Episodes

Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
The Sobering Statistics of Alcohol Use Disorder
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Guest: Terry D. Schneekloth, M.D.
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 26% of individuals 18 and older reported that they engaged in binge drinking and slightly over 6% engaged in heavy alcohol use within the past month. Binge drinkers were 70 to 90 times more likely to have an alcohol-related emergency department visit. Based on their data from this study, they estimated that nearly 15 million people ages 12 and older had alcohol use disorder. It’s also known that those with alcohol use disorder commonly seek care from primary care providers for alcohol-related medical problems. Our guest for this podcast is Terry Schneekloth, M.D., a psychiatrist and addiction specialist at Mayo Clinic.
Specific topics discussed:
- Definition of alcohol use disorder
- Risk factors for alcohol use disorder
- Role of genetics
- Questions primary care providers should ask to explore the possibility of an alcohol use disorder in patients
- Physical exam or lab findings which could suggest an alcohol use disorder
- Available treatment options and their alcohol use disorder effectiveness
Additional Resources:
- World Health Organization (WHO). Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). 2001 November 18; https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/audit-the-alcohol-use-disorders-identification-test-guidelines-for-use-in-primary-health-care
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III) study: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/research/nesarc-iii
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Thursday Jun 17, 2021
Regenerative Medicine Edition Ep.8: Neuroregenerative Therapies
Thursday Jun 17, 2021
Thursday Jun 17, 2021
To claim credit for this episode, visit: www.ce.mayo.edu/regmedonline
Guest: Nathan Staff, M.D. (@NathanStaffMD)
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
The cells in our nervous system are extremely specialized, especially those in the brain. Unfortunately, nervous tissue does not have a great potential to regain function once it is lost. Exciting research is being done in the field of neuro-regenerative medicine which will give hope for improvement to those with chronic neurodegenerative disease or nerve damage from injury. Dr. Nathan Staff, a Mayo Clinic neurologist, joins us regarding the challenges with the current management of chronic neurodegenerative diseases and the future potential for treating such conditions as Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, ALS and other neurodegenerative disease with regenerative medicine therapies.
Specific topics discussed:
- Current research in regenerative medicine treatment for chronic neurodegenerative disease
- Currently used regenerative medicine in neurologic conditions
- New treatment options on the horizon for chronic neurodegenerative disease using regenerative medicine therapy
Additional educational opportunities from Mayo Clinic:
- https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/education
- https://college.mayo.edu/academics/biomedical-research-training/phd-program/tracks/regenerative-sciences/
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
The Agony of Da Feet - Assessing Foot and Ankle Pain and Injury
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Guest: Daniel B. Ryssman, M.D.
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Generally, we take our feet for granted. It’s not unusual for a person to take 8- to 10-thousand steps per day. That translates to over 115,000 miles in a lifetime. By the time we reach 70 years old, the average person will have walked the equivalent of 4 times around the globe. Yet, we stop taking our feet for granted when they hurt, and it’s estimated that 75% of Americans will experience foot problems of varying degrees of severity during their lifetime. In this podcast, we’ll discuss foot and ankle pain with Daniel Ryssman, M.D., an orthopedist and sports medicine physician from Mayo Clinic. We’ll review some of the common injuries to the ankle such as sprains and fractures as well as common chronic conditions of the foot such as plantar fasciitis and bunions. Dr. Ryssman delves into the best ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat these conditions as well as what, if any, imaging to order.
Specific topics discussed:
- Ankle sprains
- Ankle fractures
- Achilles’ tendon rupture
- Plantar fasciitis
- Bunions
- Metatarsalgia
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Friday Jun 11, 2021
Friday Jun 11, 2021
This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded June, 2021
To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast
Guest: Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland)
Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd)
If you've been vaccinated for COVID-19, you're able to go shopping, eat in restaurants and travel on airplanes without the same worry of becoming infected with COVID-19 that existed just months ago. But for those who are unvaccinated, getting infected with COVID-19 — even with just minor symptoms — should be a concern, according to Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group.
