Mayo Clinic Talks is a weekly podcast show targeted to the primary care clinician community. Podcasting offers succinct, relevant, accessible, and practical medical information which is useful for the primary care provider and seeking CME. The episodes in this course reflect commonly seen health problems in a primary care practice. Access to Mayo Clinic providers from numerous medical specialties as podcast guests, allows the podcast to cover an extremely wide variety of pertinent medical topics. Keeping each podcast to 20-30 minutes in duration allows the busy healthcare provider an opportunity to obtain useful information in a succinct format. Listen to the episode on the specific episode page or by using your favorite podcast app.

Listening is free and no CME Credit is available for this current season.

To listen to additional episodes with CME credit available, visit Mayo Clinic Talks Season 3

Guest: Michele A. Hanson, M.D.

Prenatal Care

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D., [@chutkaMD]

There are a variety of things a woman can do to increase the odds of successful pregnancy. One of the most important is receiving regular prenatal care. It provides major benefits to both the mother and the unborn child. It’s been shown to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications as well as the risk of complications to the fetus. It’s one of the best ways to increase the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy. When should prenatal care begin? What does good prenatal care consist of? How often should a woman be seen for prenatal care?  In this podcast, we’ll be covering these topics and more as we discuss “Prenatal Care” with my guest, Michele A. Hanson, M.D., a family medicine physician at the Mayo Clinic.

GUEST: Ronald S. Go, M.D.

Lab Medicine Edition | CBC: White Blood Cell Count (WBC) (Leukocytosis, Leukopenia)

Thursday, May 2, 2024

HOST: Andy Herber, P.A.-C.

Join our host, Andy J. Herber, P.A.-C. as he discusses the complete blood count (CBC), which is one of the most ordered laboratory tests in the primary care setting. Providers are frequently tasked with evaluating all aspects of the CBC.  A keen understanding of this laboratory test is essential to providing quality care for patients.  Joining us again to discuss white blood cell count abnormalities is renown Mayo Clinic Hematologist, Ronald S. Go, M.D.

Guest: Tanios S. Bekaii-Saab, M.D.

Esophageal Cancer Diagnosis and Care for the Primary Care Provider

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D., [@chutkaMD]

Although esophageal cancer is not a common malignancy, when found it often has a poor prognosis. It’s about four times more likely to occur in a male than a female. Although a variety of malignancies can develop in the esophagus, most tend to be either squamous cell or adenocarcinoma. Fortunately, the rates of esophageal cancer have been decreasing slightly over the past decade. Despite the fact that esophageal cancer often produces symptoms, the survival rate has not been very good, although due to new and improved treatments it has been improving. The topic for today’s podcast is esophageal cancer and my guest is Tanios S. Bekaii-Saab, M.D., the division chair for Hematology/Oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. We’ll discuss the risk factors for esophageal cancer, its common presenting symptoms, how to establish a diagnosis and the various treatment options available.

GUEST: Ronald S. Go, M.D.

Lab Medicine Edition | CBC: Hemoglobin/Anemia (Micro, Macro, Hemolytic)

Thursday, April 25, 2024

HOST: Andy Herber, P.A.-C.

Join our host, Andy J. Herber, P.A.-C., as he discusses the complete blood count (CBC), which is one of the most ordered laboratory tests in the primary care setting.  Providers are frequently tasked with evaluating all aspects of the CBC. A keen understanding of this laboratory test is essential to providing quality care for patients. Joining the first episode of this series is renown Mayo Clinic Hematologist, Ronald S. Go, M.D., who will be discussing evaluating abnormalities, hemoglobin and differing types of anemia.

Guests: Anjali Bhagra, M.D.

Basel Sharaf, M.D., DDS

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in Healthcare

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Hosts: Dawn Davis, M.D. and Sanj Kakar, M.D., @sanjkakar 

On this episode, Dr. Anjali Bhagra and Dr. Basel Sharaf join hosts Dr. Dawn Davis and Dr. Sanj Kakar to discuss the transformation of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in healthcare.  At Mayo Clinic there are populations of patients of various backgrounds that are seen and treated at by a diverse group of health care professionals. Meeting the needs of those facing healthcare disparities is also a critical part of the DEI conversation.  Dr. Bhagra and Dr. Sharaf share their unique experiences over time serving patients at Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Bhagra highlights the RISE for Equity national CME course, that brings together leaders with a solution driven mindset.  The event will be held in Washington D.C. from August 1-3, 2024, where leaders gather to Reflect, Inspire, Strengthen and Empower (RISE).

GUEST: Mira T. Keddis, M.D.

Lab Medicine Edition | Electrolytes: Calcium (Hypercalcemia, Hypocalcemia)

Thursday, April 18, 2024

HOST: Andy Herber, P.A.-C.

Join our host, Andy J. Herber, P.A.-C. to take a deeper look at hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia. This podcast will do a review of the management of calcium disorders with guest, Mira T. Keddis, M.D.

Guest: Victor G. Chedid, M.D., M.S.

RISE FOR EQUITY Podcast: Pride in Health:  Navigating the Path to LGBTQ+ Health Equity

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Host: Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara

On this episode of the RISE for Equity podcast, Victor G. Chedid, M.D., M.S., joins host Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara to explore the critical topic of Health Equity within the LGBTQ+ communities. Delving into the multifaceted dimensions of this issue, the discussion sheds light on the significant impact of healthcare and access for LGBTQ+ individuals, from confronting prevalent challenges to presenting actionable resources for patients and healthcare providers alike. Join us for an engaging dialogue poised to resonate with both professionals and patients alike, as we navigate the landscape of healthcare equity.

Victor G. Chedid, M.D., M.S., is a physician specializing in gastroenterology and hepatology, with subspecialty certification in Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Chedid has a subspecialty interest in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Learn more at https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/rise-for-equity/

“The point of the IBD Pride Clinic is to declare to the world that we have that safe space for you, and that we’re ready and welcoming and wanting you to come seek your care with us in a safe affirming space and we strive to keep your needs at the center of all our endeavors, just like the Mayo Clinic always says—the clinic’s value is the patient’s needs come first.” – Victor G. Chedid, M.D., M.S.

“Creating affirming spaces for physicians is very important. Creating affirming spaces for medical students is very important. As a medical student, when you see somebody who's more senior than you, who belongs to the community, who's advocating, who is out and proud and is doing research in these fields or in LGBT health equity, you’d probably think “I can be that person.” – Victor G. Chedid, M.D., M.S.

GUEST: Mira T. Keddis, M.D

Lab Medicine Edition | Electrolytes: Potassium (Hyperkalemia, Hypokalemia)

Thursday, April 12, 2024

HOST: Andy Herber, P.A.-C.

Join our host, Andy J. Herber, P.A.-C., as he explores potassium disorders that are commonly encountered by Primary Care Providers. High and Low potassium if not appropriately managed can lead to lethal complications. This episode provides a discussion about the workup and management of Hyperkalemia and Hypokalemia with Mira T. Keddis, M.D.

Guest: Kelly Pennington, M.D.

Guest: Sahar Saddoughi, M.D., Ph.D.

When to Refer a Patient for a Lung Transplant

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD]

The lung is one of the most common organs transplanted, trailing transplants of kidney, liver, and heart, with over 2600 performed in 2022. Lung transplantation may involve transplanting either one or both lungs, and occasionally performed together with a heart transplant. Although some patients with a lung transplant have lived more than 10 years, only about half are alive after 5 years. In this podcast, we’ll discuss “When to Refer a Patient for a Lung Transplant”. Who’s a candidate for a lung transplant and when should we think about this for our patients? How successful is a lung transplant and what are conditions that would exclude a patient from the procedure? These are all questions I’ll be asking my guests, thoracic surgeon, Sahar Saddoughi, M.D., Ph.D., and pulmonologist, Kelly Pennington, M.D., both from the Mayo Clinic in honor of ‘National Donate Life Month’.                 

GUEST: Mira T. Keddis, M.D.

Lab Medicine Edition | Electrolytes: Sodium (Hypernatremia, Hyponatremia)

Thursday, April 4, 2024

HOST: Andy Herber, P.A.-C.

Join our host, Andy J. Herber, P.A.-C., as he explores Hyponatremia and Hypernatremia; common findings in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Sodium disorders are associated with an increased morbidity and mortality for patients. Guest, Mira T. Keddis, M.D. , renown Mayo Clinic Nephrologist, joins the podcast to provide guidance on understanding evaluations and management of sodium abnormalities.

Mayo Clinic Talks: Lab Medicine Edition | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development

Guest: Drew N. Rosenbaum, M.D.

