Welcome to the YJBM Science News! Join us as we discuss the recent news in healthcare and science across the Yale community. Today, our hosts Mara and Samantha will share some of the most intriguing topics of the past few weeks.
In the latest episode of Yale Global Health Insights, Dr. Sharon Chekijian sits down with Dr. Albert Ko,the Raj and Indra Nooyi Professor of Public Health and Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine. They discuss how his upbringing led directly to his transformative work addressing public health challenges. Dr. Ko has worked extensively in Brazil’s urban informal settlements or “favelas” where rapid urbanization and social inequities fuel the spread of infectious diseases like zika and dengue. The conversation highlights the power of community-driven solutions and the importance of rigorous mentorship in tackling global health crises.
Stress and the Prefrontal Cortex: An Interview with Dr. Amy Arnsten
How does stress affect the prefrontal cortex? In this episode of the YJBM podcast, host Delyar Khosroabadi speaks with Dr. Amy Arnsten, Albert E. Kent Professor of Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology. Dr. Arnsten shares the experience that sparked her interest in neuroscience, her journey as an undergraduate creating the first neuroscience major at Brown University, and what drew her to study the prefrontal cortex. She discusses dynamic network connectivity, the mechanism of action of guanfacine, and why prefrontal deficits begin to appear in middle age. Dr. Arnsten also offers fascinating insights on how exercise and a healthy diet can benefit the prefrontal cortex.
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Dr. Easley has been on a six season-long journey with the Heartwood podcast, having now recorded over fifty episodes with a highly diverse group of guests. He joins Bennett to reflect on the podcast’s roots, how it has grown over time, how he has grown with it, and what the future holds for the next fifty.
The Current State of Medical Device AI Regulation with Eric Henry
This video is part of a series of guest expert interviews that we recorded for our new Yale Certificate Program on Medical Software and Medical AI – https://online.yale.edu/medical-software-ai-program. Our guest is Eric Henry. Mr. Henry is the Senior Quality Systems & Compliance Advisor at the Law Firm King & Spalding and works from his home in the Cleveland area. He joined King & Spalding in 2018 after 30 years managing global technical and regulatory compliance organizations in various industries and in medical devices in particular over the last 22 years. Eric currently provides advisory and consulting services to corporate management, boards, and staff regarding regulatory compliance, enforcement, and policy matters for regulated life sciences companies. Mr. Henry is a member of the AFDO/RAPS Healthcare Products Collaborative AI Strategic Committee and co-chairs their Good Machine Learning Practices Working Team. He also advises the Coalition for Health AI in their Predictive AI and Assurance Lab Certification Work Groups.
00:10 Introduction. Who is Eric Henry?
06:28 The FDA and AI.
14:45 The state of affairs outside the United States. China and the EU.
19:44 The general state of upheaval in Medical Devices/AI in the EU.
23:44 The current discussion on medical AI at the FDA. Potential issues with a new administration.
29:33 AI Tools development inside Health Systems. Challenges, fears and opportunities
38:34 Concluding Thoughts
Additional Readings:
European Union. Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence [Internet]. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202401689
On this episode, Isaac interviews RaShad Eas, aka Dr. Easley as a hip-hop artist, about his latest project titled D.E.I. RaShad Eas talks about the themes behind each track on the album, and the roles of family, friends, and faith in his personal journey. Join us for a glimpse into the creative mind of our own Dr. Easley as he moves from the interviewer seat to the other side of the mic.
Dr. Allana Munro and Dr. Ronald George are two obstetric anesthesia experts whose research is focused on labor analgesia. Two years ago, they demonstrated that “achieving desired pain relief” is of utmost importance to our patients. The question remains: How can we safely achieve this while minimizing workload and side effects? In this episode, they discuss their study titled “An Innovative Approach to Determine Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus Pump Settings for Labor Analgesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Using the response surface methodology, they identified optimal settings for the programmed intermittent epidural bolus pump (PIEB) that maximize maternal satisfaction, minimize clinician-administered boluses, and balance PCEA boluses delivered to those requested.
An Innovative Approach to Determine Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus Pump Settings for Labor Analgesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38905148/
In this special episode of the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine podcast, hosts Shivesh Shourya and Mara Kushelman bring together a remarkable group of individuals transforming spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery through peer mentorship and advocacy. Joining us are Jonathan Sigworth, co-founder of More Than Walking, a nonprofit promoting independent living for SCI survivors; Dr. Benjamin Doolittle, Yale professor and Program Director of the Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program with a focus on wellness and spirituality in medicine; and Yale medical students Teimur Kayani and Robert Cotter, who have conducted pivotal research on peer mentorship as a valuable intervention for SCI recovery.
Throughout the conversation, we explore how peer mentorship helps SCI survivors regain independence, the role of community support in recovery, and the potential for integrative medicine to enhance quality of life for SCI patients. The guests share insights from their personal and professional journeys, discussing the challenges, triumphs, and transformative impact of peer mentorship. Together, they highlight the importance of holistic, community-based approaches to recovery and inspire a reimagining of what’s possible for SCI survivors.
For more information, explore the resources below:
Can you tell the difference between snake oil and evidence-based medicine? In this episode, meet Dr. James Yu: researcher, editor of multiple journals, father, Yale alum, and radiation oncologist. Dr. Yu shares with our host Elaine Yang how alternative medicine influences patient outcomes, the power of interdisciplinary research collaborations, as well as what embracing technological advancements and artificial intelligence means for cancer care.