M.ED POD — CME for the Practicing Clinician

Peter Weir, MD, interviews Sach Apte, MD, MS, MBA, chief clinical officer of Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U), physician in chief of the cancer hospital, and professor of obstetrics and gynecology, about his path into oncology and the rewards and challenges of cancer care. Dr. Apte discusses the rapid progress in the field since the passage of the National Cancer Act, highlighting advances in surgery, radiation, and increasingly effective, less toxic systemic therapies. He also notes the growth of precision oncology, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, cell therapies (including CAR T), and radioligand therapy/theranostics.

The conversation explores cancer prevention and screening, including investigational multi-cancer early detection liquid biopsies and rising cancer rates among younger adults. Dr. Apte outlines the roles of NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers, emphasizing clinical trials, multidisciplinary tumor boards, and efforts to expand rural access through telehealth, an undiagnosed/accelerated diagnostics clinic, and the Huntsman at Home program. He underscores the importance of implementation and ensuring equitable access to care regardless of zip code.

Learn More:

• ⁠University of Utah⁠

• ⁠Huntsman Cancer Institute⁠
• ⁠⁠Huntsman at Home⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Undiagnosed Tumor Clinic (Huntsman)⁠⁠

• ⁠Huntsman Cancer Institute Affiliates⁠

Timeline

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:19 Sach Apte - Career Path

02:14 Why Oncology Matters

03:43 Staying Present in Cancer Care

06:53 How Oncology Is Evolving

10:57 Next Wave of Breakthroughs

14:35 AI in Oncology Practice

17:35 Cancers with New Hope

20:38 Immunotherapy Explained

22:51 Targeted Therapy Basics

24:11 CAR T-Cell Therapies

26:32 Prevention and Early Detection

30:32 What Primary Care Can Do

33:18 Rural Access and Telehealth

36:27 What NCI Designation Means

39:43 Huntsman at Home Program

43:30 Closing Thoughts on Access

Referenced in podcast:

Ken Kawamoto MD, PhD, MHS, FACMI, FAMIA

Kathi H. Mooney, PHD, RM, FAAN

Anna C. Beck, MD

Organizations & Institutions

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)

• American Cancer Society

• National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)

• Moffitt Cancer Center⁠

Medical Terms & Therapies

• Immunotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Cell-based therapy / CAR T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy)
• Radioligand therapy / Theranostics
• Chemotherapy
• Precision oncology
• Liquid biopsy / Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests
• Cytokine release syndrome
• RAS (molecular target/mutation)
• Neuroendocrine tumors

Cancer Types Mentioned

• Ovarian cancer

• Uterine cancer

• Cervical cancer

• Endometrial cancer

• Melanoma

• Lung cancer

• Pancreatic cancer

• Colon cancer / Colorectal cancer

• Breast cancer

• Multiple myeloma

• Leukemia

• Lymphoma

• Prostate cancer

• GI cancers

Tyson Schwab, MD, hosts an episode of M.ED Pod with Matthew Wahl, MD, an endocrinologist at University of Utah Health and director of the Lipid Disorder Clinic, to discuss updated cardiovascular risk assessment and lipid management.

Learners will develop an enhanced understanding of lipid disorders and additional information supporting care decisions including:

• Updates to the 2026 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Guidelines
• Use of the PREVENT Risk Equation
• Practical strategies for lipid management

Wahl reviews the March 2026 ACC/AHA guideline update, emphasizing the PREVENT Equation to estimate 10-year risk and guide decisions across risk tiers. They address common statin hesitancy and intolerance, including evaluating secondary causes of symptoms and strategies. Dr. Wahl covers primary vs secondary prevention, when to treat hypertriglyceridemia, therapeutic inertia, and emerging CRISPR PCSK9 gene-editing research.

