MedEvidence! Truth Behind the Data

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...

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...