When to Refer a Patient for a Heart Transplant

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD]

The first heart transplant patient survived only 18 days as the early attempts of heart transplantation were plagued by immune rejection of the transplanted organ. Today, thanks to the many advances in organ transplantation, heart transplant patients typically lead productive lives for years. 75% of heart transplant patients live at least 5 years and nearly 85% return to work. Who’s a candidate for a heart transplant? How long do patients typically wait for a heart transplant and when should we think about a heart transplant for our patients? These are questions I’ll be asking my guest, Drew N. Rosenbaum, M.D., a cardiologist from the Mayo Clinic. The topic for this podcast is “When to Refer a Patient for a Heart Transplant” in honor of 'National Donate Life Month'.

GUEST - Jennifer Vencill, PhD, LP

Menopause and Women's Health Edition | Menopause and Sexual Health

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Host - Dawn Marie R. Davis, M.D.

Sexual health during menopause is often a forgotten topic for female patients. Dr. Jennifer Vencill joins the podcast to discuss common sexual health concerns normal, what to expect, and how to seek assistance for patients in terms of sexual health during menopause and later life.

This episode is brought to you by: https://www.astellas.com

Guest:  Sumit Bhagra, M.D.

RISE FOR EQUITY Podcast: Breaking Down Weight Bias: Unpacking Prejudice in the Doctor’s Office

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Host: Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara

On this episode of the RISE for Equity podcast, Dr. Sumit Bhagra joins host, Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara, to discuss the topic of the issue of weight bias in healthcare and its profound health implications. Delving into the roots of weight bias, the discussion explores its detrimental effects on both physical and psychological well-being, examines responses to weight bias from both doctors’ and patients’ point of view, and advocates for actionable changes that can be implemented to support patients in achieving optimal health, no matter their size.

Learn more at https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/rise-for-equity/

GUEST - Carol Kuhle, DO, MPH

Menopause and Women's Health Edition | Hormones and Sexual Health After Cancer

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Host - Dawn Marie R. Davis, M.D.

Guest, Dr. Carol Kuhle, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of hormones, hormone regulation, sexual health and hormone driven cancers. The needs of women with cancer and cancer survivors are often overlooked when it comes to the effect of hormones and the outcomes for sexual health and relationships for these patients.

This episode is brought to you by: https://www.astellas.com

Guest: Zelalem Temesgen, M.D.

Tuberculosis

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD]

It’s thought that a variant of tuberculosis originated in East Africa around 3 million years ago with the current strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis dating back at least 20,000 years. Although easily spread from one person to another, not everyone infected develops active disease. The management of tuberculosis varies, and although there is a vaccine, it’s not commonly used in the U.S.  Effective pharmacologic treatment is available, however drug-resistant strains have presented challenges in some cases. This podcast is in recognition of World Tuberculosis Day, March 24, the day that Dr. Robert Koch reported Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. We’ll discuss the disease, it’s diagnosis and management with infectious disease specialist and Professor of Medicine, Zelalem Temesgen, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic.

GUEST - Hannah C. Nordhues, M.D.

GUEST - Amber Klindworth, P.A.-C.

Menopause and Women's Health Edition | Topical and Non-Hormonal Therapies

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Host - Dawn Marie R. Davis, M.D.

Menopause symptoms for women not only have a personal impact on the individual, but also a public health impact. Studies have shown an annual economic impact of 1.8 billion dollars in lost workdays and 25 billion dollars in medical costs for women coping with the symptoms of menopause. Hannah C. Nordhues, M.D., and Amber Klindworth, P.A.-C., serve as guests to discuss the impact of menopause on everyday life for women and discuss non-hormonal treatment options for these patients.

This episode is brought to you by: https://www.astellas.com

Guest: John C. Lewis, M.D.

Update in Asthma

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD]

It’s estimated that 25 million people in the U.S. have asthma; this represents about 1 in every 13 individuals. It’s more common in females and is a leading cause of chronic disease in children. Asthma represents a common reason for an outpatient visit and is unfortunately, also a relatively common reason for hospitalization. Although it’s felt that almost all deaths from asthma are preventable with appropriate management, over 3,000 people per year die from asthma. How do we properly evaluate patients we suspect have asthma? What are the goals for their management and what are the current recommendations for treatment? For this podcast we’ll discuss an update in asthma with my guest, John C. Lewis, M.D., from the Division of Allergic Disease at the Mayo Clinic.

GUEST - Jewel M. Kling, M.D., M.P.H.

Menopause & Women's Health Edition | Menopause and Hormonal Therapy

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Host - Dawn Marie R. Davis, M.D.

