Advances in Care

On this episode of Advances in Care, host Erin Welsh revisits a recent conversation about psychedelic drug therapies for psychiatric disorders. First Erin hears from Dr. Richard Friedman, a clinical psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian and director of the Psychopharmacology Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine. Using his background in psychopharmacology, Dr. Friedman distinguishes between psychedelics and standard antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs, explaining the various mechanisms in the brain that respond uniquely to psychedelic compounds. While both methods of treatment involve serotonin stimulation, psychedelics are the only known drug to shut off the brain’s Default Mode Network, which is the group of brain regions that are active when a person is not thinking about external stimuli. Dr. Friedman also identifies that the challenge of proving efficacy of psychedelic therapy lies in the question of how to design a clinical trial that gives patients a convincing placebo. To learn more about the challenges of trial design, Erin also speaks to Dr. David Hellerstein, a research psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. Dr. Hellerstein contributed to a 2022 trial of synthetic psilocybin in patients with treatment resistant depression. He and his colleagues took a unique approach to dosing patients so that they could better understand the response rates of patients who use psychedelic therapy. The results of that trial underscore an emerging pattern in the field of psychiatry – that while psychedelic therapy has its risks, it’s also a promising alternative treatment for countless psychiatric disorders. Dr. Hellerstein also shares more about the future of clinical research on psychedelic therapies to potentially treat a range of mental health disorders. *** Dr. Richard Friedman is a professor of clinical psychiatry and is actively involved in clinical research of mood disorders. In particular, he is involved in several ongoing randomized clinical trials of both approved and investigational drugs for the treatment of major depression, chronic depression, and dysthymia. Dr. David J. Hellerstein directs the Depression Evaluation Service at Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, which conducts studies on the medication and psychotherapy treatment of conditions including major depression, chronic depression, and bipolar disorder. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances CHAPTERS [00:00 – 5:43] The Challenges of Conventional Treatments for Major Depression Dr. Richard Friedman shares the shortcomings of relying on SSRIs and SNRIs for major depression. [5:43 – 9:15] Psychedelics and the Default Mode Network Dr. Friedman outlines how psychedelics like psilocybin can stimulate a specific serotonin receptor and quiet the Default Mode Network, redirecting the brain’s focus away from rumination and distressing thought cycles. [9:15 – 15:02] Challenge of Clinical Testing Dr. Friedman outlines a key challenge in clinically testing psychedelics, such as finding a successful placebo. Dr. David Hellerstein shares how he and his team designed a study around synthetic psilocybin, and how they approached the placebo challenge with microdoses. [15:02 – 19:49] Potential Applications for Different Psychedelics Dr. Hellerstein discusses applications for different types of psychedelics, which includes looking to MDMA for treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or using DMT to treat patients with Long Covid. [19:49 – 20:37] Credits

On this episode of Advances in Care, host Erin Welsh revisits the story behind the GUARDIAN study, which screens thousands of newborn babies against rare disease by sequencing their genes, and looking for more conditions than any of the current standard screening panels. First, she hears from Dr. Jordan Orange, former physician-in-chief at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, about why genetic testing is a promising way of not only catching treatable rare diseases in infants, but also expanding health equity and medical resources to marginalized populations. Erin also hears from Dr. Josh Milner, a pediatric immunologist who treated a patient with a rare form of SCID, or severe combined immune deficiency, also known as bubble boy disease that was detected in the GUARDIAN screening panel. SCID is a disease that typically occurs in 1 of 50,000 babies. But GUARDIAN caught two cases within the first 10,000 babies involved in the program, indicating that the rate of the disease might be higher than expected, and that the most accurate way to detect is through genetic screening. Dr. Steven Lobritto, a pediatric gastroenterologist, also weighs in on how genetic screening can help identify Wilson’s disease, a copper storage disorder that causes liver damage when left unchecked. And Dr. Eric Silver, a pediatric electrophysiologist, discusses how the program detected a heart rhythm disorder called Long QT Syndrome for both a newborn baby and their father. Finally, Erin gets the big-picture takeaways from Dr. Orange, who reflects on what the results of GUARDIAN could mean for the future of newborn screening and health policy, and how he hopes to see genetic testing expand research and treatment of rare diseases. Since recording this episode, Dr. Orange has taken on the role of pediatrician-in-chief of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Under his leadership, the department of pediatrics received consistent funding for research projects, reaching its highest level in 2024. This podcast conversation is a direct reflection of his team’s commitment to advancing children’s health at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances CHAPTERS: [00:00 – 7:024 Establishing the GUARDIAN Program Dr. Jordan Orange introduces the GUARDIAN Program, a newborn screening panel that can detect over 450 rare and treatable genetic conditions. [7:24 – 13:48] Early Detection of Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID) Dr. Orange emphasizes the importance of genetic diversity in the testing population for the GUARDIAN study. Dr. Joshua Milner, co-author of the study, talks about how the GUARDIAN screening detected a patient with severe combined immune deficiency and allowed for early intervention. [13:48– 17:45] Identifying Wilson’s Disease with GUARDIAN Dr. Steven Lobritto shares how identifying Wilson’s disease before complications manifest later in life allows for a simple treatment that can enable patients to avoid organ damage and transplant. [17:45 – 21:41] Long QT Syndrome and Results of GUARDIAN Dr. Eric Silver discusses how early detection of Long QT Syndrome found the same gene in a child and their father and led to both starting medication to prevent abnormal heart rhythms. Dr. Orange also discusses the implications and future goals of this study. [23:01 – 23:45] Credits

On this episode of Advances in Care, Erin Welsh speaks with Dr. Lawrence Lustig, otolaryngologist-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. Dr. Lustig has spent decades working to advance various interventions to treat genetic deafness and after years of research, his team was the first to show that gene therapies could be effective at reversing hearing loss in mouse models. Dr. Lustig focused his initial study on otoferlin, a gene that is missing in people with a rare form of genetic deafness, and how to safely deliver it back to patients. Starting with mouse models and solving for the uniquely large size of the gene, they discovered that packaging otoferlin with an adeno-associated virus and injecting it into the ear completely reversed deafness. From there, they began the process of trialing this approach in humans at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. The trials were successful, leading to natural hearing restoration in most patients, and in April 2026 the work culminated with an FDA approval of the first ever gene therapy for genetic deafness based on the research pushed forward by Dr. Lustig and his team. Dr. Lustig’s team has trialed the therapy in patients across a range of ages, from six years old to thirty-one, and have seen hearing restoration take place to varying degrees. This means that unlike cochlear implant surgery, which has to be performed at a young age, this research could have important implications for treating patients into adulthood. It is also laying critical groundwork for continued gene therapy trials for other forms of genetic deafness. Chapters: [00:00 – 08:15] Identifying the Right Gene Therapy for Hearing Loss Dr. Lawrence Lustig tells the story of how he and his team targeted the otoferlin gene, a rare cause of genetic deafness when missing, to successfully reverse hearing loss in mouse models. [08:15 – 9:51] From Mouse Model to Clinical Trial and FDA Approval Dr. Lustig shares the process his team undertook to move this groundbreaking discovery from mouse models into human subjects, eventually leading to FDA approval for the first ever gene therapy for genetic deafness. [9:51– 16:10] Patient Responses to Restored Natural Hearing Dr. Lustig describes the impact that restoration of natural hearing has on his patients and their families. He explains why the setting of a large academic medical center at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia was critical in recruiting patients and the success of these trials. [16:10– 17:46] Results and the Future of Treatment for Genetic Hearing Loss Dr. Lustig shares the results from the otoferlin clinical trials and describes how this groundbreaking research could impact treatments for more common forms of genetic deafness in the future. [17:46 – 18:25] Credits *** Dr. Lawrence Lustig is Chair of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery at NYP/Columbia and a nationally recognized otologist, neurotologist, and researcher specializing in hearing loss and gene therapy. Over the course of his career, Dr. Lustig has helped pioneer some of the foundational research that led to the development of gene therapies for inherited deafness. His laboratory was among the first to demonstrate complete restoration of hearing in animal models using gene therapy, and he played a leading role in the development and clinical testing of the recently FDA-approved otoferlin gene therapy, the first gene therapy approved to restore hearing in children with a rare genetic form of deafness. His work focuses on translating cutting-edge discoveries in molecular medicine into transformative treatments for patients with hearing loss. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

On this episode of Advances in Care, Erin Welsh is joined by Dr. Barbara Ma, a medical oncologist at NewYork-Presbyterian who leads Cellular Therapy for Solid Tumors at Weill-Cornell Medicine. Dr. Ma and her team are at the forefront of advancing cell-based treatments which include tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy—or TIL—a groundbreaking cell therapy for metastatic melanoma that received FDA approval in 2024. Their program is one of only a handful in the United States with the expertise and infrastructure to offer TIL therapy to patients with advanced melanoma based on the complexity of this treatment approach. The process for administering TIL is multi-step beginning with the surgical removal of a patient’s tumor, from which the potent TIL cells are isolated, and grown in large quantities in a lab. These enhanced immune cells are then infused back into the patient’s body, to attack the malignant tumor directly. This process requires close supervision of the patient due to the side effects of a drug called IL-2 that helps prepare their body to receive the infusion and stimulate the immune cells. Despite the intricacy of the treatment, patients have experienced significant tumor shrinkage, sometimes within weeks, of receiving TIL therapy providing a new option with lasting effects. Dr. Ma and her team are now investigating ways to optimize TIL therapy by shortening the manufacturing process, which can take several weeks, and reducing the toxicity associated with IL-2 to improve the patient experience. NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine is one of the few medical centers to both administer and continue to research this groundbreaking therapeutic avenue, which will likely have future applications in other types of solid tumor cancers. Chapters: [00:00 - 6:40] A New Treatment for Melanoma Dr. Barbara Ma talks about a new treatment option for melanoma – tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy or TIL. [6:40 – 9:02] The Challenges of Immunotherapy and Solid Tumor Cancers Dr. Ma discusses the toxicity associated with some immunotherapies, and how TIL therapy is administered. [9:02 - 12:55] Response Rates for TIL Therapy Dr. Ma describes the timeline of response following TIL therapy. [12:55 - 16:26] Future Applications of TIL Dr. Ma shares how patients can benefit from TIL as a second-line therapy, and how her team is working to shorten the manufacturing time and reduce IL-2 associated toxicity. [16:26 – 18:07] Cell Therapy as the Next Frontier Dr. Ma talks about her outlook for cell therapy as the next frontier in cancer treatment. [18:07 – 18:48] Credits *** Dr. Barbara Ma is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and a medical oncologist specializing in cellular therapy and immunotherapy for solid tumors. She serves as Head of the Phase I Unit and leads Cellular Therapy for Solid Tumors at WCM, where her work focuses on advancing Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) therapy and next-generation cell therapies for cancers including melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, and cervical cancer. Her clinical and research efforts center on translating emerging cellular therapies from early-stage clinical trials into real-world patient care, while improving treatment safety, reducing toxicity, and expanding access for patients with advanced cancers. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

