Coffee Conversations with Scientists: Recent Episodes
Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment in partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin
Each month we’ll dig into the science behind a health topic making news today. Think of it as a virtual coffee break, with a science twist. You bring the coffee. We’ll bring a scientist. And together we’ll explore what science tells us about the health topics that matter to you!
Driven by a vision for a healthier Wisconsin, the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW) reaches statewide, propelling the most promising work and ideas to build a healthier Wisconsin for generations to come.
As maternal mental health concerns continue to impact families and communities, the need for clear, science-based understanding and stronger support systems has never been more important. We'll chat with Christina Wichman, DO, Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology and Vice Chair of Education, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, about how innovative care models are transforming mental health support for women during pregnancy and the postpartum period, helping providers deliver more confident, timely, and compassionate care.
Toxicology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, whose research explores how stress transforms key brain circuits, shaping everything from decision-making to emotional resilience.
As chronic cough, hoarseness, and “silent reflux” continue to affect millions, the need for clear, science-based understanding of what’s really happening in the body has never been greater.Nikki Johnston, PhD, professor of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences at MCW, will chat with us about how the digestive enzyme pepsin may drive upper-airway inflammation, complicate reflux diagnosis, and open new doors for targeted therapies and cancer-related research.
Grab your coffee and join us today for our Coffee Conversations with Scientists episode: The Science Behind Pediatric Vaccines. Pediatric vaccines are among the most effective tools in modern medicine. They help shape lifelong health through prevention, timing, and protection, yet they’re often misunderstood. Storm Dorrough, MD, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellow at MCW, will chat with us about how pediatric vaccines work, why early prevention is so critical, and how vaccines, such as Hepatitis B, help protect children from serious disease and long-term health complications while strengthening the health of families and communities.
Grab your coffee and join us today for our Coffee Conversations with Scientists episode: The Science Behind the GLP-1 Weight Loss Pill. GLP-1 drugs have gained widespread attention for their effectiveness, but questions remain about their long-term impact, accessibility, and what’s next. Join the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment for a virtual coffee break with Srividya (Vidya) Kidambi, MD, MS, Chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine and Professor of Medicine at MCW, as we explore the promise and limitations of the GLP-1 weight management pill and what future breakthroughs may hold.
Visual Sciences and Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy at MCW, will join us to discuss the different types of glaucoma and uncover how the eye’s internal cellular networks shape vision development and survival. He will also explore emerging research and the potential for regenerating damaged vision through cutting-edge science.
Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, Senior Associate Dean in MCW’s School of Medicine and Executive Director of AHW, will join us to explore how digital health solutions, including artificial intelligence, are reshaping healthcare. The conversation will cover how technology can ease health worker burnout, improve quality of care, strengthen provider-patient relationships, and highlight why human oversight of AI tools matters, with a look ahead at how emerging innovations may shape the future of care. ☕️
Olena Klindukhova, MD, will discuss the biological connections between obesity and cancer, unpack how holiday habits may influence long-term risk, and share practical strategies for healthier nutrition, movement, and stress management.
Kirsten Beyer, PhD, MPH, Professor of Epidemiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, will talk about how climate change is reshaping our environment, threatening natural resources, and impacting our health—and how communities are adapting with resilience.
Jennifer Connelly, MD, Neuro-Oncologist with Froedtert's Cancer Center and Professor at MCW, will discuss the rarity of brain tumors and advancements being made in their diagnosis and treatment. She'll share the science, stories, and the strength of a community fighting back, showing how early research, small donations, and shared knowledge are fueling hope and prolonging life expectancy.
David Cipriano, PhD, Child and Adolescent Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at MCW, will discuss how Milwaukee Public Schools are using innovative technology and strategic partnerships to understand how students' proximity to emergency response calls affects their mental health—and what they're doing with these powerful insights.
The Science Behind Clinical Trials by Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment in partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin
Grab your coffee and join us today for our Coffee Conversations with Scientists episode: The Science Behind Health Workforce Well-Being. Michael Stadler, MD, Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Medical College of Wisconsin and former Chief Medical Officer of Froedtert Hospital, will discuss a transformative statewide initiative to support the well-being of Wisconsin’s health workforce.
Alan Silverman, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Pediatric Psychology Training at MCW, will discuss feeding and nutrition disorders in pediatrics, their impact, and how parents can find the right support.
Take a virtual coffee break today with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Srividya (Vidya) Kidambi, MD, MS, Chief of Division of Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine and Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, about the body's physiological adaptations to a fasted state or calorie restriction and the implications for successful weight loss.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Michael Widlansky, MD, MPH, Northwestern Mutual Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, department of medicine and pharmacology, and director of the Cardiovascular Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin, about optimizing our endothelial cell function and why it’s important.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Cheryl Stucky, PhD, Marvin Wagner Endowed Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin, about the neural basis of Sickle Cell Disease pain and discuss recent advancements in pain management strategies.
Take a virtual coffee break today with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Dr. Leslie Ruffalo, Associate Professor in Family and Community Medicine at MCW, about how fostering trusted partnerships between communities and farmers can be a powerful approach to addressing nutrition insecurity.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Gustavo W. Leone, PhD, Director of Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center and Senior Associate Dean of Cancer Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin, about urgent research and cutting-edge therapies that are transforming the fight against pancreatic cancer.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Girija Ganesh Konduri, MD, Pediatrician and Neonatologist with Children’s Wisconsin and Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, about the urgent and often life-threatening challenges of neonatal respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension in premature babies—conditions that demand immediate attention and expert care.
