“My most powerful content is when I lead with my voice as a mom because I have the same concerns about keeping my kids safe as my audience does. It’s a powerful and effective way to find common ground with people,” says Dr. Jess Steier, a popular public health scientist and science communicator seeking to bridge divides and foster trust through empathetic, evidence-based communication. Dr. Steier has several platforms from which to do this work, including  Unbiased Science --  a communication hub that uses multiple social media platforms and other communications channels to share validated health and science information -- and as executive director of the Science Literacy Lab, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reaching a diverse audience seeking clarity and reliable information on scientific topics. “The science is less than half the battle,” she explains. “It’s about how to communicate with empathy.”

Join Raise the Line host Lindsey Smith for a valuable conversation that explores:

• What sources Dr. Steier relies on to validate information
• How she uses “escape room” exercises to train clinicians on empathetic communication
• Why tailored, story-driven messages reach audiences more effectively than facts.

Mentioned in this episode:

Unbiased Science

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“I realized that rather than talking one-to-one with patients in the exam room, you could talk one-to-many on social media,” says Dr. Kevin Pho, explaining the origins of KevinMD, the highly influential information sharing site he created for physicians, medical students and patients twenty years ago. Since then, KevinMD has become a valuable space for clinicians and patients to share stories and perspectives on topics from burnout and moral injury to technology and trust. In this conversation with Raise the Line host Michael Carrese, Dr. Pho reflects on the dual paths that have defined his career: as a practicing internal medicine physician and as one of healthcare’s most trusted online voices. And despite the challenges of doing so, Dr. Pho encourages other medical providers to follow his lead. “Patients are going online, and if physicians are not there, they’re going to get information that’s perhaps politically-driven or simply inaccurate.”

This thoughtful conversation also explores: 

• How social media has reshaped health communication
• The risks and rewards for clinicians of having an online presence 
• Why medical schools should teach negotiating skills

Mentioned in this episode:

KevinMD

Establishing, Managing and Protecting Your Online Reputation

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“We’ve created this ecosystem where the vast majority of information on social media, particularly in nutrition science, is inaccurate or misleading,” says Dr. Jessica Knurick, a registered dietitian and Ph.D. in nutrition science specializing in chronic disease prevention. As you’ll learn on this episode of Raise the Line with host Lindsey Smith, countering that trend has become Dr. Knurick’s focus in the past several years, and her talent for translating complex scientific information into practical guidance has attracted a large following on social media. Beyond equipping her audience with the tools to think critically and make informed choices for themselves, she also wants them to make the connection between the generally poor health status of most Americans with public policies on food and health and advocate for more beneficial approaches. “We can create systems that put the most people in the position to succeed versus putting the most people in the position to fail.” Tune in to learn from this trusted voice on nutrition, food policy, and public health as she shares her perspectives on: 

• Strategies for risk reduction and behavior change
• What can rebuild trust in medical information 
• How you can cut through the noise and spot misinformation online

Mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Knurick’s Website

TikTok Channel
Instagram Feed
Facebook Page

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Could studying the DNA of extinct animals – or even bringing them back to life – help us save today’s endangered species and inform modern medicine?  That may sound like the premise for a Hollywood movie, but it’s work that our Raise the Line guest, Dr. Beth Shapiro, is actually engaged in as Chief Science Officer at Colossal Biosciences, which describes itself as the world’s first and only de-extinction company.  “It's not just about learning about the past. It's learning about the past so we have more validated scientific information that we can use to predict what we can do to better influence the future,” she tells host Michael Carrese. An internationally-renowned evolutionary molecular biologist and paleogeneticist, Dr. Shapiro is a pioneer in ancient DNA research and has successfully sequenced genomes, like that of the dodo, to study evolution and the impact on humans. 

At Colossal Biosciences, she leads teams working to bring back traits of extinct species such as the mammoth, not for spectacle, but to restore ecological balance. “When species become extinct, you lose really fundamental interactions between species that existed in that ecosystem. By taking a species that's alive today and editing its DNA so that it resembles those extinct species, we can functionally replace those missing ecological interactions.” Tune into this utterly fascinating conversation to hear about what Jurassic Park got wrong, the positive ecological impact of reintroducing giant tortoises to Mauritius, and the ethics of using gene editing and other biotechnologies. 

Mentioned in this episode:
Colossal Biosciences

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According to the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, women make up 70% of the global healthcare workforce but hold only about 25% of leadership positions. Our guest today on Raise the Line, Dr. Roopa Dhatt, has been a leading voice in the movement to correct that imbalance through co-founding an organization called Women in Global Health (WGH), which has established chapters in over 60 countries since it started a decade ago. Dr. Dhatt is also pursuing that agenda and addressing other pressing issues in healthcare as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum. “We’re changing the equation so women delivering health are also viewed and valued as leaders,” says the internal medicine physician and assistant professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Beyond leadership equity, Dr. Dhatt is also seeking to address systemic pay inequities and high levels of violence and harassment experienced by women in the health sector, issues that were highlighted in research conducted by WGH. Although WGH has seen high-level success influencing policy at the World Health Organization and United Nations, Dr. Dhatt says the heart of its success is local. “Women community health workers have begun to see themselves as leaders and the heroines of health in their communities. That’s profound change.” Join host Michael Carrese for a probing conversation that identifies the structural barriers blocking advancement for women and that explains why the health of communities and the planet depend on inclusive leadership.