On this episode of Advances in Care, Erin Welsh is joined by Dr. Leonardo Lopez, a psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian and vice chair for inpatient services in the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Lopez and his team are at the forefront of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and have built one of the largest programs of its kind in the country dedicated to treating severe psychiatric illness through this revolutionary method. Though it is one of the most effective therapies available for certain psychiatric conditions like treatment resistant depression and schizophrenia, ECT isn’t widely adopted or accessible. However, Dr. Lopez hopes to change that. In the episode, he describes the history of this treatment, how it has evolved since its inception to become one of the safest procedures done under general anesthesia, and the dramatic response rates. ECT works by restructuring neurotransmitter release and promoting neuronal growth. Patients with conditions like psychotic depression and catatonia can sometimes see upwards of 90-95% response rates. To illustrate the power of ECT, Dr. Lopez shares the story of a pediatric patient who was referred to his team after being diagnosed with catatonia caused by another condition. Although the other condition was treated, the catatonia persisted until she was entirely dependent and non-verbal. Following a 6-week ECT treatment plan, the catatonia resolved completely and the patient was able to return to a normal life. The treatment is less than 5 minutes and administered while patients are under general anesthesia and muscle relaxants, resulting in some of the fastest-acting psychiatric treatment for certain conditions, with minimal side effects. Dr. Lopez hopes that as ECT becomes increasingly destigmatized and sees continued treatment success, there will be more access across the country to this transformative and life-saving therapy. Chapters: [00:00 – 5:12] Efficacy of Electroconvulsive Therapy Dr. Leonardo Lopez describes a potentially fatal syndrome called catatonia and the remarkable results of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in catatonia and other psychiatric conditions. [5:12 – 10:17] Electroconvulsive Therapy to Treat Severe Catatonia Dr. Lopez recounts a recent case of a pediatric patient with catatonia whose syndrome resolved completely after receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and why ECT should not be considered a treatment of last resort. [10:17 - 13:05] Destigmatizing the Treatment Dr. Lopez talks about how ECT has been stigmatized by media portrayals despite modern advancements in application. [13:05 - 15:26] Expanding Access to ECT Dr. Lopez shares his role in developing NewYork-Presbyterian’s ECT program and his hopes for increased access in the future. [15:26 – 15:55] Credits *** Dr. Leonardo Lopez is a psychiatrist and clinical leader who serves as Vice Chair for Inpatient Services in the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. In this role, he partners closely with leadership at NewYork-Presbyterian to oversee the development, implementation, and ongoing management of inpatient psychiatry services, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), across multiple sites, including Weill Cornell Medical Center, Westchester Behavioral Health, and Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, while also collaborating with Gracie Square Hospital to integrate clinical services and advance system-wide behavioral health policies and practices. In these roles, he oversees large-scale inpatient services caring for New York’s most vulnerable populations, including specialized units for co-occurring disorders and patients in Department of Corrections custody, while also expanding access to advanced treatments like ECT and intravenous ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and other disorders. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

On this episode of Advances in Care, Dr. Steven Lobritto, pediatric medical director for liver transplant at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, joins host Erin Welsh to tell the story of a high-risk pediatric liver transplant that he and his team performed to save the life of a two month old baby, after the center where the baby was originally treated deemed her inoperable. Dr. Lobritto describes how NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia has been building their liver transplant center since 1998, allowing them to push forward innovative, and life-saving, surgical strategies, like living donor and partial liver transplants, in order to increase the odds of survival for pediatric patients on the organ waitlist. Children under one year of age have the highest mortality rates while waiting for a transplantable organ. In the case of this infant, the optimal treatment required surgical expertise in partial liver transplant due to her uniquely small size. Dr. Lobritto explains how he and his team coordinated with the patient’s initial care team across the country to prepare the critically ill, 11-pound baby to fly to New York, and the intricacies of the surgical procedure. Dr. Lobritto also explains his involvement with the STARZL Network, a consortium of hospitals that share protocols, best practices, and learnings to address knowledge and training gaps in pediatric organ transplantation. He advocates for partial liver transplantation to be universally taught as a requirement of surgical training, to increase access to organs and save the lives of more young patients. Chapters: [00:00 - 5:58] NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia’s Liver Transplant Center Dr. Lobritto describes the strengths of the NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia Liver Transplant Center, including the cutting edge techniques that allowed them to coordinate a partial liver transplant in a critically ill baby. [5:58 - 8:12] A Specialized Transport to New York Dr. Lobritto outlines the challenges of transporting the baby, who needed a mobile ICU team for life-support to travel to New York City. [8:12 - 12:50] Multidisciplinary Collaboration Dr. Lobritto shares the considerations that went into preparing for the baby’s complex surgery and how they adapted care when a complication arose. [12:10 - 14:41] The STARZL Network Dr. Lobritto discusses his work with the STARZL Network, which strives to increase access to pediatric organ transplant. [14:41 - 15: 31] Credits *** Dr. Steven Lobritto is a distinguished pediatric gastroenterologist and a professor of pediatrics and medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC). He has been instrumental in the development of the Pediatric Liver Transplantation Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia and is the Medical Director of the program. Dr. Lobritto has trained many leading physicians in transplant hepatology and has contributed significantly to pediatric liver transplantation through his research and clinical care. His expertise in pediatric gastroenterology and liver transplantation has made him a respected figure in the medical community. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