"For those who have been vaccinated, life is resuming back to a sense of normalcy," says Dr. Poland. "But for the unvaccinated, they now live in a dangerous phase of the pandemic, where we're seeing circulating variants that are much more transmissible and may cause worse cases of the disease than what happened last year at this time. I think the people who are unvaccinated may not realize that."
In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland also offers information on more COVID-19 studies underway and he talks about COVID-19 vaccine research protocols that will be able to help scientists with other vaccine research, such as HIV vaccine research. Also, he answers listener questions, such as, "Does someone who has already been infected with COVID-19, really need to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or would just a booster be needed?"
AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Thursday Jun 10, 2021
Regenerative Medicine Edition Ep.7: Preventing Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Thursday Jun 10, 2021
Thursday Jun 10, 2021
To claim credit for this episode, visit: www.ce.mayo.edu/regmedonline
Guest: Daniel Saris, M.D., Ph.D. (@sarisnl)
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Osteoarthritis of the knee is extremely common, and it’s estimated that 1 in 2 people are likely to develop symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in their lifetime. Its known that damaged cartilage is the precursor to osteoarthritis. Many individuals have had partial or complete meniscectomies for meniscal tears in the past and those individuals were then likely to eventually develop knee osteoarthritis. What if damaged cartilage was repaired instead of surgically removed? Could that be an effective treatment recommendation we could give to our patients to help prevent or treat osteoarthritis? Our podcast guest today is Dr. Daniel Saris and he has some fascinating information related to cartilage damage and repair using regenerative medicine techniques.
Specific topics discussed:
- How meniscal damage relates to osteoarthritis
- Ability of cartilage to repair itself when damaged
- Repairing a damaged meniscus instead of a partial or complete meniscectomy
- Specific techniques of repairing cartilage
- Success in treating patients with cartilage repair
- Future treatment options for osteoarthritis using regenerative medicine
Additional educational opportunities from Mayo Clinic:
- https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/education
- https://college.mayo.edu/academics/biomedical-research-training/phd-program/tracks/regenerative-sciences/
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
Guest: Erin K. O'Brien, M.D. (@ErinOBrienMD)
Host: Amit K. Ghosh, M.D. (@AmitGhosh006)
Erin O’Brien, M.D., division chair of Rhinology in Rochester, MN, joins us again to provide an evidence-based update on anosmia and its prevalence in post-COVID patients. She reviews the postulated mechanism by which anosmia occurs in this group of patients, and how this effects patients’ safety, mental health, and overall wellbeing. Dr. O’Brien also gives an overview of treatment options, such as various methods of olfactory training, and what physicians need to know when counseling their patients with post-COVID anosmia.
Additional resources:
- Video on olfactory training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrr0so6pFOs
- Abscent – resources for patients with anosmia: https://abscent.org/
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Thursday Jun 03, 2021
Regenerative Medicine Edition Ep.6: New Options for Treating Musculoskeletal Pain
Thursday Jun 03, 2021
Thursday Jun 03, 2021
To claim credit for this episode, visit: www.ce.mayo.edu/regmedonline
Guest: Shane A. Shapiro, M.D. (@ShaneShapiroMD)
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Musculoskeletal pain is extremely common and when severe, patients often gain significant benefit from joint replacements. However, until our patients reach the point where surgery is an option, our efforts to help patients with the chronic joint pain often leave much to be desired. A relatively new treatment approach has appeared in the past decade, musculoskeletal regenerative medicine. But does the research back up the numerous claims of benefit? This podcast will review the current treatment options available and future potential of regenerative medicine for musculoskeletal problems with Dr. Shane Shapiro, a sports medicine physician in the Department of Orthopedics at the Mayo Clinic. We’ll discuss the current regenerative products and therapies available to optimize patient outcomes, potential adverse effects of the therapies and the numerous claims by many clinicians regarding the benefit potential for regenerative medicine in musculoskeletal disease.
