Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Emile Mohler III, MD

A ruptured vascular plaque with subsequent thrombus often triggers the heart attack that occurs without warning. How do we identify and treat at-risk cardiac patients? Host Dr. Lee Freedman discusses an array of tools to evaluate plaque burden and promote plaque stabilization with Dr. Emile Mohler III, associate professor of medicine and director of vascular medicine within the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Dr. Mohler passed away in October 2017. This interview honors his commitment and dedication to medicine.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Christopher Miller, MD

Dr. Miller reviews basic and newer understandings about melanomas---how do they arise, what are risk factors, how are they recognized and diagnosed?

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Christopher Miller, MD

Dr. Miller reviews basic and newer understandings about melanomas---how do they arise, what are risk factors, how are they recognized and diagnosed?

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: William Welch, MD

Dr. Welch reviews the approach to this common and disabling condition that affects our older patients. He reviews the diagnosis and initial treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis and then discusses how surgical techniques can bring relief to many of our patients.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: William Welch, MD

Advancing surgical treatments and devices are producing better outcomes for patients with spinal problems. How do these innovations alleviate pain associated with spinal stenosis, spinal metastases and spine trauma? Dr. William Welch, chief of neurosurgery at Pennsylvania Hospital, describes new spinal implants, including the X-STOP device, and motion preservation systems that are replacing traditional fusions.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Mariell Jessup, MD

Dr. Jessup first covers the diagnosis of heart failure: despite our technologic advances, this is still a clinical diagnosis. She then reviews the appropriate use of testing including echocardiography and BNP. When should these be ordered? When should a cardiologist be consulted? Finally, she reviews the essentials of treatment of systolic and diastolic heart failure including medications and lifestyle interventions.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Mariell Jessup, MD

Dr. Mariell Jessup, professor of medicine and medical director of the Heart Failure/Transplant Program within the University of Pennsylvania Health System, discusses the current approach to severe congestive heart failure (CHF) with host Dr. Lee Freedman. Is non-compliance a common problem among CHF patients? How does a heart failure specialist factor into the treatment progression? Learn more about the sophisticated pacemakers, assist devices and transplant procedures that are changing the prognosis for patients with class IV CHF.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Craig Israelite, MD

Dr. Craig Israelite, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, discusses a series of approaches to knee osteoarthritis. A brief review of non-surgical treatment is followed by a discussion of image-guided surgery, minimally invasive surgery, partial knee replacements and the post-operative use of multi-modal pain strategies. Dr. Lee Freedman hosts.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Craig Israelite, MD

Dr. Israelite intially reviews some basic concepts in the approach to osteoarthritis. He then outlines recent surgical advances in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip that have led to better outcomes for our patients. These include minimally invasive surgery, progress in postoperative rehabilitation and the development of new bearing surfaces that both improve range of motion and extend the life of the hip prosthesis.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Douglas Smith, MD

Dr. Smith outlines the groundbreaking work being done in his lab with in vitro and in vivo repair of nerve tissue. Discussed are the growth and development of new nerve tissue in the lab and its transplantation into animals with nerve injury. The potential of this technology to help humans in ways never before thought possible is also presented.