Clinician's Roundtable

Guest: Jessica Snowden, MD, MS, FAAP, MHPTT Every moment counts when meningitis is suspected. To help reduce the risk of poor neurologic outcomes, Dr. Jessica Snowden is here to review age-based considerations that guide empiric antibiotic and antiviral choices—from neonatal infections acquired at delivery to risks in unvaccinated older children. Dr. Snowden is a Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Tennessee.

Guest: Jessica Snowden, MD, MS, FAAP, MHPTT Despite the success of meningitis vaccination programs, pediatricians must remain vigilant as cases still occur and can be life-threatening if missed. That’s why Dr. Jessica Snowden joins us to share how we can identify subtle behavioral cues, understand age-specific presentations, and diagnose patients using the gold-standard approach of lumbar puncture and CSF analysis. Dr. Snowden is a Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Tennessee.

Guest: Joe K. Tung, MD, MBA While cigarette smoking is known to be linked to psoriasis, it was unclear whether or not e-cigarette use also carries risk. To address this research gap, a recent study analyzed data from over 28,000 United States adults, and, after adjusting for potential confounding variables, found that there is a statistically significant association between e-cigarette use and psoriasis. Hear Dr. Joe Tung, a coauthor of the study, break down its design and results, as well as potential reasons for this connection. Dr. Tung is a board-certified dermatologist who currently serves as the Medical Director of UPMC Falk Dermatology, Director of the Clinical Trials Unit, and Associate Director of the Dermatology Residency Program.

Guest: Joe K. Tung, MD, MBA For dermatologists, treating psoriasis patients who use e-cigarettes can be challenging, particularly because of a lack of education about its risks, mental health concerns, and impacts on treatment efficacy. That being said, there are ways to address these challenges to support patients and improve outcomes. Join Dr. Joe Tung, a board-certified dermatologist who currently serves as the Medical Director of UPMC Falk Dermatology, Director of the Clinical Trials Unit, and Associate Director of the Dermatology Residency Program, as he discusses these barriers and potential solutions.

Guest: Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH As fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) becomes more common in colorectal cancer screening, questions remain about post-FIT follow-up, especially when colonoscopies yield negative results. To explore this further, a recent review looked at the risk of colorectal cancer postcolonoscopy and analyzed the most common reasons it may occur. Hear Dr. Aasma Shaukat, a coauthor of the review, discuss the rationale behind it and its findings, which highlighted the importance of colonoscopy quality. Dr. Shaukat is the Robert M. and Mary H. Glickman Professor of Medicine and a Professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She also serves as the Director of Outcomes Research in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at NYU Langone Health.

Guest: Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH Despite available options like stool-based testing and colonoscopy, colorectal cancer screening rates remain low. Blood-based testing, however, has the potential to improve adherence by offering a convenient alternative. Join Dr. Aasma Shaukat as she discusses the clinical performance of blood-based testing, its limitations, and its role in real-world settings. Dr. Shaukat is the Robert M. and Mary H. Glickman Professor of Medicine and a Professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She also serves as the Director of Outcomes Research in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at NYU Langone Health.

Host: Ashley Baker, MSN, PMHNP Guest: Heather Allen, PhD Guest: Ran Li, PhD Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is emerging as a powerful tool for distinguishing cancerous from noncancerous tissue during colorectal cancer surgery. In a recent study, Drs. Heather Allen and Ran Li leveraged a broad dataset from multiple sources to identify and validate biomarkers—most notably B1—that demonstrated strong correlation with standard pathology. Hear Drs. Allen and Li walk through their study and the implications of its findings with Ashley Baker. Dr. Allen is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as well as the Department of Pathology at Ohio State University in Columbus, and Dr. Li is a researcher who completed a PhD in Analytical Chemistry at The Ohio State University in 2015.

Guest: Robert Gniadecki, MD Biologic therapies have helped significantly improve outcomes and quality of life for patients with psoriasis. With several IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors now available, choosing between biologics often depends on the dermatologist’s experience, the patient’s needs, and potential side effects. Hear Dr. Robert Gniadecki, a Professor of Dermatology and the Director of the Division of Dermatology at the University of Alberta, discuss these treatment options and best practices for therapeutic decision-making.

Guest: Theodore Levin, MD For younger adults needing to get screened for colorectal cancer, fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) may help with initiation and adherence because of its speed, ease, and noninvasiveness. Hear Dr. Theodore Levin discuss FIT and its potential benefits, particularly in younger adults. Dr. Levin is a Professor of Health System Science at the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, the Associate Director at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, and the Clinical Lead for Colorectal Cancer Screening for the Permanente Medical Group.

Guest: Theodore Levin, MD In light of guidelines for the starting age of colorectal cancer screening shifting, a recent study explored how screening outcomes compare in adults age 45 to 49 and adults over 50. Across metrics like initiation, adherence, adenoma detection, and colonoscopy yield, the evidence shows support for earlier screening. Tune in to hear Dr. Theodore Levin, Professor of Health System Science at the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, the Associate Director at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, and the Clinical Lead for Colorectal Cancer Screening for the Permanente Medical Group, break down the research.