The Vitals

Can we protect our brains as we age—and even reduce the risk of dementia?  In Episode 2 of The Vitals Health Span miniseries, guest host Dr. Shruti Naik explores the science of Brain Span with neurologist Dr. Fanny Elahi, neuroscientist Dr. Joseph Castellano, and geneticist Dr. Alison Goate.  Together, they discuss what distinguishes normal brain aging from the earliest signs of cognitive decline,...

In this episode of The Vitals, guest host Raja Flores, MD, joins New York State Senator Michael Gianaris and Mount Sinai Queens President and COO Cameron Hernandez, MD, to celebrate the opening of a new advanced ICU at Mount Sinai Queens in Astoria.   The panel discusses how critical care has grown more complex over the last decade—including expanded services like cardiac catheterization and care...

What if the goal isn't simply to live longer—but to live better, for longer?  In this special kickoff episode of The Vitals Healthspan Miniseries, guest host Shruti Naik sits down with Mount Sinai experts Fiorina Kyritsi, MD , Miriam Merad, MD, PhD , and Zahi Fayad, PhD to explore the science of aging—and why the future of medicine may be less about extending lifespan and more about expanding...

How did ketamine evolve from an anesthetic to one of the most important mental health treatment breakthroughs in decades?  In this episode of The Vitals , guest host Dennis Charney , MD sits down with specialists  James Murrough , MD, PhD, and Adriana Feder , MD, to explore the science behind ketamine treatment for depression and PTSD—and why it may offer hope for patients who have not responded t...

Colorectal cancer is no longer just a disease of older adults—and the data is raising alarm bells.  On this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter sits down with the Mount Sinai Health System’s leading experts   To unpack why rates are rising, especially among younger populations, and what you need to know right now.   Joining the conversation are gastroenterologists Dr. David Greenwald and...

 In this episode of The Vitals, we explore a question that sits at the intersection of medicine and the future of the planet: Can health care truly become sustainable?  Host and Neurosurgery Physician Assistant Leslie Schlachter is joined by a multidisciplinary team of Mount Sinai experts working across clinical care, energy and infrastructure, and supply chain operations. Together, they unpack ho...

What can living brain tissue reveal that decades of neuroscience could not?  In this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter sits down with Alex Charney and Brian Kopell to discuss the Living Brain Project, one of the most ambitious neuroscience efforts underway at the Mount Sinai Health System. By safely collecting tiny biopsies during deep brain simulation surgery, researchers are studying...

Pattie McCluskey had long relied on her doctors at the Mount Sinai Health System—until an insurance dispute with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield suddenly threw that care into jeopardy. In this episode of The Vitals, Pattie shares what it means when a patient with an established care team must confront disruption around appointments, medications, and procedures already tied to her health, daily life,...

Pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care—but what actually causes pain, and when should you seek treatment?  Two Mount Sinai experts—Drs. Tanvir Choudrhi and Houman Danesh—discuss how physicians diagnose and treat pain, particularly neck and back pain that originates in the spine. Together, they break down:   Why pain is often more complex than it seems  How signals travel b...

In this episode of The Vitals , we sit down with Dr. Alan Adler to unpack one of the most important issues affecting patients and health systems today: negotiations between hospitals and insurance companies.  As discussions continue between Mount Sinai and Anthem, Dr. Adler explains what is at stake in these conversations, how contract negotiations between major health systems and insurers typical...

In this episode of The Vitals ,  Drs. Helen He and Nicholas Brownstone discuss what really happens to your skin during colder months—and how to protect it using science-based strategies, not skincare hype.   From increased water loss and dryness to flare-ups of eczema, acne, and irritation, winter presents unique challenges for our skin. In this conversation, we explore:   Why winter causes increa...

Dr. Michelle Cespedes , infectious disease expert and interim System Chief of the Division of Infectious Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.   Dr. Cespedes shares the latest advancements in HIV prevention, treatment, and research—and why there’s renewed hope in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. In this conversation, we explore:  - Breakthroughs in HIV prevention and care  - Ho...

