Lungcast

To capture the breadth of the past year's discussions, HCPLive presents this Lungcast 2025 recap episode , highlighting a selection of standout conversations from across the series. While far from exhaustive, this collection reflects the themes, questions, and breakthroughs that defined the year in respiratory medicine and underscores Lungcast’s ongoing role as a forum for informed, forward-lookin...

In this episode, we are joined by Elizabeth Cerceo, MD to explore the critical role of resilience and sustainability in the healthcare industry. The discussion highlights how healthcare systems can adapt to crises like extreme weather events and pandemics while maintaining quality care. It also examines how sustainability efforts can reduce environmental impacts and safeguard health for future gen...

While major advances in screening, targeted treatment and immunotherapy have transformed outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer, progress against small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has lagged behind. In this episode,  Jacob Sands, MD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School joins us to share insights into the present state of SCLC treatment, from staging and standard therapies to ne...

Microbiome is a mysterious medical frontier with more questions than answers. In this episode, nutrition expert Neal Barnard, MD, of George Washington University explores the connection between diet, gut microbiome and lung health. While fiber and plant-based diets have been shown to shape a healthier microbiome, this conversation sheds light on the growing evidence that what we eat may have far-r...

This episode featuring clinician-scientist and expert in liquid biopsy development, Dr. Lindsey Cotton, who explores the evolving science of lung cancer biomarkers and their role in early detection. Listen in to learn more about the current landscape, benefits and challenges of both organ-specific and multi-cancer tests. The highly informative discussion aims to clarify what these tests can and ca...

Earlier this year, the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines were updated to include a new emphasis on cardiovascular disease and pulmonary hypertension in COPD, among much more. Rejoining us for an episode exploring these revisions is Gerard Criner, MD, of Temple University, a foremost COPD expert who serves on the GOLD Board of Directors and GOLD Science Committee. He...

This special episode features 2 interviews on-site at the 2025 American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference in San Francisco: Harold P. Wimmer, CEO of the American Lung Association, and Francesca Polverino, MD, PhD, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine and spokesperson for the ALA. View the latest conference coverage from this meeting here: https://www.hcplive.com/conference/ats #...

An internationally recognized leader in air quality, epidemiology and exposure assessment, George Thurston, ScD, of New York University headlines this important episode analyzing the Lung Association’s 2025 “State of the Air” report. With nearly half of the people living in the U.S. breathing unhealthy amounts of air pollution, Thurston delves into the acute and accumulative health impacts on comm...

It has been more than a decade since lung cancer screening guidelines via low-dose CT, based on the USPSTF’s B recommendations, have been put into place. To discuss the guidelines’ ambitions and obstacles, we are joined by the University of Illinois Health System’s Mary Pasquinelli, DNP, who specializes in lung cancer, lung cancer screening and pulmonary nodule management. While a lifesaving proce...

For this hot topic, asthma and lung health expert Dr. Afif El-Hasan of Kaiser Permanente in California joins host Dr. Albert Rizzo to discuss the acute effects of wildfire smoke on air quality. The enlightening conversation also covers the massive cleanup efforts from the recent Los Angeles wildfires and how related exposures may pose health risks. Want more Lungcast? Visit us at HCPLive.com/podca...

In this episode, Dr. Meredith McCormack of Johns Hopkins University and Dr. Loretta Que of Duke University to discuss “race-based normal values” in medicine, particularly in regard to pulmonary function tests (PFT). The controversial practice of using a patient’s self-reported race to adjust a standard “normal” range has been shown to lead to potential misdiagnosis and healthcare disparities. Drs....

Ever since the show first launched, Lungcast has provided pulmonologists and health care providers in general a chance to take part in ongoing conversations regarding lung health between experts, patients, and patient advocates. In this recap episode, the Lungcast team reflects on these conversations by highlighting some of the many interviews featured in 2024. The following are a set of examples...

For a probing discussion detailing the American Lung Association’s recent 2024 “State of Lung Cancer” report, we are joined by esteemed thoracic medical oncologist Dr. Jacob Sands of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. Offering insight into actionable targeted mutations, Dr. Sands addresses how precision oncology is fundamentally changing lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. T...

In this episode, multiple points of view are presented regarding Asthma Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD). Lungcast host Albert Rizzo, MD, was joined by allergist and immunologist Mitchell Grayson, MD, of Nationwide Children’s Hospital, as well as patient advocate Rhonda Nelson and her husband Wayne Nelson of The Little River Band. This discussion delves into the trials and tribulations of di...

