What can living brain tissue reveal that decades of neuroscience could not? 

In this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter sits down with Alex Charney and Brian Kopell to discuss the Living Brain Project, one of the most ambitious neuroscience efforts underway at the Mount Sinai Health System. By safely collecting tiny biopsies during deep brain simulation surgery, researchers are studying the living human brain in ways previously thought impossible. 

The conversation explores why living brain tissue differs dramatically from postmortem samples, how this research is already helping validate next-generation gene therapies, and why collaboration between neurosurgeons and molecular scientists may unlock entirely new treatments for neurological and psychiatric disease. 

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt

Pattie McCluskey had long relied on her doctors at the Mount Sinai Health System—until an insurance dispute with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield suddenly threw that care into jeopardy. In this episode of The Vitals, Pattie shares what it means when a patient with an established care team must confront disruption around appointments, medications, and procedures already tied to her health, daily life, and well-being.  

Guest host Dr. Raja Flores speaks with Pattie about the real-world consequences patients face when longstanding medical relationships are disrupted: the stress of navigating dozens of calls to the insurance company, the fear of losing life-saving treatments, and the confusion and frustration that arises when medical procedures are inexplicably disrupted by insurance negotiations.  

Together, the pair discuss what happens when access to trusted specialists becomes uncertain, how patients can advocate for themselves in times of hardship, and why continuity of care remains so critical—especially for those with chronic medical conditions. 

If you’re a Mount Sinai patient with Anthem insurance and need more information, please visit this website: keepmountsinai.org 

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt 

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt

Pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care—but what actually causes pain, and when should you seek treatment? 

Two Mount Sinai experts—Drs. Tanvir Choudrhi and Houman Danesh—discuss how physicians diagnose and treat pain, particularly neck and back pain that originates in the spine. Together, they break down:  

• Why pain is often more complex than it seems 
• How signals travel between the body and brain 
• Why identifying the root cause is key to effective treatment. 

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt

In this episode of The Vitals, we sit down with Dr. Alan Adler to unpack one of the most important issues affecting patients and health systems today: negotiations between hospitals and insurance companies. 

As discussions continue between Mount Sinai and Anthem, Dr. Adler explains what is at stake in these conversations, how contract negotiations between major health systems and insurers typically work, and why these agreements can have far-reaching implications for patient access, affordability, and continuity of care. 

The conversation also explores the broader economics behind hospital-insurer relationships—how reimbursement rates are determined, what drives negotiating leverage on both sides, and how health systems balance financial sustainability with their commitment to patient care. 

📅 To learn more about Mount Sinai services or schedule an appointment with a provider, visit Mount Sinai online today: https://www.mountsinai.org/?pk_vid=174eeee090819798177342044977c34c

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt

In this episode of The Vitals,  Drs. Helen He and Nicholas Brownstone discuss what really happens to your skin during colder months—and how to protect it using science-based strategies, not skincare hype.  

From increased water loss and dryness to flare-ups of eczema, acne, and irritation, winter presents unique challenges for our skin. In this conversation, we explore:  

• Why winter causes increased dryness and sensitivity 
• The essentials of an effective, dermatologist-approved skincare routine 
• How to support and repair your skin barrier 
• Common winter skincare mistakes, including long showers 
• When cosmetic dermatology, lasers, and injectables fit into overall skin health 
• Why sunscreen is still critical—even in winter 
• How aging, lifestyle, and environment all intersect with skin health 

Learn more about Mount Sinai’s Dermatology practices: https://www.mountsinai.org/care/dermatology

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt

Dr. Michelle Cespedes, infectious disease expert and interim System Chief of the Division of Infectious Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.  

Dr. Cespedes shares the latest advancements in HIV prevention, treatment, and research—and why there’s renewed hope in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. In this conversation, we explore: 

- Breakthroughs in HIV prevention and care 
- How research is shaping inclusive strategies for high-risk and underrepresented populations 
- The role of community, equity, and access in ending the HIV epidemic 
- How far we may be from eradicating the virus 

Learn more about Dr. Michelle Cespedes.

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt

If shorter days, colder weather, and early sunsets leave you feeling sluggish, unmotivated, or just not yourself, you’re not alone. Millions experience winter blues — and for some, it’s part of a diagnosable, treatable form of depression. Dr. James Murrough helps us understand: 

Leslie also opens up about her own experience with seasonal mood changes, making this an honest, practical, and deeply relatable conversation. 

Whether you’re struggling with SAD, curious about prevention, or helping someone you love, this episode gives you real, actionable tools backed by science. 

👍 To get help for Seasonal Affective Disorder or get evaluated for depression, visit The Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: https://icahn.mssm.edu/research/depression-anxiety-center

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt

Allergies are on the rise around the world—but why? In this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter, PA-C sits down with two of Mount Sinai’s leading experts, Drs. Monica Kraft and Scott Sicherer, to break down what’s really driving the increase in allergic diseases, how to understand the difference between allergies and intolerances, and what the latest science reveals about prevention, treatment, and long-term management. 

From early food introduction to biologics, from the atopic march to socioeconomic barriers in care, this conversation covers the full spectrum of what patients and families need to know about allergies and asthma today. 

To learn more about cutting-edge allergy and immunology research or to support the work that advances patient care, visit the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute:  

👉: https://icahn.mssm.edu/research/jaffe 

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt

On this episode of The Vitals, we dive deep into one of the most compelling topics in global health today: autism. We welcome two leading experts from the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: 

• Dr. Joseph D. Buxbaum – Professor of Psychiatry, Genetics & Genomic Sciences, and Neuroscience; Director of the Seaver Autism Center: https://profiles.mountsinai.org/joseph-d-buxbaum 
• Dr. Avraham (Avi) Reichenberg – Professor of Psychiatry and Preventive Medicine; Director of the Population Research & Environmental Epidemiology Program at Seaver: https://scholars.mssm.edu/en/persons/avraham-reichenberg 

In this episode, Drs. Buxbaum and Reichenberg engage in an insightful conversation covering autism’s genetic architecture, how environmental exposures before and during pregnancy may modulate ASD risk, the real-world implications for families, clinicians, researchers, and the broader community, and what the future may hold for autism care. 

🔗 Learn More & Take Action
👉 Visit the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment: https://icahn.mssm.edu/research/seaver 

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🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) isn’t new—but the conversation (and the tools) have changed. In this episode of Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter sits down with Dr. Jennifer Duchon and Dr. Sean Liu to break down: how RSV spreads, why babies are at higher risk, what to watch for, why antibiotics don’t help, when oxygen is essential, and much more.

Learn more about our panelists:
Dr. Sean Liu: https://mshs.co/3WjBtsn
Dr. Jennifer Duchon: https://mshs.co/4nKWrMW

Explore Mount Sinai Podcasts: https://mshs.co/3VY4auw

🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt