The Vitals

Pioneering Ketamine Treatment for Depression

How did ketamine evolve from an anesthetic to one of the most important mental health treatment breakthroughs in decades?  In this episode of The Vitals, guest host Dennis Charney [https://profiles.mountsinai.org/dennis-s-charney], MD sits down with specialists James Murrough [https://profiles.mountsinai.org/james-murrough] , MD, PhD, and Adriana Feder [https://profiles.mountsinai.org/adriana-feder], MD, to explore the science behind ketamine treatment for depression and PTSD—and why it may offer hope for patients who have not responded to traditional therapies.  The conversation traces the origins of ketamine research to the pioneering clinical work conducted at Mount Sinai. The doctors explain how ketamine differs from standard antidepressants, why it can work within hours instead of weeks, and how it is helping patients with treatment-resistant depression and suicidal thinking.   The panel also discusses:   * How ketamine became the FDA-approved treatment Spravato  * Why researchers believe ketamine increases neuroplasticity in the brain  * The growing evidence for ketamine in treating PTSD  * How psychotherapy may enhance ketamine’s long-term effects  * Why patients should not lose hope, even after years of severe symptoms  To learn more about Mount Sinai’s Depression and Anxiety Center or to book an appointment with a Mount Sinai expert, visit the Mount Sinai Health System’s website: https://icahn.mssm.edu/research/depression-anxiety-center [https://icahn.mssm.edu/research/depression-anxiety-center]  🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt]

Rises and Advancements in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is no longer just a disease of older adults—and the data is raising alarm bells.  On this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter sits down with the Mount Sinai Health System’s leading experts   To unpack why rates are rising, especially among younger populations, and what you need to know right now.   Joining the conversation are gastroenterologists Dr. David Greenwald and Dr. Pascale White, along with medical oncologist Dr. Deirdre Cohen. Together, they explore the latest research, evolving screening guidelines, and breakthrough treatments that are changing outcomes for patients.  From early warning signts to cutting-edge therapies, this episode delivers practical, evidence-based insights that could change lives:   * The likely reasons why colorectal cancer is increasing in adults under 50;   * Common symptoms you should never ignore;  * Screening options—from stool tests to colonoscopy—and when to start;  * The role of lifestyle, diet, and the microbiome;   * Advances in treatment, including immunotherapy and personalized medicine;  * How early detection dramatically improves survival.  Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable—and treatable—cancers when caught early. Whether you’re approaching screening age or simply want to stay informed, this conversation is essential listening.  📞For more information on Mount Sinai’s colorectal cancer treatments or to schedule an appointment with a Mount Sinai physician, click here: https://www.mountsinai.org/care/gastroenterology/services/endoscopy-colonoscopy/colonoscopy/colorectal-screening [https://www.mountsinai.org/care/gastroenterology/services/endoscopy-colonoscopy/colonoscopy/colorectal-screening]  🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt]

Is Health Care Sustainable?

In this episode of The Vitals, we explore a question that sits at the intersection of medicine and the future of the planet: Can health care truly become sustainable?  Host and Neurosurgery Physician Assistant Leslie Schlachter is joined by a multidisciplinary team of Mount Sinai experts working across clinical care, energy and infrastructure, and supply chain operations. Together, they unpack how sustainability efforts are being integrated into one of the most resource-intensive industries in the world—healthcare.  From ambitious emissions reduction targets and energy-efficient hospital systems to waste management, procurement practices, and sustainable food programs, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how large health systems are rethinking their environmental impact.  Whether you’re in health care, policy, simply interested in climate solutions, this episode sheds light on how systemic change is happening—and what it will take to push it further.   Learn more about Mount Sinai’s sustainability practices here: https://www.mountsinai.org/about/sustain  🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt]

The Living Brain Project

What can living brain tissue reveal that decades of neuroscience could not?  In this episode of The Vitals, host Leslie Schlachter sits down with Alex Charney and Brian Kopell to discuss the Living Brain Project, one of the most ambitious neuroscience efforts underway at the Mount Sinai Health System. By safely collecting tiny biopsies during deep brain simulation surgery, researchers are studying the living human brain in ways previously thought impossible.  The conversation explores why living brain tissue differs dramatically from postmortem samples, how this research is already helping validate next-generation gene therapies, and why collaboration between neurosurgeons and molecular scientists may unlock entirely new treatments for neurological and psychiatric disease.  🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt]

The Human Cost of Coverage Gaps, Pt. 1

Pattie McCluskey had long relied on her doctors at the Mount Sinai Health System—until an insurance dispute with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield suddenly threw that care into jeopardy. In this episode of The Vitals, Pattie shares what it means when a patient with an established care team must confront disruption around appointments, medications, and procedures already tied to her health, daily life, and well-being.   Guest host Dr. Raja Flores speaks with Pattie about the real-world consequences patients face when longstanding medical relationships are disrupted: the stress of navigating dozens of calls to the insurance company, the fear of losing life-saving treatments, and the confusion and frustration that arises when medical procedures are inexplicably disrupted by insurance negotiations.   Together, the pair discuss what happens when access to trusted specialists becomes uncertain, how patients can advocate for themselves in times of hardship, and why continuity of care remains so critical—especially for those with chronic medical conditions.  If you’re a Mount Sinai patient with Anthem insurance and need more information, please visit this website: keepmountsinai.org [https://keepmountsinai.org/]  🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt]  🎧 Subscribe to The Vitals and explore more podcast programming from Mount Sinai for expert conversations on the biggest issues in medicine, research, and patient care: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT7BA-HcHliU8QIXyuk_74L_uH0gyKGt]