Liver disease often progresses quietly—and too many people do not know they are at risk until the disease is advanced.

In this episode of Patient Innovations, hosts Rashmi Kandwal and Shannon Stauff bring together the human, clinical and innovation sides of liver disease and transplantation. Transplant recipient MacGregor Nestler shares the experience of becoming critically ill, waiting for a donor liver and rebuilding his life after transplant. Bubu A. Banini, MD, PhD, of Yale School of Medicine and the American Liver Foundation explains the many causes of liver disease, the importance of earlier awareness and how trusted support can help patients and families navigate an overwhelming diagnosis. M. Zeeshan Akhtar, MD, PhD, of the Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute at Mount Sinai explores how machine perfusion, research collaboration and artificial intelligence may help make more donated organs available for lifesaving transplantation.

The conversation also makes the case for a Minnesota Liver Health Day: a focused opportunity to increase awareness, encourage people to understand their liver health and connect Minnesotans with credible education, screening conversations and support.

• MacGregor's journey from serious liver disease through transplant and recovery
• Why liver disease is often misunderstood—and why stigma can delay care
• The many conditions that can lead to liver damage, failure and transplantation
• How the American Liver Foundation helps patients and families find education, support and practical guidance
• Why Minnesota needs greater public awareness of liver health and organ donation
• Why people should discuss liver-related lab results and risk factors with a healthcare professional
• How organ donation gives patients a second chance at life
• How machine perfusion can preserve and evaluate donated livers and potentially expand the number of organs available for transplant
• The emerging role of artificial intelligence in transplantation
• What gives patients, advocates and clinicians hope for the future

The Blavatnik Family Foundation made a $5 million gift, pledged over five years, to the Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute at Mount Sinai to expand its organ-perfusion platform. The funding supports new technologies designed to preserve donated organs longer, improve their function and viability, and potentially recover organs that might previously have been considered unsuitable for transplantation. It also supports continued research, an international organ registry and the future use of artificial intelligence to help assess organ quality.

Learn more about the Blavatnik Family Foundation's support for Mount Sinai's organ-perfusion work.

MacGregor is a liver transplant recipient who shares a firsthand account of serious liver disease, the uncertainty of waiting for a donor organ and life after transplantation. His story brings the patient and family experience to the center of the conversation.

Dr. Banini is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in Digestive Diseases at Yale School of Medicine, Vice Chief for Clinical Research in Digestive Diseases, Translational Research Director of the Metabolic Health and Weight Loss Program and Associate Director of the Clinical and Translational Core at the Yale Liver Center. A transplant-trained hepatologist and physician-scientist, she earned both her MD and PhD in genetics and molecular biology. She also serves on the American Liver Foundation's National Medical Visionary Board. In this conversation, she helps listeners understand the broader liver-health landscape and the importance of prevention, earlier identification, advocacy and support.

Dr. Akhtar is an Assistant Professor of Surgery, Liver Transplant, and of Immunology and Immunotherapy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is an attending liver transplant and hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon at the Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute and Principal Investigator of the PUMP Consortium. His clinical practice includes liver transplantation, living-donor liver transplantation and advanced hepatopancreatobiliary surgery. His research focuses on machine perfusion and ex vivo organ reconditioning to improve organ preservation, expand access to transplantation and help more donated organs become viable for transplant.

• American Liver Foundation
• American Liver Foundation Help Center — education, support groups, resource navigation and the national helpline at 1-800-465-4837
• Donate Life America — organ, eye and tissue donation information and registration
• Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Patient Resources
• Mount Sinai Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute
• Blavatnik Family Foundation
• Minnesota Department of Health
• HealthcareMN

Patient Innovations, presented by HealthcareMN, explores health conditions through the voices of patients, clinicians, researchers, advocates and innovators. Each episode begins with lived experience and asks what becomes possible when healthcare listens closely to the people it serves.

Listen and subscribe: https://healthcare.mn/podcast Contact: [email protected]

#PatientInnovations #LiverHealth #LiverTransplant #OrganDonation #Liverdisease #HealthcareInnovation #MachinePerfusion #PatientVoice #BlavatnikFamilyFoundation.