Take a virtual coffee break today with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Julia Dickson-Gomez, PhD, anthropologist in the Institute for Health & Equity and professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, about how we can tackle the complex and evolving overdose crisis in our communities.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Allison Linton, MD MPH, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, about the latest trends in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and why syphilis is on the rise.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Angela Rabbitt, DO, Child Abuse Pediatrics at Children’s Wisconsin and Professor in the Department of Child Advocacy and Protection at the Medical College of Wisconsin, on the systems changes needed to detect, prevent, and treat youth who are sex trafficked.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment today as we chat with David Nelson, PhD, Professor, Department of Family and Community at the Medical College of Wisconsin, on the systems changes needed for health integration and delivery for diabetes prevention.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Leslie Ruffalo, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, on how transformative imagination and creative communication strategies could increase caregiver and patient relations for persons living with dementia.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment today as we chat with Alexander Buhk, PhD, Bariatric Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at MCW, on the correlation between self-compassion and weight management and tools to help love yourself at any size.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Bradley Crotty, MD, MPH, Chief Digital Officer for The Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin Health System, Chief Medical Officer and Interim President for Inception Health, and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, on the advancements and use of artificial intelligence in healthcare administration, diagnostics, and patient care.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Joseph Goveas, MD, Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and Institute for Health and Equity and Vice-Chair and Director, Geriatric Psychiatry at MCW, on the risks, symptoms, and interventions for prolonged grief.
Take a virtual coffee break today with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Dr. Nita Salzman, MD, PhD, professor, Pediatrics and Microbiology & Immunology; Director, Medical Scientist Training Program; Founding Director, Center for Microbiome Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin, to learn about the role bacteria play in our bodies, forming microbiome communities that are crucial for our good health.
Take a virtual coffee break today with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Dr. Kathleen A. Koth, DO, DFAACAP, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at MCW to learn about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), diagnosis, and advancements in care.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Carlos Figueroa Castro, MD, assistant professor of infectious disease at MCW to learn about the importance of immunizations, early detection, and infection prevention.
The Science Behind Colorectal Cancer by Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment in partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin
Take a virtual coffee break today with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Dr. Stephanie Olivier-Van Stichelen, PhD, Assistant Professor in Biochemistry; Secondary Faculty in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, about the intersection of sweeteners, pregnancy, development, and metabolism.
Take a virtual coffee break today with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Jeff Karst, PhD, pediatric psychologist in the MACC Fund Center at Children’s Wisconsin and associate professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin about the new cautionary effects of social media on young people.
Take a virtual coffee break today with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Anna Palatnik, MD, maternal fetal health medicine physician and associate professor at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin about new research that helps explain the rising disparities and risks in maternal health.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Lisa Morselli, MD, PhD, endocrinologist, and assistant professor at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin about the trends, facts, and misconceptions associated with effective weight-loss diets.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Jay Sandlow, MD, urologist and professor at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin about the trends, facts, and misconceptions associated with vasectomies.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Tammy Kindel, MD, PhD, bariatric surgeon and associate professor at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, as we explore new research that helps explain why sustained weight loss is so difficult to achieve and why some are looking to bariatric surgery.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with John Meurer, MD, MBA, professor of pediatrics and community health at MCW, as we guide you through the signs of seasonal respiratory illnesses—COVID, influenza, and RSV—and share what you can do about them.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Himanshu Agrawal, MD, DFAPA, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Jenny Geurts, MS, CGC, director of the genetic counseling program and assistant professor in the Institute for Health & Equity at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Adrienne Cobb, MD, MS, assistant professor of surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Dr. Michael McCrea, The Shekar N. Kurpad, MD, PhD, Chair in Neurosurgery; professor; vice chair of Research; co-director, Neurotrauma Research Center; director, Clinical Trials Office (CTO) in the Neuroscience Institute at MCW, as he chats with host, Dr. Terri deRoon Cassini, professor of surgery and the executive director of the MCW Comprehensive Injury Center at MCW.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Sara Kohlbeck, Director of the Division of Suicide Prevention at MCW, as she chats with host, Dr. Staci Young, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Healthy Communities and Research at MCW about bullying and suicide prevention.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Dr. Cecilia Hillard, Associate Dean for Research; Director of the MCW Neuroscience Research Center; G. Frederick Kasten, Jr. Endowed Chair in Parkinson’s Disease Research, as she chats with host, Dr. Cassie Ferguson, associate professor of pediatrics, about the science behind Parkinson’s Disease.
Take a virtual coffee break as we chat with Dr. Jennifer McIntosh, Associate Professor of Maternal Fetal Medicine at MCW and clinician in the Froedtert & MCW Maternal Fetal Medicine Program as she chats with host, Dr. Nicole Lohr, cardiologist and chief of cardiovascular medicine at the Zablocki VA Medical Center, about the science behind cardiovascular health and pregnancy including misconceptions, risks and prevention.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Mary Beth Graham, MD, FIDSA, FACP, associate chief and professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Take a virtual coffee break with Dr. Asriani Chiu, Professor of Allergy and Immunology at the Medical College of Wisconsin as she chats with host, Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, Director of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, about the science behind seasonal allergies including understanding the difference between allergies and illnesses such as the respiratory flu or COVID-19. Presented in partnership with the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment.
Take a virtual coffee break with Dr. Chris Runge, professor in the Ear, Nose and Throat Department at the Medical College of Wisconsin and director of the Koss Cochlear Implant Program, as she chats with host, Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, director of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, about the science behind hearing loss, the most common types of hearing loss, and what you can do if you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of hearing loss.
Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin as we chat with Dr. B. Tucker Woodson, otolaryngologist and professor and chief of sleep medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, about the science behind sleep health.
Join Dr. Nicole Lohr, cardiologist and chief of cardiovascular medicine at the Zablocki VA Medical Center, as she chats with host, Julia Schmitt, about the science behind cardiovascular health, understanding your risk factors, and tips for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
The Science of Health: Transitioning to a Plant-based Lifestyle by Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment in partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin