What To Know: Recent Episodes
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Join us every other Friday for our video series hosted by Dr. John Warner, Executive Vice President for Health System Affairs, and featuring UT Southwestern specialists from the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. As the only academic medical center in North Texas, we consider it our mission to keep you safe and informed, especially during this crisis.
The opening of UT Southwestern Medical Center at RedBird marks a vital step in the revitalization of the former mall and the southern Dallas County neighborhood. Peter Brodsky, CEO of Reimagine RedBird, and Ericka Walker Williams, M.D., a primary care physician at UTSW RedBird, explain the role that accessible, high quality health care can play in enriching a community.
Time is of the essence when a patient exhibits signs of sepsis – the body’s extreme reaction to an infection. At UT Southwestern, Sterling Overstreet, M.D., an emergency medicine physician, and Cary Orrick, Performance Improvement Coordinator for Nursing, have helped introduce protocols to diagnose sepsis early and reduce mortality rates, raising awareness about the potentially life-threatening condition.
Survival rates for most forms of cancer have improved in recent years, but pancreatic cancer remains a deadly anomaly because early detection is very difficult. By focusing on a unique prevention program for high-risk individuals, clinical research, and advances in endoscopic and surgical treatments, UT Southwestern specialists are working to change the outlook for pancreatic cancer patients.
The rise of Omicron mutations BA.4 and BA.5 has created a fresh wave of confusion and concern for a COVID-weary public. Dr. Brad Cutrell, an infectious diseases expert, and Dr. Jeffrey SoRelle, a pathologist whose lab at UT Southwestern is sequencing COVID-19 subvariants, tackle the tough questions about accelerated transmission rates, milder COVID-related illness, reduced vaccine efficacy, and Omicron-specific booster shots.
Gliomas have long been considered one of the most daunting forms of cancer, but advances in research, imaging, and treatments are turning the tide on these brain tumors. Dr. Elizabeth Maher, Director of UT Southwestern’s translational research program in neuro-oncology, and Dr. Toral Patel, a neurosurgeon who specializes in advanced surgical techniques, provide a glimpse into the precise and personalized treatment options now available to patients.
The revolution in cancer survival rates has created a new field in medicine called cardio-oncology, in which heart specialists work closely with cancer doctors to maximize care and minimize cardiovascular risks from treatments such as chemotherapy. UT Southwestern cardio-oncologist Dr. Vlad Zaha and Dr. Suzanne Conzen, Chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology, explain how this bridge between cancer and heart care provides long-term benefits patients.
The magnitude of America’s opioid crisis can feel overwhelming – we lose more people every year to overdoses than we did in the Vietnam War. But Marti Taylor, President and CEO of OneFifteen, a treatment center in Dayton, Ohio, says investments in evidence-based care and screening, plus reducing the stigma surrounding addiction, can help turn the tide.
The field of organ transplantation has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, with longer-term survival rates, fewer post-transplant infections, and more living donors coming forward. For Donate Life Month, the leaders of UT Southwestern’s Kidney and Liver Transplant Programs discuss the tremendous progress that’s been made and the challenges that still lie ahead.
With case counts low and summer vacations coming up, many people over age 50 are trying to decide if, and when, to get their fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine (second booster). UT Southwestern Infectious Diseases specialists Dr. Pearlie Chong and Dr. Reuben Arasaratnam weigh in on the benefits of the second booster and who needs it most.
The field of organ transplantation has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, with longer-term survival rates, fewer post-transplant infections, and more living donors coming forward. For Donate Life Month, the leaders of UT Southwestern’s Kidney and Liver Transplant Programs discuss the tremendous progress that’s been made and the challenges that still lie ahead.
For families living with diseases such as cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, finding an expert diagnosis and advanced care can be very challenging. Dr. Angela Scheuerle and Dr. Ralph DeBerardinis lead UT Southwestern’s Center of Excellence for Rare Diseases, where genetic research and clinical progress are making a real impact on patients’ lives.
As we transition to a recovery phase of the pandemic, supporting children’s physical and mental health presents a new challenge for parents. UT Southwestern pediatric specialists Dr. Maeve Sheehan and Dr. James Norcross provide practical advice on how to help kids of all ages adjust to a post-pandemic life.
Our eyes have been working overtime during the pandemic, with many of us staring at screens for hours on end. Dr. William Harbour, the new Chair of UT Southwestern’s Department of Ophthalmology, discusses strategies to combat eye fatigue as well as the research his team is doing to safeguard patients’ vision in the face of age-related degeneration and ocular cancer.
The pandemic has created a seismic shift in how and where we work. Dr. Susan McElroy, an Associate Professor of Economics at UT Dallas, and Michael Billing, Managing Director of Consulting for real estate and investment firm JLL, explore how individuals and companies are adapting to a post-COVID workplace.
Two years after the COVID-19 pandemic began in the U.S., and as the Omicron wave wanes, an SMU medical anthropologist and a UT-Dallas social scientist examine what the world will look like post-pandemic and how our lives will be forever changed.
