Better Edge : A Northwestern Medicine podcast for physicians

In this Better Edge podcast, Harris Perlman, PhD, and Arthur Mandelin, MD, PhD, of Northwestern Medicine Rheumatology, discuss their participation and findings from a study that used multi-modal single-cell RNA-sequencing coupled with histology of synovial tissue from 79 donors to build single-cell atlas of rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue. Dr. Perlman and Dr. Mandelin discuss using the findings of this study to propose a bench to bedside, then back to bench plan to individualize treatments and therapies for patients with RA.

In this Better Edge episode, David J. Palmer, MD, clinical associate professor of Ophthalmology at Northwestern Medicine, and Jeff Good, chief sustainability executive at Northwestern Medicine, discuss the current and future sustainability efforts at Northwestern Medicine, and how the Ophthalmology department has integrated them into daily operations. Dr. Palmer speaks on the medical industry’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions, including drug waste (in the OR and take-home medications) and environmental changes on eye health. Additionally, the guests share advice for other healthcare organizations and physicians that are looking to enhance their sustainability practices.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Sadiya S. Khan, MD, MSc, the Magerstadt Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and associate professor of Cardiology and of Epidemiology at Northwestern Medicine, discusses PREVENT, the American Heart Association’s new cardiovascular disease risk calculator. Dr. Khan goes into detail about her involvement in the study on the PREVENT risk calculator, including its methodology, findings and implications for predicting cardiovascular disease risk.

In this Better Edge podcast episode, Edward M. Schaeffer, MD, PhD, chair and the Edmund Andrews Professor of Urology at Northwestern Medicine, discusses the PREVENT Randomized Trial (PReclude infection EVEnts with No prophylaxis Transperineal), a study in which he was co-primary investigator. The trial, funded by the National Cancer Institute, compared the outcomes of transperineal biopsy without antibiotic prophylaxis to transrectal biopsy with targeted prophylaxis.

In this Better Edge podcase episode, Joshua Meeks, MD, PhD, the Edward M. Schaeffer, MD, PhD, Professor of Urology, sits down with Song Jiang, MD, PhD, a new member of Urologic Oncology at Northwestern Medicine’s Central DuPage Hospital. Dr. Meeks and Dr. Jiang discuss advanced therapies in the management of bladder cancer, and how Northwestern Medicine’s integration efforts are extending leading-edge treatments and clinical trials past Chicago, to the west and beyond.

In this episode of Better Edge, Darren M. Brenner, MD, a gastroenterologist at Northwestern Medicine, discusses chronic constipation, its prevalence, risk factors, subtypes, and treatment options. He uses specific symptom-based criteria to define constipation, such as frequency, texture, straining, sensations of incomplete evacuation, a sensation of mechanical obstruction and the performance of manual maneuvers. Join us as Dr. Brenner puts constipation into context.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Katelyn O. Stepan, MD, assistant professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Northwestern Medicine, discusses the significant changes in the incidence and prevalence of oral cavity cancer in recent years. She goes into detail about the role of HPV in the epidemiology of oral cavity cancer, changes in the treatment landscape, the importance of multi-disciplinary care in treating oral cavity cancers and Northwestern Medicine’s ongoing research in this field.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Brandon Hamm, MD, assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine, provides an overview of the Ketamine Infusion Clinic at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and how ketamine therapy works. He discusses how the clinic was formed and how patients are referred and evaluated for mood disorder diagnosis to be candidates for ketamine therapy. Dr. Hamm also goes into detail about the induction and maintenance period for ketamine therapy and the metrics used to measure its success.

Join Eric Larson, PhD, , Dolly Devara, MD, and Arnold Hoskins, MTS, as they discuss a thought-provoking case study at Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, offering a candid exploration of the challenges that patients and families face when adapting to life-altering conditions. This insightful conversation sheds light on how an interdisciplinary approach and compassionate care impacts patients' rehabilitation journeys.

In this episode of Better Edge, Tiffany Karas, MD, discusses how physicians and clinicians can create a welcoming and inclusive practice environment to care for all patients.

Scientists have recently found a highly accurate way to predict the best treatment for patients with meningioma based on patterns of gene expression in their tumors. In this Better Edge podcast episode, Stephen Magill, MD, PhD, of Northwestern Medicine Neurological Surgery, discusses this innovative test that could change treatment for one in three patients with meningioma.

Robert S. Feder, MD, and Manjot K. Gill, MD, of Northwestern Medicine Ophthalmology, join this episode to share key retina and cornea highlights and clinical pearls from the 2023 AAO Annual Meeting.

Eric M. Ruderman, MD, of Northwestern Medicine Rheumatology, joins this episode of the Better Edge podcast to share key highlights and clinical pearls from the 2023 ACR Annual Meeting.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Sadiya S. Khan, MD, MSc, the Magerstadt Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and associate professor of Cardiology and Preventive Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, discusses her research on the associations between neighborhood-level racial residential segregation, socioeconomic factors and life expectancy in the US. Dr. Khan explains how social determinants of health contribute to disparities in life expectancy and recommends how physicians can improve health equity in their own practice. JAMA Health Forum.2023;4(7):e231805.

In this episode of Better Edge, Robert Kushner, MD, discusses the approval of the new obesity management drug, tirzepatide, as a treatment option for patients. He emphasizes the need to shift the conversation from weight loss to improved health.

Recent data suggests a rising trend in testosterone replacement therapy, even in cases without a clear clinical indication. In this Better Edge podcast episode, Channa Amarasekera, MD, of Northwestern Medicine Urology, sheds light on the common reasons people seek this therapy, potential benefits and risks, diagnostic criteria, patient selection, contraindications and the critical decision-making process.

Join podcast host Angela Chaudhari, MD, for the fifth episode of Parts and Labor on a captivating discussion with Northwestern Medicine complex family planning experts Cassing Hammond, MD, Leanne R. McCloskey, MD, and Ashley M. Turner, MD, as they explore the evolution of this crucial OB-GYN subspecialty. The distinguished panel explains what complex family planning is, explores how best to raise awareness among clinical staff regarding patient options, and shares thoughts on the impacts of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision.

Join us in this episode of Better Edge, as we explore the remarkable work of the Northwestern Medicine Wheelchair Skills Clinic at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.

This episode features Mahesh Ramachandran, MD, chief medical officer at Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, along with Anna Chavez, PT, DPT, and Barbara Peraino, PT, both physical therapists from the Northwestern Medicine Wheelchair and Positioning Center at Marianjoy. The episode explores how this program revolutionizes patient care by enhancing wheelchair users' independence, empowering them to overcome real-world barriers and ultimately improving their quality of life.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Michael Brook, PhD, associate professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine and director of the Isaac Ray Research Program in the Division of Psychiatry and the Law, goes into detail about the role of forensic psychiatry, psychology and neuropsychology in legal proceedings. He discusses the expertise of the division’s highly trained team in a variety of legal issues and clinical subspecialties, as well as the research he is leading to address community violence using a public health approach.

In this episode of Better Edge, Stephen Hanauer, MD, and Parambir Dulai, MD, both gastroenterologists of Northwestern Medicine delve into the intricate world of inflammatory bowel diseases. They explore the causes of IBDs and address genetics, the microbiome and environmental factors. They emphasize the need for a holistic approach to patient care, encompassing potential complications and the necessity of multidisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, they touch on the IBD Clinical Decision Support Tool and the future of IBD research, with hopes of advancing treatments and ultimately finding a cure.