Driven to Discover

Surviving the Workplace with Min-Hsuan Tu

Although Min-Hsuan Tu grew up wanting to be a teacher, she followed her parents’ advice and pursued a business degree instead. But her interest in human interaction never faded—and when a chance meeting with a classmate introduced her to the field of organizational behavior, she recognized it as the perfect fit. Now an associate professor of organization and human resources in the University at Buffalo’s School of Management, Tu studies workplace challenges that resonate widely, in part because her research draws on her real-world experiences. In this episode, she shares with host Jay Rey what she’s learned about managing everyday stressors—from never-ending to-do lists to the difficulty of unplugging at the end of the day—offering practical strategies to lead a more balanced, fulfilling life at work and beyond.  Credits:    Host: Jay Rey Guest: Min-Hsuan Tu Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming this fall: Driven to Discover is taking a break for the summer. We’ll be back in early September with a new slate of UB innovators discussing what sparked their passion for their subject and what makes their research meaningful for the world at large.

The Future of Neurosurgery with Elad Levy

As a first-year med student, Elad Levy tried to balance competitive rowing with the demands of school. But he quickly came to realize he couldn’t pursue both at the highest level. He chose medicine, discovered neurosurgery—and was soon on a path to transforming the field.  Now the L. Nelson Hopkins Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Levy was instrumental in establishing a new standard of care for stroke and continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible. In this episode, he talks with host Ellen Goldbaum about the resistance he and his colleagues faced in the early days of stroke intervention, what it was like to implant one of the first brain-computer interfaces in a patient with paralysis, and his current push toward a future in which brain surgery requires no incisions.  Credits:    Host: Ellen Goldbaum Guest: Elad Levy Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming this fall: Driven to Discover is taking a break for the summer. We’ll be back in early September with a new slate of UB innovators discussing what sparked their passion for their subject and what makes their research meaningful for the world at large.

Closing the Food Gap with Lucia Leone

Lucia Leone’s interest in nutrition began in childhood, as she watched her mother—without a car and on a limited income—still manage to put healthy meals on the table. Now an associate professor of community health and health behavior at the University at Buffalo, Leone studies how to make nutritious eating achievable for families facing similar barriers. In this episode, she joins host David Hill to explain why simply expanding access to food is not enough to ensure nutrition security. She discusses community-based interventions like mobile produce vans and food prescription programs, and what her research reveals about why some efforts succeed while others fall short. She also challenges misconceptions about SNAP and the people it serves, and examines what it will take at the societal level to close the food gap for good. Credits:    Host: David Hill Guest: Lucia Leone Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming this fall: Driven to Discover is taking a break for the summer. We’ll be back in early September with a new slate of UB innovators discussing what sparked their passion for their subject and what makes their research meaningful for the world at large.

The Mouth-Body Connection with Frank Scannapieco

Frank Scannapieco wasn’t too interested in school as a kid; he went to college largely because his father insisted. But a few inspiring teachers, a growing fascination with biology and a chance encounter with oral microbiology set him on a path that would lead to an internationally recognized career. In this episode, Laurie Kaiser talks with Scannapieco, a SUNY Distinguished Professor in the University at Buffalo’s School of Dental Medicine, about his pioneering research linking oral health to systemic diseases such as pneumonia, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. He explains—in plain terms—how inflammation and bacteria in the mouth can affect the rest of the body, why dentistry and medicine have long been disconnected, and what simple steps we can all take to protect our oral and overall health as we age. Credits:    Host: Laurie Kaiser Guest: Frank Scannapieco Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming this fall: Driven to Discover is taking a break for the summer. We’ll be back in early September with a new slate of UB innovators discussing what sparked their passion for their subject and what makes their research meaningful for the world at large.

Sleep and the Brain with Carleara Weiss

Growing up in a multigenerational household, Carleara Weiss was a caregiver from the start. But as she lay awake at night listening to her elders snore, she didn’t realize those sounds were signs of obstructive sleep apnea—or that OSA is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Now, as an assistant professor of nursing at the University at Buffalo and a nationally recognized sleep researcher, Weiss is advancing our understanding of how sleep affects the brain. In this episode, she talks with host Cheryl Quimba about why sleep is essential, what happens when we don’t get enough of it, and how disrupted sleep can contribute to cognitive decline. She also breaks down her latest research and shares practical strategies for getting a better night’s rest. Weiss is currently recruiting for two studies related to sleep, aging and Alzheimer’s. If interested, please contact Ayesha Rahman at 716-829-3218.  Credits:    Host: Cheryl Quimba Guest: Carleara Weiss Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming this fall: Driven to Discover is taking a break for the summer. We’ll be back in early September with a new slate of UB innovators discussing what sparked their passion for their subject and what makes their research meaningful for the world at large.