The pandemic has taken its toll on our hearts with blood pressure levels rising, particularly among women. UT Southwestern cardiologists Dr. Maryjane Farr and Dr. Ann Marie Navar suggest that February – Heart Month – is the perfect time to ramp up prevention strategies and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Advances in brain mapping, CRISPR technology, and neurosurgery are being transformed into life-changing treatments for patients at UT Southwestern’s Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute. Dr. William Dauer, Director of the Institute, and Dr. Nader Pouratian, Chair of Neurological Surgery, discuss how their teams are unlocking the mysteries of brain diseases, from epilepsy to Alzheimer’s.
Research shows that committing to healthy lifestyle changes can reduce and even reverse the effects of chronic illness, such as diabetes and heart disease. UT Southwestern internal medicine physicians Dr. Jaclyn Albin and Dr. Bethany Agusala share real-world strategies for making lasting and healthy lifestyle choices in 2022.
The emergence of the highly mutated, fast-spreading variant is creating concerns about a winter surge of COVID-19 cases. Dr. Trish Perl, Chief of Infectious Diseases at UT Southwestern, and Dr. Julie Pfeiffer, a UTSW Professor of Microbiology who studies virus evolution, offer insights on the potential trajectory of Omicron and how it stacks up against the vaccines.
Researchers at UT Southwestern, led by Dr. Marc Diamond and Dr. Lorena Saelices, are zeroing in on the root cause of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease – misfolded proteins in the brain – in hopes of discovering new diagnostic tools and therapies for the millions who suffer from neurodegenerative conditions.
Adaptive radiation therapy represents a paradigm shift in cancer care, and UT Southwestern is leading the charge in delivering these more precise and personalized treatments. Dr. Robert Timmerman, Interim Chair of Radiation Oncology, and Dr. Nina Sanford, Chief of Gastrointestinal Radiation Oncology, explain how “smart” radiation benefits patients, and why it is at the heart of our newly expanded Radiation Oncology building in Dallas.
Navigating the information (and misinformation) about COVID-19 vaccines for young children can be challenging. Dr. Jennifer Walsh, a pediatric and adult care specialist, and Dr. Jeffrey Kahn, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UT Southwestern, provide answers to parents’ most asked questions about the safe and effective prevention tool.
COVID-19 has created new health challenges for women, particularly expectant moms. Dr. Catherine Spong, Chair of UT Southwestern’s Ob/Gyn Department, discusses the risks, as well as the top treatments, screenings, and preventive measures for women during the pandemic.
Dr. John Warner, Executive Vice President for Health Systems Affairs, and four UT Southwestern infectious diseases experts provide a snapshot of key COVID-19 topics in Texas and answer your questions about vaccines, booster shots, kids and COVID, and much more.
After 18 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on mental health. UT Southwestern’s Dr. Preston Wiles, Assistant Dean, Student and Resident Mental Health and Wellness, and Dr. Susan Matulevicius, Assistant Dean of Faculty Wellness, have helped our community navigate what can seem like a “forest of doom” to find a sense of optimism and gratitude amid these anxious times.
We’ve learned throughout the pandemic that vaccinations are important for everyone. But now that a third dose has been approved, how crucial is that? Dr. John Sweetenham of UT Southwestern’s Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Dr. Reuben Arasaratnam, a UTSW infectious disease specialist, share their insights about who should take advantage of the third-dose opportunity – and about who should get it first.
As cases surge, two of UT Southwestern’s foremost experts on COVID-19, Dr. Julie Trivedi and Dr. Brad Cutrell, answer your most pressing questions about vaccines, variants, back-to-school safety, breakthrough infections, booster shots, and more.
Updates: On Aug. 12, the CDC recommended booster doses for immunocompromised individuals and formally recommended vaccines for pregnant women.
Rising COVID-19 cases are creating a new wave of confusion for families returning to in-person learning. Dr. Jeffrey McKinney, an infectious disease expert from UT Southwestern's Pediatric Group, and Dr. Joan Buchanan Hill, head of The Lamplighter School, discuss how the Delta variant, vaccines, masks, and last year’s experience will affect classrooms in 2021.
CRISPR, a technology that functions like a spell-checker for DNA, is giving scientists the power to fix genetic mutations that cause devastating diseases. UT Southwestern’s Dr. Eric Olson and Dr. Rhonda Bassel-Duby are at the forefront of this revolutionary research and explain how it may soon help correct conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
With the average age of colon cancer patients trending lower, early screenings have never been more vital. UT Southwestern’s Dr. Emina Huang and Dr. Nina Sanford, experts in gastrointestinal cancers, explain the rise in cases and talk about ways that colonoscopies can lower your risk.
In the past decade, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has spared thousands of patients the ordeal of open-heart surgery. UT Southwestern interventional cardiologists Dr. Dharam Kumbhani and Dr. Anthony Bavry explain how the minimally invasive procedure has revolutionized the field of heart surgery.
As people live longer and play harder, their hips bear an increasingly heavier load. Dr. Joel Wells, a comprehensive hip surgeon, and Dr. Megan Sorich, the leader of UT Southwestern’s Geriatric Fractures program, discuss advances in hip preservation and replacement as well as strategies to safeguard your long-term hip health.
