MedEvidence! Truth Behind the Data

MedEvidence! Truth Behind the Data

Welcome to the MedEvidence! podcast, hosted by Dr. Michael Koren. MedEvidence, where we help you navigate the real truth behind medical research with both a clinical and research perspective. In this podcast, we will discuss with physicians with extensive experience in patient care and research. How do you know that something works? In medicine, we conduct clinical trials to see if things work! Now, let's get to the Truth Behind the Data. Contact us at www.MedEvidence.com

Episodes

July 2, 2025 • 21 mins

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Dr. Michael Koren hosts Brian Achille, the Chief Operating Officer of the Certified Clinical Research Professionals Society (CCRPS). Brian draws a distinction between doing clinical research casually and doing it professionally. The distinction highlights how professional training and attitudes prove to be a benefit to research and the community at large. The duo discuss how CCRPS offers training for many different cl...

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Cardiologist Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to discuss how kidney disease can offect other body systems, including the heart. The doctor explains that people with kidney dysfunction have significantly higher risks for cardiovascular problems including heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes. Dr. Koren differentiates between typical, insurance-driven care and the attentive clinical research experience, noting tha...

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Surveys show that 97-99% of participants who participate in one clinical research study would sign up for another. We wind out why in this episode, recorded in front of a live audience. Dr. Michael Koren and Nalini Jones, CCRC are joined by three clinical research patients to review the good, the bad, and the ugly in the history of clinical research. They also discuss the ins and outs of how the clinical research proc...

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Dr. Mitchell Rothstein joins Dr. Michael Koren to wake us up to the dangers of insomnia. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder affecting approximately 30% of adults and is characterized by poor sleep on at least three nights a week for three months or more. Dr. Rothstein reviews what insomnia is, what is happening in the brain, and what sufferers can do about it. He explains how lifestyle changes can make a big differen...

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Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to explain biomarkers, which he describes as biological indicators that may mark the presence of disease. Researchers are increasingly looking at biomarkers for their potential in early detection of disease before symptoms appear. Dr. Koren brings it home with a personal story of how current research studies looking into lung cancer biomarkers may have real-world effects for part...

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Steve Satek joins Dr. Michael Koren to share his journey from bench researcher to founding his own community clinical trial site. The entrepreneur describes how he pioneered embedding clinical research directly in Chicago neighborhoods to form a strong integration with the community. He talks about the importance of building trust through education and by helping the community where you are. They talk about how a stro...

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Dr. Koren joins Kevin Geddings to reflect on his conversations with Harvard Medical School classmates at his class reunion. He recounts stories of these Harvard medical doctors struggling to navigate the healthcare system despite their medical training and how clinical trials provide a valuable resource for helping patients navigate healthcare complexities.

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical re...

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Dr. Michael Koren interviews Lavern Dowell, an advanced registered nurse practitioner who specializes in diabetes care. They discuss her approach to treating the whole person and how mental health can impact everything from diet and exercise to the ability to go see a physician. They also emphasize the need to increase diversity in medical research and the importance of delivering diagnoses with sensitivity to avoid c...

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Dermatologist Dr. Michael Bernhardt joins Dr. Eric Schramm to discuss hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a debilitating skin condition that affects skin creases such as the armpits and groin. HS is an inflammatory condition that can be misdiagnosed for years. New medications target the underlying inflammation. Treatments are currently in clinical trials as part of an effort to tackle the last of the "three-headed mon...

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Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to discuss the motivations of clinical trial veterans who repeatedly participate in medical research studies. Dr. Koren shares that these participants consistently cite the desire to "Make a Difference" as their primary motivation, pushing science and medicine forward for generations to come.

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.

...

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Dr. Nikhil Kapila joins Dr. Michael Koren on this live MedEvidence! presentation. Dr. Kapila, a liver disease specialist, explains why we can't live without our liver. The doctors review what the liver does, what can cause damage to the liver, and what can go wrong when the liver suffers damage. They also discuss the importance of early testing, treatment options for some conditions, and the importance of clinica...

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Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to discuss how Knowledge is Power - especially when it comes to medicine. The doctor explains how diagnostic tests like high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HSCRP) empower physicians and patients by giving insight into heart attack and stroke risk. Dr. Koren also tells us that even simple things like knowing you are in a research study can improve patient outcomes, and that knowl...

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Dr. Michael Koren joins Kevin Geddings to discuss why atrial fibrillation (AFib) receives so much attention in advertising compared to other services hospitals provide. The cardiologist explains the financial incentives for hospitals and device manufacturers behind these marketing campaigns, contrasting them with clinical research, which has the financial and legal incentive to measure accurate data when evaluating th...

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Dr. Michael Bernhardt, a dermatologist and clinical researcher, joins Dr. Erich Schramm to discuss the revolutionary advancements in psoriasis treatment over the past two decades. The doctors discuss how psoriasis is an inflammatory disease more than an autoimmune disease. They discuss what inflammation is, the inflammation pathway in the body, and how different medications can help suppress the body's out-of-con...

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Doctor Carolyn Tran joins Neurologist Steven Toenjes to discuss migraines. Migraine is a complex brain disease affecting one in five women and one in ten men, with treatments ranging from traditional medications to cutting-edge therapies targeting specific pathways in the brain. The doctors talk about the causes - or lack thereof, the lack of treatment, and common misconceptions about what headaches should be classifi...

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The FDA has granted full approval to Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine, providing an alternative to mRNA vaccines that works through a different mechanism using proteins and adjuvants. Despite being four years into the pandemic, COVID-19 remains a significant health concern, causing approximately 1 in 200 deaths in the US in 2025.

• Novavax uses bioengineered spike proteins combined with an adjuvant rather than...

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Dr. Michael Koren shares exciting news about the revival of an oral COVID vaccine study previously halted by government spending cuts. The non-mRNA vaccine trial represents an important alternative approach that apparently received priority status even under strict budget reviews.

• Oral COVID vaccine study in Jacksonville now actively enrolling participants after being temporarily halted by DOGE initiative

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Urologist and president of the Duval County Medical Society Dr. Ali Kasraeian joins Dr. Michael Koren to update us on recent advances in Urology. In Part 3 of this series, Dr. Koren and Dr. Kasraeian dive deep into the latest advancements in prostate cancer detection and treatment options. They explore the evolution from basic PSA screening to personalized approaches . Dr. Kasraeian focuses on the modern shift to pati...

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Dr. Michael Koren shares insights from his recent speaking tour across Saudi Arabia where he delivered 14 lectures in 6 days to sophisticated healthcare providers eager for American medical research. His observations reveal surprising aspects of Saudi healthcare including English as the professional language, universal insurance coverage, and the powerful roles women play despite traditional cultural restrictions.

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Urologist and president of the Duval County Medical Society Dr. Ali Kasraeian joins Dr. Michael Koren to update us on recent advances in Urology. In Part 2 of this series, Dr. Koren and Dr. Kasraeian explore into the controversial history of PSA testing. Dr. Kasraeian explains how this simple blood test revolutionized prostate cancer detection while creating challenges around overdiagnosis and overtreatment. The docto...

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