On this episode of Advances in Care, Erin Welsh is joined by Dr. Howard Fine, a neuro-oncologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and director of the Brain Tumor Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, to explore his pioneering research on glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer. Glioblastoma has long resisted meaningful therapeutic progress. When Dr. Fine began working in this field, the median survival after diagnosis was just 12-13 months. Forty years later, there’s been little progress made to meaningfully extend life for glioblastoma patients, despite concerted research efforts. Unlike many other cancers, glioblastoma cells diffusely infiltrate the brain, making complete surgical removal and targeted chemotherapy extremely difficult, thus limiting the effectiveness of traditional cancer treatment approaches. Dr. Fine’s work aims to fundamentally change how glioblastoma is studied and treated. His lab is bioengineering human embryonic stem cells to form cerebral organoids - also called mini brains - which exhibit similar characteristics to a human brain. Through a platform they’ve created called GLICO, his team can develop genetically matched, patient-specific models that incorporate a patient’s own immune cells and glioma stem cells, allowing researchers to screen various drug therapies and map how an individual patient’s glioma might progress. By combining these personalized glioblastoma models with artificial intelligence and machine learning, Dr. Fine’s goal is to build a future care model where clinicians can identify patient-specific therapies and test treatments before they reach the bedside, ultimately transforming glioblastoma into a more manageable disease. Chapters: [00:00 - 07:13] Past Research and Treatment for Glioblastoma Dr. Fine and Erin discuss his history in researching and treating glioblastoma. [07:13-10:54] Reframing Glioblastoma Dr. Fine explains how glioblastoma differs from other types of cancers and why traditional approaches haven’t improved outcomes. [10:54-14:46] GLICO and Glioblastoma Cerebral Organoids Dr. Fine describes the GLICO platform he’s pioneering, and how advancements in cerebral organoids open new pathways for treatment strategies. [14:46-18:34] Shifting the Paradigm Dr. Fine shares his research goals to accommodate this new biological understanding of glioblastoma and how it could transform the condition into a manageable disease and improve survivorship. [18:35-18:59] Credits *** Howard A. Fine, M.D., is the founding Director of the Brain Tumor Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine and Associate Director for Translational Research at the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center. Over his career, he has built multidisciplinary brain tumor programs at leading institutions including the National Institutes of Health and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School. He has cared for nearly 20,000 patients with brain and spinal cord tumors, led more than 100 clinical trials, and authored over 250 publications. His laboratory has operated continuously for more than two decades, focusing on the genetic and molecular drivers of brain tumors. Today, his research centers on developing patient-specific tumor models, creating genetically precise replicas of individual brain tumors to better predict disease behavior and enable real-time drug screening tailored to each patient. At WCM, he leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering highly personalized neuro-oncology treatment plans. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

Erin Welsh is joined by Dr. Jennifer Haythe, director of the Adult Pulmonary Hypertension Center and Cardio-Obstetrics programs at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, to discuss the prevalence of high-risk pregnancies due to heart disease and the multi-disciplinary efforts required for optimal patient care. Many women in the US are having children at a later age than in the past, and with that comes an increased occurrence of certain conditions that create risk for heart disease during, or after, pregnancy. In fact, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the US, with pulmonary hypertension and peripartum cardiomyopathy posing significantly high risks. Dr. Haythe discusses how coordinated, multi-disciplinary care is crucial in treating these vulnerable patients, and how the cardio-obstetrics program at Columbia is approaching care to allow women, many of whom have been told they could never give birth, achieve safe and successful pregnancies. Dr. Haythe also talks about the latest cutting edge research for cardiac conditions in pregnancy and her program’s involvement in the ReBIRTH study, a national, multi-center, randomized placebo controlled trial examining the use of bromocriptine as a course of treatment for pregnant patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy - a study that could potentially introduce a new paradigm in high-risk pregnancy care. Chapters: [00:00 - 5:49] Columbia’s Multidisciplinary Cardio-Obstetrics Program Dr. Haythe and Erin discuss how the multidisciplinary cardio-obstetrics program at Columbia and the growing population of pregnant patients with heart disease. [05:49 - 10:28 ] Navigating Cardiovascular Complications Dr. Haythe and Erin talk about the risks of pulmonary hypertension and other cardiovascular complications in pregnant patients, including during the post-partum period, and also highlights new research that may help change the course of treatment. [10:28 - 14:08] A Rewarding Patient Story Dr. Haythe tells a story of a pregnant patient with pulmonary hypertension who delivered successfully, demonstrating how the program effectively managed her care. [14:08 - 17:12 ] Vision For the Future Dr. Haythe shares her experience as part of the New York City Maternal Mortality Review Board, a committee formed to review maternal deaths and determine how to minimize the risk of recurrence going forward. [17:12 - 18:04] Credits *** Jennifer Haythe, MD, is the Director of the Adult Pulmonary Hypertension Center, and the Cardio-Obstetrics program at Columbia. She is currently the Irene and Sidney B. Silverman Associate Professor of Cardiology, Center for Advanced Cardiac Care at Columbia, and Co-Director of The Columbia Women’s Heart Center. Dr. Haythe specializes in pulmonary hypertension, cardio-obstetrics, heart failure, HFPEF, and cardiovascular disease in women. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

