MedEvidence! Truth Behind the Data

Send us Fan Mail Psychiatrist Dr. Rachna Saralka joins Cardiologist Dr. Michael Koren to explore the emerging field of artificial intelligence in psychology. They discuss the promise and shortfalls of using AI in this field, and the need for hard data  and validated results through clinical trials. They get into empathy, the placebo effect, and potential use of AI to train psychologists and other...

Send us Fan Mail On this Monday Morning Minute, Dr. Michael Koren draws parallels between the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament and the clinical research process. He explains that in medicine, researchers start with literally 10,000 potential molecules, which get whittled down to only three or four medications to be tested in big, phase III clinical trials. This ensures that only the most prom...

Send us Fan Mail Judith Abbey, DNP, shares her journey from medical student in Ghana to healthcare entrepreneur in Florida, where she founded On the Go Drip, a mobile IV therapy service delivering treatments directly to patients' homes. Dr. Michael Koren asks her about her history and business, and the two of them dive into some of the controversy surrounding supplement treatments. Helpful Li...

Send us Fan Mail Cardiologist Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to discuss progress in the world of cholesterol management. Dr. Koren explains the importance of getting cholesterol - especially LDL cholesterol - under control and the potential benefits to heart attack and stroke risk. They discuss some of the problems with current therapies; they are highly effective but can introduce burdens...

Send us Fan Mail On This week’s episode, Dr. Michael Koren Interviews local media entrepreneur Randall Thomas, host of PB and Jax. They discuss how “The Internet is a Weird Place.” They examine the algorithms, platforms, and biases that make up our experience on the internet. Mr. Thomas explains how the algorithms determine what gains traction and that all a creator can do is hope to increase thei...

Send us Fan Mail Ken Amaro, a former broadcaster with 42 years of experience and current Jacksonville City Councilman for District 1, joins Eric Ross, RN. Ken shares his decade-long journey with Type 2 diabetes from diagnosis through management and lifestyle adaptations, dropping motivational nuggets and tips he's learned along the way. The two discuss the need for regular checkups, the impor...

Send us Fan Mail On this week's Monday Morning Minute, Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to answer the question "can I participate in clinical trials even if I'm not sick?" They discuss how having "healthy participants" is critical for some clinical trials. They look at a current study that examines how the body processes oral statin medications and if those with...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Michael Koren is joined by Dr. Sunil Joshi, the Chief Health Officer of the city of Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Joshi runs through five health initiatives to lower the premature death rate in the city and county. The doctors discuss health inequalities, the social and economic factors that contribute to negative health outcomes, and the pioneering efforts of th...

Send us Fan Mail This week Dr. Koren Joins Kevin Geddings for the Monday Morning Minute to talk about a clinical research procedure to resurface a part of the digestive system that contributes to obesity and diabetes. This program is currently being studied in northeast Florida. Dr. Koren explains how the device works, it's expected results, and how you can learn more and potentially join thi...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Trevor Greene joins Dr. Michael Koren to discuss the effects of inflammation on the cardiovascular system. The two cardiologists talk about biomarkers that have increasing importance: including liporprotein(a) and hsCRP. The doctors finish up with actionable lifestyle changes everyone can implement.  Koren's Key Takeaways: Inflammation plays a big role in the body Chronic...

Send us Fan Mail Most pills are taken daily, and many vaccines protect for around a year, but could medical device products last even longer? In this episode of the Monday Morning Minute, Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings and explains what medical devices are and how they can make long-term differences for patients. The two discuss device treatments for diabetes, weight loss, atrial fibrillat...

Send us Fan Mail Anesthesiologist Dr. Todd Bertoch speaks with Dr. Michael Koren in this exciting episode about the a new pain medication, Journavx (suzetrigine), which was just approved by the FDA in January, 2025. The doctors discuss this breakthrough pain management medication, its safety profile, side effects, and how it compares to NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and opioids. They also dive into the a...

