This month, Daniel R. Goldstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of JHLT, and the JHLT Digital Media Editors are discussing two studies from the July issue of The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, one from the LVAD domain and the other from the field of lung transplantation. You'll hear more about each of these studies, as well as the authors themselves.

First, the editors speak with Paulino Alvarez, MD, from the Cleveland Clinic, about his paper entitled "Outcomes of bariatric surgery in patients with left ventricular assist devices." Dr. Goldstein, Marty Tam, MD, and Van-Khue Ton, MD, interview Dr. Alvarez about the study, which explores how treatments for obesity alter the course after LVAD implantations. They also discuss his background studying in Argentina, the differences in training in different countries, and how to incorporate interventions like rehab and nutrition in patients post-LVAD.

Next, a study on the lung transplant allocation system with co-authors Erika Lease, MD (pictured left, from the JHLT Digital Media Editorial team!) and Maryam Valapour, MD, MPP (pictured right). Drs. Lease and Valapour share details about their multidisciplinary backgrounds, and how those experiences have influenced their research careers. Then, they share details about their study: "Impact of incorporating long-term survival for calculating transplant benefit in the US lung transplant allocation system." They discuss both components and challenges with the current US lung allocation system, then identify how their study explores the benefits of the continuous distribution of lungs (CD) allocation system.

Follow along in the July issue at www.jhltonline.org/current, or, if you're an ISHLT member, log in at ishlt.org/journal-of-heart-lung-transplantation. Don't already get the Journal and want to read along? Join the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation at www.ishlt.org for a free subscription, or subscribe today at www.jhltonline.org.

This episode of JHLT: The Podcast, but not the studies within, is sponsored by Bayer Pharmaceuticals.