Episodes

  • Ep. 86 Exploring Advancements in Interventional MRI with Dr. David Woodrum and Joshua Krieger

    Ep. 86 Exploring Advancements in Interventional MRI with Dr. David Woodrum and Joshua Krieger
    Feb 4 2025
    Have you heard of interventional magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI)? In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, we dive into the exciting world of interventional MRI and its promising benefits for accessing previously difficult-to-reach biopsy and treatment areas. Host and interventional radiologist Dr. Kavi Krishnasamy is joined by Dr. David Woodrum, Director of the Interventional MRI Program at the Mayo Clinic, and Joshua Krieger, Director of Product Management at Cook Medical. --- SYNPOSIS The physician-industry trio discusses the history, current state, and future potential of interventional MRI, focusing on the advantages of low-field MRI in expanding access to imaging tools for patients—especially those with implants, hard-to-reach lesions, or concerns about radiation exposure. The group also explores how MRI is used for precise targeting and real-time monitoring in various medical procedures, including biopsy and ablation of liver and prostate lesions. Dr. Woodrum and Joshua share their experiences of integrating and streamlining interventional MRI into their department’s workflow. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Woodrum and Joshua emphasize the importance of collaboration between clinicians, interventional radiologists, and the industry in advancing this innovative field. They also speculate on future developments, such as the potential integration of angiography with low-field MRI technologies. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 02:10 - History and Evolution of Interventional MRI 09:08 - Current State of Interventional MRI 12:59 - Developments in Low Field MRI 21:31 - Availability of MRI-Compatible Devices 27:50 - Benefits of MRI Over Other Modalities 34:52 - Real-Time Imaging in MR vs. CT 40:48 - Clinical Confidence in MR-Guided Biopsies 42:44 - Future of MRI in Interventional Radiology 47:14 - Starting an Interventional MRI Service Line 57:05 - Potential of MR in Vascular Interventions --- RESOURCES Interventional MRI Symposium: https://imri2024.org/
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Ep. 85 Dr. Kieran Murphy on Creativity in Medicine

    Ep. 85 Dr. Kieran Murphy on Creativity in Medicine
    Jan 28 2025
    Many physicians are perfectly positioned to recognize areas of clinical need, so why are so few of them involved in medical innovation? In this episode of BackTable MSK, Dr. Kieran Murphy discusses the ideal circumstances and critical characteristics of physician innovators. Dr. Murphy is an interventional neuroradiologist, a professor at the University of Toronto, and a medical device innovator who has made significant contributions to the field, including the development of the Murphy needle for vertebral augmentation. --- SYNPOSIS Dr. Murphy talks about his recent book, “The Essence of Invention: Medicine and the Joy of Creativity,” which chronicles key innovations in interventional radiology. The book focuses specifically on the characteristics and circumstances of the innovators themselves. Dr. Murphy became interested in this topic after noticing patterns of innovation that clustered around certain institutions and leaders. He shares his insights on innovation, including the idea that innovation peaks during fellowship, the importance of uninterrupted reflective time for creativity, and how building long-term relationships can be essential for generating ideas and gaining support. He also discusses his work on ozone therapy, the development of the Murphy needle, and the significance of securing small-scale funding through patient donations for research. Additionally, Dr. Murphy touches on his upcoming books and explores the essential fusion of medicine and the liberal arts. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast 02:05 - The Role of Creativity in Interventional Radiology 09:52 - Inspiration Behind The Book 14:51 - Environments for Inventors to Flourish 25:18 - Use of Honey in Biopsies 31:32 - Advice for Physician Innovators 45:02 - Balancing Career and Family 51:23 - Upcoming Book 56:31 - Innovations in Radiation Protection 59:45 - The Future of Medical Education --- RESOURCES The Essence of Invention: Medicine and the Joy of Creativity: https://www.amazon.com/Essence-Invention-Medicine-Joy-Creativity/dp/1459754034
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Ep. 84 Unlocking Business Skills: Physician EMBA Experiences with Dr. Raj Khalsa and Dr. Roger Tomihama