Specific topics discussed:
- Challenges of currently available traditional treatment for musculoskeletal conditions
- Benefits of stem cell injections for osteoarthritis
- Potential adverse effects of stem cell injections
- Currently available regenerative medicine therapies that have shown benefit to patients
- Validity of the many claims made by clinicians regarding the benefits of stem cell injections
Additional educational opportunities from Mayo Clinic:
- https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/education
- https://college.mayo.edu/academics/biomedical-research-training/phd-program/tracks/regenerative-sciences/
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Watching Out for Loperamide Abuse
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Guest: Tyler S. Oesterle, M.D., M.P.H. (@OesterleMD)
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Opioid abuse remains a significant problem, and as law enforcement and regulatory agencies tighten access to prescription analgesics, individuals are seeking alternatives. It’s been discovered that when taken at very high doses, loperamide can produce similar effects to the opioid analgesics and the drug is inexpensive when compared to the price of both illicit and prescription opioids. As a result, loperamide abuse has become a significant problem. In this episode we discuss loperamide abuse with Tyler Oesterle, M.D., M.P.H., a psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus. We’ll review the typical central nervous system effects of high dose loperamide and the associated safety issues.
Specific topics:
- Current status of the opioid crisis in the U.S.
- Effects of loperamide in both therapeutic and excessive doses
- Reasons behind taking high dose loperamide in excessive doses
- Safety issues associated with high dose loperamide
- Potential of high dose loperamide leading to drug dependence
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Friday May 28, 2021
Friday May 28, 2021
This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded May 24, 2021.
To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast
Guest: Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland)
Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd)
The number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S. continues to decline. However, cases of COVID-19 are increasing in younger populations.
"It's becoming a childhood disease," says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "Children have composed over 16,000 hospitalizations for COVID-19 and about 300 have died."
Meanwhile, each day brings fresh research news, including updates on possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines.
"We're collecting information as we go and have data on about 4.5 million people now," says Dr. Poland. "That's larger than we would have for any other vaccine."
In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland expands on these latest news items and puts the data in perspective. He also discusses vaccination rates, the possibility of mixing and matching vaccines for COVID-19 boosters, vaccination rates, and much more.
AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Thursday May 27, 2021
Thursday May 27, 2021
To claim credit for this episode, visit: www.ce.mayo.edu/regmedonline
Guest: Saranya Wyles, M.D. (@SWylesMDPhD)
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Much of regenerative medicine is relatively new and some of the future treatment capabilities have the potential to significantly change the way we practice medicine. How do you educate established clinicians as well as clinicians in training regarding this new practice? How do you educate the general public which has been misled by a variety of false claims regarding which medical conditions regenerative medicine can currently effectively treat? This podcast discusses how a relatively new medical field puts together an education program to inform others of its potential. Our guest is Saranya Wyles, M.D., a resident in the Department of Dermatology who has considerable experience in regenerative medicine education.
Specific topics discussed:
- Specific groups who need educating regarding the capabilities of regenerative medicine
- The importance in training the medical workforce regarding regenerative medicine
- What regenerative medicine means for the next generation of healthcare providers
- How to incorporate regenerative medicine concepts into an established medical school curriculum
- How to educate more advanced learn years such as residents and healthcare providers
- Obtaining an advanced degree in the field a regenerative medicine
Additional resources:
- International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR): https://www.isscr.org/
- The ISSCR Patient Handbook on Stem Cell Therapies: https://www.closerlookatstemcells.org/patient-resources/
- Regenerative medicine curriculum for next-generation physicians: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41536-019-0065-8
- Digital regenerative medicine and surgery pedagogy for virtual learning in the time of COVID-19: https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/full/10.2217/rme-2020-0106
Additional educational opportunities from Mayo Clinic:
- https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/education
- https://college.mayo.edu/academics/biomedical-research-training/phd-program/tracks/regenerative-sciences/
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Wednesday May 26, 2021
Wednesday May 26, 2021
This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in May, 2021
To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast
Guest: Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland)
Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd)
Recent COVID-19 masking guidelines announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, continue to generate a public conversation.
"The decision about masking needs to be nuanced," says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "Wearing a mask should be based on the risk of infection, the percentage of the population vaccinated, a person's own immune system, and then the role of vaccine variants with the durability of our immune response."
In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland discusses masking guidelines in further detail. Also, he offers an update on COVID-19 vaccine research for children, and he shares positive news about the decreasing numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths.
AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Tuesday May 25, 2021
The M.I.A.M.I. Approach to Deciphering Lymphadenopathy
Tuesday May 25, 2021
Tuesday May 25, 2021
Guest: Carrie A. Thompson, M.D. (@CaThompsonMD)
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
It’s common for a patient to see their primary care provider after they’ve discovered an enlarged lymph node and they’re usually concerned that it represents a serious illness. Fortunately, in most cases it’s due to a benign cause and most patients can be reassured once we perform a careful history and physical examination. However, on occasion lymphadenopathy can represent serious disease. Carrie Thompson, M.D. a hematologist, at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus joins us to discuss how to tell when lymphadenopathy is due to a benign or serious cause. We’ll review the characteristics of both benign and malignant lymph nodes and the evaluation which should be done both for an enlarged solitary lymph node as well as generalized lymphadenopathy.
Specific topics discussed:
- Prevalence of malignancy in patients who seek a medical evaluation for lymphadenopathy
- Categories of disease which can have associated lymphadenopathy
- Characteristics of benign and malignant lymph nodes
- Diagnostic approach for a solitary enlarged lymph node
- Diagnostic approach or multiple or generalized lymphadenopathy
- Fine needle aspirate vs. excisional biopsy for evaluation of lymphadenopathy
Additional resources:
- Gaddey, HL. Riegel, AM. Unexplained lymphadenopathy: evaluation and differential diagnosis. Am Fam Physician.2016 December 1; 94(11): 896-903. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2016/1201/p896.html
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Thursday May 20, 2021
Regenerative Medicine Edition Ep.4: The Curative Potential of Immunotherapy
Thursday May 20, 2021
Thursday May 20, 2021
To claim credit for this episode, visit: www.ce.mayo.edu/regmedonline
Guest: Saad J. Kenderian, M.B., Ch.B. (@kenderian_ss)
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Regenerative immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the power of our own immune system to fight malignancy. It can include targeted antibodies, cancer vaccines, or tumor infecting viruses to name a few. Some immunotherapy treatments use genetic engineering to enhance our immune cell’s cancer fighting properties and can be used in combination with more traditional treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. It’s FDA-approved as a first line treatment of multiple cancers and may also be effective in the management of malignancies that have been resistant to more traditional therapy. This podcast will address regenerative immunotherapy with Dr. Saad Kenderian, a hematologist at the Mayo Clinic. We’ll review the relationship between cancer and our immune system, how we can use our immune system to treat malignancy and which malignancies which have shown the best responses to regenerative immunotherapy.
Specific topics discussed:
- Relationship between cancer and our immune system
- How we can use our body’s immune system to fight malignancy
- Malignancies which can be currently be effectively treated with regenerative immunotherapy
- Malignancies which have had the best responses to regenerative immunotherapy
- Limitations in regenerative immunotherapy
Additional educational opportunities from Mayo Clinic:
- https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/education
- https://college.mayo.edu/academics/biomedical-research-training/phd-program/tracks/regenerative-sciences/
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Tuesday May 18, 2021
Identifying Breast Cancer in Men
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Guest: Kathryn J. Ruddy, M.D. (@KathrynRuddyMD)
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Breast cancer in men is very uncommon, about 1/100th as common as in women. It’s expected that this year, just under 3000 men are likely to be diagnosed with it, and just over 500 men will die from breast cancer. Because it’s so uncommon, there are very few good studies which have been completed to educate us about this disease. Kathryn Ruddy, M.D., an oncologist at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus joins us to discuss breast cancer in men and what we should do as primary care clinicians to care for our male patients who may be at increased risk to develop it. We’ll cover how breast cancer in males differs from that in females, its risk factors, how it’s diagnosed, and the survival rates of men with a diagnosis of breast cancer.
Specific topics:
- Prevalence of breast cancer
- How most breast cancers in men are found
- The recommended evaluation of a male patient with suspected breast cancer
- Risk factors for breast cancer in men
- Treatment for male breast cancer
- Survival rates for breast cancer in men
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Thursday May 13, 2021
Regenerative Medicine Edition Ep.3: Perspectives in Reconstructive Surgery
Thursday May 13, 2021
Thursday May 13, 2021
To claim credit for this episode, visit: www.ce.mayo.edu/regmedonline
Guest: Richard E. Hayden, M.D.