The number of midlife women transitioning into menopause is substantial with more than one million women in the U.S. entering menopause each year. Symptoms such as vasomotor symptoms (VMS), mood and sleep disturbances, and sexual problems are common during the menopause transition, yet often go untreated. Menopausal hormone therapy (HT) is often the preferred and most effective treatment option for menopausal symptoms. Dr. Juliana (Jewel) Kling joins the podcast to discuss this important topic.

This episode is brought to you by: https://www.astellas.com

Rondell P. Graham, M.B.B.S.

Laura E. Raffals, M.D.

Sophie J. Bakri, M.D.

A Career in Academic Medicine

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Hosts: Sanj Kakar, M.D., @sanjkakar and Dawn Marie R. Davis, M.D.

A career in academic medicine can be rewarding, but also requires careful consideration to determine the best pathway to pursue. Join hosts Sanj Kakar, M.D. and Dawn Davis, M.D. as they discuss with our guests their personal journeys and lessons learned. Guests for this episode are Sophie J. Bakri, M.D, a Professor and Chair of Ophthalmology in Rochester, MN, Rondell P. Graham, M.B.B.S. a Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, along with a Consultant Pathologist in Rochester, MN and Laura Raffals, M.D., a Professor of Medicine and Chair of the Operations Coordinating Group for Mayo Clinic.

This is a special video offering of Mayo Clinic Talks podcast. Watch the full episode below:

Guest: Suneela Vegunta, M.D.

Menopause and Women's Health Edition | Menopause and Bone Health

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Host: Dawn Marie R. Davis, M.D.

Dr. Suneela Vegunta joins the podcast to discuss the importance of the protecting the musculoskeletal system in patients during the menopause stage of life. Hormonal decline can have a significant impact on bone density, mobility and independence, causing osteopenia and osteoporosis. Topics covered in this episode include the impact of hormones on bone density, risk factors for osteoporosis and strategies to maintain and protect bone health. 

This episode is brought to you by: https://www.astellas.com

Guest: Jackie M. Thielen, M.D.

Menopause and Women's Health Edition | Introduction to Menopause

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Host: Dawn Marie R. Davis, M.D.

Menopausal concerns in women have been often neglected due to uncertainty and misunderstanding. The goal of this podcast is to offer clarity regarding the basics of menopause. Guest Dr. Jackie Thielen, who is the founding medical director for the Women's Health Specialty Clinic on the Mayo Clinic Florida campus, is the guest speaker kicking off this women’s health mini-series focusing on Menopause.

This episode is brought to you by: https://www.astellas.com

Guest: M. Regina Castro, M.D.

Identifying and Treating Thyroid Disorders

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD]

It’s estimated that at least 12% of the U.S. population have some form of thyroid disorder. It’s more common in women and well over half of all patients with a thyroid dysfunction don’t know they have a problem. We encounter patients with hypothyroidism often; especially sub-clinical hypothyroidism and thyroid nodules are also found frequently. What do we need to consider when contemplating thyroid replacement therapy in a patient? How long do we need to re-image thyroid nodules? And when should we refer a patient with a thyroid nodule for a fine needle aspirate? In this podcast, I’ll discuss these questions and more with M. Regina Castro, M.D., from the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Mayo Clinic.

Guest: Kelsey L. Jensen, Pharm.D., R.Ph.

Guest: Daniel Ilges, Pharm.D., R.Ph., BCIPD

Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD]

The appropriate use of antibiotics is important for a variety of reasons. It helps keep our patients safe, helps maintain antibiotic effectiveness in treating bacterial infections, and helps control the cost of patient care. Very few new antibiotics have been introduced in the past few decades. Because of this, as well as the accelerated emergence of antibiotic resistance, it’s more important than ever that we practice careful and responsible use of antibiotics. Antibiotic stewardship is the effort to measure and improve how antibiotics are prescribed by clinicians and used by patients. This podcast will focus on out-patient antibiotic stewardship and my guests include Kelsey L. Jensen, Pharm.D., R.Ph., and Daniel Ilges, Pharm.D., R.Ph., BCIPD, both pharmacists at the Mayo Clinic. We’ll discuss how antibiotics are often prescribed incorrectly, the barriers we face as clinicians in prescribing antibiotics and how we can all improve our antibiotic stewardship.

Guest: Katie A. Young, MD

Chest Pain: What’s the Best Test?

