EMJ Podcast: Insights For Healthcare Professionals

David Heymann joins host Jonathan Sackier to reflect on the defining outbreaks that shaped modern epidemiology. He recounts early Ebola investigations, compares SARS-CoV-1 with SARS-CoV-2, and revisits the smallpox eradication campaign. This episode offers rare insights into the field experiences that transformed global preparedness.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:07 – Ebola

05:51 – SARS-CoV-1 versus SARS-CoV-2

08:11 – Smallpox

09:26 – Insights from the field

10:28 – Milestones

In this quickfire episode, David Heymann answers essential questions about outbreak response, pandemic preparedness, and the future of global health. From the biggest misconceptions about infectious diseases to the threats we're overlooking, this introduction sets the stage for the full series.

In the final instalment of this episode on paediatric cystic fibrosis, Lisa Saiman explores the global inequities that persist, noting how progress is hindered by limited access to advanced antimicrobial resistance prevention tools such as sequencing and pathogen identification. She emphasises the need for strengthened international collaboration to help bridge these gaps.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

00:56 – Care inequities

03:30 – Global lessons

07:08 – Global collaborations

08:56 – Future directions

How can the threat of antimicrobial resistance be mitigated? In this second deep-dive episode, Lisa Saiman shares insights into the value of antibiotic stewardship and the nuance of microbial susceptibility testing in patients with cystic fibrosis. A must-listen for anyone curious about the overlap between cystic fibrosis and pathogen resistance.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

03:30 – Antimicrobial resistance threat

04:20 – Antibiotic stewardship

07:00 – Hospital lessons

10:00 – New antimicrobials

Lisa Saiman joins host Saranya Ravindran to discuss infection prevention in children with cystic fibrosis, exploring evolving hospital and clinical practices, key respiratory pathogens, and practical strategies to reduce infection risk at home. Learn about how the risk of infection affects the day-to-day lives of patients with cystic fibrosis.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:05 – Prevention importance

04:34 – International management

05:58 – Cross-infection risk

06:55 – COVID-19 lessons

07:43 – Home risk

10:57 – Childhood pathogens

In this rapid-fire episode, Lisa Saiman answers key questions about infections in children with cystic fibrosis, from everyday prevention measures to the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Perfect for listeners short on time but eager to boost their paediatric cystic fibrosis knowledge in just a few short minutes.

In this episode, Catherine Glass is joined by Anna Minchom, Clinical Scientist at the Drug Development Unit at the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK. In a highly informative discussion, Minchom explains the drug development process, key considerations in designing and conducting a trial, and the challenges in drug resistance.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

00:51 – Her journey into oncology

4:04 – Drug development

07:20 – Patient recruitment

08:45 – Challenges of drug resistance

11:20 – Early-phase clinical trials

13:06 – Navigating clinical trial outcomes

15:38 – Emerging technologies and therapies

17:42 – Side effects

19:09 – Three magic wishes

What does body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) look like in young people? In Part 3, Katharine Phillips discusses developmental differences in symptoms across children, adolescents, and diverse cultural or gender groups. She outlines early warning signs, risk factors that shape long-term outcomes, and how clinicians can distinguish BDD from related disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and social anxiety, a vital conversation for anyone involved in paediatric mental health.

Timestamps:

00:50 – Age differences

03:55 – Warning signs

07:15 – Social media

08:42 – Prognosis

10:17 – Obsessive-compulsive disorder

14:15 – Future of BDD

In Part 2, Katharine Phillips breaks down what current evidence reveals about cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and pharmacological treatments for BDD. She shares the challenges of developing specialised CBT protocols, the role of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and combined therapy, and practical tools like mirror retraining. The episode also looks toward the future, highlighting emerging biological and digital interventions, including the potential of virtual reality.

Timestamps:

01:05 – Aesthetic treatments

07:00 – Suicide risk

09:55 – Gender differences

11:59 – CBT

17:00 – Medications

19:47 – Combined therapy

21:38 – Mirror retraining

25:00 – Digital approaches