Mayo Clinic Talks

Host: Andy Herber, P.A.-C.

Guests: Victoria Clemens, P.A.-C.; Casey Fazer-Posorske, PA-C; Emily Olson, C.N.P., D.N.P.; Alec Williams, C.N.P., D.N.P.

As healthcare becomes increasingly specialized and complex, organizations face growing demands for patient access, workforce sustainability, and high-quality care. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants play a critical role in meeting these needs, and postgraduate fellowship programs are gaining recognition as a strategic investment in workforce development. By accelerating specialty expertise, enhancing workforce readiness, and supporting recruitment and retention, fellowships help organizations build the clinical capacity needed to care for patients today while preparing for the healthcare challenges of tomorrow.

In this episode, Mayo Clinic NP and PA leaders explore the evolution of postgraduate fellowship training, review the evidence behind these programs, and discuss how fellowships contribute to clinical excellence, professional growth, workforce stability, and leadership development. The topic for this podcast is Post Graduate Fellowship for NPs and PAs: Building Clinical Excellence and Leadership Readiness.

Host: Kimberly Beckstrom, C.N.P., D.N.P.

Guests: Annie Johnson, C.N.P.; Kimberly Langer, C.N.P., D.N.P.; Lori McGowan, DMSc, PA-C; Brittany Strelow, DMSc, PA-C; Alec Williams, C.N.P., D.N.P.

As healthcare grows increasingly complex, organizations need clinicians who can contribute not only through direct patient care, but also through leadership, education, research, innovation, quality improvement, and systems transformation. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are increasingly pursuing advanced clinical, research, and business education to build capabilities that help address healthcare's most pressing challenges and expand their impact across organizations.

In this episode, Mayo Clinic NP and PA leaders explore how degrees such as dual certification, DNP, DMSc, PhD, and MBA develop unique skills and perspectives, discuss their impact at both the individual and health system level, and share personal experiences of using advanced education to influence patient care, lead change, advance research, strengthen teams, and improve organizational outcomes. Join us as we examine how healthcare organizations can better leverage multidimensional professionals to drive innovation, solve complex problems, and shape the future of care. The topic for this podcast is Degrees That Differentiate: Strategic Use of Advanced Clinical, Research, and Business Education.

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. 

Guest: Erick Bothun, M.D. 

Normally, our eyes work together, providing us with one single image and providing accurate depth perception. However, when there’s misalignment of the eyes and they don’t point in the same direction, that’s known as strabismus. It’s much more than a cosmetic issue; a variety of complications can develop if strabismus isn’t treated. Primary care clinicians are usually the first healthcare contact of those with strabismus, and it becomes important for us to recognize it and arrange proper referral for management. Does strabismus only occur in children? How does it differ from amblyopia? What is the treatment and how effective is it? I’ll get answers to these questions and more as we discuss “Strabismus: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment” with my guest Dr. Erick Bothun, a pediatric ophthalmologist at the Mayo Clinic. 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. 

Guests: Erin O’Brien, M.D. & Rohit Divekar, M.B.B.S 

Patients frequently come to primary care with symptoms of nasal congestion, facial pressure, post-nasal drainage and recurrent sinus infections and they often believe their symptoms should be treated with an antibiotic. Determining the underlying cause of the patient’s symptoms, deciding who will benefit from imaging, allergy testing or referral to an ENT or allergy specialist can be challenging. In this podcast, we’ll discuss common misperceptions regarding sinus infections, the relationship between allergy and chronic sinus disease as well as the advances which have been made in both the medical and surgical treatment. Today’s topic is “Sinus Disease and Allergy” and my guests include Dr. Erin O’Brien, from the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Dr. Rohit Divekar, from the Division of Allergy and Immunology. 

Connect with us! Mayo Clinic Talks Podcast Season 6 | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. 

Guest: Cheryl L. Khanna, M.D. 

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide and is characterized by progressive optic nerve damage often but not always associated with elevated intraocular pressure. When vision loss occurs, it begins insidiously and progresses silently. Many patients are unaware of any eye problems until they become advanced. Although ophthalmologists diagnose and manage those with glaucoma, primary care clinicians play a major role in identifying those at risk, encouraging eye exams, reviewing medications that can increase the risk of glaucoma and reinforcing treatment adherence. What’s the difference between open and closed angle glaucoma? What are the risk factors? When should patients start screening for the condition? These are questions I’ll be asking my guest, Dr. Cheryl Khanna, an ophthalmologist at the Mayo Clinic as we discuss “An Update on Glaucoma”.  