In this episode of the Patient Innovations Podcast, hosts Rashmi Kandwal and Colleen Rogers explore breastfeeding from three perspectives: lived experience, clinical medicine, and maternal health innovation.

New mom and content creator Brittany Runck opens up about her fertility journey, a NICU stay with her son Briggs, and what she calls the "middle ground" that doesn't get talked about enough. Dr. Michelle Haggerty, DO, MPH, IBCLC — founder of Fourth Trimester Doc — brings clinical precision to the question of why postpartum care in America is failing mothers, and what it looks like to actually fix it. And Ashley Mooneyham, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Momease Solutions, shares the research behind a 97% dissatisfaction rate with breast pumps — and the startup she built to do something about it.

Every feeding path is real. Every mother deserves support.

Top Learnings From This Episode

• What the "fourth trimester" is and why it matters for maternal health
• Matrescence: the birth of a mother, and why it deserves the same attention as adolescence
• Why 60% of maternal deaths happen postpartum — and 85% are considered preventable
• The connection between lactation and maternal mental health
• Why breastfeeding reduces long-term risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers
• New clinical data: 10-20% of mothers physiologically cannot fully breastfeed
• New treatment guidelines for mastitis (it's inflammatory — not always bacterial)
• What's wrong with the standard six-week postpartum visit, and what better care looks like
• Why 97% of mothers surveyed were dissatisfied with their breast pump experience
• Supporting pumping moms in the workplace: rights, tools, and what employers can do
• The NICU experience and the unique breastfeeding challenges NICU families face

Featured Guests

• Brittany Runck — Content creator and new mom sharing her fertility journey, NICU experience with her son Briggs, and the realities of early motherhood. Instagram and TikTok: @BrittanyRunck
• Dr. Michelle Haggerty, DO, MPH, IBCLC of Fourth Trimester Doc — Physician board-certified in family medicine, integrative medicine, and lactation, providing in-home postpartum medical care for mothers and newborns. Currently in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield.
• Ashley Mooneyham, PhD of Momease Solutions — Co-founder and CEO of a maternal health startup built on the voices of over 2,000 mothers. 2024 Minnesota Cup Grand Prize winner and 2025 HealthcareMN Startup of the Year.

Hosted By

• Rashmi Kandwal
• Colleen Rogers

Connect With Our Guests

• Brittany Runck on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittanyrunck
• Fourth Trimester Doc: https://fourthtrimesterdoc.com
• Momease Solutions: https://momease.com
• Petal Soft Breast Flange on IndieGoGo (launching summer 2026): https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/momease

Resources From This Episode

Find Lactation Support

• ILCA Lactation Consultant Directory: https://www.ilca.org/why-ibclc/falc
• La Leche League International: https://www.llli.org
• La Leche League of MN and the Dakotas: https://www.lllofmndas.org
• Minnesota WIC Breastfeeding Hotline (free): 1-800-708-9010 | https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/wic/bf/index.html

Maternal Mental Health

• Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net
• PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773 | Text: 503-894-9453
• PSI Minnesota Chapter: https://psichapters.com/mn
• Mothers on Edge: https://www.mothersonedge.org
• Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance: https://www.mmhla.org

NICU Family Support

• Ronald McDonald House Upper Midwest: https://rmhc-uppermidwest.org
• Everyday Miracles (MN): https://www.everyday-miracles.org

Workplace Pumping

• PUMP Act / FLSA Break Time for Nursing Mothers: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/73-flsa-break-time-nursing-mothers
• Business Case for Breastfeeding (employer toolkit): https://womenshealth.gov
• Mamava: https://www.mamava.com
• MilkMate: https://milkmate.com

Feeding Equity and Advocacy

• Fed Is Best Foundation: https://www.fedisbest.org
• Black Mamas Matter Alliance: https://blackmamasmatter.org
• Minnesota Perinatal Network: https://www.mnperinatal.org

Find a Doula

• DONA International: https://www.dona.org/find-a-doula

About the Patient Innovations Podcast The Patient Innovations Podcast brings together patients, clinicians, innovators, and healthcare leaders to explore how lived experience and human-centered innovation are reshaping healthcare.

