Leaders from UCI Health sit down with Jamie Landman, MD, Chair of the UC Irvine School of Medicine Department of Urology, to discuss leadership, culture-building, and innovation in academic medicine.

Landman reflects on his path to UCI Health, the evolution of the Department of Urology over the past 15 years, and the leadership philosophy that has helped cultivate collaboration, mentorship, and sustained the development of faculty at every career stage. He also shares lessons learned from executive coaching, the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership, and why service-oriented leadership is essential to building high-performing clinical teams. Landman also highlights emerging innovations in robotics, minimally invasive procedures, and clinical trials that are shaping the future of urology.

Topics discussed:

• Building and sustaining a collaborative, service-oriented culture within an academic urology department.
• Leadership development in academic medicine, including the role of executive coaching and emotional intelligence.
• Recruiting, mentoring, and supporting faculty across career stages to drive long-term departmental excellence.
• Leveraging philanthropy and development partnerships to launch innovative clinical, research, and community programs.
• Expanding access to urologic care through community partnerships and the growing UCI Health clinical footprint.
• Emerging innovations in urology, including robotics, minimally invasive procedures, and first-in-the-world clinical trials.
• The role of academic health centers in translating cutting-edge research and technology into patient-centered care.

Connect with UCI Health physicians online at clinicalconnection.ucihealth.org, on LinkedIn @UCI Health Physicians, on Instagram @ucihealthphysicians, or at @uciphysicians on X.

Refer a patient at referralportal.ucihealth.org and learn more about ongoing clinical trials at ucihealth.org/clinical-trials.

Chief Medical Informatics Officer and Vice President of Informatics Deepti Pandita, MD, joins Physician Huddle to discuss the evolving role of clinical informatics and the powerful applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare IT applications. From predictive analytics in sepsis care to ambient scribing, lung nodule detection, and bespoke algorithm deployment, Pandita outlines how AI is reshaping clinical workflows and improving outcomes, all while reducing administrative burden for physicians and nurses. Learn how UCI Health is leading in responsible AI governance, education, and real-world integration of informatics tools across ambulatory and acute settings.

Topics discussed:

• The origins and evolution of clinical informatics and its role at academic health centers.
• How AI tools are being trained on millions of images to outperform human detection of subtle lesions (e.g., mammography, lung nodules).
• Real-world applications of AI in clinical decision support, including sepsis prediction, and pharmacogenomics.
• The promise of ambient scribing and automation to reduce documentation burden and improve physician wellness.
• AI governance, algorithmic bias, and ensuring tools are tailored to diverse patient populations.
• How UCI Health is piloting and validating its own AI models with a focus on safe, equitable, and scalable deployment.

Connect with UCI Health physicians online at clinicalconnection.ucihealth.org, on LinkedIn @UCI Health Physicians, on Instagram @ucihealthphysicians, or at @uciphysicians on X.

Refer a patient at referralportal.ucihealth.org and learn more about ongoing clinical trials at ucihealth.org/clinical-trials.

Board-certified UCI Health transplant surgeon Robert Redfield, MD, joins the podcast to offer an inside look at the region’s fastest-growing kidney and pancreas transplant program. He explains why living donor kidney transplant is the gold standard for patients with end-stage renal disease, and how his team empowers patients to find a donor—even before dialysis begins. Redfield also discusses pancreas transplantation for diabetes, emerging immunosuppression research, and how xenotransplantation might shape the future of organ donation.

Topics Discussed:

• Living donor kidney transplant is the preferred treatment option for patients with kidney failure—offering better long-term outcomes, faster recovery, and no wait time.
• UCI Health provides unmatched donor support: living donors receive lost wage reimbursement, childcare resources, and guaranteed transplant access if they ever need a kidney in the future.
• Patients are coached on how to talk to loved ones about donation, with role-playing, scripts, and social network mapping.
• Paired kidney exchanges and advanced HLA matching techniques can find optimal matches, even when a loved one is incompatible.
• Pancreas transplant is a life-changing option for Type 1 diabetics—particularly those with hypoglycemia unawareness or brittle diabetes.
• Future breakthroughs include transplants without lifelong immunosuppression and gene-edited pig kidneys for off-the-shelf transplantation.

Connect with UCI Health physicians online at clinicalconnection.ucihealth.org, on LinkedIn @UCI Health Physicians, on Instagram @ucihealthphysicians, or at @uciphysicians on X.

Refer a patient at referralportal.ucihealth.org and learn more about ongoing clinical trials at ucihealth.org/clinical-trials.

Board-certified UCI Health breast reconstructive surgeon Gordon Lee, MD joins the podcast to share his experience and discuss the latest techniques in breast reconstruction, including microsurgery, robotic advancements, and AI applications. Learn about specific case studies, such as direct-to-implant breast reconstruction, robot-assisted microsurgery, and innovative AI applications. Discover how these technologies are changing patient care and the future of plastic surgery.  

Topics discussed:  

• Microsurgical natural-tissue reconstructions like the DIEP flap, which preserves abdominal muscles while reconstructing the breast after mastectomy. 
• The reconstructive—not cosmetic—nature of breast surgery after cancer, highlighting its vital role in restoring patient body image, emotional well-being, and self-esteem during recovery. 
• Advanced head-to-toe cancer and trauma reconstructions, including lymphatic surgeries for lymphedema — connecting microscopic lymphatic vessels to veins to restore drainage. 
• Ongoing development of next-generation injectables, microneedling, energy-based skin therapies, and regenerative techniques to address aging and aesthetic concerns.

Connect with UCI Health physicians online at clinicalconnection.ucihealth.org, on LinkedIn @UCI Health Physicians, on Instagram @ucihealthphysicians, or at @uciphysicians on X.

