Better Edge : A Northwestern Medicine podcast for physicians

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...

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 ket...

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 i...

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.

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 det...

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...

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...

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...

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 tr...

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 nece...

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 breakthroug...

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...

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 an...

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...

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 i...

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, Northwestern Medicine Urologist Adam B. Murphy, MD, delves into a critical and often overlooked aspect of health care — improving prostate cancer outcomes in men at high-risk and low-risk for prostate cancer. Dr. Murphy's pioneering research has uncovered new ways to make risk predictors more accurate for everyone, from refining cancer nomograms to integrating...

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...

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...