01.29.21 New strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerging in the U.K., South Africa, and Brazil have raised concerns about whether the current vaccines will fully protect people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. David Greenberg, an infectious diseases specialist at UT Southwestern, and Dr. Vineet Menachery, a virologist at UT Medical Branch at Galveston, are tracking the variants – and the vaccines’ response to them.
12.18.20 The arrival of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines marks an important turning point in the pandemic. It also raises plenty of new questions, which UT Southwestern’s Dr. Julie Trivedi and Dr. Reuben Arasaratnam answer in this week’s episode of What to Know. The infectious disease experts also explain how vaccines will move the needle in this public health crisis.
Against the backdrop of COVID-19 closures and racial unrest, artists are finding new ways to capture this historic moment in time. Jeremy Strick, Director of the Nasher Sculpture Center, and artist Ciara Elle Bryant join Dr. John Warner to discuss the power of art to heal and promote a deeper sense of community.
Dr. Madhuri Vusirikala, Medical Director of UT Southwestern's Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Program, and one of her patients, Ericka Thompson, join Dr. John Warner to discuss how virtual health appointments have become vital resources in helping cancer patients stay current with their care and feel supported during the COVID-19 health crisis.
UT Southwestern’s Dr. Amit Singal and Dr. Jasmin Tiro are leading a massive research effort to discover the true impact of the pandemic in North Texas. The DFW COVID-19 Prevalence Study will enroll 45,000 residents from a cross-section of Dallas and Tarrant county zip codes in hopes of building better containment strategies.
More than 45% of COVID-19 hospitalizations in DFW are people under the age of 50, dispelling the notion that only the elderly or sick are at risk for serious complications. Dr. Sonja Bartolome, a pulmonary specialist at UT Southwestern, and Kara Shannon, co-founder of the lifestyle media company Dallasites 101, analyze the troubling trend and how to reverse it.
The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for the restart of the NBA season, but they remain committed to elevating the conversations around two ongoing pandemics: COVID-19 and racial injustice. Mavs CEO Cynt Marshall and center, Dwight Powell join Dr. John Warner to discuss the ongoing efforts of the players, Mavs' owner Mark Cuban, and the team to help DFW rise above these crises.
As COVID-19 cases rise in Texas, so do the levels of stress and anxiety. UT Southwestern’s Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, an internationally recognized expert in depression and mood disorders, and Dr. Nicholas Westers, a clinical psychologist at Children’s Health in Dallas, suggest practical solutions for adults and children to maintain their mental health during the pandemic.
As cities in Texas and across the country have reopened, COVID-19 cases have steadily increased. Dallas COVID-19 Czar Dr. Kelvin Baggett and UT Southwestern infectious diseases expert Dr. Richard Medford discuss the troubling trend, reveal what we can do to help reverse it, and advise when to get tested.
Pro golf returns this weekend at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth with 148 of the world’s best players, but no fans. PGA star Jhonattan Vegas and Tour executive Tom Alter join UTSW’s Dr. John Warner to talk about what went into creating a safe environment for the tournament, how Colonial golf course was chosen for the restart, and what it means to have sports back amid the pandemic.
Children who’ve been stuck at home since March are more than ready to dive into pool parties, sleepovers, and seeing friends again. But how will parents know what’s safe? UT Southwestern pediatric specialists Dr. Jeffrey Kahn and Dr. Rinarani Sanghavi join Dr. John Warner to discuss this hot topic.
The COVID-19 pandemic sent the world's travel industry into a free-fall in mid-March, and it is just now beginning to inch its way back. Southwest Airlines' top executive Gary C. Kelly joins Dr. John Warner to talk about the slow and safe journey back for the Dallas-based airline and its passengers.
The pandemic is putting stroke and heart attack victims at increased risk as many are staying away from the ER, despite telltale symptoms. UT Southwestern’s Dr. Babu Welch, a neurosurgeon, and cardiologist Dr. James de Lemos analyze the troubling trend and articulate why 911 is still the safest call.
This week on What to Know, Dr. John Warner discusses the evolution and future of virtual care with Alan Kramer, architect of UT Southwestern’s telemedicine strategy, and Dr. Suzanne Cole, an early adopter of video visits and Medical Director of Simmons Cancer Clinic at Richardson/Plano.
UT Southwestern’s Chief Nursing Executive Susan Hernandez, along with a nurse from the COVID-19 unit and an ED nurse, join Dr. John Warner to provide an insiders’ perspective on patient care during the pandemic. Staff at Clements University Hospital is delivering safe and expert support to all patients during these challenging times.
Dr. James “Brad” Cutrell, Medical Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship at Clements University Hospital, provides an inside perspective on clinical trials and the search for coronavirus therapies, ranging from remdesivir to convalescent plasma to potential vaccines.
On the debut episode of What To Know, infectious disease specialist Dr. Julie Trivedi joins Dr. John Warner to discuss the plan for increased testing, both for the virus and for antibodies. They also tackle the question of when we all might begin to return to normal.