Refer a patient at referralportal.ucihealth.org and learn more about ongoing clinical trials at ucihealth.org/clinical-trials.

Board-certified UCI Health geriatrician Lisa Gibbs, MD joins the podcast to discuss the unique aspects of the UCI Health Senior Health Center, highlighting its comprehensive team-based approach to geriatric care. Gibbs shares insights on the importance of fall prevention, the impact of footwear on fall risks, and the center's focus on both clinical and preventive care for older adults. Tune in to learn how UCI Health is making strides in geriatric medicine and improving the lives of seniors in Orange County.

Topics discussed:  

• Falls are a major focus: one-third of older adults fall each year, and a fall often triggers a cascade of health declines, including loss of independence and increased mortality. 
• Risk identification (e.g., gait assessments, reviewing footwear) and preventive interventions (e.g., physical therapy, safer mobility plans) are prioritized to stop that one life-altering fall. 
• The overuse of over-the-counter medications and supplements, aiming for medication regimens that are simpler, safer, and sustainable for older adults. 
• Geriatric consultation benefits patients in fields like oncology, cardiology, orthopedics, trauma surgery, and even otolaryngology, ensuring treatments align with functional goals and quality of life. 
• UCI Health is embracing digital medicine: integrating home health data into electronic medical records (EMR) and using apps and wearables for chronic disease management.

Connect with UCI Health physicians online at clinicalconnection.ucihealth.org, on LinkedIn @UCI Health Physicians, on Instagram @ucihealthphysicians, or at @uciphysicians on X.

Refer a patient at referralportal.ucihealth.org and learn more about ongoing clinical trials at ucihealth.org/clinical-trials.

Board-certified UCI Health urologist David I. Lee, MD joins the podcast to highlight his groundbreaking advancements in robotic prostate surgery and journey as a physician. Lee discusses his extensive experience, having performed over 7,000 robotic prostatectomies, and the evolution of prostate cancer treatment. Learn about the benefits of robotic surgery, the importance of multidisciplinary care, and the future of urological innovations. 

Topics discussed:  

• How robot-assisted surgery has transformed prostate cancer care by improving cancer outcomes, reducing blood loss, minimizing recovery time, and enhancing urinary and sexual function preservation compared to open surgery. 
• The importance of a team-based approach, integrating surgery, radiation oncology, and medical oncology to optimize outcomes for patients with complex or high-risk prostate cancer. 
• Emerging technologies, including AI-powered robotic surgery analytics and force feedback systems, are poised to transform surgical training and outcomes 
• Advances in systemic therapies and precision medicine are dramatically improving survival and quality of life for men with prostate cancer. 

Connect with UCI Health physicians online at clinicalconnection.ucihealth.org, on LinkedIn @UCI Health Physicians, on Instagram @ucihealthphysicians, or at @uciphysicians on X.

Refer a patient at referralportal.ucihealth.org and learn more about ongoing clinical trials at ucihealth.org/clinical-trials.

Board-certified UCI Health physician and fellowship-trained otology, neurotology, and skull base surgeon Hamid Djalilian, MD joins the podcast to discuss his expertise on ear-related medical and surgical problems, including tinnitus, chronic ear infections, and innovative treatments for tympanic membrane perforations. Hear groundbreaking advancements in minimally invasive procedures, the latest research on tinnitus treatment, and the future of hearing restoration. Whether you're a medical professional or simply curious about the latest in otolaryngology, this episode offers a deep dive into the cutting-edge developments transforming patient care. Tune in to learn how UCI Health is leading the way in medical innovation and improving the quality of life for patients.

Topics discussed:  

• Understanding and treating tinnitus as a brain disorder 
• The link between tinnitus and central nervous system sensitivity 
• Ongoing research into future implantable devices to further reduce or eliminate tinnitus symptoms.
• Development of an office-based, minimally invasive procedure to repair tympanic membrane perforations using processed porcine tissue and autologous blood serum.
• A new hearing aid that directly stimulates the eardrum, providing higher-quality sound compared to traditional devices.

Connect with UCI Health physicians online at clinicalconnection.ucihealth.org, on LinkedIn @UCI Health Physicians, on Instagram @ucihealthphysicians, or at @uciphysicians on X.

Refer a patient at referralportal.ucihealth.org and learn more about ongoing clinical trials at ucihealth.org/clinical-trials.

Board-certified UCI Health surgical oncologist Maheswari Senthil, MD, joins the podcast to share her expertise on managing advanced gastrointestinal cancers, particularly peritoneal malignancies, and discusses revolutionary tools and clinical trials aimed at improving patient outcomes. Learn about the innovative use of artificial intelligence in early diagnosis, the development of sophisticated machine learning models, and the promising STOPGAP clinical trial that combines systemic and regional treatments for stage four cancer patients. 

Topics discussed:  

• Challenges of detecting advanced gastric cancer (peritoneal carcinomatosis) early due to vague symptoms and imaging limitations. 
• Development of a deep machine learning model at UCI Health with 98% predictive accuracy based on CT imaging. 
• Launch of STOPGAP2: the first NCI-approved national randomized phase 2/3 trial targeting peritoneal carcinomatosis. 
• Shift from traditional circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to studying extracellular vesicles (exosomes) for more precise, early cancer detection. 
• Development of a patented exosome isolation reagent to standardize and accelerate clinical application. 
• Broader implications for other diseases beyond cancer, such as Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular diseases. 

Connect with UCI Health physicians online at clinicalconnection.ucihealth.org, on LinkedIn @UCI Health Physicians, on Instagram @ucihealthphysicians, or at @uciphysicians on X.

Refer a patient at referralportal.ucihealth.org and learn more about ongoing clinical trials at ucihealth.org/clinical-trials.