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 

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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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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

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As families prepare to head back to school, pediatric experts Dr. Jennifer Duchon and Dr. Meredith Grossman from the Mount Sinai Health System join The Vitals host Leslie Schlachter for a timely conversation on how to set kids up for a healthy, successful school year. From getting back into a learning mindset to essential immunizations, nutrition, and even backpack safety, this episode covers everything parents need to know for a confident return to the classroom.

Drs. Duchon and Grossman also discuss how to handle common school-year illnesses, offer tips for easing anxiety, and explain why preventive care is crucial to keeping children safe and thriving throughout the year.

👶 Make an appointment at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital:
https://www.mountsinai.org/patient-care/service-areas/children

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September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. In this special episode of The Vitals, Mount Sinai experts Dr. Shari Brasner (Obstetrics & Gynecology) and Dr. Alison Snow (Oncology & Supportive Care) discuss the latest in gynecologic cancer prevention, early detection, treatment options, survivorship, and patient support programs.

They highlight key issues surrounding ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, uterine cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer—as well as the emotional, physical, and social impact of these diagnoses on patients and families. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of comprehensive care and the role of support programs in improving quality of life.

👉 Learn more about our panelists:

• Dr. Alison Snow
• Dr. Shari Brasner

💜 Explore Mount Sinai’s Woman to Woman program, offering peer-to-peer mentoring for women in treatment for gynecologic cancers.

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📺 Watch more episodes of The Vitals on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt

Can alcohol increase the risk of breast cancer? In this episode of The Vitals, Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery and Director of Mount Sinai’s Dubin Breast Center, breaks down the science, risks, and what every patient should know.

Dr. Port brings her expertise as a nationally recognized breast surgeon and leader in breast cancer research to shed light on what patients, families, and the public need to know about this important connection.

🔗 Visit the Dubin Breast Center: Dubin Breast Center at Mount Sinai

🔗 Watch more episodes of The Vitals: The Vitals YouTube Channel

🔗 Explore Mount Sinai’s other podcast: Road to Resilience

#BreastCancer #AlcoholAndCancer #TheVitalsPodcast #MountSinai #DubinBreastCenter

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Mount Sinai experts explore how cutting-edge technology — from brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to AI-powered imaging — is transforming neurosurgery and patient care.

Discover how BCIs turn thought into movement, how AI can spot strokes in minutes, and how neuro-navigation helps surgeons operate with unprecedented precision.

Featuring:

• Dr. Joshua Bederson — Chair of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Health System
• Dr. Ignacio Saez — Neuroscientist and BCI Researcher, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 
• Dr. Amish Doshi, Professor of Radiology and Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Leslie Schlachter, PA-C — Chief Physician Assistant, Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Hospital

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In this podcast, guest host Raja Flores, MD, interviews Rosalind J. Wright, MD, MPH, and Robert O. Wright, MD, MPH about the field of exposomics. Exposomics studies the impact of environmental factors on health, going beyond genetics to understand how exposures from conception to the present day affect well-being. They discuss how data like air quality, diet, and stress levels, combined with advanced computational analysis, can provide insights into disease development and prevention. The discussion highlights the importance of mapping environmental exposures and leveraging technology to improve health outcomes. 

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Loneliness is more than just a feeling—it’s a growing public health crisis with serious mental and physical consequences. In this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schachter, PA-C, sits down with Mount Sinai experts to explore the science of loneliness, its effects across age groups, and what can be done about it.

Featuring: Dr. Fernando Carnavali, Associate Professor of Medicine and Internal Medicine Physician;
Dr. Lea Marin, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry;
Dr. Shawn Rhoads, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Together, they discuss how loneliness affects the brain, the body, and society—and what clinicians and communities can do to help. From technology’s double-edged role to practical interventions for patients, this wide-ranging conversation is essential viewing for anyone invested in health and connection.

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In this episode of The Vitals podcast, Leslie Schlachter, PA, Chief Physician Assistant in the Department of Neurosurgery, hosts a discussion regarding the role of resilience in both professional and personal struggles. She is joined by Dennis S. Charney, MD, the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and President for Academic Affairs for the Mount Sinai Health System.  Dr. Charney explains how resilience helped guide him following an unsuccessful attempt on his life, and through the rigors of scientific discovery. 

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