Tuesday, February 06, 2024

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD]

We now have a variety of tests to assess patients who present with chest pain. These tests include such basic assessment tools such as a resting ECG to the most invasive of cardiac tests, a coronary angiogram. But there are multiple tests in between these two extremes. Each have their specific benefits and limitations. Which test or tests should we order for patients with chest pain? What are the potential risks of these tests to the patient? In this podcast, we’ll discuss these questions and more with cardiologist Katie A. Young, M.D., from the Department of Cardiovascular Disease from the Mayo Clinic. The topic for today’s podcast is “Chest Pain: What’s the Best Test?”

Guest: Justin E. Juskewitch, M.D., Ph.D.

Blood Donation and How it Relates to Primary Care

Tuesday January 30, 2024

Host: Darryl S. Chutka. M.D. @chutkaMD

January is National Blood Donor Month | Here are a few interesting facts regarding blood donations: Over 4.5 million American lives are saved each year by blood transfusion and approximately 40,000 units of donated blood are used each day in the U.S.  A single individual involved in a motor vehicle accident can easily require over 100 units of blood.  We each have about 10 units of blood in our body and each donation represents about one unit. Surprisingly, only 38% of the population is eligible to donate blood and of these eligible individuals, only 5%, actually donate. The topic for this podcast is “Blood Donation and How it Relates to Primary Care” and my guest is Justin E. Juskewitch, M.D., Ph.D., from Transfusion Medicine at the Mayo Clinic.

Guest: Evelyn A. Reynolds, M.D.

Update in Cervical Cancer Screening

Tuesday Jan 23, 2024

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D., @ChutkaMD

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month | Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in women worldwide, although the number of new cases in the U.S. has been declining. The vast majority of cervical cancers are caused by infection with the Human Papilloma Virus. Due to a combination of HPV immunization and early detection with cervical cancer screening, advanced cases are becoming much less common and when detected early, cervical cancer is one of the more treatable malignancies. Although cervical cancer screening is relatively easy to perform, the guidelines for performing the test have become more complicated. In this podcast, we’ll discuss cervical cancer screening with my guest Evelyn A. Reynolds, M.D., from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Mayo Clinic. I’ll be asking her when to start screening, how often patients should be screened, when we can stop screening and more.

Guests: Dr. Kim M. Barbel Johnson is a community-centric, patient-focused Family Physician and Principal Research Investigator working in the Hematology and Oncology departments, at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida.

Douglas (Doug) Murrell works with Community Engagement department of Mayo Clinic’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCATS) as the Operations Manager for the Community-Engaged Research Program.

RISE for Equity Podcast: Breaking Barriers | Inclusive Health Perspectives through Diverse Clinical Trials and Community Engagement

Tuesday Jan 16, 2024

While historically there has been limited inclusion of racial and ethnic minorities in research studies and clinical trials, critical strides have been taken in medicine to increase representation to help address health disparities and inequities. Gaining diverse perspectives in research provides an opportunity to enhance our understanding of the unique challenges faced by different racial and ethnic groups and also helps dismantle biases and stereotypes. On this episode of the RISE for Equity podcast, Dr. Kim Barbel Johnson and Doug Murrell join host Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara to discuss the impacts of diversifying decentralized clinical trials, and the impacts of community engagement in healthcare. Guest: Dr. Kim M. Barbel Johnson is a community-centric, patient-focused Family Physician and Principal Research Investigator working in the Hematology and Oncology departments, at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida. Douglas (Doug) Murrell works with Community Engagement department of Mayo Clinic’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCATS) as the Operations Manager for the Community-Engaged Research Program.

“Okay, let's take a carton of eggs, and let's paint all the eggs a different color. We can say that the carton of eggs are diverse because they're different colors. But me and you know that the background is the same, the environment is the same, everything else about those eggs are identical except for the color. And so, I think when we say diversity, we are meaning so many more things than we have been limited to in our society.” 

-Doug Murrell

“We've moved from the term decentralized clinical trial generically, and we've embraced it as clinical trials without walls because we really want to make sure that this is a culture change. We've embraced this, the decentralized aspect of making sure that we understand that clinical trials can be without walls. That is revolutionary for the entire industry. At Mayo Clinic, this has been an ongoing conversation as we've seen the need to increase representation and to decrease the barriers for inclusion and clinical trials.”

– Dr. Kim Barbel Johnson

Please visit the RISE for Equity website for more information.