Send us Fan Mail Kevin Geddings talks with Cardiologist Dr. Michael Koren about the health risks and benefits of alcohol, which continue to be significant topics of discussion in health circles. This episode delves into a late Biden-era proposal for alcohol warning labels amid growing concerns about cancer risks associated with consumption. Dr. Koren expresses a desire for more clinical trial data...

Send us Fan Mail Rheumatologist Dr. Manish Jain joins Cardiologist Dr. Michael Koren as they discuss how performing clinical trials can help physicians become more holistic and knowledgeable, and how the process can result in better care for patients. In this conversation, the principal investigators explore Dr. Manish's journey as a clinician and investigator, including how he learned to app...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Dan Schlager, who started his career as an ER physician, joins Dr. Michael Koren to talk about his life path as a physician inventor who transformed emergency response through an innovative GPS technology. Dr. Schlager also talks about other inventions like a lightning-proof shirt, and the legal and bureaucratic process of getting and defending patents from those who would cir...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings as they explore the history and significance of clinical trial integrity over the last 50 years. Dr. Koren brings up the story of Dr. David Baltimore, who's test results on viruses were questioned and who's vigilance helped establish the rigorous standards we see today. It highlights the importance of reliable research practices and...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Medicare and insurance expert Andy Stansfield joins Dr. Michael Koren to review the differences between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Andy reveals the intricacies of Medicare's components - Parts A, B, C, and D - and explains how the government collaborates with private insurance companies to manage Medicare Advantage in an effort to promote co...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Obesity, Lifestyle, and Pediatric Specialist Dr. Randolph Nunez joins Cardiologist and Clinical Researcher Dr. Michael Koren as they discuss the approaches to managing obesity, particularly in children and adolescents. Dr. Nunez talks about Keystone Habits like sleep, and how tackling those habits are the key to sustained weight loss. The doctors discuss the psych...

Send us Fan Mail On this week’s MedEvidence Monday Minute, Dr. Michael Koren and Kevin Geddings discuss the superbowl and how the predictions around the outcome - based on past experiences - were no substitute for knowing how the actual game would turn out. They relate this to clinical trials, where a hypothesis can sound sensible and have logical underpinnings, but a randomized, controlled clinic...

Send us Fan Mail Join Pulmonologist Dr. Mitchell Rothstein and Allergist and Immunologist Dr. Steve Dorman as they explore the violent activity that can project particles at 100 miles an hour out of your mouth: coughing! The doctors explain the varied approaches doctors take when trying to find the cause of a cough and what happens inside the body to turn a cough from productive to chronic. They e...

Send us Fan Mail Technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being integrated more and more into our lives. It's fast, convenient, and can be used at home to gather more health data than ever. But how do we know if the benefits of these technologies outweigh potential risks and pitfalls?  Dr. Mike Hafran joins Dr. Michael Koren to discuss how clinical trials can and have been used to weig...

Send us Fan Mail This episode focuses on the FDA's approval of Journavx, a new class of pain medication that offers an alternative to traditional narcotics like OxyContin. Listeners learn about the significance of clinical trials, patient involvement, and the evolution of pain management strategies while emphasizing the need for informed discussions with healthcare providers.  • Introduction...

Send us Fan Mail In this second and final part of this series, Dr. Michael Koren and Dr. Seth Baum discuss the importance of patient retention in cardiovascular clinical trials. They highlight how participants in these trials, even those on placebos, often experience better health outcomes due to increased medical attention. They stress the need for clear communication at the outset, proper partic...

Send us Fan Mail The trajectory for those with cardiovascular disease has changed drastically in the past few decades. Cardiologists Michael Koren and Seth Baum discuss the amazing 60% drop in cardiovascular mortality since the 1980's and the worrying rebound in heart-related mortality starting around 2012. They dissect various influences for both of these trends, including changes in diet, a...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Koren reflects on his interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci with Kevin Geddings. This episode explores Dr. Fauci's history in public health and his life after exiting the government sphere. Dr. Koren and Kevin Geddings  also highlight the importance of acknowledging uncertainties in science, and how other fields don't always have the same clarity and transparency...