On this episode of Advances in Care, Erin Welsh and Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield, pediatric neurosurgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian and director of the Chiari CARE program at Weill Cornell Medicine, discuss a rare condition called Chiari malformation. Typically diagnosed by MRI, Chiari malformation is classified when part of the cerebellum descends into the upper spinal canal. Though some of the most severe types of Chiari malformation can be diagnosed during pregnancy, the most common type may present asymptomatically until adolescence or adulthood, with symptoms that are often misdiagnosed as other disorders. To address the unmet need for proper diagnosis and management of this condition, Dr. Greenfield created the Chiari CARE program–a multidisciplinary approach involving neurology, pain management, neuropsychology, radiology, and more–to help provide full-spectrum care to patients. A key factor of the Chiari CARE program is its emphasis on transitional care, which includes both treating patients who come in as pediatrics throughout their adulthood as well as those who are diagnosed later in life. But Dr. Greenfield’s vision extends to the future. Having just treated the program’s thousandth surgical patient, his team is amassing and analyzing outcomes data and using machine learning to refine predictions for which future patients would be good candidates for surgery or require other treatment methods that will enhance overall quality of life. Chapters: [00:00 - 4:12] Chiari CARE Dr. Greenfield and Erin discuss a rare congenital brain condition called Chiari malformation, and highlight Dr. Greenfield’s Chiari CARE program at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. [4:12 - 8:35] The Importance of Transitional Care Dr. Greenfield expands on the importance of transitional care for patients with congenital neurological conditions like Chiari malformation. [8:35 - 11:51] Determining the Right Approach Dr. Greenfield explains how he and his team determine whether their patients need surgery or not, and the challenges of diagnosing and treating Chiari malformation in adults. [11:51 - 14:31] Harnessing Data to Advance Research Dr. Greenfield describes how his team is utilizing the MRI scans from over a thousand patients to develop models that could predict who may be a good candidate for surgery or other treatment avenues. [14:31 - 18:35] Advancing Diagnostics Dr. Greenfield shares his vision for an improved coordinated care model for patients newly diagnosed with Chiari malformation. [18:35 - 19:20] Credits *** Jeffrey Greenfield, MD, PhD is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in pediatric neurosurgery. In addition he sees certain adult patients with congenital neurosurgical conditions. Compassionate clinical care, research, and education are all central to his philosophy as a neurosurgeon and physician. His clinical expertise includes Chiari malformation, all forms of tethered spinal cord, pediatric brain tumors and congenital neurosurgery into adulthood. As creator and director of the Chiari CARE program, Dr. Greenfield has developed an international reputation caring for children and adults with Chiari malformation, tethered cord, syringomyelia, and other associated conditions such as craniocervical instability, CSF leaks, and hydrocephalus as part of a large multidisciplinary team. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

Erin Welsh is joined by Dr. Jeffrey Port, a thoracic surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, and a leader in thoracic surgical oncology, to discuss advances in minimally invasive robotic surgery and the unique collaborative care model that his program employs to operate on complex chest tumors. When Dr. Port first started his career, the surgical techniques used to operate on lung cancer patients were akin to open heart surgery. But in recent years, his team has pioneered new techniques in thoracic surgery, specifically a minimally invasive single port robotic approach, which utilizes a multi-finger robotic hand to operate through one incision. Weill Cornell Medicine is currently one of only 10 centers nationwide using this technology for thoracic surgery, and the highest-volume center in the country that is performing these advanced procedures. Dr. Port also discusses the unique collaborative model his team utilizes to perform complex chest tumor surgeries which oftentimes require cardiopulmonary bypass. This combination of cutting edge surgical techniques, high case volume, and a multidisciplinary approach, is meaningfully expanding treatment options for patients who cannot be treated elsewhere. Chapters: [00:00 - 04:39] Introduction to Thoracic Surgery Dr. Port and Erin discuss the standard of care for thoracic surgery as it stood a few years ago and his pioneering use of robotics in single port thoracic surgery today. [04:39 - 09:06] Recovery Benefits of Single-Port Robotic Surgery Dr. Port expands on how the technology differs from standard robotics and the recovery benefits of single-port robotic thoracic surgery. [09:06 - 13:20] NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine as Early Adopter of Innovative Technology Dr. Port details his department’s efforts as a training facility, teaching surgeons and health care professionals from across the world the techniques and workflows that contribute to their success. [13:20 - 16:16] Multidisciplinary Approach as a Key to Cardiopulmonary Care Dr. Port outlines how multi-specialty care allows his team to undertake very complex cases with success. [16:16 - 17:01] Credits *** Dr. Jeffrey L. Port is a Professor of Thoracic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and a leader in thoracic surgical oncology. For more than two decades, he has helped shape Weill Cornell’s robotic thoracic surgery program and played a central role in advancing both minimally invasive and complex, high-risk chest surgery. His clinical focus spans lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, with particular expertise in robotic approaches and coordinated cardiac–thoracic procedures for patients with advanced disease. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