Listen and subscribe: https://healthcare.mn/podcast Contact: [email protected]

#PatientInnovations #Breastfeeding #MaternalHealth #FourthTrimester #BreastfeedingSupport #NICU #PostpartumCare #WomensHealth #HealthcareInnovation #HealthcareMN

Fertility decline often begins earlier than people realize, and the path to evaluation and treatment can feel isolating without the right support. Host Rashmi Kanwal sits down with Dr. April Batcheller, a reproductive endocrinologist, and Rosie Nestingen, founder of Rebloom Health, to talk about what fertility care actually looks like and what is often missing from it. This conversation matters because the earlier patients understand their own bodies and options, the more agency they have when timing and decisions become urgent.

TOP LEARNINGS

* Why fertility starts to decline noticeably in the early thirties and more rapidly after age 35.

* How conditions like PCOS and endometriosis often go undiagnosed for years and quietly affect fertility.

* What a first fertility evaluation actually includes, from medical and family history to a hormone panel, an ultrasound of the ovaries and uterus, and a semen analysis for couples.

* Why Dr. Batcheller wishes she could meet her patients five years before they end up in her office.

* The traditional guideline for seeing a fertility specialist: one year of trying without success if you are under 35, and six months if you are over 35.

* The signs that should push someone to seek help sooner, including irregular cycles, known endometriosis, PCOS, a history of pelvic surgery, or a personal sense that something is off.

* Why the medical side of fertility treatment is often strong while the emotional and community support around it is missing.

* How Rebloom Health pairs people going through fertility treatment with peers who have been through similar experiences.

* The difference between peer support, therapy, and medical advice, and why each has its own role.

* Why peer support is most useful in the middle of figuring things out, not only after something has gone wrong.

* How clinical care and human support need to work together for patients to feel less alone in fertility treatment.

FEATURED GUESTS

* Dr. April Batcheller -- reproductive endocrinologist who evaluates and treats patients navigating fertility challenges and emphasizes earlier conversations about hormones, cycles, and underlying conditions.

* Rosie Nestingen -- founder of Rebloom Health, a peer support network for people navigating fertility, which she built after going through three years of her own fertility treatment.

HOSTED BY

* Rashmi Kanwal

CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS

* Rosie Nestingen: https://www.rebloomhealth.com

RESOURCES

Peer Support Community

* Rebloom Health free community: https://www.rebloomhealth.com

#PatientInnovations #RebloomHealth #Fertility #FertilityAwareness #ReproductiveHealth #PCOS #Endometriosis #WomensHealth #PeerSupport #HealthcareInnovation #PatientExperience

In this episode of Patient Innovations, Rashmi and Colleen explore one of the most complex and often misunderstood areas of healthcare: rare disease. While each condition may be considered uncommon, the lived experience is anything but rare for those affected. For many patients, it means navigating daily uncertainty, evolving symptoms, and a long and often frustrating search for answers.

This conversation brings rare disease into focus through lived experience, clinical reality, and emerging innovation—highlighting both the gaps in today’s system and the opportunities ahead.

We hear from three powerful perspectives:

Christine Von Raesfeld, rare disease patient advocate working at the intersection of patient experience, AI, and digital health, shares her personal journey navigating complex, overlapping conditions. She reflects on the emotional and physical toll of living without clear answers, and how that experience has shaped her work in advancing patient-centered data use, privacy, and engagement.

Dr. Nancy Cuan, internal medicine physician at Stanford, offers the clinical lens on caring for patients with complex, multi-system conditions. She speaks to the challenges of diagnosis when symptoms don’t fit neatly into traditional pathways, and how care models are evolving to better support patients living with uncertainty.

Pete Kane, innovator in precision medicine and multi-omics, brings a forward-looking perspective on how advances in biological data and technology are beginning to uncover patterns that traditional diagnostics often miss—opening the door to more personalized, precise care for rare and complex conditions.

