Expert Interviews

Seemal Desai, M.D., FAAD, discusses how treatment safety and effectiveness must be carefully evaluated through monitoring clinical outcomes and patient-reported measures, with special consideration given to unique challenges in vulnerable populations like children, pregnant women and those with comorbidities, where treatment approaches require careful modification to balance efficacy and safety concerns.

This webinar on "What the Trump Presidency Will Mean for U.S. Healthcare and Managed Care" includes panelists Lindsay Greenleaf, J.D., MBA; Ryann Hill, M.P.H. and Patrick Cooney, discussing possible changes to healthcare policies and programs under the Trump administration, including the future of the Inflation Reduction and Affordable Care Acts, PBM reform and Medicare Advantage.

Kenan R. Omurtag, M.D., discusses how addressing unique needs of LGBTQ patients involves tailored fertility treatments and legal considerations, while emphasizing the importance of early fertility preservation counseling and expedited procedures for cancer patients, including cryopreservation of eggs, sperm or embryos prior to potentially gonadotoxic treatments.

The panelist discusses how vaginal insert and intramuscular progesterone supplementation can support early pregnancy by enhancing endometrial receptivity, maintaining the uterine lining and providing crucial hormonal support during the luteal phase and early weeks of gestation, thereby potentially increasing the chances of successful implantation and ongoing pregnancy in assisted reproductive technology cycles.

Kenan R. Omurtag, M.D., discusses how various ovulation stimulation treatments, including letrozole and gonadotropins, work through different mechanisms to promote follicle development and egg release, with considerations such as efficacy, side effects and risk of multiple pregnancies influencing the choice of treatment for individual patients.

The panelist discusses how emerging targeted therapies like Janus kinase inhibitors and combination treatment approaches are transforming vitiligo management, with treatment selection guided by disease patterns, progression rates and individual patient response, while acknowledging the need for systematic assessment and alternative strategies for treatment-resistant cases.

The panelist discusses how intracytoplasmic sperm injection can be used in conjunction with in vitro fertilization (IVF) to directly inject a single sperm into an egg, thereby increasing fertilization rates and improving chances of successful pregnancy, particularly in cases of severe male factor infertility or previous IVF fertilization failure.

Kenan R. Omurtag, M.D., discusses how less invasive fertility treatments like lifestyle modifications, ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination are typically attempted before progressing to IVF, which is often reserved for patients with severe male factor infertility, tubal factor infertility, advanced maternal age or those who have not succeeded with other fertility treatments.

Seemal Desai, M.D., FAAD, discusses how immune system dysregulation and genetic variants intersect to trigger vitiligo development while highlighting diagnostic challenges including identifying disease subtypes and distinguishing vitiligo from other depigmentation disorders.

The panelist discusses how intrauterine insemination is typically considered for patients with unexplained infertility, mild male factor infertility or cervical factor infertility, while emphasizing the importance of careful patient selection, timing of the procedure and monitoring for potential complications.

Kenan R. Omurtag, M.D., discusses how assisted reproductive technology encompasses various medical procedures like in vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and gamete donation to help individuals or couples struggling with infertility achieve pregnancy through manipulation of eggs, sperm or embryos outside the body.

Lucy van de Wiel, PhD, discusses how emerging technologies such as in vitro gametogenesis and gene editing show promise for addressing complex infertility cases, potentially revolutionizing reproductive medicine by offering new solutions for patients with genetic disorders, same-sex couples, and those with uterine factor infertility.

Lucy van de Wiel, PhD, discusses how in vitro fertilization (IVF) has evolved since its first successful use in 1978, initially targeting women with blocked fallopian tubes but expanding to address various fertility issues, including male factor infertility, unexplained infertility and genetic disorders, while also becoming more accessible to diverse patient populations including same-sex couples and single individuals.

Lucy van de Wiel, PhD, discusses how infertility can strain relationships between partners by causing emotional distress, communication breakdowns, sexual difficulties and feelings of blame or inadequacy, potentially leading to conflicts and decreased relationship satisfaction.

Lucy van de Wiel, PhD, discusses how infertility often leads to psychological distress and depression in patients, with stress potentially exacerbating fertility issues and creating a challenging cycle that can negatively impact conception efforts.

Lucy van de Wiel, PhD, discusses how infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse, diagnosed through medical history, physical exams and tests, with risk factors including age, lifestyle habits and medical conditions.

Drs Steven Levine, Patricia Ares-Romero, Samuel Nordberg, Martin Rosenzweig, and Carrie Jardine share insight on the future treatment landscape for TRD.

Dr Martin Rosenzweig discusses the importance of data collection to improve patient care in TRD as well as alternative payment models.

University of Washington’s Peter Rabinowitz, M.D., M.P.H., sees a world awash in emerging diseases and climate change data but says it needs to be delivered to clinicians in a form that they can use at the point of care, possibly via the electronic medical record.

The list includes dengue fever, chikungunya, leptospirosis and Valley fever, says University of Washington professor Peter Rabinowitz, M.D., M.P.H.

Patients self-identified as members of the minority group that the study was designed to enroll, according to Jeremiah Brown, M.D., of Retina Consultants of Texas, one of the lead ELEVATUM investigators. The study will yield a "treasure trove" of data, Brown said.

Enrollment goals for the U.S. part of the phase 4, open-label study of Vabysmo (faricimab) were 45% Black participants, 45% Hispanic participants and 10% Native American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian, said Jeremiah Brown, M.D., a lead ELEVATUM investigator.

Harmony Garges, M.D, senior vice president, chief medical officer and head of global medical at ViiV Healthcare, highlighted results of two real-world evidence studies of Apretude as an HIV prevention medication.

George O. Waring, IV, M.D., discusses the latest technology improving eyesight for patients.

Only 15% of those who start a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) for weight loss are still taking it two years later according to Prime Therapeutics’ real-world evidence, says Ben Urick, Pharm.D., Ph.D., a health outcomes researcher for the pharmacy benefit manager.

Jeffrey Dunn, Pharm.D., MBA, discusses how key unmet needs in assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs drive ongoing research and innovation, fostering hope for a future where fertility treatments are more effective, accessible and tailored to individual patient needs.

Jeffrey Dunn, Pharm.D., MBA, discusses how quality measures, benchmarking and key performance indicators play a crucial role in their daily work by guiding decision-making, improving patient outcomes and ensuring the continuous enhancement of fertility treatment and assisted reproductive technology (ART) program effectiveness.

Even people living with HIV who have undetectable viral loads experience elevated inflammation levels, explained Michelle Cespedes, M.D., M.S, of Mount Sinai Health System.

Only a small group of patients have started the process to receive the new gene therapies for sickle cell disease, says Kevin Niehoff, Pharm.D., of IPD Analytics.

Drs Martin Rosenzweig and Samuel Nordberg share perspectives for integrated policymaking in behavioral health, as well as payer and provider collaboration for TRD.