On this episode of Advances in Care, host Erin Welsh is joined by Dr. Mirella Mourad, maternal-fetal medicine specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian and co-director of the Preterm Birth Prevention Center at Columbia, to explore a groundbreaking new technology aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of preterm birth. Preterm birth impacts approximately 1 in 10 pregnancies in the United States, making it a leading cause of neonatal complications and long-term health challenges. But despite its prevalence and associated risks, innovative solutions to address the condition have lagged behind. To address this gap, Dr. Mourad and her collaborator, Dr. Kristin Meyers, a professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia’s School of Engineering, are developing a new tool: a patient-specific “digital twin” of the cervix. This advanced technology has the potential to revolutionize obstetric care for patients, by allowing clinicians to test new treatment methods, collect data to better understand why certain people are at risk for preterm birth, and overall, catalyze innovation in the historically under-researched field of maternal-fetal medicine, ultimately helping to drive better outcomes and successful pregnancies. Dr. Mourad also discusses how this digital twin can potentially assist with identifying women with placenta accreta spectrum disorder, and inform more precise and proactive treatment plans for patients with this high-risk condition. Chapters: [00:00 - 4:24] The Prevalence of Pre-Term Birth Dr. Mourad discusses the prevalence of pre-term birth and what drew her to obstetrics. [4:24 - 8:10] Room for Improvement in Diagnostics and Intervention Dr. Mourad explains how pre-term birth is currently diagnosed and the limited tools for intervention. [8:10 - 13:00] The Digital Twin Dr. Mourad describes the “digital twin,”and how it can be used to simulate a patient’s biomechanics to better predict whether they may have a pre-term birth. [13:00 - 19:40] Looking Forward Dr. Mourad outlines how the use of AI and digital twins could not only help predict pre-term birth, but could also provide critical insights into testing new treatments and navigating other risky conditions like placenta accreta spectrum disorder. [19:40 - 20:25] Credits *** Mirella Mourad, MD is the Co-Director of the Preterm Birth Prevention Center and a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She is particularly interested in the medical diseases that affect pregnancy, focusing on maternal cardiac conditions, autoimmune diseases, and surgical complications involving abnormal placentation. Dr. Mourad is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a member of the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

On this episode of Advances in Care, Erin Welsh is joined by Dr. Cara Agerstrand, director of the Medical ECMO Program at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, and Dr. Matthew Baldwin, critical care specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian and research lead of Columbia’s Baldwin Lab which focuses on the study of critical illness survivorship. Thousands of people suffer from cardiopulmonary conditions such as cardiac arrest and severe respiratory illnesses in the United States every year, with many requiring mechanical ventilation and critical care in the ICU. To better serve these patients, NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia has built a renowned program to manage these patients on rescue therapies like extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the most advanced form of cardiopulmonary life support. Since 2009, the team at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia has established an expertise to care for the sickest respiratory and cardiac failure patients with this technology, and has been at the forefront of utilization which has rapidly evolved from early pediatric use to post H1N1 and COVID surges. The standards of care for ECMO treatment and patient outcomes set by New York Presbyterian and Columbia over the past decade has earned them recognition as an ELSO Platinum Level Center of Excellence, one of only a few centers worldwide to have consistently achieved this status since it was first awarded. The team takes this expertise further through advanced research in The Baldwin Lab, which focuses on a variety of projects to better understand the biological factors of why some patients fully recover from ICU stays and others do not, as well as physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing for patients. Chapters: [00:00 - 4:07] ECMO and Post-Intensive Care Syndrome Dr. Agerstrand describes advances in ECMO care and Dr. Baldwin outlines his research in post-intensive care syndrome and targeted recovery efforts. [4:07 - 9:25] Refining ECMO Dr. Agerstrand discusses how Columbia’s early ECMO adoption positioned them to refine techniques and set a new standard for its use in the ICU. [9:25 - 14:33] Recovery After Prolonged Critical Care Dr. Baldwin explains the pressing need for continued care for patients discharged after receiving prolonged critical care, and his research connecting ongoing inflammation with slowed recovery. [14:33 - 19:01] Advancing Post-ICU Care Dr. Baldwin shares how his team has identified a hyper-inflammation biomarker with implications for post-ICU care and beyond. Dr. Agerstrand reflects on the rewarding aspects of an often challenging field. [19:01 - 19:41] Credits *** Dr. Cara Agerstrand is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Medical ECMO Program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Agerstrand completed her Internal Medicine residency and Pulmonary & Critical Care fellowship at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She is an elected member of the Steering Committee of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization, a member of the ECMO and Mechanical Circulatory Support Domain Task Force of the American College of Chest Physicians and is extensively involved in clinical care, research, and educational efforts involving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R). She has special interests in the use of ECMO for severe forms of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary hypertension and in pregnant and postpartum patients. Dr. Agerstrand is widely published and is an internationally invited speaker. Dr. Matthew Baldwin, MD, MS, is a board-certified pulmonary and critical care physician and clinical investigator with a Masters in Biostatistics. Dr. Baldwin’s laboratory aims to improve critical illness survivorship. His research into survivors of acute respiratory failure works to elucidate the mechanisms of post-ICU frailty as therapeutic targets for improving physical recovery. He has identified frailty subtypes in acute respiratory failure survivors, and discovered that aging-related plasma biomarkers of inflammation, neuro-endocrinopathy, and muscle mitochondrial myopathy are potential therapeutic targets for post-ICU interventions. His research related to palliative care aims to improve ICU survivorship, and he has developed novel palliative care interventions for mechanical ventilation patients, such as chaplain-led communication-board-guided spiritual care. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