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Currently reconstructive surgery involves taking the patient’s tissue from one area of their body and using it elsewhere to rebuild diseased or damaged tissue. Regenerative reconstructive surgery will allow the patient to grow their own replacement tissue from stem cells. This has incredible potential for allowing significantly better reconstructive surgical results. Currently regenerative reconstructive surgery is in its infancy, however in the next several years this should develop into a new standard of care for patients who need reconstructive surgery. This podcast features Dr. Richard Hayden, a reconstructive surgeon/otolaryngologist. We discuss the future of reconstructive surgery using regenerative medicine techniques, the difficulties in enabling patient access to regenerative therapies, the education that’s needed for not only providers but also for patients, and the future of regenerative reconstructive surgery.
Specific topics discussed:
- Role regenerative medicine plays and reconstructive surgery
- Importance in adopting and delivering regenerative care
- Challenges in current standard of care approaches in reconstructive surgery
- Difficulties enabling patient access to regenerative therapies
- Educational needs in regenerative reconstructive surgery
- The future of regenerative reconstructive surgery
Additional educational opportunities from Mayo Clinic:
- https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/education
- https://college.mayo.edu/academics/biomedical-research-training/phd-program/tracks/regenerative-sciences/
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Tuesday May 11, 2021
What You Need to Know About Eustachian Tubes and Tonsils
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Guest: Laura J. Orvidas, M.D.
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Tonsils and eustachian tubes often get taken for granted until they cause problems. Eustachian tube dysfunction is quite common and usually resolves on its own, however some patients will develop recurrent eustachian tube dysfunction and it can result in recurrent episodes of otitis media, especially in children. Although recurrent tonsillitis used to be the most common indication for tonsillectomy, more children are having this procedure for disordered breathing conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea. In this episode, we’ll discuss disorders of the eustachian tube and tonsils with Laura J. Orvidas, M.D., an otolaryngologist at the Mayo Clinic.
Specific topics discussed:
- Purpose of the eustachian tube
- Definition of eustachian tube dysfunction
- Physical exam findings of eustachian tube dysfunction
- Recurrent eustachian tube dysfunction in children and potential for recurrent episodes of otitis media
- When pressure equalization tubes are indicated
- Relationship between pharyngitis and tonsillitis
- Viral versus bacterial causes of tonsillitis
- How to suspect a peritonsillar abscess
- Indications for tonsillectomy
- Management of tonsil stones
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Friday May 07, 2021
Friday May 07, 2021
This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in May 2021.
To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast
Guest: Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland)
Host: DeeDee Stiepan (@deedeestiepan)
COVID-19 cases are falling in the U.S. because 245 million doses of one of the available COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, according to Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "But at the same time, there are still people who need more information about the safety and the value of getting a COVID-19 vaccine," says Dr. Poland.
While still hopeful, Dr. Poland says he's concerned herd immunity won't be reached in the U.S. through vaccination. And that will mean more tragic deaths due to COVID-19 infection.
"My guess is, because we're such an interconnected global community until everybody's safe, none of us are safe. And we're going to likely see continued circulation of the virus, and that virus will seek out whoever is not immune," says Dr. Poland.
In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland also addresses when we will need COVID-19 vaccine boosters will be needed and the latest on masking guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Plus, he will provide an update on COVID-19 treatments and how to handle those who want to visit a newborn baby.
AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Thursday May 06, 2021
Regenerative Medicine Edition Ep.2: Between Hype and Hope – What’s Really Possible?
Thursday May 06, 2021
Thursday May 06, 2021
To claim credit for this episode, visit: www.ce.mayo.edu/regmedonline
Guest: Dennis Wigle, M.D., Ph.D. (@DrWigle)
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Regenerative Medicine has some amazing capabilities and in the near future, it’s likely to significantly change how we practice medicine. It faces some challenges in educating both the medical community as well as the general public regarding its current realistic capabilities. There are many unsubstantiated claims made by practitioners to the public regarding the benefits of regenerative medicine therapy. We’ll discuss how the true potential of regenerative medicine is conveyed to both clinicians and the public with Dr. Dennis Wigle, a thoracic surgeon and chair of the Division of General Thoracic Surgery at the Mayo Clinic. We’ll discuss some of the common misperceptions of regenerative medicine and how a consultation service can educate both the public and medical community regarding the benefits of regenerative medicine.