Mentioned in this episode:

Women in Global Health

WHO Report: Delivered By Women, Led By Men

Dr. Roopa Dhatt on LinkedIn

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“They say it takes a village to raise a child. I really think it takes a village to treat a patient,” says Dr. Lanae Mullane, a naturopathic doctor and clinical strategist who has spent years at the forefront of bridging functional medicine, nutraceutical development, and digital health. In this episode of Raise the Line, host Lindsey Smith explores Dr. Mullane’s view that naturopathic medicine complements conventional care by expanding -- not replacing -- the clinical toolkit, and that collaboration should be the future of medicine. “At the end of the day, collaboration and connection create the best outcomes for the people we serve,” she says. Their in-depth conversation also spans the shifting landscape of women’s hormone health, including the perimenopausal transition and long-overdue calls for research equity. “We're not just smaller versions of men. We need to have dedicated research for us.” Tune in to learn about the importance of grounding health in sustainable habits, rethinking midlife care for women, and how to help patients take ownership of their health.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joi + Blokes

SuppCo

Dr. Mullane's Clinical Website

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“It’s kind of a miracle, frankly,” says Dr. John Buse, a distinguished professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, referring to the effectiveness of GLP-1 receptor agonist medications such as Ozempic in treating type 2 diabetes, promoting significant weight loss, and reducing cardiovascular risk. As a physician scientist for the last three decades at UNC, Dr. Buse has played a key role in ushering in this new era of diabetes care, leading or participating in over 200 clinical studies on this class of drugs and others. “Nothing has impacted diabetes care like the GLP-1 receptor agonists. I have lots of patients whose diabetes was never well controlled who have seen all their metabolic problems essentially resolved.”  In this fascinating conversation with Raise the Line host Lindsey Smith, Dr. Buse not only explains how these drugs work, but also provides a clear-eyed look at side effects, and addresses issues of cost and access. Join us for the remarkable story – including the role played by Gila monsters -- behind one of the biggest developments in medicine over the past several years from a world renowned diabetes researcher and clinician. 

Mentioned in this episode:

UNC School of Medicine

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“It wasn’t a profession, it was a way of life,” observes internationally respected psychiatrist Dr. Nasser Loza, reflecting on a century-long family legacy in mental health care that began when his grandfather founded The Behman Hospital in Cairo. In this candid Raise the Line conversation with host Michael Carrese, Dr. Loza traces the transformation of psychiatry he’s witnessed in his long career as increases in classifications, payment bureaucracy, reliance on pharmaceuticals, and technological disruption have each left their mark. The cumulative costs associated with these changes have, he laments, pushed care out of reach for many and hindered the human connection that is key to the discipline. He describes his prescription for countering these trends as a focus on effective and modest aims. “Rather than saying, come and see me in therapy for five years and I will make a better person out of you, I think focusing on symptom-targeted help is going to be what is needed.”  In this wide-ranging interview, you’ll also learn about progress on advancing the rights of mental health patients and lowering stigmas, how to manage the rise of online therapy and use of AI chatbots, and the importance of empathy and transparency in mental health counseling. Don’t miss this valuable perspective on a critically important dimension of healthcare that’s informed by decades of experience as a clinician, government official and global advocate. 

Mentioned in this episode:

The Behman Hospital
Maadi Psychology Center

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“When I was in medical school, no one had even heard of mitochondrial disease. Today, every student who graduates here knows what it is and has seen a patient with it,” says Dr. Mary Kay Koenig, director of the Center for the Treatment of Pediatric Neurodegenerative Disease at UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School. That remarkable change in awareness has been accompanied by advances in genetic sequencing, the development of clinical guidelines, and the emergence of potential treatments in some forms of mitochondrial disease. In fact, Dr. Koenig’s multidisciplinary team at UTHealth’s Mitochondrial Center of Excellence has been a key player in clinical trials that may yield the first FDA-approved treatments for it. As you’ll learn in this Year of the Zebra conversation with host Michael Carrese, her work in neurodegenerative diseases also includes tuberous sclerosis, where advanced therapies have replaced the need for repeated surgeries, and Leigh Syndrome, which has seen improvements in diagnoses and supportive therapies leading to better quality of life for patients.  Tune in as Dr. Koenig reflects on an era of progress in the space, the rewards of balancing research, teaching and patient care, and the need for more clinicians to center listening, humility and honesty in their approach to caring for rare disease patients and their  families.

Mentioned in this episode:

Mitochondrial Center of Excellence

Center for the Treatment of Pediatric Neurodegenerative Disease

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“Giving learners options gives them a better learning experience. It’s more holistic and more comprehensive,” says Sean Moloney, CEO and founder of EmbodyXR, an extended reality platform focused on the use of immersive technologies in medical education. In this eye-opening Raise the Line conversation, Moloney explains how AI-powered extended reality (XR) --which integrates augmented, virtual, and simulation-based environments -- allows learners to interact with patients, explore multiple diagnostic choices, and experience varied outcomes based on their decisions. The result, he notes, is not only stronger engagement in learning, but a measurable improvement in understanding. Despite these gains, Moloney is quick to point out that he sees these technologies as complements to traditional training, not substitutes for it. “We’ll never replace in-person teaching,” he says, “but we can make learners even better.” Beyond training future clinicians, the EmbodyXR platform is also offering new modes of patient and caregiver education, such as augmented reality guidance for using medical devices at home. Join host Lindsey Smith as she explores how EmbodyXR achieves and maintains clinical accuracy, the connectivity it offers between headsets, personal computers and mobile devices, and other capabilities that are shaping the future of how healthcare professionals and patients will learn. 

Mentioned in this episode:
EmbodyXR

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