On this episode of Advances in Care, host Erin Welsh is joined by Dr. Scott Tagawa, medical oncologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and director of the Genitourinary Oncology Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, to talk about the latest developments in prostate cancer care. On this episode of Advances in Care, host Erin Welsh is joined by Dr. Scott Tagawa, medical oncologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and director of the Genitourinary Oncology Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, to talk about the latest developments in prostate cancer care. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men after skin cancer, with 5-10% of patients presenting with metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Advancing treatment options for men with metastatic disease remains a critical priority in oncology. To address this challenge, Dr. Tagawa recently led a promising Phase III randomized trial– called PSMAddition– to assess radioligand therapy, a subset of targeted radionuclide therapy, or TRT. This new therapeutic agent, lutetium PSMA-617, is being tested in men with hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer. Radioligand therapy works by seeking prostate-specific membrane antigens (PSMAs) to deliver radiation to prostate cells throughout the body while minimizing surrounding damage that other therapies can sometimes cause. The results from the PSMAddition trial were significant. The addition of TRT in addition to standard hormone treatment slowed cancer progression by 28%, yielded notable declines in PSA levels, and proved benefits across patient subgroups. The PSMAddition trial is the first to analyze the use of this treatment regimen earlier in care and could potentially redefine the standard of care for patients with metastatic prostate cancer. While metastatic prostate cancer remains incurable, combination strategies incorporating PSMA-targeted therapy represent a promising pathway for expanding the quality and quantity of life for patients, and may prove beneficial as a first-line treatment. This breakthrough trial builds on 25 years of innovation in prostate cancer research at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, where foundational discoveries helped advance the development of PSA and PSMA-targeting agents that are now transforming cancer care. Chapters: [00:00 - 5:07] The Challenges of Early Detection in Prostate Cancer Dr. Tagawa shares his perspective on why historically prostate cancer has been difficult to detect and treat. [5:07 - 10:09] Advances in Detection and Treatment Dr. Tagawa outlines the recent advancements in PSMA PET scans for prostate cancer detection and radioligand therapy for targeted treatment (TRT). [10:09 - 15:13] Promising Phase III PSMAddition Trial Results Dr. Tagawa discusses the results of his recent Phase III PSMAddition trial, which showed the meaningful impact of implementing TRT earlier in metastatic prostate cancer treatment. [15:13 - 15:54] Credits *** Scott T. Tagawa, MD, MS, FACP, FASCO, is a Professor of Medicine and Urology at Weill Cornell Medicine, and an Attending Physician at NewYork-Presbyterian – Weill Cornell Medical Center. His research covers clinical and translational investigations in genitourinary tumors and thrombosis (blood clotting) in people with cancer. As the Medical Director of the Genitourinary Oncology Research Program, Dr. Tagawa leads clinical trials in the areas of prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer as well as the prevention and treatment of thrombosis with cancer. He specializes in drug development and theranostics in prostate cancer. Dr. Tagawa also serves as leader of the GU Disease Management Team and co-leader of the Experimental Therapeutics Program of the Meyer Cancer Center. He is the WCM principal investigator for the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (formerly CALGB), serving on the Board of Directors and as a funded member of the Genitourinary Committee. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

On this episode of Advances in Care, host Erin Welsh sits down with Dr. Thomas Bottiglieri, chief of the primary care sports medicine division at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, to discuss the evolving landscape of concussion care– from prevalence to emerging diagnostic breakthroughs. With over 2 million estimated concussions occurring annually in the United States, and many of them affecting young athletes, Dr. Bottiglieri and his colleagues have sought to develop a more accurate and accessible way to objectively diagnose concussion. While a single injury may not cause long term issues, research shows that repeated head trauma– and lack of proper care– can lead to premature neurodegeneration. During their research to improve diagnostic measures, Dr. Bottiglieri and his team discovered a biomarker associated with severe concussions: a subtle tremor of the head and neck that becomes amplified when a concussed patient tries to visually focus on a target. This discovery led to the development of ProScope, an innovative eyetracking software tool that measures head and neck stability and can detect the diagnostic biomarker with over 80% sensitivity. With the advent of these tools, clinicians can now, for the first time, objectively measure concussion. A former competitive athlete himself, Dr. Bottiglieri hopes that the ProScope tool can become commercially available to improve access to cost-effective diagnosis, ensuring that athletes– or anyone with a head injury– can recover safely and return to the activities they love. Chapters: [00:00 - 3:09] Improving Concussion Diagnostics Dr. Bottiglieri shares how his own experience with a sports related concussion informs his approach with patients and motivates him to improve concussion diagnostics. [3:09 - 8:31] Discovering a Biomarker for Severe Concussion Dr. Bottiglieri explains how most concussions are diagnosed by patients self-reporting rather than quantifiable clinical signs and how his recent research has identified a new biomarker associated with severe concussions. [8:31 - 13:00] The ProScope Tool Dr. Bottiglieri describes the development of the ProScope, a tool used to detect the diagnostic biomarker with 80% sensitivity, and his hopes to collaborate with other institutions to expand injury data to further refine it. [13:00 - 16:35] Expanding Access Dr. Bottiglieri discusses how he hopes to make the ProScope commercially available to more accurately diagnose concussion on the field and avoid repetitive head trauma. [16:35 - 17:21] Credits *** Thomas S. Bottiglieri, D.O. is a sports medicine physician specializing in the management of orthopedic injuries and disorders impacting athletes at all skill levels from adolescents to seniors. In addition to treating the full spectrum of muscle, bone, tendon, and joint injuries, Dr. Bottiglieri is a nationally recognized expert in the field of concussion care. His practice stresses shared decision-making with patients and their families and uses the latest medical technology, evidence-based sports medicine, and a compassionate, patient-centered approach. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