Together, this episode explores rare disease through the lenses of the patient, the clinician, and the innovator—connecting lived experience, clinical complexity, and the future of what’s possible in healthcare.

#PatientInnovations #RareDisease #CancerAwareness #PatientVoices #HealthcareInnovation #EarlyDetection #HealthEquity #AIinHealthcare #HealthcareMN

In this episode of Patient Innovations, Rashmi and Shannon dive into one of the most overlooked challenges in healthcare: rare disease detection, focusing on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), sometimes called nasal cancer. NPC forms deep in the upper throat behind the nose, and its early symptoms—persistent congestion, nosebleeds, ear fullness, hearing changes, or headaches—can feel minor and easily dismissed. Yet for many patients, these subtle signs lead to delayed diagnosis, fragmented care, and life-altering consequences. This conversation grounds NPC in lived experience, clinical insight, and innovation—highlighting where delay happens and how we can do better.

The episode brings together three powerful perspectives:

Michael Arulfo, Chief AI Officer and CTO at Cadre, shares his personal journey with NPC—from early symptoms that were easy to overlook to navigating diagnosis and treatment. His story reflects the emotional toll of uncertainty, moments of feeling unheard, and the importance of persistence and patient advocacy when something doesn’t feel right.

Dr. Amy Anne Lassig, head and neck surgeon at Hennepin Healthcare, offers clinical clarity on why NPC is often diagnosed late. She explains how its location makes early detection difficult, how symptoms overlap with more common conditions, and how risk factors like Epstein-Barr virus can inform clinical suspicion. She also shares how clinicians approach treatment and the challenges of navigating rare cancers within complex care systems.

Dan Que Pham, co-founder and CEO of Oncodea, highlights innovation in early cancer detection. She discusses how advances in blood-based diagnostics, nanophotonics, and AI are working to identify cancer earlier, reduce delays, and expand access to timely, life-saving care.

Key takeaways from the conversation include:

Rare diseases like NPC are often missed because early symptoms appear common and non-specific.

Delays in diagnosis are shaped by both clinical complexity and system-level gaps in awareness and pathways.

There is no one-size-fits-all journey; patient advocacy and persistence play a critical role in getting answers.

Clinicians must balance probability with possibility, especially when symptoms persist without resolution.

Innovation in early detection has the potential to significantly improve outcomes and reduce disparities.

Listening to patient stories is essential to improving recognition, reducing delay, and saving lives.

Links & Resources:

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma & Rare Cancer

American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org

National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov

Head & Neck Cancer Care

Hennepin Healthcare: https://www.hennepinhealthcare.org

Innovation in Early Detection

Oncodea: https://oncodea.com

#PatientInnovations #RareDisease #NasopharyngealCarcinoma #CancerAwareness #PatientVoices #HealthcareInnovation #EarlyDetection #HealthEquity #AIinHealthcare #HealthcareMN

In this episode of Patient Innovations, Rashmi and Mary dive into one of the most debated and misunderstood topics in women’s health: Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy (MRT/HRT). Menopause is a natural life transition, yet for many women it brings disruptive symptoms, limited access to care, and widespread misinformation. This conversation grounds menopause and hormone therapy in lived experience, clinical science, and innovation—cutting through fear and confusion.

The episode brings together three powerful perspectives:

Karen Bannon, spiritual care leader and educator, shares her personal menopause journey—from unexpected symptoms and their impact on daily life to navigating decisions around hormone therapy. Her story reflects the emotional toll of feeling unheard and the importance of informed, patient-centered care.

Dr. Jewel Kling, Professor of Medicine and nationally recognized menopause expert at Mayo Clinic, offers clinical clarity on what’s happening biologically during perimenopause and menopause. She unpacks how evidence around hormone therapy has evolved, addresses common misconceptions, and explains how clinicians personalize treatment based on timing, risk, and individual goals.

Ashlie Beiter, founding partner and VP of Marketing at Winona, highlights innovation in menopause care. She discusses how telemedicine and education-first models are expanding access, reducing stigma, and helping women navigate hormone therapy with confidence and trust.