Episode Highlights 0:15 Intro 1:10 Introducing the Lung Health Cohort Research Study 3:49 The enrollment strategy 7:10 Seeking “the cholesterol of lung disease” 11:50 The role of industry support 14:09 Imaging strategies for long-term lung assessment 17:59 Recruitment challenges 23:05 Final thoughts 26:20 Outro For our 50th episode, Ravi Kalhan, MD, of Northwestern Medicine, George Washko, MD, of...

In this episode, Dr. Rachel Eddy of the University of British Columbia explores the evolving field of medical imaging technology and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence. While applications of AI have expanded beyond traditional radiology, it delves into cutting-edge techniques like 3D printing and molecular imaging that are redefining diagnostics and treatment planning. Join us as...

Episode Highlights 0:16 Intro 2:24 Asthma action plans 3:52 Asthma Peak Week 6:28 School nurse’s role 11:05 SMART inhaler strategy for kids 14:25 Addressing vaping among students 20:18 Discussing vaccines with children and parents 24:01 School air quality issues? 27:50 Final thoughts 29:42 Outro As families jump into the new school year, this episode brings together Chicago-based allergist and imm...

Episode Highlights 0:15 Introduction 2:35 Introducing Janelle Bludorn, MS, PA-C 3:27 Common heat-related illnesses 8:43 How to screen for individual health-related risks 15:27 Respiratory consequences of heat 19:49 The interplay of medicines with heat 26:49 National Weather Service HeatRisk tool 32:58 Behavioral interventions for heat-risk patients 36:27 A FEMA system for heat emergencies? 38:10 O...

Episode Highlights 0:15 Intro 3:39 Update in pre-lung cancer genome atlas research 17:06 Next steps: applying innovations in bronchoscopy 21:45 When we can anticipate results 25:05 Understanding the lung’s microbiome 29:21 Utility of fragmentomics 31:01 Outro Dr. Steven Dubinett at University of California, Los Angeles and Dr. Avrum Spira at Boston University revisit our virtual studio to provide...

0:16 Intro 2:29 Updated community-acquired pneumonia guidelines 5:41 Diagnostic tools for CAP following COVID-19 9:35 Procalcitonin levels as a biomarker 12:30 The CAP treatment algorithm 18:36 Best practices for antibiotic stewardship 20:40 New CAP therapies on the horizon 22:36 ACIP recommendations for vaccination 24:30 Remaining areas of CAP uncertainty 26:30 Final thoughts 27:25 Outro Featurin...

Episode Highlights 0:11 Intro 1:05 Introducing Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, MD, MS 2:09 Understanding asthma endotypes and phenotypes 5:03 The effect of SMART guideline updates 11:50 Are pulmonary & allergy specialists adopting it? 12:46 The value of biologics in asthma care 18:11 Could they interrupt the atopic march? 19:53 COVID-19 risks in asthma 23:24 Environmental and non-viral illness impac...

Episode Highlights 0:16 Intro 2:17 What caused the particle pollution spike? 6:28 The health effects of fine particle pollution exposure 10:23 The new EPA particle pollution standard 14:27 Improvements to ozone pollution and the Clean Air Act 18:46 How to advocate for improvement 20:23 Air quality inequity 24:03 Reflecting on 25 years, and looking ahead 25:52 Outro  Dr. John Balmes, a renowned env...

0:16 Intro 2:28 Recent modifications to the lung allocation score 5:11 Monitoring chronic graft rejection 9:23 The rising use of ex vivo lung perfusion  16:17 The presence of post-COVID patients on the lung transplant waitlist 21:01 Impact of long Covid on transplant rehabilitation 22:51 Double lung transplant in bilateral lung cancer—what’s the future? 26:52 Effect of LAS on lung transplant survi...

Episode Highlights 0:15 Intro 3:09 Low-dose CT screening uptake in Canada 4:45 Evolution of adjuvant, neoadjuvant therapies 7:10 Reviewing CheckMate 816 10:56 Reviewing KEYNOTE-671 12:58 The impact of neoadjuvants on operability 16:15 Treatment-specific biomarkers for lung cancer 21:13 The short-term future of lung cancer therapy 24:31 Outro Precision medicine–delivering the right drug at the righ...

Episode Highlights 0:15 Intro 1:48 Remembering the 1964 Surgeon General Report 3:01 The impact of the report on cardiology 6:47 The strategies and impact of anti-smoking campaigns 10:33 The modern vaping challenge 17:38 Outro In recognition of 60 years since the 1964 Surgeon General Report—a historic contribution to our understanding of the negative health impacts of cigarette smoking—host Albert...