    Ep. 84 Unlocking Business Skills: Physician EMBA Experiences with Dr. Raj Khalsa and Dr. Roger Tomihama
    Jan 7 2025
    For much of their education, physicians are encouraged to focus on developing clinical and procedural skills, with little formal training in business. For those who aspire to innovate and lead, is an MBA degree a worthwhile investment? In this episode of the Back Table Innovation podcast, Dr. Aaron Fritts explores the relevance and benefits of obtaining an MBA for physicians, joined by guests Dr. Roger Tomihama and Dr. Raj Khalsa. --- SYNPOSIS The discussion covers various MBA programs, including the Wharton Executive MBA and the Quantic Executive MBA, highlighting their strengths, particularly for mid-career physicians. Drs. Tomihama and Khalsa share their personal experiences with these programs, comparing in-person and online formats. They also explore the advantages of structured learning, networking opportunities, and how an MBA can empower physicians to bridge the gap between clinical expertise and administrative or entrepreneurial roles. This conversation underscores the importance of continuous learning in fostering a more impactful and fulfilling career in healthcare. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:34 - Dr. Tomihama’s Wharton MBA Experience 06:10 - Dr. Khalsa’s Quantic MBA Journey 09:39 - Comparing MBA Programs and Networking Opportunities 23:10 - Thoughts on MBA Learning Styles 26:10 - The Language of Business 26:50 - In-Person vs. Online Learning 27:21 - Foundational Knowledge for Startups 28:56 - Applying Business Skills in Healthcare 32:16 - Marketing and Behavioral Psychology 43:52 - Timing and Career Advancement 47:52 - Final Thoughts and Reflections --- RESOURCES BackTable VI Ep. 230: The Physician's MBA: Is It Worth It, and Where to Start: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/230/the-physicians-mba-is-it-worth-it-where-to-start
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    54 mins
  • Ep. 83 New Approaches to Patient Acquisition and Marketing with Dr. Reza Rajebi

    Ep. 83 New Approaches to Patient Acquisition and Marketing with Dr. Reza Rajebi
    Nov 8 2024
    Are you searching for a more effective and streamlined way to market your specialty practice? In this episode of BackTable Innovation, Dr. Reza Rajebi shares his thoughts on new frontiers in healthcare marketing and his innovative venture, Doctorize. --- SYNPOSIS Doctorize is a digital platform designed to help specialists market their practices and directly connect with patients. Dr. Rajebi shares his journey from academic to private practice, the challenges he faced in marketing to physicians and patients, and how Doctorize aims to solve these issues by providing digital tools. He emphasizes the importance of educational content, AI-powered data analysis, and a growing professional network. Dr. Rajebi also discusses the role of team support and how Doctorize aims to expand by engaging primary care providers and leveraging social media. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 02:13 - Starting an Entrepreneurial Journey 06:50 - Challenges in Healthcare Marketing 10:51 - The Concept of Doctorize 23:50 - Increasing Physician Involvement 35:59 - Marketing to Patients 42:41 - Support from Physicians and Societies 44:12 - Balancing Entrepreneurship with Clinical Practice 47:41 - Welcoming Discomfort --- RESOURCES BackTable VI Ep. 201- Jobs: The Good, the Bad and the Snugly with Dr. Reza Rajebi: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/201/jobs-the-good-the-bad-the-snugly
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    59 mins
  • Ep. 82 Biodesign Insights: Embracing Risk and Innovation with Dr. Christopher Kinsella

    Ep. 82 Biodesign Insights: Embracing Risk and Innovation with Dr. Christopher Kinsella
    Oct 25 2024
    Are you curious about the biotechnology startup world? Learn how our guest transitioned from trauma surgeon to entrepreneur in this episode of the BackTable Podcast. Dr. Chris Kinsella, CEO of Watershed Therapeutics and our host Dr. Bryan Hartley discuss the importance of using entrepreneurship to solve clinical needs. Watershed Therapeutics has created a novel bladder drug delivery platform to help women with recurrent urinary tract infections. --- SYNPOSIS The doctors systematically cover the process of identifying market needs, inventing solutions, bringing a product to the market, and managing risk. They also share examples of successful startup ventures and underscore the importance of perseverance, innovative thinking, and strategic market focus in forging a path to success. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 04:30 - The Birth of a Surgical Trainer 07:04 - Challenges and Innovations in Trauma Surgery 22:06 - Evaluating and Killing Ideas 28:27 - Challenging Assumptions 29:53 - Meeting a Co-Founder 33:07 - Developing the Solution 37:29 - Raising Funds 40:28 - Navigating Regulatory Challenges and Market Expansion --- RESOURCES Watershed Therapeutics: https://www.watershedtx.com/ Stanford Biodesign Innovation Fellowship: https://biodesign.stanford.edu/programs/fellowships/innovation-fellowships.html
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    54 mins
  • Ep. 81 Endovascular Innovations: The Ellipsys story with Dr. Jeff Hull

    Ep. 81 Endovascular Innovations: The Ellipsys story with Dr. Jeff Hull
    Sep 27 2024
    Surgical arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation has been a mainstay of dialysis care for multiple decades. What does it take to break into such an established space with a new endovascular medical device? In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Hull discusses the challenging journey of developing the Ellipsys system for endovascular AVF creation. --- SYNPOSIS We trace Dr. Hull’s path from the device's initial conception in 2006, through the first-in-human cases in 2013, to regulatory approval and acquisition by Medtronic in 2020. Dr. Hull highlights the roles of key business mentors, the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration with vascular surgery and nephrology, and the impact of investment. He also shares valuable insights on the benefits of having competitors and selecting a well-thought-out exit strategy. Additionally, we explore deep vein arterialization (DVA) as another application of endovascular AVF creation in the context of peripheral arterial disease. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 03:05 - The Birth of the Percutaneous AV Fistula Creation 15:04 - First-in-Human Cases 17:58 - Navigating the Startup Journey 21:52 - Identifying Mentors and Investors 27:33 - Competition and Criticism 36:43 - Regulatory Hurdles 44:45 - Acquisition by Medtronic 49:14 - Deep Vein Arterialization for Peripheral Arterial Disease 54:40 - Final Thoughts and Advice --- RESOURCES Avenu Medical: https://avenumedical.com/ Gracz KC et al. Proximal forearm fistula for maintenance hemodialysis (1977): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/839655/ Hull JE et al. The Pivotal Multicenter Trial of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Arteriovenous Fistula Creation for Hemodialysis Access (2018): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29275056/ Endovascular Today- Update on Percutaneous AV Fistula Creation (2015): https://evtoday.com/articles/2015-june/update-on-percutaneous-av-fistula-creation Mallios A, Jennings WC. Percutaneous arteriovenous fistula creation with the Ellipsys Vascular Access System-the state of the art (2020): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8353338/
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    59 mins
  • Ep. 80 World of Hurt: A New Film About Medical Malpractice with Viknesh Kasthuri

    Ep. 80 World of Hurt: A New Film About Medical Malpractice with Viknesh Kasthuri
    Sep 13 2024
    In a society where discussions about medical malpractice are often concealed from the public eye, this episode of BackTable shines a spotlight on the powerful documentary ‘A World of Hurt: How Medical Malpractice Fails Everyone,’ produced by Viknesh Kasthuri, a fourth-year medical student at Brown University. Released earlier this year, the film explores how the American medical malpractice system harms and disconnects patients and providers through three compelling case studies. --- SYNPOSIS We delve into Viknesh’s motivations and the process behind creating the documentary, discussing the need for improved provider education on lawsuits, effective communication with patients and legal teams, and strategies for coping mentally and emotionally throughout this intensive process. Additionally, Viknesh provides a behind-the-scenes look at documentary production, including filming during the COVID pandemic, creating environments for patients and providers to share their stories, and submitting the documentary to film festivals. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 02:40 - Inspiration Behind the Documentary 06:10 - Technical and Legal Aspects of Documentary Production 14:34 - Releasing the Documentary 17:04 - Physician and Patient Responses to Medical Errors 20:27 - Highlighting Communication Resolution Programs 23:04 - Educational Gaps in Medical Training 26:43 - Exploring Systemic Solutions to Management of Medical Errors 30:16 - Final Thoughts and Future Projects --- RESOURCES A World of Hurt Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09IVcL6pACU BackTable VI Ep. 77- Doctors and Litigation: The L Word, with Dr. Gita Pensa: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/177/doctors-litigation-the-l-word The L Word Podcast with Dr. Gita Pensa: https://doctorsandlitigation.com/podcast-2 BackTable ENT Ep. 90- Coaching Physicians Through the Stress of Malpractice Litigation, with Dr. Gita Pensa: https://www.backtable.com/shows/ent/podcasts/90/coaching-physicians-through-the-stress-of-malpractice-litigation Michigan Model Communication and Resolution Program: https://www.uofmhealth.org/michigan-model-medical-malpractice-and-patient-safety-umhs
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    37 mins
  • Ep. 79 Innovations in Superficial Venous Disease Treatment with Dr. Ali Golshan

    Ep. 79 Innovations in Superficial Venous Disease Treatment with Dr. Ali Golshan
    Jul 26 2024
    Superficial venous disease can pose significant management challenges, particularly after patients have exhausted conservative and invasive therapies. This week, our host, Dr. Sabeen Dhand, interviews Dr. Ali Golshan, an interventional radiologist and the founder of SOLVEIN. Dr. Golshan discusses the latest advancements in treating superficial venous disease, highlighting both the benefits and complexities of thermal and non-thermal ablation techniques. --- SYNPOSIS Dr. Golshin introduces SOLVEIN, his innovative medical device designed to address these challenges. The conversation also includes practical tips for managing patients with venous insufficiencies, along with insights into the entrepreneurial journey involved in developing a new medical device. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 02:02 - Defining Superficial Venous Disease 05:43 - Diagnostic Techniques and Imaging 08:29 - Current Treatment Options for Venous Insufficiency 20:07 - Introducing SOLVEIN 29:42 - FDA Approval Pathway 33:37 - Advice for Aspiring Medical Entrepreneurs --- RESOURCES Dr. Ali Golshan’s Practice: https://www.beachwellnessmd.com/
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    36 mins