In Buffalo, we of course love our Buffalo Bills and we're big fans of winter sports, such as hockey and skiing, too. But behind these high-contact activities, there's an important story about player safety and the science of brain health. The NFL reported more than 90 concussions during the 2025 season. Countless more were sustained by athletes at all levels around the world, and that's a cause for concern due to potential long-term damage that can occur from a brain injury.

In this episode, Allison Brashear, MD, MBA is joined by two UB experts whose groundbreaking research is transforming how we diagnose and treat concussions. John J. Leddy, MD, a clinical professor and director of the UB Concussion Management Clinic, is a nationally-recognized leader in evidence-based concussion care. He co-authored the landmark Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test that reshaped global practices by demonstrating that controlled individualized aerobic exercise accelerates recovery. Nadir Haider, MD, PhD, is an assistant professor of orthopedics and director of research for the Interdepartmental
Concussion Research Center. With Dr. Leddy, he co-developed tools like the Buffalo Concussion Bike Test and the March in Place Test. 

This episode explores the evolving landscape of medical education and the Jacobs School’s commitment to preparing future physicians through innovation, mentorship, and holistic support. Allison Brashear, MD, MBA hosts a dynamic conversation with Dr. Alan Lesse, associate dean for medical curriculum, and Dr. Jennifer Meka, associate dean for medical education and director of the Medical Education and Educational Research Institute (MEERI). Together, they discuss the school's new Well Beyond curriculum and how the Jacobs School is shaping the next generation of healers through curriculum reform, faculty development and learner-centered approaches. 

Artificial intelligence is changing the game in medical research, from modeling molecules to predicting disease risk. This episode of the UB Medicine podcast explores how AI is shaping the future of health care right here in Western New York. Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, hosts a discussion with Thomas Grant, PhD, assistant professor of structural biology, and Vincent Tutino, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, about Empire AI, accelerating drug discovery, and more.

This episode offers a compassionate look at how individuals and communities navigate emotional wellness during the holiday season. Allison Brashear , MD, MBA, hosts a heartfelt conversation with Beth A. Smith, MD, chair of psychiatry at the Jacobs School, and Susan M. Orrange, MEd, PhD, assistant dean for education and resident services in the Office of Graduate Medical Education. Together, they explore the intersection of grief, mental health and resilience, highlighting the Jacobs School’s commitment to fostering a culture of compassion and supporting caregivers, students and health care professionals through challenging times.

This episode explores cutting-edge advancements in neurology with the help of two clinical and research leaders at the Jacobs School. 

Host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA hosts a conversation with Daniel Woo, MD, Professor and Irvin and Rosemary Smith Endowed Chair of Neurology, and Melissa L. Rayhill, clinical associate professor, vice chair for education and adult neurology residency program director. 

Together, they dive into innovations in stroke prevention and recovery, migraine research, and the broader impact of interdisciplinary collaboration and mentorship in neurology. 

This episode examines the biomedical research enterprise at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and how our faculty, learners and partners are transforming ideas into impact.

Host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA sits down with Marc Halterman, MD, PhD, professor of neurology and senior associate dean and executive director of the Office of Research at the Jacobs School, to discuss how research is driving discovery, advancing education, and improving health across Western New York.

Buffalo is a football town. So, think of your primary care physician as the quarterback coordinating your care. The problem is, there aren't enough QBs to go around. Listen to find out what the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is doing to replenish the roster and help keep Western New York residents in the game.

Host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, welcomes Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, senior associate dean for health policy and clinical professor of medicine at the Jacobs School. Nielsen is former president of the American Medical Association and played a key role in the passage of the Affordable Care Act. 

Also joining the discussion of primary care and Jacobs School's development of a 3-year program is David A. Milling, MD, executive director of the Office of Medical Education, senior associate dean for medical education, and associate professor of medicine at the Jacobs School.

These aren't your average doctors. Host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, and her guests fire up the mic with unexpected insights as they introduce the podcast, explore where the Jacobs School is headed, and delve into how the school helps address health disparities in the Buffalo and greater Western New York area.

Guests are Timothy F. Murphy, MD, a SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Jacobs School's Department of Medicine, senior associate dean for clinical and translational research, director of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and founding director of the Community Health Equity Research Institute; and Heather M. Gardiner, PhD, Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Carl V. Granger Endowed Chair in Health Equity at the Jacob School.