Connect with us! Mayo Clinic Talks Podcast Season 6 | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. 

Guest: Joshua M. Romero, M.D. 

Tendon disorders can be difficult to manage, and patients often suffer with chronic symptoms. Traditional treatments such as physical therapy, braces, and steroid injections have shown to be of limited benefit. There’s another treatment option for chronic tendon disorders; focused shockwave therapy. It’s non-invasive and uses acoustic pressure waves to stimulate healing in injured musculoskeletal tissue. So, how effective is it? Which conditions tend to respond best? Does it just relieve pain, or does it actually accelerate healing, and how does the success rate compare to other traditional treatment options?  I’ll get answers to these questions from my guest, Dr. Joshua Romero, a sports medicine physician in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic. The topic for this podcast is “Focused Shockwave Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders”. 

Connect with us! Mayo Clinic Talks Podcast Season 6 | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development 

Host: Andy Herber, P.A.-C.

Guests: Jennifer Bold, D.N.P., APRN, C.N.P.; Michelle Booth-Kowalczyk, APRN, C.N.P.; John Weimer, PA-C; Alec Williams, APRN, C.N.P., D.N.P.;

As healthcare grows increasingly complex, the success of newly hired nurse practitioners and physician assistants depends not only on their preparation, but also on the systems that support their integration, development, and long-term success. While orientation may last weeks or months, the journey to confidence, competence, and professional identity often extends through the first two years of practice. Organizations increasingly recognize that onboarding, mentorship, structured development, and transition-to-practice programs play a critical role in clinician retention, engagement, productivity, and patient care. In this episode, Mayo Clinic NP and PA leaders discuss what distinguishes onboarding from orientation, explore evidence-informed approaches to supporting new clinicians, and share lessons learned from developing successful transition-to-practice programs.

Connect with us! Mayo Clinic Talks Podcast Season 6 | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development 

Host: Darryl S. Chukta, M.D. 

Guest: Robert D. McBane, M.D. 

At times, pulmonary embolism can be very challenging to diagnose. While some patients have a very dramatic presentation, others may have very subtle, non-specific symptoms. Establishing a diagnosis quickly is important as a delayed or missed diagnosis can lead to excessive morbidity and mortality. What clues might a patient have that should alert us to the possibility of a PE? What are the best tests to order when we suspect one? Do all patients with a PE need to be hospitalized, and what are the current recommendations for management? My guest is vascular medicine specialist, Dr. Robert McBane, M.D., from the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. We’ll cover these questions and more as we discuss “Pulmonary Embolism”. 

Connect with us! Mayo Clinic Talks Podcast Season 6 | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. 

Guest: Ruti Sella Svetlit, M.D.

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of vision impairment, especially among older adults. While cataract surgery has been available for many decades, it has evolved significantly over the last several years. Patients now have multiple lens options which can give them a variety of benefits. How has cataract surgery changed over time? What are some of the new, current lens options available? What can patients expect from them and are all individuals with cataracts candidates for these new options? In today’s podcast, we’ll explore how cataract surgery has changed, and which patients may benefit the most from this newer technology as we discuss “Innovations and New Options for Cataract Surgery” with my guest, Dr. Ruti Sella Svetlit, M.D., an ophthalmology surgeon from the Mayo Clinic. 

Connect with us! Mayo Clinic Talks Podcast Season 6 | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. 

Guest: Stephanie L. Grach, M.D., M.S. 

Chronic fatigue syndrome is now known as myalgic encephalomyelitis. Despite this change in terminology, there’s still a great deal that’s not known regarding this health problem. Clinical manifestations can include severe, persistent fatigue, often with a worsening of symptoms following physical exertion. Impaired sleep, potential cognitive impairment, and possible orthostatic intolerance is also commonly seen. The exact cause remains unknown, although several proposed mechanisms have come forward. The diagnosis is based on clinical presentation. Patient management, while less than optimal, is usually limited to symptom control. This condition poses a major challenge to primary care clinicians with both establishing a diagnosis and management. To help sort out this frustrating health problem is my guest, Dr. Stephanie Grach, an internist in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. The topic for today’s podcast is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. 

Connect with us! Mayo Clinic Talks Podcast Season 6 | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development