Diabetic macular edema (DME), an accumulation of fluid in the retina from leaking blood vessels, is a major cause of visual acuity loss worldwide. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections are a standard treatment today. VEGF is a protein that stimulates leakage from blood vessels, so blocking the protein can help reduce edema, or swelling of the retina. Joining the podcast is Lee Jampol, MD, who recently co-authored a study published in JAMA that found that waiting to start injection treatments until patients began to experience vision loss had similar outcomes when compared to starting injection treatments as soon as the condition was diagnosed. The injections are time consuming, costly and can carry the risk of harmful side effects, so waiting until the treatment is necessary has advantages for both the patient and providers.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital is the only hospital in the United States to have achieved exceptional high-quality outcomes at the lowest-possible costs in two of the country’s biggest public health threats, heart failure (HF) and myocardial infarction (MI) according to recently released data from the CMS.R. Kannan Mutharasan, MD discusses how Northwestern Medicine is a leader in providing the safest, highest quality care at the lowest cost. He shares how they accomplish this and what multiple process improvement initiatives in place at Northwestern Medicine helped to achieve these results.

There are currently more than 50 million people over the age of 65 in the United States and according the U.S. Census Bureau that number is expected to grow to 78 million by 2035. Northwestern Medicine's Dwayne Dobschuetz, APRN is taking using an old concept in medicine – the house call – to solve new challenges presented with a rapidly aging population. In this episode he shares how Northwestern Medicine's Home Care Program is improving patient outcomes and allowing more seniors to age in place.

Matthew Beal MD discusses total knee replacement. He shares what conditions can complicate a primary knee replacement, when it should be considered and what is unique about what Northwestern Medicine is doing to optimize patient outcomes.

Northwestern Medicine Center for Spine Health at Northwestern Memorial Hospital is the only Center in Illinois that brings together orthopaedic surgery and neurosurgery under the same roof in order to meet the needs of our patients. Alpesh Patel, MD, joins us today to discuss the inconsistencies in treatment in the field today and how Northwestern Medicine's unique, multidisciplinary spine program is addressing patients' confusion about back and neck pain and improving patient outcomes.

Men with inflammatory bowel disease have four to five times higher risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to a 20-year study from Northwestern Medicine published in the journal European Urology.Shilajit Kundu, MD, chief of Urologic Oncology and a member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University discusses the link between prostate cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. He shares Northwestern Medicine's approach to screening, diagnosing and treating this unique combination of conditions.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women. Ankit Bharat, MD, chief of Thoracic Surgery and a member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, discusses the latest advances in lung cancer treatment, and when it is important to refer to the specialists at Northwestern Medicine. He discusses how Northwestern Medicine team is using innovative research to prevent, treat, and manage lung cancer.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) brings together 28 of the leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research and education. NCCN is the global leader in advancing and setting the standards for high-quality cancer care.Dr. William Gradishar joins the show to share how Northwestern Medicine plays a critical role in the development of resources that guide cancer care around the world.

Pregnancy often marks an exciting time in a woman’s life, but for women with a serious illness it can be plagued with complicated considerations about which medications and treatments to take. Crystal Clark, MD, shares how she has devoted both her research and her psychiatry practice to optimizing treatment for women with bipolar disorder during pregnancy and post-partum. In this episode, she walks us through her work and some of the approaches she takes with patients who have bipolar disorder and have or would like to start a family.

Joining me is Dr. Lauren Streicher, the medical director of Northwestern Medicine's Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause, a first-of-its-kind center dedicated to providing highly specialized and personalized care for women. Today we are discussing post menopause orgasmic dysfunction – a topic that is rarely discussed during appointments. Tune in to hear Dr. Streicher explain how we can approach this conversation and provide solutions for women who are experiencing post menopause orgasmic dysfunction.