Specific topics discussed:
- How to provide education to the public and the medical community
- When and why the regenerative consultation service was formed
- How the regenerative medicine consultation service works
- Common misperceptions community regarding the realistic benefits of regenerative medicine
Additional resources:
- For more information about Mayo Clinic’s Regenerative Medicine Consult Service, visit: https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/patient-care/regenerative-medicine-consult-service
Additional educational opportunities from Mayo Clinic:
- https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/education
- https://college.mayo.edu/academics/biomedical-research-training/phd-program/tracks/regenerative-sciences/
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Tuesday May 04, 2021
Regenerative Medicine Edition Ep.1: Transforming Care Towards Curative Solutions
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Tuesday May 04, 2021
To claim credit for this episode, visit: www.ce.mayo.edu/regmedonline
Guest: Fredric B. Meyer, M.D.; Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D.
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Imagine a patient who has suffered a massive myocardial infarction leaving a significant amount of damaged and non-functioning ventricular myocardium. Treatment for this patient’s subsequent congestive failure does not involve diuretics and beta blockers but rather an injection of the patient’s modified stem cells into surrounding viable ventricular myocardium resulting in the regeneration of new, functioning myocardial cells restoring the cardiac output. This is not science fiction but represents ongoing work by investigators in Regenerative Medicine. This week’s podcast will explore this amazing field of medicine which has the potential to change how medicine is practiced. We’ll discuss the origins of regenerative medicine, what currently be done in regenerative medicine as well as the potential for the future. Our guests today are Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine and Fredric B. Meyer, M.D., a neurosurgeon and the Executive Dean for Education at the Mayo Clinic.
Specific topics discussed:
- When the field of regenerative medicine began
- Which current medical conditions can currently be managed with regenerative medicine
- How to determine which patients have potential for regenerative medicine therapies
Additional educational opportunities from Mayo Clinic:
- https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/education
- https://college.mayo.edu/academics/biomedical-research-training/phd-program/tracks/regenerative-sciences/
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Mayo Clinic Q&A: COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and the Importance of That Second Dose
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in April, 2021
Guest: Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland)
Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd)
While the number of people being vaccinated for COVID-19 is dropping, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other medical experts continue to strongly encourage people to get vaccinated for COVID-19. And that means that those who are being vaccinated with the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine should get their first and second doses on schedule.
“About 8% of people who got their first dose have not returned for the second dose and this is concerning when you're getting close to 1 in 10," says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "When you measure in the short term, one dose in a healthy person offers about 80% protection. But that's not 95% protection, like you get after two doses."
In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland expands on why people need that second COVID-19 vaccine dose and he talks about whether people should mix and match the different COVID-19 vaccines for their second dose. He also speaks about the status of COVID-19 vaccines for young people, and he addresses listener questions about traveling, being together after vaccination, and the latest rise of additional COVID-19 variants.
AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Fact or Fiction: Erectile Dysfunction Treatments
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Guest: Tobias S. Kohler, M.D., M.P.H.
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Erectile dysfunction not only causes lifestyle changes, but it may also be the first symptom of peripheral vascular disease. Since many men are reluctant to mention erectile dysfunction to their healthcare provider, it’s important for us to ask our patients whether it is a problem and be knowledgeable in the appropriate evaluation of patients who have it. This reluctance may cause many to seek out readily available but ineffective treatments from questionable sources, even though there are a variety of proven, effective treatments that can be prescribed. Tobias S. Kohler, M.D., M.P.H., a Mayo Clinic Urologist, joins us to discuss the impact of erectile dysfunction, the currently available effective treatments, as well as the unproven, ineffective products currently being used.