If shorter days, colder weather, and early sunsets leave you feeling sluggish, unmotivated, or just not yourself , you’re not alone. Millions experience winter blues — and for some, it’s part of a diagnosable, treatable form of depression. Dr. James Murrough helps us understand:  Leslie also opens up about her own experience with seasonal mood changes, making this an honest, practical, and deeply...

Allergies are on the rise around the world—but why? In this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter, PA-C sits down with two of Mount Sinai’s leading experts, Drs. Monica Kraft and Scott Sicherer, to break down what’s really driving the increase in allergic diseases, how to understand the difference between allergies and intolerances, and what the latest science reveals about prevention, tre...

On this episode of The Vitals , we dive deep into one of the most compelling topics in global health today: autism. We welcome two leading experts from the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai:  Dr. Joseph D. Buxbaum – Professor of Psychiatry, Genetics & Genomic Sciences, and Neuroscience; Director of the Seaver Autism Center: https://p...

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) isn’t new—but the conversation (and the tools) have changed. In this episode of Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter sits down with Dr. Jennifer Duchon and Dr. Sean Liu to break down: how RSV spreads, why babies are at higher risk, what to watch for, why antibiotics don’t help, when oxygen is essential, and much more. Learn more about our panelists: Dr. Sean Liu: https:...

As families prepare to head back to school, pediatric experts Dr. Jennifer Duchon and Dr. Meredith Grossman from the Mount Sinai Health System join The Vitals host Leslie Schlachter for a timely conversation on how to set kids up for a healthy, successful school year. From getting back into a learning mindset to essential immunizations, nutrition, and even backpack safety, this episode covers ever...

September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. In this special episode of The Vitals, Mount Sinai experts Dr. Shari Brasner (Obstetrics & Gynecology) and Dr. Alison Snow (Oncology & Supportive Care) discuss the latest in gynecologic cancer prevention, early detection, treatment options, survivorship, and patient support programs. They highlight key issues surrounding ovarian cancer, cerv...

Can alcohol increase the risk of breast cancer? In this episode of The Vitals, Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery and Director of Mount Sinai’s Dubin Breast Center, breaks down the science, risks, and what every patient should know. Dr. Port brings her expertise as a nationally recognized breast surgeon and leader in breast cancer research to shed light on what patients, families, and the pub...

Mount Sinai experts explore how cutting-edge technology — from brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to AI-powered imaging — is transforming neurosurgery and patient care. Discover how BCIs turn thought into movement, how AI can spot strokes in minutes, and how neuro-navigation helps surgeons operate with unprecedented precision. Featuring: Dr. Joshua Bederson — Chair of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Healt...

In this podcast, guest host Raja Flores, MD , interviews Rosalind J. Wright, MD, MPH , and Robert O. Wright, MD, MPH about the field of exposomics. Exposomics studies the impact of environmental factors on health, going beyond genetics to understand how exposures from conception to the present day affect well-being. They discuss how data like air quality, diet, and stress levels, combined with adv...

Loneliness is more than just a feeling—it’s a growing public health crisis with serious mental and physical consequences. In this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schachter, PA-C, sits down with Mount Sinai experts to explore the science of loneliness, its effects across age groups, and what can be done about it. Featuring: Dr. Fernando Carnavali, Associate Professor of Medicine and Internal Med...

In this episode of The Vitals podcast, Leslie Schlachter, PA, Chief Physician Assistant in the Department of Neurosurgery, hosts a discussion regarding the role of resilience in both professional and personal struggles. She is joined by Dennis S. Charney, MD, the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and President for Academic Affairs for the Mount Sinai Heal...

In this episode of The Vitals podcast, Leslie Schlachter, PA , Chief Physician Assistant in the Department of Neurosurgery, hosts an expert panel discussion regarding the recent advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General about the link between drinking alcohol and cancer. She is joined by Benjamin Laitman, MD, PhD , Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in the M...

Leslie Schlachter, PA, continues the conversation with Zevy Joshua Hamburger, MD, and Erik Blutinger, MD, MSc about their experiences during the pandemic. 🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt