What if doctors could mitigate the impact of strokes by regenerating neurological pathways? How about reducing the need for heart transplants, while simultaneously improving lung function? According to Dr. Joshua Hare, it all boils down to harnessing the amazing power of stem cells. On the latest episode of Inside U Miami Medicine, Dr. Hare – who is the director of the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine – shares groundbreaking...

While the study of sleep is a relatively new field, researchers over the past two decades have revealed the powerful effects of sleep — or the lack of it — on overall health and well-being. But who are these slumber scientists, who research a realm that begins when their patients slip into a dream state? Meet Azizi Seixas, Ph.D. Dr. Seixas dedicates his career to advancing our knowledge of sleep to improve the health of communities, particularly those that are underserved.

Prior to 2016, state-sanctioned harm reduction strategies – which aim to decrease negative effects of addiction – were nonexistent in Florida. Then, a Miami medical student launched a multi-year campaign to convince the legislature to save lives through a needle exchange program. Dr. Hansel Tookes, now the clinical director of the first syringe services program in the state, sits down with Dean Henri Ford to share his journey from giving food to the local unhoused community to shifting the...

Is mining genetic data the key to identifying susceptibility for GI diseases? Dr. Maria Abreu, director of the Crohn’s and Colitis Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, thinks it just might be – particularly for groups that are disproportionately affected by these illnesses. She joins the latest edition of Inside U Miami Medicine to share her work collecting and analyzing the genetics of Hispanic patients to better understand inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in that...

What if concussions could be diagnosed immediately, at the site where the injury occurs? Dr. Michael Hoffer, professor of otolaryngology and neurological surgery, joins Inside U Miami Medicine to discuss an innovative technology – in the form of “virtual reality” goggles – that could be a gamechanger for identifying mild traumatic brain injury at the point of care. In addition to testing on NFL, Formula 1, and NCAA athletes, the technology was also used to rule out traumatic brain injury in...

Cancer is the leading cause of death for Hispanics in the United States. Once diagnosed and treated, this community often faces greater challenges in their survivorship journey, including poor quality of life and stressful social and economic factors. Dr. Frank Penedo, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s associate director for Cancer Survivorship and Translational Behavioral Sciences, joins Dean Henri Ford to share how he and his team are working to improve quality of life among Hispanic...

“Health inequities are absolutely unacceptable…Across town, the difference in life expectancy can be a decade.” Part two of Dean Henri Ford’s discussion with AAMC leaders Dr. David Skorton and Dr. Alison Whelan focuses on academic medicine’s role in reducing disparities in marginalized communities. They also speak about current Supreme Court cases that will determine whether higher education institutions can continue using race as a factor in holistic admissions.

New technologies, shifts in policy, heightened inequities, and increased demand have transformed health care over the past two decades. As a result, it is paramount that the education and training of future physicians also evolve. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is a guiding light for academic health institutions during these unpredictable times. Dr. David Skorton, president and CEO of the AAMC, and Dr. Alison Whelan, chief academic officer of the AAMC, join Dean Henri...

Launching a new medical curriculum during "normal" times is complex. Add in an unexpected pandemic and implementation is further complicated. Hear how the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine tackled these challenges in this edition of Inside U Miami Medicine, hosted by Dean Henri Ford and featuring Dr. Gauri Agarwal, associate dean of curriculum, and Dr. Amar Deshpande, associate dean for medical education.

Paving the way for minority students to become physicians is essential for achieving health equity. Dr. Nanette Vega, assistant dean for the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, joins Dean Henri Ford to discuss a pivotal program that positions these students to successfully compete for admission to medical school.

Researchers at the Miller School of Medicine are testing a new drug for dementia with Lewy bodies, a disease that affects an estimated 1.4 million Americans. James Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at the Miller School, joins Dean Henri Ford to give insight into this devastating illness and the search for better outcomes.

Alzheimer’s research, from previous studies to ongoing clinical trials, is often not representative of the populations that are at the highest risk for this disease. Margaret Pericak-Vance, Ph.D., sits down with Dean Henri Ford to discuss a multi-center, multi-national clinical trial that will tackle this issue and expand diversity in Alzheimer’s data, eventually leading to the development of targeted drug therapies.