Specific topics discussed:
- The first historical appearance of treatments for erectile dysfunction
- Most common causes of dysfunction
- Appropriate evaluation of patients who present with erectile dysfunction
- Review of the currently available effective treatment options
- Reasons men are reluctant to mention the topic of erectile dysfunction to their provider
- Review of some ineffective treatments currently being promoted
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Thursday Apr 22, 2021
Thursday Apr 22, 2021
This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded on April 19, 2021.
To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast
Guest: Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland)
Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd)
Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group says COVID-19mutations and the virus spread are happening because of people who don't wear masks, who don't get vaccinated and who don't adhere to safety recommendations.
"I believe that we should be radically transparent and honest," says Dr. Poland. "The more time this virus passes through one person after another, the more likely it continues to mutate. As a result of those mutations, two things are happening. Some of the mutations are making vaccines and plasma monoclonal antibodies less effective. The other thing is that the virus will likely become something that we have to live with for the rest of our lives."
Dr. Poland reminds people that vaccine protection is not 100%. Breakthrough infections can occur.
"Remember that in the clinical trials, 95% means that compared to unvaccinated people, your risk is reduced by 95% — not 100%," he says. "You might have a mild case of COVID-19,but you can still spread it to others, including those who are immune compromised, such as cancer patients. That's why we continue to wear masks until we get very widespread immunization."
In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland talks more about breakthrough infections and the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine pause, and he answers listeners' questions.
AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Mayo Clinic Q&A: On the Verge of Another COVID-19 Surge
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in April, 2021
To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast
Guest: Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland)
Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd)
As spring break travelers return home and the highly transmissible U.K. COVID-19 variant is discovered in all 50 U.S. states, the country is on the verge of a fourth COVID-19 pandemic surge. That's according to a number of health experts, including Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group.
However, Dr. Poland says there is some good news related to the transmission of COVID-19 on surfaces.
"Wisdom resides in changing your mind and your recommendations as new data and science becomes available," says Dr. Poland. "What the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is doing is modifying those guidelines, saying that the risk of touching a contaminated surface and then getting infected is very low."
In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast Dr. Poland explains more about the CDC guidelines and he addresses other COVID-19 topics in the news, including recent data that says men are more vaccine-hesitant than women.
AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Utilizing Artificial Intelligence to Evaluate Dizziness
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Guest: Devin L. McCaslin, Ph.D.
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)
Being dizzy means different things to different patients and most patients find dizziness difficult to describe. Providers find it difficult to evaluate patients with dizziness and also which specialties can be asked for help in managing the dizzy patient. Dr. Devin McCaslin is the Director of the Vestibular and Balance Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic and an expert in evaluating the dizzy patient. He will discuss such topics as the role of vestibular balance laboratory testing in assessing patients, the most common findings from these evaluations, the multi-disciplinary approach to evaluating patients with dizziness, and how artificial intelligence is being used in the evaluation of a patient complaining of dizziness.
Specific Topics Discussed:
- The multi-disciplinary approach to evaluating patients complaining of dizziness.
- Most common findings in the evaluation of a patient with dizziness.
- The role of vestibular balance laboratory testing in assessing patients who are candidates for these tests.
- How artificial intelligence is being used in the evaluation of patients with dizziness.
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Monday Apr 19, 2021
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Vacation Travel, Vaccines for Teens and More COVID-19 News
Monday Apr 19, 2021
Monday Apr 19, 2021
This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in April, 2021
To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast
Guest: Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland)
Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd)
If you're fully vaccinated for COVID-19 you can travel domestically and where travel is allowed internationally, according to new interim travel guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even with those recommendations the CDC continues to recommend not traveling unless it is essential. Regardless, the CDC strongly recommends people continue to wear a face mask, practice social distancing and sanitize their hands.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 vaccine research is continuing in teenagers. "The early data show equal safety in young people aged 12 to 16," says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "I think this is going to imply that, somewhere between this fall and Christmas, we're going to be able to offer the (COVID-19) vaccine to every age group."
In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland answers a number of listener questions, including how long the COVID-19 vaccines are predicted to last and if the current transmission research still supports wiping down household items. Dr. Poland also explains why someone who has had COVID-19 should still get a COVID-19 vaccine.
AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19
Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.