Key takeaways from the conversation include:

1. Menopause is a major life transition—not a niche issue—and symptoms can significantly affect quality of life.
2. Hormone therapy requires nuance, not fear, with newer research clarifying safety, timing, and personalization.
3. There is no one-size-fits-all approach; informed, individualized care is essential.
4. Access to accurate information and trained clinicians remains a gap, one that innovative care models are helping to close.
5. Listening to women’s stories is critical to improving care and normalizing menopause conversations.

Links & Resources:

Menopause & Hormone Therapy

The Menopause Society | Homepage: https://www.menopause.org

Choosing a Healthcare Practitioner | The Menopause Society: https://www.menopause.org/for-women/choosing-a-healthcare-practitioner

Mayo Clinic — Menopause & Hormone Therapy: https://www.mayoclinic.org

Female Sexual Health

Prosayla | Female Sexual Health Education: https://www.prosayla.com

Related Podcast

Read. Talk. Grow. Podcast — Guides at Mayo Clinic: https://readtalkgrow.mayoclinic.org

Innovation in Care

Winona — Menopause Care & Education: https://bywinona.com

#PatientInnovations #Menopause #HormoneReplacementTherapy #WomensHealth #MidlifeHealth #HealthEquity #PatientVoices #HealthcareInnovation #MenopauseCare #HealthcareMN

In this episode of the Patient Innovations Podcast, Rashmi Kandwal and Mary MacCarthy explore one of the most complex and underrecognized conditions affecting millions of women: chronic pelvic pain. Defined as pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis lasting longer than six months, chronic pelvic pain can stem from a wide range of causes — from uterine dysfunction and neuropathic pain to hormonal and mood-related conditions. Because the condition is multifaceted, effective treatment almost always requires an integrated, multidisciplinary approach.

The conversation begins with patient guest Kaleigh Karlen, a high school science teacher from Denver whose personal journey highlights the day-to-day realities of navigating symptoms, stigma, delayed diagnosis, and fragmented care. Kaleigh shares what has helped her most — including pelvic floor therapy, electrical therapy, and lifestyle changes talks about Beating Endo, a book that helped her understand the link between endometriosis, inflammation, and diet. Her story offers a candid look at how CPP affects mental health, work, relationships, and identity, and the hope that emerges when patients finally feel heard.

The clinical perspective comes from Dr. Kaitlin Baily, a Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in pelvic health. Dr. Baily explains why chronic pelvic pain is so difficult to treat and underscores how many of her patients experience meaningful improvement through evidence-based pelvic rehab. She dispels common misconceptions, emphasizes the role of consistent PT, and outlines why multidisciplinary care is essential for long-term recovery.

The episode closes with an innovation-forward discussion featuring Dr. Yingchun Zhang, Co-founder and President of HillMed and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Miami. Dr. Zhang introduces HillMed’s EMG imaging system, which produces a clear and comprehensive map of muscles and nerves to pinpoint optimal treatment and injection sites. This precision mapping is designed to support better outcomes, faster recovery, and more comfortable patient experiences, and reflects how patient feedback continues to shape HillMed’s research and design.

Together, these three perspectives paint a comprehensive picture of a condition that is too often misunderstood and undertreated — and they spotlight the hope, progress, and innovation emerging in this space.

#ChronicPelvicPain #PatientInnovations #HealthcareMN #PelvicPain #PublicHealth #ChronicIllness #HealthEquity #PatientStories #HealthcareInnovation #Resilience

What is Long COVID—and why does it persist for some people but not others? Why do symptoms vary so widely—from fatigue and brain fog to shortness of breath and heart palpitations? And how are clinicians and public health leaders working to better understand and support those affected?

In this episode of Patient Innovations, Rashmi and Mary kick off the new season diving into one of the most complex health challenges to emerge in recent years—Long COVID, a condition with no known standard of care and a growing need for awareness, research, and compassion.

