MedEvidence! Truth Behind the Data

Send us Fan Mail Cardiologist Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to discuss how kidney disease can offect other body systems, including the heart. The doctor explains that people with kidney dysfunction have significantly higher risks for cardiovascular problems including heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes. Dr. Koren differentiates between typical, insurance-driven care and the attentive cl...

Send us Fan Mail Surveys show that 97-99% of participants who participate in one clinical research study would sign up for another. We wind out why in this episode, recorded in front of a live audience. Dr. Michael Koren and Nalini Jones, CCRC are joined by three clinical research patients to review the good, the bad, and the ugly in the history of clinical research. They also discuss the ins and...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Mitchell Rothstein joins Dr. Michael Koren to wake us up to the dangers of insomnia. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder affecting approximately 30% of adults and is characterized by poor sleep on at least three nights a week for three months or more. Dr. Rothstein reviews what insomnia is, what is happening in the brain, and what sufferers can do about it. He explains how lif...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to explain biomarkers, which he describes as biological indicators that may mark the presence of disease. Researchers are increasingly looking at biomarkers for their potential in early detection of disease before symptoms appear. Dr. Koren brings it home with a personal story of how current research studies looking into lung cancer biomarker...

Send us Fan Mail Steve Satek joins Dr. Michael Koren to share his journey from bench researcher to founding his own community clinical trial site. The entrepreneur describes how he pioneered embedding clinical research directly in Chicago neighborhoods to form a strong integration with the community. He talks about the importance of building trust through education and by helping the community whe...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Koren joins Kevin Geddings to reflect on his conversations with Harvard Medical School classmates at his class reunion. He recounts stories of these Harvard medical doctors struggling to navigate the healthcare system despite their medical training and how clinical trials provide a valuable resource for helping patients navigate healthcare complexities. Be a part of advancing...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren interviews Lavern Dowell, an advanced registered nurse practitioner who specializes in diabetes care. They discuss her approach to treating the whole person and how mental health can impact everything from diet and exercise to the ability to go see a physician. They also emphasize the need to increase diversity in medical research and the importance of delivering...

Send us Fan Mail Dermatologist Dr. Michael Bernhardt joins Dr. Eric Schramm to discuss hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a debilitating skin condition that affects skin creases such as the armpits and groin. HS is an inflammatory condition that can be misdiagnosed for years. New medications target the underlying inflammation. Treatments are currently in clinical trials as part of an effort to tackle...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to discuss the motivations of clinical trial veterans who repeatedly participate in medical research studies. Dr. Koren shares that these participants consistently cite the desire to "Make a Difference" as their primary motivation, pushing science and medicine forward for generations to come. Be a part of advancing science by partic...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Nikhil Kapila joins Dr. Michael Koren on this live MedEvidence! presentation. Dr. Kapila, a liver disease specialist, explains why we can't live without our liver. The doctors review what the liver does, what can cause damage to the liver, and what can go wrong when the liver suffers damage. They also discuss the importance of early testing, treatment options for some con...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to discuss how Knowledge is Power - especially when it comes to medicine. The doctor explains how diagnostic tests like high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HSCRP) empower physicians and patients by giving insight into heart attack and stroke risk. Dr. Koren also tells us that even simple things like knowing you are in a research study can im...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to discuss why atrial fibrillation (AFib) receives so much attention in advertising compared to other services hospitals provide. The cardiologist explains the financial incentives for hospitals and device manufacturers behind these marketing campaigns, contrasting them with clinical research, which has the financial and legal incentive to me...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Bernhardt, a dermatologist and clinical researcher, joins Dr. Erich Schramm to discuss the revolutionary advancements in psoriasis treatment over the past two decades. The doctors discuss how psoriasis is an inflammatory disease more than an autoimmune disease. They discuss what inflammation is, the inflammation pathway in the body, and how different medications can he...

Send us Fan Mail Doctor Carolyn Tran joins Neurologist Steven Toenjes to discuss migraines. Migraine is a complex brain disease affecting one in five women and one in ten men, with treatments ranging from traditional medications to cutting-edge therapies targeting specific pathways in the brain. The doctors talk about the causes - or lack thereof, the lack of treatment, and common misconceptions a...

Send us Fan Mail The FDA has granted full approval to Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine, providing an alternative to mRNA vaccines that works through a different mechanism using proteins and adjuvants. Despite being four years into the pandemic, COVID-19 remains a significant health concern, causing approximately 1 in 200 deaths in the US in 2025. • Novavax uses bioengineered spike proteins combined...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren shares exciting news about the revival of an oral COVID vaccine study previously halted by government spending cuts. The non-mRNA vaccine trial represents an important alternative approach that apparently received priority status even under strict budget reviews. • Oral COVID vaccine study in Jacksonville now actively enrolling participants after being temporaril...

Send us Fan Mail Urologist and president of the Duval County Medical Society Dr. Ali Kasraeian joins Dr. Michael Koren to update us on recent advances in Urology. In Part 3 of this series, Dr. Koren and Dr. Kasraeian dive deep into the latest advancements in prostate cancer detection and treatment options. They explore the evolution from basic PSA screening to personalized approaches . Dr. Kasraei...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren shares insights from his recent speaking tour across Saudi Arabia where he delivered 14 lectures in 6 days to sophisticated healthcare providers eager for American medical research. His observations reveal surprising aspects of Saudi healthcare including English as the professional language, universal insurance coverage, and the powerful roles women play despite...

Send us Fan Mail Urologist and president of the Duval County Medical Society Dr. Ali Kasraeian joins Dr. Michael Koren to update us on recent advances in Urology. In Part 2 of this series, Dr. Koren and Dr. Kasraeian explore into the controversial history of PSA testing. Dr. Kasraeian explains how this simple blood test revolutionized prostate cancer detection while creating challenges around over...

Send us Fan Mail Urologist and president of the Duval County Medical Society Dr. Ali Kasraeian joins Dr. Michael Koren to update us on recent advances in Urology. In Part 1 of this series, Dr. Kasraeian talks about his journey, from growing up in a medical family to becoming a urologist and healthcare advocate with a passion for innovative approaches to prostate cancer treatment. Part 1 highlights...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren sits down with Dr. Murali Ramaswamy to explore the concept of Research as a Care Option. They compare this with the misconception of research as a treatment option to reveal how clinical trials provide structured environments that often lead to better health outcomes regardless of the specific intervention. They debunk the idea that clinical trials provide treatm...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to discuss how tariffs could significantly impact pharmaceutical prices. They talk about how barriers to import may affect both prescription and especially over-the-counter medication prices. They move onto the difficulty of starting new drug manufacturing in the US and how clinical trials may provide relief for some patients. Be a part of ad...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, recorded in front of a live audience, Cardiologist Dr. Michael Koren is joined by pulmonologist Dr. Mitchell Rothstein to discuss Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is obstruction of the lungs, making it hard to breathe and represents a significant health challenge . It affects millions of Americans and is a leading cause of mortality, yet receives...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren Join Kevin Geddings to reflect on the evolution of medical research ethics from the troubling practices at Willowbrook Hospital in the 1970s to today's patient-centered approach. He connects this progression to John Lennon and Yoko Ono's final major concert, which raised awareness about conditions at the hospital while highlighting how far ethics in cli...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren shares insights from his presentation at the American College of Cardiology meeting in Chicago about a groundbreaking oral PCSK9 inhibitor that could lower cholesterol by 80% when combined with a statin. The development represents a significant advancement in treatment options for the 20% of patients who don't respond adequately to statins alone or experienc...