
Mayo Clinic Talks
Timely consultations relevant for family medicine, primary care, and general internal medicine topics for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and residents. Offering CME credit for most episodes at https://ce.mayo.edu/podcast. Produced by @MayoMedEd.
Latest episodes

Apr 24, 2025 • 39min
Genes and Your Health Series: mRNA: What it is, What it Does, and Hope in Rare Diseases
Host: Denise M. Dupras, M.D., Ph.D.
Guest: Michael Zimmer, Ph.D., Director of Rare Diseases at Moderna Therapeutics
This episode of Genes & Your Health welcomes Dr. Michael Zimmer from Moderna Therapeutics, who discusses how mRNA technology is being applied to treat rare genetic diseases, especially liver-based metabolic disorders. Dr. Zimmer explains how mRNA can help the body produce missing proteins, the challenges of delivering these therapies, and the promise they hold for previously untreatable conditions.
Connect with us and learn more here: https://ce.mayo.edu/online-education/content/mayo-clinic-podcasts

Apr 22, 2025 • 29min
Transplantation Series: Lung Transplantation
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.
Guest: John Haney, M.D., M.P.H.
Lung transplantation remains a very viable option for patients with end-stage pulmonary disease who no longer respond to medical management. Over 5,000 lung transplants are performed annually around the world. However, its estimated that over 10 times this number are candidates and awaiting a transplant. A shortage of organs remains the major limiting factor. What are the common indications and who’s a candidate for a lung transplant? How are patients prioritized and chosen? What advances have been made in the field and what challenges remain? Finally, what role does the primary care clinician play in lung transplantation? I’ll be discussing these questions and more with my guest, Jack Haney, M.D., M.P.H., chair of cardiothoracic surgery at the Jacksonville campus of the Mayo Clinic. The topic for this podcast is “Lung Transplantation”.
Learn more about this Transplant Series: Mayo Clinic Talks: Donate Life: Transplantation Series | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development
Connect with Mayo Clinic’s Transplant Center online at https://mayoclinic.org/transplant or on X @MayoTransplant.
To learn more and register to be an organ donor please visit https://careinfo.mayoclinic.org/organ-donation.
Connect and listen with Mayo Clinic Podcasts | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development

Apr 17, 2025 • 46min
Genes and Your Health Series: Microbiome Wellness Index 2
Host: Denise M. Dupras, M.D., Ph.D.
Guest: Heidi Nelson, M.D., Emeritus Chair of the Department of Surgery and past Chair of the Division of Colon & Rectal Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Guest: Jaeyun Sung, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Senior Associate Consultant II in the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic Rochester
This episode of Genes & Your Health presents the results of the Gut Microbiome Wellness Index 2 study, which examines the differences between the gut microbiomes of healthy and disease-affected populations. Drs. Nelson and Sung discussed a potential future where a stool gut microbiome profile could be used as a barometer of general gut health and outlined how the microbiome can be altered and used to predict overall health. They also covered factors that can contribute to returning the gut microbiome to healthy status after a disruption.
Connect with us and learn more here: https://ce.mayo.edu/online-education/content/mayo-clinic-podcasts

Apr 15, 2025 • 25min
Transplantation Series: What's New in Organ Transplantation Surgery
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.
Guest: Julie K. Heimbach, M.D.
In 2024, over 48,000 organ transplants were performed in the U.S., representing an increase over the number performed the year before. There was also an increase in the number of transplants performed internationally, offering hope to patients worldwide with organ failure. Significant advancements have been made in the field of organ transplantation, and this is responsible for the success of the organ transplantation program. What are some of the major milestones that have taken place since the initial organ transplant? How has technology improved the success of an organ transplanted? What role will xenotransplantation, or transplantation of animal organs play in the future? These are some of the questions I’ll be asking my guest, Julie K. Heimbach, M.D., transplant surgeon and director of the Transplant Center at the Mayo Clinic. The topic for this podcast is “What’s New in Transplant Surgery?”
Learn more about this Transplant Series: Mayo Clinic Talks: Donate Life: Transplantation Series | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development
Connect with Mayo Clinic’s Transplant Center online at https://mayoclinic.org/transplant or on X @MayoTransplant.
To learn more and register to be an organ donor please visit https://careinfo.mayoclinic.org/organ-donation.
Connect and listen with Mayo Clinic Podcasts | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development

Apr 10, 2025 • 22min
Transplantation Series: AI in Transplantation Medicine
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.
Guest: Rohan M. Goswami, M.D.
The benefits of artificial intelligence or AI are just beginning to be recognized. AI has the potential to improve productivity and efficiency in the workplace, reduce errors and help sort out complex issues. The field of healthcare is finding roles for AI by improving the management of patient data, enhancing clinical decision making and assisting in medical imaging analysis. The integration of AI in transplantation medicine is evolving and has the potential to revolutionize the field. Can AI assist in organ matching and allocation? Can it predict graft survival and organ rejection? What ethical concerns does AI bring to the specialty? I’ll be discussing these issues in this podcast as we tackle the topic of “AI in Transplantation Medicine”. My guest for this podcast is Rohan M. Goswami, M.D., a cardiologist and specialist in Transplant Medicine from the Mayo Clinic.
Learn more about this Transplant Series: Mayo Clinic Talks: Donate Life: Transplantation Series | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development
Connect with Mayo Clinic’s Transplant Center online at https://mayoclinic.org/transplant or on X @MayoTransplant.
To learn more and register to be an organ donor please visit https://careinfo.mayoclinic.org/organ-donation.
Connect and listen with Mayo Clinic Podcasts | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development

