinical exper...

In this episode of Parts and Labor , Angela Chaudhari, MD , hosts a panel of experts to discuss the PEARL Program, a multidisciplinary initiative providing comprehensive care for patients with obesity as they prepare for pregnancy. The panel covers the program's approach to lifestyle management, preconception counseling and integrating specialties to support maternal health.

Neurosurgeon  Stephen T. Magill, MD, PhD , leads a panel discussion on the management of tumors that compress the optic nerve. He is joined by  Preeti J. Thyparampil, MD , a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and  Adam D. Baim, MD , a neuro-ophthalmologist.     The panel discusses tumors commonly associated with optic nerve compression, their impact on eye function, and the signs and symptoms tha...

In this episode of Better Edge, Christina E. Boots, MD, MSCI, associate professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwestern Medicine, discusses the impact of obesity on reproductive outcomes and the promising role of GLP-1 agonists in treating obesity and infertility. Discover how these groundbreaking medications are reshaping reproductive health, offering hope for patients wit...

In this episode of Better Edge, a panel of ophthalmologists from Northwestern Medicine discuss their insights from the 2025 Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) Annual Conference. Nicholas Volpe, MD, president of the AUPO, joins Rukhsana Mirza, MD, and Dmitry Pyatetsky, MD, as they share their perspectives on important topics such as residency education, the future of ophth...

In this episode of Better Edge, Kevin Y. Zhan, MD, director of the Northwestern Medicine Cochlear Implant Program, outlines the program’s multidisciplinary approach and its expanded candidacy criteria. The program now serves people with significant hearing loss who struggle with speech clarity despite using hearing aids. Dr. Zhan also shares the innovative surgical techniques and personalized reha...

In this episode of  Better Edge,   Stewart Shankman, PhD , psychologist, and Lilian Li, PhD, postdoctoral scholar, discuss their research at the NEAR Lab on capturing aspects of mood and mental health through adolescent smartphone social communication. They explore the challenges in diagnosing and treating adolescent depression and the potential of using smartphone data to detect depressive sympto...

Defining "obesity" is not straightforward. Using body mass index (BMI) alone may miss some unhealthy individuals and mislabel others. New global clinical recommendations aim to improve the definition of obesity. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission, supported by 75 medical organizations, proposes to use objective measures of illness based on individual risk factors. Dr. Kushner state...

Aziz Aadam, MD, interventional endoscopist, Daniel Borja-Cacho, MD, transplantation surgeon, and Ahsun Riaz, MD, vascular and interventional radiologist, discuss a complex biliary case involving a patient with advanced stage cancer. They explore the innovative, multidisciplinary approach taken to manage the patient's biliary fistula and hepatic duct obstruction. The physicians highlight the collab...

Anita W. Asgar, MD, recently named section head of Interventional Cardiology at Northwestern Medicine, introduces herself and reveals what drew her to join the team at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. Dr. Asgar shares her goals for the future of the Interventional Cardiology program, her clinical and research interests in structural heart interventions and moderate secondary m...

Join podcast host Angela Chaudhari, MD, and a panel of experts in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery for the seventh episode of Parts and Labor. In this episode, they discuss urogynecology, complex case management, uterine-sparing surgery, the CARE Clinic for congenital anomalies, and future research areas. This episode’s panel of guests include: Emi Bretschneider, MD, Division Chief...

Lisa J. Rosenthal, MD, discusses the recently launched Northwestern Medicine West Health Accelerator, an initiative designed to enhance access to mental health services through evidence-based collaborative care models. Learn how this program integrates psychiatric care into primary care settings, using advanced technology and data analytics to improve patient outcomes.

Join Sean W. P. Koppe, MD, and Justin R. Boike, MD, both of Northwestern Medicine Gastroenterology and Hepatology, as they discuss how communities are affected by the availability of expert liver care close to home. We’re proud to offer liver transplant care clinics in Northern and Central Illinois and Northwest Indiana, providing essential pre-transplant services near where our patients live and...

In this Better Edge podcast episode, a multidisciplinary panel of Northwestern Medicine experts — R. Mark Wiet, MD, otologist and neurotologist; Nicholas Hac, MD, otoneurologist; Stephen T. Magill, MD, PhD, neurosurgeon; and Kevin Y. Zhan, MD, otologist and neurotologist — discusses advances in the management of acoustic neuroma. They explore detection, diagnosis and treatment options and outline...

In this Better Edge podcast episode, Margrit Urbanek, PhD, associate professor of Endocrinology, and doctoral student Rosie Bauer discuss key insights from their recent research on the potential role of a rare genetic variation in the LMNA gene in the development of PCOS.

Immense pressure on hospitals from the COVID-19 pandemic prompted CMS to waive its three-day rule for skilled nursing facility (SNF) care. Effective March 1, 2020, this waiver allowed patients to transfer to SNFs without the usual inpatient criteria or a three-day hospital stay. A recent study by Northwestern Medicine published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society explores the trends in h...

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Anjan Tibrewala, MD, discusses his paper published in Circulation: Heart Failure, “Impact of Heart Transplant Allocation Change on Waitlist Mortality and Posttransplant Mortality in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices.” The study’s results found that despite the 2018 heart transplant allocation change deprioritizing patients with LVADs, patient...

Ziho Lee, MD, discusses how ureteral stricture disease management has evolved over the past decade, emphasizing the impact of minimally invasive surgical techniques. Dr. Lee shares insights on how his team developed a patient-reported outcome measure, detailing their approach, validation process and the potential implications for clinical practice.