Our guests bring deeply personal and professional perspectives to this evolving condition:

• Senator Lindsey Port, Minnesota State Senator, shares her lived experience navigating life, work, and treatment with Long COVID—and the struggles she’s faced with insurance coverage and care access.
• Dr. Ruby Tam, physician with the ME/CFS Clinic, runs a free clinic that offers a clinical perspective on what she’s seeing among patients, how her team helps them manage symptoms, and why treating Long COVID remains such a challenge.
• Kate Murray, from the Minnesota Department of Health, discusses one of the nation’s first statewide public health initiatives focused on Long COVID research and awareness—and the power of collaboration in driving progress.

Long COVID is real—and it’s life-altering for many.

While symptoms vary, the most common include fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, and post-exertional malaise. For some, recovery is slow and unpredictable.

Be your own champion.

Patients often face skepticism or delayed diagnosis. Listen to your body, document your symptoms, and connect with clinicians who understand post-viral conditions. If one provider isn’t listening—find another, and then another.

Find your community.

Join care and support groups to learn, connect, and navigate insurance or access challenges. Long COVID remains widely misunderstood and under diagnosed—but community can help bridge those gaps.

Certain groups are more affected.

Women, Hispanic and Latino communities, older adults, and those with underlying health conditions are at higher risk. Stressful living conditions can also worsen symptoms, as stress often manifests as inflammation.

Innovation and collaboration are key.

Minnesota’s public health initiatives and clinical partnerships are leading the way in building awareness, research, and resources for those living with Long COVID. There’s a long road ahead, but progress is happening—join the movement and access available support.

• Minnesota Department of Health — Long COVID Resources: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/longcovid
• CDC Long COVID Overview: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects
• ME/CFS Clinic Information: https://www.mecfsclinicmn.org

#LongCOVID #PatientInnovations #HealthcareMN #PostCOVIDCare #PublicHealth #ChronicIllness #HealthEquity #PatientStories #HealthcareInnovation #Resilience

In this episode of Patient Innovations, co-hosts Mary MacCarthy and Rashmi Kandwal explore Multiple Sclerosis (MS)—a complex neurological disease that affects nearly 3 million people globally, including over 1 million Americans. MS disproportionately impacts women, and studies show higher prevalence in northern states like Minnesota, which has the highest rates in the country.

Guests include:

• Mary Johnson, MS patient and advocate
• Dr. Jessica Stulc, Director of MS Treatment & Research, Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology
• Kathleen O’Donnell, President, Upper Midwest Chapter, National MS Society

Together, they shed light on early symptoms, lived experiences, the current state of MS research, and the power of advocacy, partnerships, and community in creating hope for those impacted by MS.

In this powerful episode of Patient Innovations, co-hosts Mary MacCarthy and Rashmi Kandwal go beyond stats and symptoms to explore the lived experience of spinal cord injury—and the groundbreaking technologies transforming recovery.

Nearly 18,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with a spinal cord injury each year. Today’s episode features two voices at the forefront: a hockey player's unshakable will and a scientist's drive to innovate.

Featured guests:

Jack Jablonski – Former Minnesota hockey standout and current LA Kings digital media specialist. Jack shares how his life changed after a 2011 spinal cord injury—and how he’s advancing recovery through his personal journey and the Jack Jablonski Foundation.

Dr. Parag Gad – CEO and Co-Founder of SpineX, Dr. Gad explains how his team’s non-invasive neuromodulation therapies (like SCONE™) are helping patients regain function—and what FDA Breakthrough Device designation means for the future of care.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Living with and training through paralysis
• How neuromodulation is redefining recovery
• Jack’s mission to help others BEL13VE
• The hope that drives patients and innovators forward

Want to collaborate or sponsor? Email [email protected].

Next up: Multiple Sclerosis—closing the gap in care.

Support spinal cord injury research through the Jack Jablonski Foundation. Every donation fuels progress toward life-changing breakthroughs.

#SpinalCordInjury #Neurotech #JackJablonski #PatientStories #ParalysisRecovery #HealthcareInnovation #SCI #SpineX #PatientInnovations #HealthcareMN #BEL13VE