01:16 New 2026 Risk Calculator

04:36 Statin Hesitancy and Intolerance

07:27 Primary vs Secondary Prevention

09:26 Lifestyle, Meds, and Timing

11:16 Non-statins

14:01 Treating High Triglycerides

16:19 Common Cholesterol Pitfalls

18:14 Future of Lipid Therapy

19:29 Key Takeaways

21:33 Guideline Notes and CME

Having listened to this episode learners should be able to:

1. Apply current guideline-based strategies for cholesterol management
2. Identify appropriate use of lifestyle therapy, statins, non-statin medications, and combination therapy based on a patient’s cardiovascular risk profile
3. Individualize lipid-lowering treatment in complex or common real-world scenarios
4. Recognize how to manage statin intolerance, residual risk, hyper-triglyceridemia, and patients who do not reach LDL-C targets despite therapy

Additional Resources

• The American Heart Association PREVENT™ Online Calculator

• High Cholesterol Management – U of U Health Programs

• Advanced Imaging to Diagnose Heart Disease

• 2026 Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

In this episode, host Dr. Peter Weir speaks with Molly Becky, DNP, a women’s health nurse practitioner at the University of Utah Health Midlife Women’s Health & Menopause Program. As a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, Molly brings expertise in evidence-based care for women in midlife, including the use of hormone therapies and management of menopausal symptoms. Their conversation covers a broad range of health concerns affecting women during this stage of life, while also highlighting recent FDA changes and exploring how these updates influence clinical practice and decision-making to ensure safe, effective, and up-to-date care.

Topics discussed include:

• Why HRT Was Renamed

• Perimenopause vs Menopause

• Diagnosing and Lab Panels - When Symptoms Beat Labs

• What Counts as MHT

• Progesterone and the Uterus

• Who Should Start MHT

• Contraindications Overview

• MHT vs Birth Control

• Clot Risk and Dosing

• WHI Study Revisited

• Modern Hormone Formulations

• Misconceptions and Counseling

• Nonhormonal Medication Options

• Future Therapies - Testosterone

• Compounding Pros and Cons

• Online Influencers and Resources

At the conclusion of the podcast, learners should be able to:

1. Have a greater understanding of perimenopause and menopause and be able to evaluate appropriate patient selection for traditional menopause hormone therapy (MHT), including FDA-approved indications for estrogen and progesterone.

2. Assess the individual risks and contraindications of MHT to patients, support safe, evidence-based prescribing and effective patient counseling.

Learn More – Links to Resources

Upcoming CME Training about Menopause Care 2026

• June and October CME sessions in 2026, hosted by University of Utah Health

Hormone Therapy Resources

Women's Health Research Studies

Women’s Health Midlife Care

Episode Timeline

00:53 Why MHT Not HRT

01:36 Perimenopause vs Menopause

04:19 Diagnosing

05:05 Lab Interpretation Pitfalls

07:20 Treating Symptoms Despite Normal Labs

08:58 Estrogen Progesterone Basics

12:52 Who Should Avoid MHT

15:03 Contraindications and OCP Differences

17:19 Clot Risk and Patch Safety

19:22 WHI Study Revisited

22:23 Modern Hormone Formulations

23:24 Top Menopause Symptoms

25:39 Misconceptions and Counseling

26:53 Nonhormonal Medication

33:15 Future Therapies - Testosterone

35:01 Compounding and DHEA

37:57 Influencers

Timothy Farrell, MD, AGSF, hosts this episode of MedPodwith guest Andrea Harris, RN, clinical nurse lead for Age-Friendly Care at University of Utah Health. They discuss how nursing operationalizes the Age-Friendly Health System 4Ms -what matters, medication, mentation, and mobility across inpatient, outpatient, and transitional care settings.

Harris describes her path from an interest in public health toadvanced clinical expertise in geriatric care. Her experiences revealed gaps in system-wide care for older adults and led her to pursue quality improvement work. She has collaborated with the HRSA-funded Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to advance Age-Friendly Care across health systems.

Harris explains that nursing’s observation-based, advocacy-focused role—and the significant time nurses spend with patients—positions them to identify 4M needs early. Her advocacy efforts include integrating caregivers and support systems early in the care process and coordinating interdisciplinary teamwork with physicians, pharmacists, therapists, and social workers. The episode highlights the importance of meeting clinicians where they are, embedding an “aging lens” into workflows, and reframing perspectives onaging to counter ageism.

This episode is especially valuable for physicians and advanced practice providers in primary care, internal medicine, hospital medicine, and emergency medicine. It’s also highly relevant for nurses and the broader interdisciplinary care team, includingnurse practitioners, care managers, social workers, and physical and occupational therapists. Health system leaders and clinicians interested in age-friendly care design and quality improvement will find practical insights as well.

