Sepsis: The biggest threat you've never heard of

All Episodes

January 27, 2025 • 15 mins

Sepsis rarely attracts the attention of the public, but it's distressingly common: Every year, about 1.7 million U.S. adults develop this overreaction to infection — and more than 350,000 of them die. On this bonus episode of 20-Minute-Health-Talk, you’ll hear the stories of doctors and patients fighting against this subtle yet deadly condition, and how the battle led to a global alliance to combat the silent killer. You’ll also hear how pioneering research and lifesaving protocols developed at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Northwell Health have reduced sepsis-related deaths — both within their hospitals, throughout New York State, and around the world.

Chapters

00:01 — Intro
00:53 — What is sepsis?
02:23 — 1985: A loss and a mission
03:36 — 2005: Assembling a team
06:08 — 2010: Launching a global alliance
06:52 — 2011: A better process
07:13 — 2012: Turning tragedy into action
08:46 — 2014: Early signs of success
10:09 — 2018: Watching the tide turn
11:06 — 2019: Broadening the effort to fight sepsis
11:34 — 2021: Tackling maternal sepsis
12:03 — 2023 and beyond: Ending sepsis
13:27 — Outro

About Northwell Health

Northwell Health is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 21 hospitals, 850 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians.

We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies.

For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom:

Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit http://bit.ly/2Z7iHFL and explore our many opportunities.

Get more expert insights from leading experts in the field — Northwell Newsroom.

Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.

For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit http://bit.ly/2Z7iHFL and explore our many opportunities.

Facebook – / northwellhealth Instagram -

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.