On the final episode of 2025, host Erin Welsh is joined by Courtney Allison, host of NewYork-Presbyterian’s health and wellness podcast, Health Matters , to recap the year’s highlights from their dozens of conversations with clinicians, researchers, and health care specialists from Columbia & Weill Cornell Medicine. They highlight key takeaways, revisit groundbreaking treatments that were pioneered across the institution, and discuss several research updates that are shaping the future of medicine for both physicians and patients. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

For any patient diagnosed with depression for the first time, the recommended course of treatment is the same: a medication like a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), an evidence based psychotherapy, or both. But there is a large group of people for whom these treatments simply won't work. That’s where Dr. Conor Liston and his team focus. In this episode from the Advances in Care archives, Dr. Liston speaks with former host Catherine Price about his work mapping the brain is helping doctors better understand where depression is impacting certain brain structures and what that means for the symptoms patients present. Dr. Liston’s work is focused on identifying how these symptoms impact patients' brains and using those findings to identify the best treatment approach. Since this episode aired, Dr. Liston and his colleagues have continued to build on their research regarding a specific region of the brain called the “salience network.” They found that the salience network was considerably larger in people with clinical depression than in those without, and that people with larger salience networks in childhood were more likely to develop depression later in life. Their research points to an enlarged salience network as the first objective biomarker for diagnosing depression, which could revolutionize how depression is treated, and allow for intervention even before symptoms develop.

In this episode from the Advances in Care archives, Dr. Pierre Elias sits down with Catherine Price to talk about how utilizing technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning can help diagnose patients even before symptoms develop, and support doctors by freeing them up to focus on providing personalized care to their patients. They discuss navigating bias in both artificial intelligence and clinical care, and how new technology will improve the future of medicine. Since this episode aired, Dr. Elias and his collaborators expanded their research involving AI and cardiac care, developing tools for detecting mitral regurgitation and heart failure. Additionally, a team at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia used AI as a fertility treatment for azoospermia, and NewYork-Presbyterian deepened its commitment to developing applications of AI in medicine through a $2 billion campaign to invest in talent and technology. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

With perspectives spanning hepatobiliary, gynecologic, and cardiac surgeries, NewYork-Presbyterian’s Dr. Jason Hawksworth (Columbia), Dr. Tamatha Fenster (Weill Cornell Medicine), and Dr. Arnar Geirsson (Columbia) describe how they each came to incorporate robotics into their practices. One of the biggest takeaways: robotic surgeries allow for more accuracy in minimally-invasive approaches; so patients experience shorter hospital stays and quicker recoveries, even after major procedures. But there are some limitations to robotic surgeries that the doctors are still navigating. Dr. Fenster discusses how there are haptics limitations in robotic surgery. As a result, she shares more about her innovative smartHER 3D MRI program that is addressing this issue and details how her and her team are developing a way of holographically projecting 3D MRIs over patients to help guide surgeons while they operate. Since this episode aired, a team at Weill Cornell Medicine performed the first fully robotic liver transplant in the state of New York, and the Robotic Cardiac Surgery Program at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia completed over 100 robotic heart surgeries. Additionally, Dr. Tamatha Fenster put smartHER 3D MRI technology into practice. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

Catherine Price and Dr. Emile Bacha, Chief of the Division of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia discuss the history of heart surgery, ventricular assist devices, and a new frontier in cardiac surgery: The Total Artificial Heart. Dr. Bacha tells the groundbreaking story of successfully fitting a pediatric patient with a Total Artificial Heart. He explains the nuances of the procedure, and how a backpack-powered heart gave his pediatric patient another chance. In 2023, Dr. Bacha led a team to complete the first domino infant partial heart transplant in the world. Surgeons in his division also completed the first split-root domino transplant in the northeast, saving the lives of three young patients. Most recently, Dr. Bacha became the 106th president of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances

Dr. Chris Ahmad knows firsthand how devastating an untimely injury can be for a young athlete. In this episode from the Advances in Care archives, Dr. Ahmad discusses how his own college soccer injury led him to fall in love with orthopedics. He tells the history of the infamous baseball injury that resulted in the invention of Tommy John surgery, and shares how he learned to perform the corrective procedure from the man who designed it. Dr. Ahmad chronicles his endeavors to innovate orthopedic surgery and get athletes back onto the field stronger – both physically and mentally. Since this episode aired, Dr. Ahmed and his colleagues at NewYork-Presbyterian have taken Tommy John surgery to new heights. They’ve introduced an innovative approach to the procedure called Triple Tommy John Surgery, or TJ3. TJ3 combines ULC repair with reconstruction techniques, offering faster recovery with fewer setbacks and better career longevity for these world class athletes. For more information visit nyp.org/Advances