Learn more and access provider, family, and patient resources in the links below:

·       Geriatrics specialty care and consultation

·       University of Utah education and training opportunities in geriatrics

·       University of Utah Gerontology Programs

·       College of Nursing Hartford Center for Gerontological Nursing Excellence (HCGNE)

·       Age-Friendly Health Systems

Visit uofuhealth.org/medpod for CME submission instructions and information

In this episode, Peter Weir, MD, is joined by dermatologist Luke Johnson, MD, who cares for both adult and pediatric patients. Practicing at the Mountain West’s only academic medical center, University of Utah, Dr. Johnson sees the full spectrum of dermatologic disease—from routine conditions clinicians manage daily, to rare, complex disorders. His broad expertise makes him uniquely qualified to share practical lifestyle guidance, medication strategies, surgical approaches, and therapies.

Together, they discuss what primary care clinicians can confidently manage when patients present with skin concerns—and when referral to dermatology is warranted. The conversation is packed with high yield clinical pearls on topics including diaper rash, eczema, sun protection, urgent rashes, infantile hemangiomas, emerging biologic therapies, and modern acne management, including isotretinoin.

This fast paced, clinically focused episode is essential listening for anyone who encounters skin conditions in practice.

Key Topics Covered:

1. What Primary Care Clinicians Can Manage
2. Better Management of Common Conditions
3. New Dermatologic Medications
4. Acne Treatment & Isotretinoin (Accutane)
5. Skin Cancers, Treatment -Mohs

Related CME & Educational Opportunities

Practical Derm CME Events: Dermatology training for primary care, 1 day, in-person from University of Utah Health Department of Dermatology

Dermasphere: For dermatology practitioners, Dermasphere covers the most important updates from the latest articles and research in the field hosted by Luke Johnson, MD.

Peter Weir, MD, our host for this episode, is a primary care physician and currently serves as the Chief Population Health Officer for University of Utah Health. Weir’s guest is Dr. Ken Kawamoto, known nationally in the fields of clinical informatics, interoperability, and AI-enabled healthcare and leader of U of U Health’s Innovation Lab. He is an MD/PhD and has a remarkable ability to blend what providers and staff need to be successful and efficient while caring for patients.

Artificial intelligence is changing health care and academic medicine at a remarkable pace. For years, AI has supported predictive analytics, imaging, and the extraction of data from clinical notes. Today, large language models and related technologies are accelerating that progress, helping us solve complex problems faster and more effectively. Importantly, these tools are designed to support human expertise—not replace it.

In the podcast we cover a variety of topics, including what we mean when we use terms like AI and large language models (LLMs), what this technology actually is, why we’re seeing a tipping point in adoption and effectiveness, how AI can be integrated into the EMR, its role in clinical decision-making, the ongoing challenges with interoperability—and how AI may help improve the flow of data between health systems—as well as both the excitement and the legitimate concerns surrounding this technology.

Listeners will learn more about HIPAA compliance and safety with AI tools and how it can increase patient face-time by automating administrative tasks like note-taking, coding, and drafting documentation. AI innovations can ironically improve and restore the human side of caring for patients.

Lee Chung, MD, a stroke neurologist withfaculty appointments at the University of Utah Hospital and the Salt Lake City VA, hosts this episode. His clinical, educational, and research work spans both institutions. Dr. Chung interviews Alexandra Terrill, PhD, a clinical psychologist specializing in stroke, quality of life, and rehabilitation. Dr. Terrill brings more than 15 years of experience in mixed‑methods and community‑engaged intervention development and serves as co‑director of the Center for Quality of Life after Stroke.

Terrill shares her academic path, what drew her to work with stroke survivors, and the rewards and challenges of caring for patients and supporting families navigating life after stroke. Chung and Terrill explore how healthcare professionals can elevate post‑stroke care by providing appropriate resources and interventions that meaningfully improve quality of life.

Rehabilitation Physicians (Physiatrists)—who lead post‑stroke recovery—will find their conversation particularly relevant. Listeners will learn how to counsel patients who are “medically cleared” yet continue to feel impaired, along with guidance on what additional care may be needed. The episode also emphasizes the importance of identifying caregiver burnout and offers practical questions to help clinicians uncover it.