Apr 8, 2025 • 30min
Transplantation Series: Cardiac Transplantation
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.
Guest: Ruben J. Crespo-Diaz, M.D., Ph.D.
The world’s first human-to-human heart transplant was performed in 1967 and represented a significant breakthrough for medical science. Although the transplant patient only survived 18 days, it was still a historic event. Since this initial heart transplant, significant improvements have been made in the field of organ transplantation and currently, approximately 5000 heart transplants are performed annually. Unfortunately, over ten times this number could benefit from the procedure. What’s the limiting factor in the number of heart transplants performed? What are the current criteria of eligibility for a heart transplant? What are some of the improvements in the field of cardiac transplant surgery? I’ll get answers to these questions and more from my guest, Ruben J. Crespo-Diaz, M.D., Ph.D., from the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. The topic for this podcast is “Cardiac Transplant”.
Learn more about this Transplant Series: Mayo Clinic Talks: Donate Life: Transplantation Series | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development
Connect with Mayo Clinic’s Transplant Center online at https://mayoclinic.org/transplant or on X @MayoTransplant.
To learn more and register to be an organ donor please visit https://careinfo.mayoclinic.org/organ-donation.
Connect and listen with Mayo Clinic Podcasts | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development

Apr 3, 2025 • 30min
Transplantation Series: Pancreas Transplantation
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.
Guests: Nitin N. Katariya, M.D., and Lavanya Kodali, M.B.B.S., M.D.
At this time, about 11% of the population in the U.S. has diabetes. This represents nearly 40 million people. And this number is increasing, not only in the U.S. but around the world. Although we have more medical options now than ever before for managing diabetes, the treatment is less than optimal. Another option is a pancreas transplant. What’s the status of pancreatic transplantation? Who’s a candidate for the procedure? How effective is it and what does the future hold for the procedure? The topic for this podcast is “Pancreas Transplantation” and I’ll be discussing these questions with Nitin N. Katariya, M.D., a transplant surgeon and Lavanya Kodali, M.B.B.S., M.D., a nephrologist and specialist in renal transplant, both from the Arizona campus of the Mayo Clinic.
Learn more about this Transplant Series: Mayo Clinic Talks: Donate Life: Transplantation Series | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development
Connect with Mayo Clinic’s Transplant Center online at https://mayoclinic.org/transplant or on X @MayoTransplant
To learn more and register to be an organ donor please visit https://careinfo.mayoclinic.org/organ-donation.
Connect and listen with Mayo Clinic Podcasts | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development

Apr 1, 2025 • 24min
Transplantation Series: Expanded Donor Criteria for Organ Transplantation
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.
Guest: C. Burcin Taner, M.D.
Recently, the criteria for organ donors have expanded in order to address the increasing difference between the number of available organs and the demand for transplants. Advancements in medical technology, a better understanding of transplant immunology, and the improvement of transplant surgery techniques have allowed for the inclusion of a greater pool of donors with various health conditions, which excluded them as donors in the past. Understanding the delicate balance between expanding the criteria for transplantation and maintaining a high quality of life for the recipients has been important in advancing the field of organ transplantation. The topic for this podcast is “Expanded Donor Criteria for Organ Transplantation” and my guest is C. Burcin Taner, M.D., Professor of Surgery and Chair of the Department of Transplantation at the Florida campus of the Mayo Clinic.
Learn more about our Transplant Series: Mayo Clinic Talks: Donate Life: Transplantation Series | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development
Connect with Mayo Clinic’s Transplant Center online at https://mayoclinic.org/transplant or on X @MayoTransplant
To learn more and register to be an organ donor please visit https://careinfo.mayoclinic.org/organ-donation.
Connect and listen with Mayo Clinic Podcasts | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development

9 snips
Mar 25, 2025 • 21min
Clearing the Fog on Cataracts
In this enlightening discussion, ophthalmologist Amir R. Khan, known for his expertise in cataracts, sheds light on a condition that affects vision worldwide. He reveals that cataracts can develop at any age and often go unnoticed until significant impairment occurs. Amir shares personal patient stories highlighting the transformation post-surgery. The conversation also covers advancements in lens technology, the importance of careful decision-making for surgery, and addresses common issues like post-operative clouding. A must-listen for anyone curious about eye health!

Mar 24, 2025 • 27min
Tuberculosis (TB) in Children
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.
Guest: James T. Gaensbauer, M.D., M.S.
Each year, we recognize World TB Day on March 24. This annual event commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis (TB). World TB Day is a day to educate the public about the impact of TB around the world.
The CDC, along with our partners and colleagues around the world, share successes in TB prevention and control and raise awareness of the challenges that hinder our progress toward the elimination of this devastating disease.
Tuberculosis continues to be a global health concern. Despite being preventable and very treatable, this disease continues to cause suffering and death. It accounted for an estimated one and a quarter million deaths worldwide in 2023. In the United States, cases have been increasing over the past several years, and this is also true in children, especially in those under the age of 5 years. What are the common risk factors for tuberculosis in children? Is the disease different in children compared to adults? What should we, as a primary care provider do when we suspect tuberculosis in a young patient? These are some of the questions I’ll be asking my guest for this podcast, James T. Gaensbauer, M.D., M.S., a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic as we discuss “Tuberculosis in Children”.
Connect with Mayo Clinic Podcasts | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development
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