Neuro-critical care physicians, neurologists, vascular neurologists, neurosurgeons, hospitalists, and emergency medicine physicians will gain a clearer understanding of the full continuum of stroke care and how to effectively guide their patients through the next steps in recovery.

Learn more and access stroke information and resources:

The Center for Quality of Life (QOL) after Stroke

Neurology Patient Services

Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital – Stroke Recovery Program

ReStoreD – Resilience, Stroke, Dyad

TRAILS – Technology Recreation Access Independence Lifestyle Sports

Visit uofuhealth.org/medpod for podcast and information on CME credit.

UPSPRING- Science and Psychology of Resilience in Neurorehabilitation Group

Host: Andrea Harris, RN, Clinical Nurse Lead for Age-Friendly Care

Guest: Timothy Farrell, MD, AGSF – Presidential Endowed Chair, Division of Geriatrics; Professor of Medicine; Associate Chief for Age-Friendly Care at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah. Dr. Farrell is a nationally recognized leader in geriatrics education and age-friendly health systems.

In this episode, we explore geriatrics as a medical specialty and what it truly means to deliver age-friendly care. Dr. Farrell breaks down why geriatrics is essential across all clinical settings and offers practical guidance health care teams can apply immediately.

We discuss:

1. What geriatrics is and why it matters.

2. The Age-Friendly Health System (AFHS) framework.

3. The 4Ms of Age-Friendly Care—often expanded to a multi‑complex 5th M.

4. How each M supports safe, effective, person-centered care for older adults.

5. How clinicians can incorporate these principles into daily practice across outpatient, inpatient, emergency, and transitional care settings.

This episode serves as an accessible and actionable introduction for clinicians and learners seeking to improve care for older adults.

This conversation will be especially valuable to:

1. Physicians & APPs: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Emergency Medicine

2. Nurses and care managers

3. Social workers

4. Interdisciplinary team members involved in older adult care

5. Health system leaders interested in Age-Friendly Health System design, quality improvement, and implementation

Resources & Links

Geriatrics Specialty Care and Consultation

University of Utah Education & Training Opportunities in Geriatrics

U of U Health Age Friendly Programs

• Aging Brain Care Program
• Patient-Centered Medical Home
• Delirium Prevention
• GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience)

Visit: uofuhealth.org/medpod for podcast access and CME information.

Tyson Schwab, MD, sits down with Christopher Gee, MD, to discuss his journey to become a sports medicine physician. As a member of the teaching faculty at University Hospital, Dr. Gee educates resident physicians, fellows, and medical students through clinical teaching rounds and structured didactic sessions. 

Dr. Gee is a Team Physician for the U.S. Speedskating Team and serves as the Medical Director for the NHL’s Utah Mammoth. He has accompanied Team USA to the Olympic Games, provided medical support for the Tour of Utah, and serves as Medical Director for the Salt Lake City Marathon. In addition, he is the attending team physician for Copper Hills High School and the Chief Medical Officer for the Nitro Circus World Games and the Dew Tour Summer and Winter competitions 

Topics discussed include: 

·       Working with elite/professional athletes 

·       Services for High School and Professional Sports Partnerships  

·       Off season training 

·       The role of a sports medicine physician 

·       Multidisciplinary care – sports medicine collaboration with other specialties like nutritionists, physical therapists, strength coaches, orthopedics, etc. 

·       Rehab protocols 

·       Return-to-play decisions 

·       Advancements and technologies supporting athletes, ultrasound and PRP 

·       Research and CME 

M.ED POD has a guest host, Jamie Sessions, RN, introducing the new Neurology education podcast for clinical providers, Brain to Bedside. She is joined by Dr. Brian Johnson from University of Utah Health to explore non-epileptic seizures (NES)—what they are, how to recognize them, and the best approaches for treatment and patient support. The discussion includes common misconceptions, bedside assessment strategies, and the importance of collaboration between neurology and behavioral health teams.

Tune in to gain practical insights you can apply in clinical practice and improve care for patients experiencing seizure-like episodes. Use the M.ED POD website for details on CME credits.

Additional Resources:

• Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)
• Epilepsy Foundation
• Evidence-Based Practice for the Clinical Assessment ofPsychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures: A Report From theAmerican Neuropsychiatric Association Committeeon Research